Graduation Speech : My Life After High School

Growing up, school was not a major factor in my life. I come from a hard-working, middle-class military family. My mother, a Filipino immigrant, was a homemaker. My father was a 21-year United States Marine veteran. They were my first impression of what I thought my future would be. Being the youngest of four children, I was expected to fall in line behind my siblings when it came to education. I was never pushed to excel in my studies, so I did just enough to get by. As I watched friends escape the grasp of a military town and ascend to their respective colleges, I was left wondering what was next for me. I attended my local community college for a brief period of time. I treated college no different than high school. I

When I graduated high school I had no idea what I wanted to do, all I knew is I was done with public school and could live my life as what I thought an adult was. My father and most of my family believed it was important for me to go to college, and get a kick start with my life. Though they weren’t wrong, I had no idea what I wanted to do and no discipline to do my studies to the full extent of my abilities.

After finishing high school last September, I didn't go to college. This wasn't really a choice I wanted to make - it's been my dream for years to study in the US, but when the time came to do it, I didn't have the money. And this, as much as it was something I couldn't control, made me feel stuck in life. Still does at times.

I made the decision to go back to school for many different reasons. I saw it as an opportunity to continue my education, potentially make more money in my career and prove to myself that I could accomplish this goal. Even after, placing this personal goal on hold for the past ten years, having three children and working. I knew this would definitely help me in the long run. It has always been dream of mine to graduate from college. To do what only two of my family members before me have done. Growing up in Compton, California. College wasn't an option for most, however I was fortunate enough to have parents who believed in me and my sisters and really pushed us to continue to further our education. I believe moving forward if I stay persistent

When I was in middle high school, I wasn’t like any other kids my age I knew. It seemed like all the kids new what they wanted to do in life. Most of my classmates had a mindset that they were going to college, but I was focused more on graduating middle school so that I can make it to high school. By the time I made it to high school, there was more pressure on me to think about going to college. My parents wanted me to further my education. My mother asked me if I was thinking about college yet. At that point, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was confused so I

When I was young I had not any educational goals. My father had not graduated from high school and I don’t remember him (or my mother) ever mentioning me going to college. And, as mentioned previously he spent my $3,000 life’s savings which would have put me through the University of Arizona. I was ambivalent about going to college when I graduated from high school, but I signed up in large part to stay out of the military and Vietnam. I had an interest in aviation and in making things so I signed up for Aerospace engineering. At that point I was working 20-25 hours a week to be able to afford the next semester’s tuition, gas for the Hillman, and occasional nights out which didn’t help my studies.

Firstly, I chose to go to college for personal reasons. I never thought that I was able to accomplish going to college, especially after I began having children. My mother never made it past the tenth grade. For her being a single mother of six, she made it crystal-clear that she would not accept any of us not graduating from high school. I am the only one of my siblings ever to attend college. Going to college was never a goal set for us in our household while growing up as kids. Even though my mother did not shy away from the topic, it was not forced upon us as motivational either. This new progression will be life changing for me and my

I graduated high school at age sixteen; looking back, I didn’t think I had too many options when it came to continuing my education. I grew up as the youngest of eight children in a single parent family unit, who would experience financial hardship and make ends meet by receiving a lot of hand me downs. Attending school every day was essential not because of education, but because it was a way for my siblings and me to be guaranteed to eat a healthy meal at least five days a week. My mother worked hard and long hours, which meant there was no time for learning or getting any help with school work. I was not a very good student and the majority of people, including my high school teachers did not anticipate me furthering my education as an adult. The premise would be that I get married and start a family and that’s exactly what I did.

