Overcoming Obstacles In College

Being a freshman in college, I set impractical and unrealistic goals for myself. Throughout the year, I had to overcome various obstacles to strive in meeting the goals I had set out for myself. One of my goals during the first year of college was to earn a 4.0 GPA. I thought this would be an easy feat as I was able to academically grow throughout my academic career—excelling from being roughly a 2.6 GPA student to roughly a 4.0 GPA student. One of the biggest obstacles I had to face was taking exams. In high school, I did not need to prepare for exams as much as I do in college. I underestimated my midterms and finals as I did not know that I had to study at least a week ahead of time in order to obtain suitable grades. In high school, I was able to study one or two nights beforehand and still manage to achieve high grades.

Throughout high school, numerous students have obstacles that they go through that end up affecting their educational journey. For myself, my hurdle was learning to cope with having a job, playing sports and being a part of school clubs all while sustaining worthy grades.

The decision to attend graduate school can be one of immense commitment and responsibility. Success requires rigorous planning and well-defined goals, both short-term and long-term. Exceptional communication skills are also necessary to interact effectively with fellow classmates and faculty. Although completion of a Master’s program opens doors to many professional career opportunities, it does not come without challenges. One also must have several strategies in place for dealing with these challenges when they arise. With determination and hard work, overcoming these barriers will lead to success.

Have you ever been injured? Well, everyone gets injured at some point in time, whether it be a minor injury like a sprained ankle or a severe injury like a torn ACL. Some injuries may take you longer to recuperate from than others. Have you ever been injured while playing a sport? 3.5 million Children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities. Even though you may get injured in a game you shouldn’t counting to play, it may cause even more damage. If you do have an injury while playing a sport you should rest for a little bit, but do not give up keep being persistent.

These past four years in high school have been full of obstacles for me. My freshmen year my parents were going through a divorce and it was a big transition for us as a family; my mom had a hard time maintaining jobs and I had to grow up quick to help out around the house. The next few years my mom struggled with many different problems in her life which led to her getting evicted amongst other things. I moved in with my dad permanently and now life at home is getting better. I struggled with many things at home through high school but as I reach the end of my senior year those obstacles have only made me a better person. College is something my family is nervous about because my dad is raising four kids on his own and will have trouble supporting

The fact that neither of my parent have attended college makes it harder for me to know what the financial situation would look like. As the first person in my family to attend college, I never knew that money can become one of the biggest obstacles that can affect my chances of reaching an education. Everyday I am faced with thoughts on whether or not I would have enough money to finish and receive my undergraduate degree. Renting a house with four other students, paying the monthly bills, and buying daily needs (foods, hygiene, etc) can be frustrating when money is so tight for me to pay all on my own. I am currently a student employee at the university, but the amount that I earned each month only covers the rent and the monthly spendings

Beep! Beep! Beep! The piercing sound of my phone alarm jolted me to sit upright. Reluctantly, I woke up disregarding the fact that I had only slept for five hours. The lack of sleep tempted me to return to bed, but the uneasy feeling I had of missing my first day of high school convinced me otherwise. About an hour or two passed after this incident, and I have arrived at Passaic County Technical Institute’s campus that looked as if the land continued for miles with almost no clouds in sight. I entered my first year of high school as a lonely student who did not know what to forecast. However, looking back on these last four years, one thing is for sure is that I have encountered obstacles that other people may not have had the pleasure to face.

During my senior year of high school, I encountered many obstacles. One of the biggest obstacles was certainly applying to colleges and figuring out what I wanted to major in. It was a task I needed to complete on my own. My parents did not go to college, so they were helpless in the application process. I was also under the impression that my older sisters were going to assist me, but they were too busy with their own classes and work. The pressure was on, and time was ticking. I knew if I waited too long that I was going to hinder my chances of going to college at all and become a disappointment to my parents.

There are many Obstacles in my life as a college student, and I hadn’t prepared myself to get through all of them. Many obstacles lead back to money and not having enough to get to the stable and secure career in the future. My main obstacles are: money, procrastinating, fear, and being unsure of what I want to do.

“You are the only person that you should rely on.” My mom said it best, because of her this was my 10 year old mentality. Independence is a huge factor in my household, my mom always taught me that eventually she won’t be there to protect me. Raised by a strong single mother, I was taught that when you depend on others you lose your sense of pride and sovereignty. When you learn to stand on your own two feet and take care of what you are accounted for, you see the world for what it really is. Although you may face obstacles, it is important to remember that it is not the end. Obstacles do not block ones path, rather they are the course to prosperity.

The lessons we take from obstacle we encounter can be fundamental to later success. We always are faced with challenges but the only way to overcome them is if we face them head on. Something that challenges me everyday is my sister. My sister was diagnosed with Epilepsy in early June of 2016. My family has to deal with this everyday for the rest of our lives.

Situations such as job promotions can cause fear and stress. When someone is promoted at their job, especially to a leadership role, obstacles appear that seem impossible. Speaking from experience, the stress it causes can lead to uncertainty, fear, exhaustion, and jealousy. It is important to know how to overcome these hurdles for the sake of the company and your own well-being.

As a high school senior student, one of the most significant challenges in which I’ve faced, was when I was in my junior year and played golf. It was my first year and I had no idea of how golf would be. Since I loved playing sports, I never bothered to be in one, because I never had time. When practices came by, I had to figure everything out by myself, without any of my team member’s help. My coach wouldn’t quite teach me the basics of the sport. I had to learn through my own mistakes when we would play in the match games. This sport involved much of patience and plenty of walking in the hot heat for a tremendous amount of time, which were two things I wasn’t comfortable with having, especially in the season of summer. Looking back to that significant challenge, it has brought me joy to know that I was capable enough to do it; and thought I’d never make it to the end.

Going to college is a big deal for some people, college usually means getting out of the town you grew up in and going on to bigger and better things in life. Some get scholarships to go to their dream college, others aren't so lucky, they have to take out student loans and get other financial aid help. There are many challenges about going to college, but money is the biggest challenge of them all. Having money is the only way to get into college or getting scholarships, but not everyone gets scholarships. If your parents do not have the money to send you to college, they have to take out student loans that you have to pay for, for the rest of your life almost. It is challenging to get into the college that you really want to go to school at if you do not have the money to put yourself through college.

Being a college student takes time and dedication, especially when having other priorities such as work, family, and time to take a break. A student has to make time to do homework or study for your tests and finals, while still maintain a job and a social life. Every person is different and manages their time differently so it comes easier to some than it does to others. Others put work off to the last minute and add stress that is not needed. I personally do not always use my time effectively and it has been a problem in the past, along with delaying work that needs to be done. I have thought of ways to improve my barriers. Along with people who could help me overcome them.