Graduating High School: My Parents Pursuing My Career

I am the product of divorced parents, who struggled with substance abuse, but that does not define me. My childhood consisted of poverty-stricken environments; however, I refused to let that dictate the outcome of my life. At the age of ten, I had to assume the role of a fatherly figure to my three siblings, so I missed out on the conventional childhood most would have had. I grew up in east Bakersfield where substance abuse, gangs and criminal acts of violence were a pervasive occurrence, and I resiliently avoided the peer pressures to conform to their way of life. From the ages of 11 to 15, I would work for my grandfather at the local swap meet on the weekends so that I could help my mother make ends meet. I received my worker 's permit at the age of 15, which elevated my ability to help my mother financially as now I earned a set wage. I worked the maximum hours allowed as a minor while balancing my academics and extracurricular school activities at school. Although faced with much adversity early on in life, I managed to be a scholar triathlete in high school and was accepted to California State University, Bakersfield after graduating from Foothill High. I was determined and excited to be the first college graduate in my family, as I understood the economic importance of this achievement. Sadly, after my freshman year of attending the university, I had to put my educational endeavors on hold to assist my mother and siblings further financially.

In the first months of college, I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to pursue architecture, finance, or engineering; I was utterly lost, unlike many of my peers. Over the months, I pondered on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Then, I realized I was never interested in obtaining a job where I would sit at a desk and stare at some numbers on a computer screen for 9 hours every day. Through my daily routine and utilization of time, I realized I found less joy in the courses I applied least outside of the classroom, yet was intrigued that with the many hours I worked in the studio. I could work on a skill in which I could use in the career I wanted; a path in which I could leave a legacy through molding the world the way I wanted to see

In that time I was working a full and part time job to help my mother out while she was on disability. In those years I had no idea what I wanted to do and lacked the passion that now drives me. I knew I needed college to be successful but I also knew I was the only one bringing income in for my family. My academics took a backseat for extra shifts and taking care of mother when she was ill. As I left my exam, I remembered that mother from the accident and how I couldn’t of taken care of her if I hadn't taken of myself and emotions. I had failed to do that with my own mother and academics when I started college. I still work a full and part time job as an EMT while pursuing my prereqs for PA school but my passion to become a PA has transformed my lackluster grades into making the dean's

Nine years ago, I never could have imagined I’d be writing this essay. I was a senior in high school, and, like the rest of my classmates, I was apprehensive about the future. Unlike my classmates, I felt like I had missed the proverbial “you need to get your life together” message. I watched my classmates apply to colleges, their majors already decided and their future careers mapped out. While I was an above average student, I felt I lacked the decisiveness my classmates seemed to have. I did not feel passionate about a career or even a field of study. I felt defective. This was compounded by the financial strain I knew attending college would have on my family. It seemed wasteful to try to “find my passion” at school while squandering

Kelsey’s recent ongoing stress is resignated around his academics and family priorities within the past two years. He was an Engineering major in one of the top schools in Wisconsin, he felt pressure to make his family happy and pursue his academic major. Before applying to the Mechanical Engineering program, Kelsey bit off more than he could chew. Seeking membership into a fraternity, visiting home every other weekend to assist his family financially and emotionally during his mother’s bankruptcy period, and taking a huge course load of 16 credits. As a result of his commitment and sacrifice, sadly his grades failed as a result. Within this year, Kelsey went from withholding a full ride (scholarships, grants, fellowships) and summer internship to losing everything including his studentship at Wisconsin. During this tough time in Kelsey’s life, I observed the frustration he endured during this strategic time. He found himself questioning his

After barely graduating in the spring of 2017 from Lopez Early College High School, I went straight to my parent’s house not knowing exactly what I was going to do with my life. I knew I had ruined my life after not paying attention to my teachers and counselors about applying to colleges. They said I was a wonderful and intelligent student with a tremendous capacity of succeeding in life. Although everybody thought that about me, I never did. I was constantly under pressure thinking that I had to work in order to support my family economically, so our house was saved. I was also worried about whether my parents were getting divorced after every insignificant argument they had. I had to be an excellent example for my two younger siblings; but even though I tried my best, I never was.

Five years ago I had to flee Syria to save my life, I had to leave my university as well. As a new immigrant, few things can be challenging. However, soon I was able to go back to school. I was advised to take some classes at a community college to get a good start toward my bachelor’s degree. Yet, the financial side came in the way. “Give up” is a word that doesn’t exist in my dictionary, so I went ahead and worked hard to establish myself financially. I stopped school for a little bit and was able to prove my success in the business world. Today, I stand tall and ready to go back to school and obtain my four-year degree. More ready than ever for a shiny future.

