John Cecil Thompson's Opportunity To Attend College

“Going to college was just an excuse to go find me a husband but don’t tell anyone,” Marianna said laughing fixing up her earpiece. Leaving her mom at the train station sobbing, she went off to Tabor College in Kansas. When she entered college all of her emotions hit her at once she felt nervous but, she also felt excited to start a new chapter in her life. Entering college was one of those moments when you have the spotlight on you and you feel everyone is judging you .Luckily she had one of the closest friends you can possibly have, a sister. That’s when her and her sister’s journey began.

On June 17, 2013, Mrs. Ahmed, my mom, graduated from CSUB after completing her last year of college. They women I saw before had completely changed from the women I saw after graduation. Knowledge had brought her more than just a better IQ level; rather made her more happy and lively then I had seen her before. Mrs. Ahmed’s experience in college, made her grow and mature which created a more dedicated, responsible, and independent her. Thanks to these traits earned in college, Mrs. Ahmed now works and Berkshire Elementary; a job she would have never would have received without her credentials. My mom had come out of her shell and experienced an experience that she never thought she would before. I

Who would have known traveling could be such a hassle? Especially when moving from Wilson, North Carolina to boring Goldsboro. Especially when having strict parents, an annoying sister, a spoiled brother and an innocent me stuffed in a van, just to move only 26.4 miles. Moving cannot be that dreadful, I tried considering to myself. Making new friends and memories are not the worst thing in the world. There was only one slight problem …school. It was fall of third grade and everything was different. From math to English to science, concepts were thrown at me that I was so sure that I had never seen at my previous school. So at first sight of trouble, I turned to my parents, but only to end up with a frustrated me and a very agitated mother.

Before my first day I would feel terrified hearing the word “college”. I had convinced myself that college was going to be the biggest challenge I would face in my life. It was August 23rd. I had recently moved into an apartment at The Reserve and was still getting my things moved in so it was still a mess in my room. Nevertheless, I was prepared for anything, packing up all my supplies in my backpack the night before.

I knew college was going to change me in many ways. Yet, after my family and I restructured our collective and individual emotional reactivity over the three years that I was away at school, I believed my work in that department was done. I thought transiting into college was difficult, however, I found myself once again unprepared for the aftershock that rocked my family once I return from school. I left college a strong, independent, mature, and differentiated person, or at least I kind of did.

Maybe I wasn 't the only one that felt like a failure, but I couldn 't allow my mother to dwell on those thoughts. For the following months, I took a keen interest in empowering myself. The feeling of change was becoming a reality. My lunch money had a new purpose; which was mainly to obtain an Account syllabus as well as other school materials. The difference could be seen around the home, more smiles from my mother than I could count. As a result of my mother 's selflessness, I was able to attend extra classes on Saturdays. She made a conscious decision to save at least $100 each day to assist with my transportation to and from school. Despite the scarcity of spoken words, through it all, I knew she had not given up on me.

It all started when I got a long waited acceptance letter from the University. I remember as I held the letter in my hands I felt a feeling of happiness and of satisfaction as I finally accomplished one of my major goals. I always wanted to go to college ever since I was a young boy and now when I got the letter I knew that it finally came to a reality. Not only was I going to college but I was going to be the first person in my family to attend a four-year college, I felt like this was an accomplishment within itself. Not only am I going to college but I’m also make a pathway for future generations in my family.

As I began my college journey on August 21st this year, I was extremely nervous. I had so many unanswered questions that ran through my mind. How would it feel to be away from my family? This was the first time I would ever experience such a thing. What kind of people was I going to meet? How would my classes be? My list was unending and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Halfway there on the way to school the fears, and emotions of holding the responsibility of the only person who didn’t know what they were doing on the first day drowned me in sorrow. At last, I arrived

It was mid-August. School had just begun. Students were still in shock as their minds were still contemplating over the fact that summer was over. The quick transition hit the seniors especially hard because it was their last year; they were so close to escaping the prison known as school.

Leaving home to come to a city so far away for college was one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever been faced with. I was excited at first, but when the time came around of my leaving, nervousness started to come the surface. I was excited because this would be the opportunity for me to spread my wings and leave the nest, but I was nervous because I had never been so far away from my family. I had always been in close proximity of their reach. I was nervous because I would no longer be able to just run home and hide from my problems, I would have to face the real world, I would have to face the things I’ve been sheltered from my whole life.

That’s when relief, happiness, sadness, and the feeling of being powerless all washed over me like a giant wave crashing into the rock-ridden sand of a beach. I had done this time and time before, moving from town to town. I think by that time I had been used to it, but I was never really prepared for the nerves that were going to take over on that first day of school. I was relieved to be moving out of Oelwein, the town was filled with drugs and bad people. The reputation there was terrible, and the sports program not being very good, it never gave kids the chance to find something in their life. Although, at the same time, I was sad to be leaving. I thought I had finally found some good friends. I was about to move again though; new life, new friends, and new opportunities.

The final day was filled with sadness that I had to leave but a sense of relief that I could return to my new home at Hope College. The few days I had with my parents were amazing but I knew it had to come to and end. This wasn’t a permanent homecoming and in the back of my head I always had the thought that I had to go back to college. By the end of the weekend I knew it was time to go back, I had made a new home at college with a new routine that I needed to return to. Packing up my car and saying goodbye to my parents was tough and was even sadder with my mom crying as I drove off. I waved goodbye as she teared with hiding it behind my dog but I still saw. My eyes starting getting watery but after picking up my friend to drive back my mood was lifted. After returning to campus I reorganized all stuff that I had brought home to clean. I hadn’t even thought about it but my mom had done all my laundry without me asking. This brought back me missing my parents because I knew how much they cared for me.

I could tell my dad was genuinely excited about this University or Laboratory that I have never heard of before. I sat down with the rest of family at the table and my dad explained about the school and how it’s really hard to get into, but somehow, I got in. I sort of felt happy that i'm going to such a prestigious school, but I didn’t wanna leave my friends. It didn’t matter however, I was about to start my 8th grade, and a new school year at a different school.

College is many things. It may be a new beginning, perhaps it's the next step after high school, or it could be a huge culture shock. For me it was always just the next step. I never had to worry myself about what life was going to be like after high school because I knew that I was going to be furthering my education, and going to college. Ever since I started elementary school it seems as if all I’ve been working towards is going to college. So it was always a given that I would go to college, there was no question about it. I know that not everyone is as lucky as I am to get the opportunity to go to college. Whether it’s because they couldn’t afford it, didn’t make it into a college, or just didn't want to go to school anymore. I know not everyone I come in contact with will have the same experience as me or anything close for that matter. A few things that I have really noticed so far about myself and being in college are my studying skills or lack of, my ability to pay for college/ not having a job, and my preparedness for college. These are three cultural locations that ill will be addressing throughout the paper.