Coming from a town where many people do not care about education or do not ever leave, college gave me a chance to further find myself. I have known since I was younger that I loved sports and wanted to work in the medical field. I loved watching and playing sports, and even discussing the statistics and records. As I was growing up, my mother instilled in me the idea that college is one of the utmost important goals that I should have. I have seen the struggle of not having a college degree in nearly every place I looked. I knew that that was not going to be me. I gave every ounce of effort possible all throughout elementary, middle, and high school to be able to get the needed materials to go to college. That is exactly what happened. I regret

I was convinced at one point in my life that I wouldn't graduate high school, let alone get a college degree. I grew up in a broken home, where there was physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse. This all had a tremendous affect on me as a young girl, well into my teenage years, and early adult hood, and significantly impacted the choices I made for myself at the time. I moved out of my home at the age of 15 after my mother remarried, I went to live with a friend which I thought at that time was a great idea. It wasn't long after that I began smoking marijuana, doing cocaine, drinking and taking rohypno. I was hanging out with all the wrong people, and I stopped going to school for over a month my junior year. One morning after I had drank

As cliche as it may sound, college was never an option that I gave myself. Going to college was more of an obligation that I set for myself when I started enter the field of education as a student. In my household, the goal of getting into college was always around me. The daily discussion in my household when it comes to the discussion about school, always starts with, “When I get to college”. When I have discussions with adults and career counselors about my career choice, I always start off with, “When I finish college”. A college education is important in my family, and I have been taught the values of having a college degree can guarantee me a successful job in life. My mother continually pushed me towards the entrance of college,

Working long and laborious, only getting one day a week off, I didn’t give college a second thought. Yet, I still grew tired and bored of the work. Which lead to calling in sick to work, and working less just to hang out with the wrong crowd of people. Then reality kicked in, again. Realizing that I was a naïve brat who did not think that anyone else truly mattered, and getting into serious trouble with my parents (and ultimately with myself), I knew I needed to surround myself with positive support and influence. After months of going to see councilors and talking to friends I had an epiphany: I was wrong. Finally, I understood my parents, they were right all along and had only wanted what was best for me. At last I was able to look through a mature lens: my parents did everything that they could to teach me but I didn’t want to listen. I was just self-serving, everyone and everything matters and the world does not revolve around just one

As a freshman in high school I didn't care much about my future and I never thought about going to college. I don't know why I thought this way but I was very wrong. My freshman year I failed myself, and believe me when i say I've learned my lesson. I cannot change what I did in the past with my grades but I can change how I do with them now and in my future. My failure from the past has affected my GPA and how colleges look at me, they might see me as a joke but I assure you I am not. I have what it takes to be in college and succeed just as a straight A student. It has taken me 3 years to figure out how much I need to get my grades up to get into a nice college. I know I don't look like a good candidate but I can prove you wrong. I never

I felt my children were my first priority. I stop attending school not understand that I was hurting myself and my family in the long run. I felt I could make it without attending school. I did make it! Not to mention, but it was extremely hard. There were so many times I want to go back to school, but my situation wouldn't allow me. One night, I said a pray,' Lord if you help me get a good paying job I promise I will go back and get me a degree." That prayer that night changed my life. I got hired at one of the largest hospitals the next day. I worked for that company for 12yrs then I moved on to bigger and better things. I've been with this company for 12yrs now. One day my job made me extremely mad. That morning I went an registry for school.That was 2yrs ago and that was the best thing that I could have done for me.I enjoy learning and meeting new people. Today, I wish I had did it a long time ago. I believe it's never too late to

Through my whole life I have always desired to go to college. I observed the hardships that members of my family endured by choosing not to go to college and lacked the proper skills needed for a sufficient job. I never want that for me, and one day when I have a family of my own I want to be able to do my share in providing for them properly. While both of my parents have taken post secondary classes, neither have obtained a college degree, and they have always pushed me to pursue my dreams in getting into a school of my choice. I have always loved my science classes and have dreamed of majoring in a science field. When I was younger, my great-grandmother died with Alzheimer's, and I was so devastated that I told my mother I was going to grow up and cure Alzheimer's. I never wanted another soul to feel what I was feeling at that moment.