Never thinking that she would own up to much but always hoping that she would accomplish more than hoped Larissa Brown worked hard all throughout high school then held down a steady full-time job while going to college. Larissa didn’t know what she wanted to do for a living she simply stated “I was unsure of what career path I wanted to take my last year of college.” She continued to say, “I was still debating whether or not I wanted to go the medical route or be a teacher….my [chemistry] professor was very passionate about the material she was teaching. Her passion and determination inspired me to want to do the same thing for younger generations.” My sister had only two specific goals in her life after college and those were to move out of our mom’s house and get a good paying job teaching kids science. So working for that career she gained a lot of responsibility which “played a great role in my coming of age process. She went on to say, “I gained the most responsibility my last year of college when I was working 40 hours a week managing two yogurt shops and taking 16 credit hours at ASU. All of these new responsibilities did help me become a responsible adult and have the ability to live on my own. I was officially ready to be responsible for me, 100%.” Larissa grew the most during her college years and she said that high school was when she developed her own persona and college was when she developed

Life is all about choices, and the one choice I knew I wanted to make was to go to college and achieve my educational goals. Knowing that my family could not support my two older sister’s college endeavors let alone mine, I knew I had to act. Throughout my high school years, I applied myself constantly through taking challenging coursework and involving myself in clubs that I was passionate for. All of those years led me to overcome the biggest obstacle a senior student

When divorce and poverty strike a household, statistics show that a student’s potential can take the hit, but these events actually taught me to leap over any kind of hurdle I face. At the same time, my parent’s divorce and the Great Recession ate up our limited savings, and I was told my future dreams were no longer realistic, so college would be out of the question. Disappointed, I kept my nose to the grindstone to prove my parents wrong, and I found that my career is only limited by my work ethic, and I could succeed no matter what I was told I could do. My work inside and outside of the classroom made me an honored student at Howell High School and a volunteer recognized by the state of Michigan’s recreation department. Just as these plans

Due to the continuing increase of living it’s nearly impossible to be able to live alone. Since the demand of a higher education for better paying jobs is at an all time high trying to juggle a full-time job and returning to college is more than difficult at times. Frank, a full-time employee decided that he’d better himself by returning to college. Never considering that times have changed, he still continued to work and go to school. He stretched himself to the max; he worked late hours and then stayed up doing homework until the early morning only to have to get up and return to class to repeat the long days over. Several weeks passed, he realized that he was never going to be able to get ahead to matter how hard to tried. He was very aware that if he stopped taking classes his chances of being something in the world were even slimmer than if he continued and somehow managed to do both. Frank decided that no matter how tough these next few months were going to be he wasn’t going to let it stop him from meeting his goals.

When furthering my education, problems within my family didn’t only occur at the idea of myself attending college but the logistics of doing so. It was this conflict of, in a way, restarting life as my hometown is Vallejo and commuting to San Jose was just not an option. Nonetheless, San Jose was first foreign to me, but thanks to the short journey from my

20 years ago, I was born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Soon after, my single mother took me back with her to Mexico City. This was the the place I called home for 17 years, until I decided to pursue my dreams of becoming a businessman. I was received by my grandma’s sister, and her boyfriend in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. I graduated with High Honors, but faced a big problem. I had been kicked out of the house for reasons out of my control right before graduating. I spent days couch surfing with friends until I was able to find UIC. As of today, I have no contact with any family, thus I take care of myself in all aspects. Fortunately, soon after high school graduation, I got accepted into the highly selective Business Scholars Program and became a Peer Mentor. With that in hand, I’m able to study and have a place to stay.

Growing up in a country where educational preferences were given to boys, my father went against the society norms and encouraged me to get higher education. Along with his guidance and my thirst for knowledge I was accepted in engineering program. I was happily pursuing my degree, when suddenly all this came to halt; my father was seriously ill. He wanted me to get married before he leaves this world. Few weeks later, I met my husband, who at the time was visiting Pakistan for his cousin’s wedding and within months I was married. I came to United States with a hope of better future and dreams of finishing my education, but was unable to do so as I was expecting our first child and had no one to help us with the baby. I dedicated myself to raise our daughter, but deep down that feeling of emptiness lingered. Life kept moving forward, we moved a few times, gradually I started to adapt to being a stay home mother of two beautiful girls. Numerous times I brought home admission forms from CCBC but started to doubt myself if I was going to be able to do restart after such a big gap? I started volunteering at my daughter’s school and was soon hired as a teacher’s helper to assist with children with special needs. While working at school, I was again in an environment that reminded and encouraged me to fulfill my lost dreams. In 2012, I enrolled at CCBC with no career path in mind: I just wanted start again! Once I started I never looked back and I will continue to thrive.

My mom is the brightest and most independent person I know. It was not until after my father passed that I really appreciated how much strength she carries for my family. I wanted nothing more than to follow in her footsteps and become a successful engineer, like her. For a while I was not having any luck getting accepted into A&M, but my determination eventually landed me a spot in the Construction Science program. I knew that this was an opportunity I could not take for granted. I started creating relationships with people from different construction companies. After all the effort that went into my first year as an aggie, I’m proud to say, this fall, I’ll be interning for a wonderful