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
In my first reflection, I elaborated on my personal goals in relation to my experiences at Spelman College. I spoke about how those experiences have influenced my goals. Since then my goals have not changed, however I have become more determined to reach those goals. My overall determination stems from the fact that I am surrounded by a vast group of intelligent and talented women. My Spelman sisters push me to reach greater heights, and they encourage me to not just be mediocre. Therefore, the consistency of my goals, my influences to acquire my goals, and my aspiration to achieve my goals all contribute to my success at Spelman College thus far.
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
One educational opportunity that I never would have thought would even have been an opportunity was my decision to go to community college. While I used to feel as though I had to prove myself by going to a 4-year university right away, at College of the Canyons, I have actually learned more about myself and my academic ethics. I used to feel that community college was a barrier, separating me from my university dreams. However, without my community college journey, my academic passions and endeavors might not have been the same. I have used this time to learn how to be more assertive as well as more willing to problem solve and think out of the box. Since my goals were not handed to me on a silver platter, the community college process has
I came into Norwalk Community College looking for a fresh start. I previously attended a 4 year university that became too much for me; attending school full-time, working 30 hours per week while trying to enjoy the college experience. At the cost of an “experience” I ended up failing most of my classes, putting my health at risk drowned by the tremendous amount of stress and just wanted to completely give up. Looking for a fresh start I decided to leave my University, and attend Norwalk Community College. Though this decision created self-doubt in the beginning, it soon came to my realization that it was the best decision I ever made. Immersed in an environment full of positive people, I was able to put my pieces back together.
During high school, I struggled to maintain my grades and focus. I was in a small town, and every ounce of opportunity seemed to slowly be sucked away from the town as the years past with the aid of the downward economic spiral beginning. I felt, like many of my fellow classmates, that opportunity had passed us by. I didn’t dare conjure even the thought of attending Eastern; it would’ve been too similar to the
The transition from high school to college is a dynamic time in one’s life that parallels the change from childhood to adulthood. Both of these changes are dramatic and, as a result, feelings are difficult to put down into words. A messy combination of emotions fills the heart, surfacing in strange ways. Confident high school seniors go right back to the bottom of the chain when entering college as freshmen. These students start all over, just like entering grade school or high school for the first time. The move up from high school to college signals the switch from dependence to self-sufficiency. From a personal point of view, going through the experience of graduating high school and transferring to a residential college campus at STLCOP, made me realize I was no longer a kid and capable of making my own decisions.
Throughout my life as a child and teenager, I was told by my parents that they worked really hard to get to the safe town and community that we lived in. Growing up in Pacific Grove, California gave me lots opportunities that I didn’t even know I obtained. Unless it had happened to me personally, I didn’t really understand the full picture of what others had to go through. Having dyslexia, the only subject I felt I really excelled in was art. After high school, I still had no idea what I wanted to do for a career or even a major. Monterey Peninsula College has boosted my confidence by showing me that I can be and do much more. Two years ago I would never have guessed that I would be applying to the University of Washington.
This is a reflective essay concerning my READ 3423.01 with Dr. Reid in the fall of 2016. As I wrap up my first semester at Texas Women’s University I am awed and thankful. I am the first person in my family to attend University. Some find this surprising because I do come from a family that has done well professionally, but that was due to grit and personalities. The fact is, I was never even spoken to about attending college while I was growing up. I believe this is because no one before me had this experience to share or encourage. The truth is I tried my hardest to not be at school from middle school on, I just wasn’t engaged in the process. Of course, there were a few teachers I connected with, like the business and history teachers, but I hated the rules and structure of the environment. I amazedly graduated with my high school class, as my friends went away to Universities I took some classes at the community college. What I found was that when I got to pick my classes I flourished. Even the classes that others said were too hard to take during summer quarter, I excelled in those as well. As life unfolded I got married, moved out of state and had two daughters. When it was time for my daughters to attend school I was pretty apprehensive about the idea of it. I opened a preschool in a mother-in-law apartment we had on our property and decided they could learn there in a small community. That preschool led to homeschooling, and large educational co-ops. I lived in a
Collecting my belongings and putting them into my bag, I felt exhausted. I had tried my hardest but I didn’t know if my hardest was good enough for the college qualifications. Getting into college was one of the most important things to me. I dreamed all my life of getting accepted into a great college, and increasing my education to become something I love. I always strived for success in school, and I was always being complimented for my work of ethic. I believe that college is my path to a great
My transition to Oak Knoll was excellent but arduous. I loved the spiritual community and the close knit class. But, I had a harder time adjusting academically. The rigorous academic classes at Oak Knoll resulted in a drop in my GPA. These grades don’t reflect my work ethic and I enjoy the challenge of a more difficult school. These were enhanced expectations that I couldn’t meet at the time. My lowered GPA resulted from a sickness that extended through my sophomore years. Once I was better, I was able to do better in school, which shows in my previous year grades. These year’s show my true academic potential. I am confident that I will be successful at the college I plan on
I know with my great experience, drive, and future college education from CCU that great things are not too far ahead. Another event that caused me to venture back into the college arena is the insatiable appetite I have for knowledge. When I started my college search this last time I really looked closely at what all the schools had to offer. I found CCU and I felt like my search had ended but my journey had just begun. College has always been a place I enjoyed going, it is a symbol to me that there is hope for a better tomorrow. WKU, the college I attended straight out of high school, brings back some of the best memories I have ever experience. It gave me a sense of pride when I passed my classes, it improved my social skills, and it brought me closer to my responsibilities. I believe that with an associate’s degree from CCU in Healthcare Administration new doors will open, opportunities will knock. In wrapping up this essay, it seems that there are many events in play that have influenced me not only to future my education, but to attend CCU as
While in high school, I took advantage of office hours and after school programs that were offered on campus. When I transition to community college, I got involve with programs including but not limited to; EOP, Dream Weavers, the writing and math center, the library, and tutors who provided help via the EOP office. My college grades are a merely reflect my academic achievements. They also synonymous with challenges I faced while being a student at the community college level. As I began my first few years in college, it was absolutely tedious and at time confusing because I was unaware of career counselor guidance, financial aid opportunities, and even lacked the social support to continue my studies. I did not let these challenges affect
Throughout my four years here at Blackfoot high school, I’ve changed a lot. I went through many different phases from my freshman to my senior year. My freshman year I remember thinking “I don’t need college,” “College isn’t for me,” “I’m not going to college,” Boy, was I wrong.
For many, after graduating high school the next big step is college. I never asked myself why or if I even wanted to. Yet, since I was not yet ready to join the work force, and didn’t want to disappoint my parents, I simply followed the path that I was supposed to take. For a while I had no direction, but through the loss of my high school English teacher and my dream of making my family proud, I discovered that college was the place I wanted and needed to be.
It never crossed my mind that both my academic life and the privilege to attend USC would ever be in jeopardy. At first, I believed that my transition from a community college into a 4-year institution would essentially be a walk at the park. Unfortunately, to my dismay, I was wrong. I underestimated the level of work and effort that was required out of me from this university in order to be successful. Instead, I overestimated my abilities and trusted my poor sense of judgement. This mentality consequently stunted my potential to perform at my very best which led to my downfall. As a result, I found myself in a very peculiar situation that I had never been in before nor ever experienced. I found myself at the brink of academic disqualification and on the verge of having my dreams disappear right before my eyes.