My First College Tour At Texas State University

High school and college students across the country face the decision of whether or not to stay in state for their college education. The financial requirements of college can put a strain on many families. Young adults can also become lonely, scared, and lost without their families when attending college in an unfamiliar place. While college is already life changing enough the hassle of adjusting to new surroundings can be hard as well. Many Americans think that getting into a prestigious college and spending a ton for an education that someone can get for a much cheaper price at their local university is wise. The choice to go to an out-of-state college can affect the rest of someone’s life and send

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.

Decisions made prior to the age of eighteen always seem like a crisis until you have met the mother of all crisis, your final college decision. I found myself staring my future directly in the face almost a year ago wondering where I would further my education just as much as the people pressuring an answer from me. After months of self deliberation, I set my sights on Prairie View A&M University for fall enrollment, albeit if you would have asked me just a few months before I would have turned my face up and dismissed the university as even an option. Stereotypes of universities that historically known as predominantly populated by black students skewed their image for me. Eventually, my outlook was enlightened through educating myself more

From the time I was in junior high, my grandmother had been telling me about College of the Ozarks and trying to convince me to attend the college. After much consideration, I decided to make College of the Ozarks my top priority when applying to colleges. The atmosphere of the college, the perfect distance from home, and the opportunity to work for my education were all major factors when making this decision. I had attended private Christian schools for most of my life, so the small campus and Christian values of College of the Ozarks appealed to me much more than the chaotic partying ways of a larger university. I knew if I attended College of the Ozarks, many of my classes would be more difficult than at a public university; however, I saw the difficult classes as an opportunity to learn more, which I believed would help me later in life. I also knew the professors at College of the Ozarks would be more caring and more willing to help than those at other colleges.

The foundation of my future will be cemented with the education I receive here at CBU so that I may contribute meaningfully to society no matter how big or small. However, some of my closest friends from high school attended institutions such as University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and Cal Poly Pomona. I, on the other hand, took the slower route to save a pretty penny. Though I experienced community college for 7 year and graduated, I have no regrets, and those experiences gained thus far make me who I am

The drastic and exponential rise in college tuition and fees has thousands of Americans questioning if the education is worth the high costs. Knowing that a college education may open doors and allow for career opportunities that would not be there without a college degree, many feel pressured to attend. High school seniors specifically feel this pressure as the topic of whether or not they want to attend college and where comes into question. Not only do students have to be concerned about if the college they wish to attend has particular degrees, but also the cost of the secondary education. As a senior in high school I personally understand the frustration in considering the cost of college when choosing the right college to attend. Student

Many high school students succeed with a little leniency through their four years. The transfer from high school to college becomes overwhelming and a struggle for some. For students do not comprehend the importance of changing more than their location during the transition. A student must be psychologically, physically, and emotionally mature to pursue college and not venture into a point of no return. Dropping out of college makes the outlook of the conversion difficult to acquire. Individuals should take their time on deciding which college and/or university is the best match for them. There are various reasons that cause persons not to prosper. Issues that individuals may come upon might leave a lifelong scar. Matters such as these

For me, the decision to go to college was never based on community college vs. university. In high school, I did not apply myself and did not make the grades to go to college. As graduation time came and went I found myself disinterested in the idea. I often felt that I wasn’t smart enough to pursue a higher education and the possibility of failure was too intimidating. It wasn’t until my daughter was born that I decided I wanted to earn a career and make myself into something she could be proud of. My dreams realized, I could see a clear path and was ready to take the plunge. However, my options were limited. Thanks to my lack of high school aspirations, I only had one choice: community college.

Deresiewicz shows is once the student has chosen the highest level of college to attend then they won’t stray away from their path.“I taught many wonderful young people during my years in the Ivy League- bright, thoughtful, creative kids whom it was a pleasure to talk with and learn from. But most of them seemed content to color within the lines that their education had marked out for them. Very few were passionate about ideas. Very few saw college as part of a larger project of intellectual discovery and development. Everyone dressed as if they were ready to be interviewed at a moment’s notice” (Deresiewicz 203).

My mother’s best friend Zetia once asked me, “So Miya, do you think you will pursue a college degree?” “Yes, of course.” I responded. “Well it is not like you have much of a choice, but why do you want to go college? Do you want to go simply because you don’t have a choice but to do so with the career that you want to pursue? Or perhaps you’re aiming for that same college experience that characters Whitley and Devin earned in the show A Different World and movie Drumline? What is your reason for wanting to attend college?” she asked. “Well, I do want to attend college for all of those reasons,” I responded, “but one of my main reasons for wanting to attending college are to not only continue a legacy of pursuing a post-secondary degree and attending a historically black college, but to also gain some of the same experiences that you and my parents had as college students, such as homecoming.” Attending my parents’ homecoming for the very first time played a significant role in deciding to attend college.

My transfer process from the dreary and jaded halls of my high school to the independent halls of Isothermal Community College was drastic. Rutherford - Spindale Central High School made me feel trapped, and as though none of my choices mattered in the slightest bit. When I finally graduated I knew my life would change and it has quite a bit. I make my own decisions and I am responsible for important things, such as my education and grades. I am thankful for the freedom that my college life gives me as well as the responsibility.

Decisions, decisions. Choosing a college is one of the most life-altering decisions that an individual can make, and choosing the right college is a stressful process for high school seniors. Personally, the process overwhelmed me, and I did not know where to begin it especially when my controlling parents did not approve any of my out-of-state choices. Although I have always been obedient and listened to my parents’ every command, I disobeyed my parents for the first time in my life when I decided to go away to college three thousand miles away from home.

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.

The first trip I went on was a community outreach trip to the children’s daycare, on campus at San Diego State University. This being my first trip, I was not sure what to expect. Initially, I did not think the children would be interested in oral hygiene, however, since we promoted healthy oral hygiene through games, the children were fascinated in what we had to say and show them. It was shocking how few of these children knew how to properly floss and teaching them how to was definitely a challenge. Most of the kids were unable to grip the floss with both of their tiny hands but it was admirable how much determination they had despite their struggles, and it showed how much they really wanted to learn how to floss. Even though most of the children were actively participating, there were some who were very shy and too timid to participate, which made me realize that when I am dentist I will often be working with children who are very shy and I have to make sure that they are comfortable around me. Ultimately, this trip showed me that I am going to be working with hundreds of patients, none of which are the same and it will be my job to do whatever I can to make them comfortable in my office and care.

Students in high school and college are given many ultimatums during their time as a student. Should I attend this university because it has the better dorms and the higher tuition? Or should I attend the school where I receive the most scholarships? All of these questions that are difficult for some to answer. human condition creates the human aspiration for something they know that they can achieve. Dr. Roush states in College Should be an Adventure, “Above all, imagine your college days as an