My Community College Experience

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

Life skills play an important role for becoming successful professionally and improving our personal lives. Oprah, in her lifeclass video, talks about being responsible for yourself and not waiting for anyone else to change the circumstances around you as a way to develop the skills necessary to flourish. The story of Robert Sherfields first experience at community college, “How Community College Changed My Life” tells of how Mr. Sherfield let go of his past failures and worked toward a better future for himself. The quote by Charles Noble “First we make our habits, then our habits make us!” is great to remember when developing the life skills necessary to continue to grow in all aspects of our lives. The video, story and quote can all be connected, good habits produce responsible people. Responsible people are aware of their

According to the report made on hechingerreport.org in May 2015, only 39 percent of community college students obtain there degree within six years of entering community college. This is appalling. This means that 60 percent of students will not finish in six years a degree that is meant to take two years. Although college is difficult, I will be successful by seeking advice from experts and by developing some effective strategies.

There are a number of reasons why more students are opting to enroll in their local community college, rather than going straight to four year institutions. Community College is better way to begin your college career than a four-year University because it is less expensive, better support at a small College, and smaller class size in Community College.

I think if colleges lower their requirements, standards and prices I believe that a lot more percentage of students and families would be in college right now. I don’t understand why it cost so much just to get a piece of paper with your name on it after 6 years. I believe everyone deserves a chance to go to college, some students can’t because they can’t afford it, and so they start working right after high school. I’m happy they made a community college, a cheaper college for adults and students to get their basics done. But, I fell more labeled going to community college. Why is it that we go to community colleges but universities teach the same thing, and you’re both studying for a degree? A quote by Connor McGregor, “There’s no talent

That is how adults handle interactions, and to react defensively, I feel, is mostly a reaction based in fear.

My most significant endeavor since attending community college has been has been protesting Capitol Hill at Washington, D.C. demanding congress to pass a clean Dream Act. As a member of the organization United We Dream, I went with them on a 16 hour long bus trip to the capital from Miami. Once we got to the capital, we went to a local church to practice how the protest was going to happen. At the church, I met many students like myself who all came to voice their demands to congress. During the lunch break, I met a student my age in the same grade. He noticed I was wearing a University of Southern California jacket and asked if I went there. I told him that I was a community college student at Miami Dade College planning on transferring there, that's when he told me he also attended a community college in Colorado and was planning to attend the same university.

Graduating high school was an exciting time, but I felt lost. I wasn't sure of my career goals or what I wanted to accomplish at University. When I first decided to attend community college, I felt hesitant because I did not take the traditional route like my other classmates. However, community college was cheaper and would give me time to figure out the career path I wanted to take.

Community college is a great institution for students to start their educational journey. Especially when they do not have the funds or lack some of the prerequisite that a university would require. Community college was created to serve the community, traditional and non-traditional students with the best higher education and lifetime learning opportunities. The faculty and staff members at a community college is there to provide leadership in education while going above and beyond to recognize the needs of the students and the community by providing excellent educational programs and support services that are available to all who have the opportunity to take advantage of them. “Student services now include recruitment and retention, counseling, student activities, student health, financial aid, academic support, career centers, transfer centers, and supplemental services such as transportation, child care, and services tailored for specific populations of students” (Cohen, Brawer, & Krisker, 2014, pg. 209). My philosophy in fulfilling the role and mission of the community college, is to establish the mission, vision, goals and values to guide all students on their journey to strive to become successful both in school and in today’s economy.

It is evident the American Community College faces political challenges in the 21st century. According to the America Association of Community College (2017), this is a time of political transition where there are many ambiguities for higher education policymaking surrounding national perceptions of community colleges, funding, infrastructure, immigration, tax reform, accountability, etc. Altbach et al., 1999 (should I include page number (pg 298)) revealed that leaders, such as effective college presidents using a political frame see the inherent politics of the organization, build up plans, muster partnerships, and focus on negotiation and conflict to achieve noble purposes (Altbach et al., 1999 and Bolman et al.,2013, pp216).

Initially after high school I decided to move across the country in order to find myself, my passions, and my career goals. I attended WW-P South in Princeton Junction where many of my friends chose TCNJ. I always loved TCNJ but I knew I wasn't academically ready to be part of the community just yet. I started at a private university in California which turned out to be an amazing experience but also a lesson learned that it was not for me. Everything was new and overwhelming and it was the first time being completely on my own. After completing my freshmen year, I moved to a community college to do better academically and work a little on the side. My passion for pursing a degree boosted during my second community college that I attended.

Througout my academic career, I have learned as much about myself as I have learned in school, whether it be from high school, to community college, and my journey that lead me to Arizona State University. I can honestly say as my parents did, that I wish I would’ve tried harder in high school. I scraped by taking the easiest classes possible and choosing to take the easy way out. Looking at my transcript makes me cringe, because I know that I am capable of so much more. I wish that I would’ve taken the honor classes and tried so that I would’ve been able to apply to a college other than a community college. My time at Mohave Community College was a significant improvement from my experience in high school. Not only did I graduate with near honors (3.49), I had made the Dean’s list and Honors List for three out of my four semesters, the first time this had happened since middle school. I had never felt more motivated and focused in my life. I was taking 16 credits and prospering and had a balance of work, school, and a social life. I had never felt more proud of my self in my life. As I sit here and write this paper, I question my time here at ASU as I try to plan the nex chapter of my life. I wonder where I am supposed to go and what I am supposed to do.School for the first time had become a priority, however, it began to consume my life. I would spend hours and hours on end doing homework and studying, and although there seems to be nothing wrong with this, I wouldn’t go

“You have a great future ahead of you; don’t let it go to waste.” That is what my surgeon had told me after my final post-op checkup, the last time I had seen him. After months of fear, anxiety, and boredom, I was finally cured of the tumor that had plagued my brain for over a year. Being diagnosed with a brain tumor was a turning point in my life; previously, I had been complacent, and never really applied myself to my school work. I had always assumed I would become successful without much effort; this had been a wake-up call.

I am a first-generation, Chicano and will soon finish my last semester before I transfer to a four year university in the upcoming fall. Coming from a first-generation household, I have had to overcome many obstacles to be in the position that I am now in. Community college has been a valuable resource that has allowed me to pursue an amazing education at a low price which has eased the burden of high tuition on my parents. Sometimes it is the cost of education that impedes those that seek it and scholarships are one avenue in which they become easier to travel down the path to success. Coming out of Gilroy High School years ago, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in and devote myself to but I had the amazing opportunity of enrolling in University of California, Merced.

Everything in my life occurred backwards. I married at age 17 and started a family. My children were my motivation. Postsecondary education seemed impossible. Guidance and a support system were absent from my life. The process for attaining an education seemed so complicated. Postsecondary education seemed so foreign to me. I struggled through paying for one class at a time due to the absence of knowledge about financial aid. Unfortunately, I did not have a counselor that mentored me throughout the process. Nine years later through aspirations for my children, I finally achieved my Associates’ Degree from a community college. Unfortunately, at this time, I never acknowledged my success of receiving a degree.