My Life At Parkland College Essay

I come from a small military family where neither of my parents graduated high school. My parents divorced when I was two and left my mother as the sole provider for three children. Over the next few years I experienced severe personal trauma that would change the course of my life. At the age of 15 I dropped out of school, left home, and began working to support myself. The highest level of education I completed at that time was the eighth grade. In my early twenties I became a single mother of two girls. Because of the financial struggles that I endured due to not continuing my education I clearly emphasized the importance of getting a college education to both of my children. One particular discussion that I was having at the dinner table where I was enforcing the “requirement” of college for my children; my youngest daughter questioned me in the most innocent way, “ Mommy? Why is it so important for us to go to college when you didn’t even finish high school?” at that moment my life

My mom had finally reached college after many years of education. She was very excited to go to college and leave home. She soon found out that college was not going to be easy for her. When she was a freshman she had huge financial struggles. After getting student loans she paid for her books and tuition but could not pay for other things. She had to learn how to deal with humiliation after asking some friends if she could stay with them. Next, she had to take on many part-time jobs to get through college. Learning to multitask was another big part during this time. She had to make time for her studying, homework, and projects while still having to work after class. Lastly, after lots of determination, she made it through college. Even though she had to keep up with work and schoolwork, she finished with good grades and got her college degree. My mom now has a very successful job, and now that she can get through tough things with determination. Overall, my mom struggled but was able to pull herself together and finish

I found a job that I have been at for twenty years now. Ten years ago I met my current wife; she had put herself through college and was proud of her accomplishment. Throughout our marriage she would encourage me go back to school and complete a degree for myself. I would always tell her there just was not enough time in a day or money in the bank for college; this was my excuse so I wouldn’t fail.

Through many life obstacles I was not very fortunate or goal driven to attempt to go to college after high school. Grew up in a military family so my family was stricter about keeping their children

Financial woes sometimes make focusing on my studies very difficult. My children watch every move that I make and sometimes imitate me, I want them to emulate my determination by finishing school and earning a degree. I want them to strive for excellent grades, just as I have. I have come to the realization that with a degree, I can pursue a career with a more rewarding salary and a better work-life balance. My fortitude to improve our quality of life has really influenced my academic goals and achievements.

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.

I grew up in a single-parent, low-income home outside of Santa Rosa, California. The idea of college wasn’t introduced to me until long after I had already become just another statistic. I dropped out of high school when I was 17, in the midst of a teenage rebellion, thinking I already knew everything and didn’t need anyone’s help. I left home, got a job at a fast food restaurant, and stayed with friends off and on until I realized that maybe I didn’t know everything quite yet. After a severe reality check, I found a sense of responsibility that encouraged me to get my G.E.D and find a great job. I was very determined to take everything I learned as a child and use it as a what-not-to-do guide. By the time I was 19, I bought my first house and quickly realized I could either set limitations with excuses or achieve goals with endurance. The

As you know, I was one of your favorite students but I didn’t get to actually tell you my story. When my two sisters and I lost our mother to breast cancer, I was only seven years old. It seemed like immediately after her death my loving and grateful father remarried. I struggled with reality for years and I felt lost. By the time my twenty-first birthday came I was pregnant. I had little knowledge on anything. Honestly, I missed out on my mother’s reliance on God including her guidance. There were periods of hardship until I finally cleared my mind. I started to listen to my step-mother’s military ways and I took action. I started my education with my dreams in mind and enrolled at Parkland College.

After living in three different foster care homes in the middle of South Dallas, I was adopted into a low income household. My adopted parents drilled in me the importance of having a college degree, father a middle school drop-out and mother just a high school graduate. I became the first-generation college graduate in 2014, just to show my siblings that your background does not predict the level of education you can receive. My mother taught me that repetitive style of learning in a simplified form was best in my early ages of school. Growing up with a learning disability, I was behind other students that was five years old; since I did not start talking until I was five. My parents were patience with me when it came to my education, making

Hello I know it is early but I was just wondering about how to go about becoming a student here next september. I am going to into my second year of Westchester Community College in Westchester. After my two years I would like to attend John Jay, what would be the steps in attending? Is their a certain grade I need to get in order to get in. Also while I was in high school I never took the SAT/ACT would that be a problem ?

“Where are you from?” This question always seems to throw me off balance. The easy answer: Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, New York, Colorado. The list of places I lived was easy to report, but it never felt complete. One day in a classroom in Muncie, Indiana, I asked the very same question of a group of my students. One seven-year-old raised their hand and said, “I’m from Longfellow [Elementary].” In this moment I connected with this child and understood where I was from. I am from school. Throughout the inconstancy of a physical home, education was my only constant. Education dedicated its life to me and now I have chosen to dedicate my life to education.

College is a great opportunity that I am blessed to be going through today. I see it as an opportunity to grow as a person and set myself up for the future I want. The success I have in the future will be greatly affected by how I do in college.

School is one of my top priorities; I take responsible for my own grades, and I know that I am capable to overcome any challenges. Both of my parents did not go to college but just graduated from high school. Although my parents have never pushed me to study, I have always desired to learn and to become successful in order to provide for my family and to achieve my dreams. I look forward to go to college out of state such as NYU, Columbia, UPENN, and many more. I am very much interested in the medical field, specifically in the Emergency Department. I strive to be an ER physician or an anesthesiologist. I chose this profession not because of its wealth, but because I want to put myself out of my comfort zone and to give all of my energy, whether it is physically or emotionally, in helping someone in need. To me, being successful is not

I have struggled to regain my education and as a mother, I will do everything in my power to ensure my child does not face this dilemma. By the time I get my degree she will be 7 years old and will get to whiteness how hard I have worked to accomplish my goals. Once I get my degree, I can finally have my dream career. With the gained skills needed to accomplish my professional goals I can also focus on my personal goals. We can go back home to our family and the place I love most of all. I can spend more time taking pictures, go snowboarding and volunteering at the SPCA.

Honestly I love college rather than my high school. My high school can rot in hell for all I care. They always left us loads of homework, six packets plus reading a day, for six classes. As if we did not have a life, and we went home to be couch potatoes. Some of us had a job, others like myself were in a sport or club, so when we got home either it was 10 PM or 11 PM. Monday through Friday we call them all nighters because we wouldn 't go to sleep until 3 AM just to get done with half of the homework. Many times it was 24 hours of no sleep. The longest I have stayed because I had to, has been 72 hours and lord, I do not know how my parents handled me. The times I had to stay up 72 hours, it was like I had been possessed by the devil. I became bipolar to whatever people told me, either I would get angry, yell, cry. I guess I had to be put through all this suffering since I only had class 4 days and 1 day of work study. Now as for college, I do not feel so stressed out because I have enough time to do my homework and even put effort to my homework. I can actually take serious my education instead of focusing in my GPA. Here I am given little homework to do that I can understand and finish in like twenty-five minutes or less.