Personal Narrative: Coming Back To School

My decision to go back to school in the fall of 2012 was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I’m a stay at home mom of 4 boys with 2 of them being special needs. My oldest was born with a rare genetic condition called hereditary spastic paraplegia and my youngest son was born with a rare condition called Dravet Syndrome that requires 24/7 care. I was at a point in my life where I had lost my identity of who I was and I wanted to be me again. I made that important decision to go back to school for myself with the fear of how I was going to do it, but I knew that it was right. It took me 3 years to complete my AS but with the support of my husband and kids I was able to receive my degree. I worked hard and was able to juggle being

I started to work as a waitress at very young age. I stopped receiving education because my grades at school were not good and studying seemed to be boring. Working in my twenties appeared to be more adventurous and full of promises. As the time passed by, my routine at work turned out to be a nuisance. I was feeling empty inside without knowing the reason. As my level of expertise in the catering business was growing, the idea of starting up a restaurant on my own was beginning to take shape. I believed to know how to handle a business but I was missing all the technicalities. Getting back to school was a good alternative though I did not feel ready.

Coming back to school after being away for 17 years has been one of the most emotionally taxing endeavors I've experienced. My career experience was working in the quality control field. Being apart of the industry was very satisfying until the point in which the 2008 recession hit. Having to go through the uncertainty of being laid off and the frustration of trying to reenter the work force with only a high school diploma brought into focus that I needed to finish the bachelor degree I had started. While attempting to find gainful employment I took the opportunity to begin the process of transferring to a school here in California. I had originally started my degree in Lincoln, Nebraska, but moved out to California with my significant other.

The hum of fans, the spinning of the disk in its tray. Sitting on my soccer ball beanbag chair that I got for my 11th birthday with a controller in my hands. As a kid, in Washington state, on school days we were not allowed to play video games during the week. Summer was the break from school and the time for lots and I mean lots of video games.  Before I could hit that power button, I had to do something I despised, hated, and avoided like it was the plague. I… had… to… read.

I really enjoy doing my homework and learning but, I hate going to school to learn and get my homework. I moved to Vermont after eighth grade because my father got to move higher up at work. I don't know a lot about his job but, I didn't have a say. Back at home in Mississippi I didn't have a lot of friends. I had one named Lucy but when I told her I was going to move she said we weren't friends anymore. I'm starting high school now and I'm so scared to start over again. I love my new room the view is very pretty but, tonight I hate it because tomorrow is my first day of school.

It all started on a Friday the day I got off for spring break. I had just got home from school and I had went up to my room to get on my IPad and texting my friends to hang out with some friends. Then, around 4:00 my parents had come up to my room all happy and excited to tell me the greatest news ever. Then, they say, “We are moving to Findlay.” At first, I thought they were joking, but then they keep saying they were not joking about anything and I really just didn’t know what to say about this. I started to ask why we would ever move away and they said “your father got a job transfer.” Then I started to think about it and I just didn’t want to do this at all. Then for the rest of the day I just sat up in my room trying not to think about

I was laying on my fluffy bed thinking about what I should do before going back to “uh” school. I absolutely despise going to school from everyone not liking me to rules and directions and, my super popular older brother and sister Heacter and Winter. What made it worse was that Then I remembered that there were posters all over school before spring break saying that there was going to be a party today across town at 4pm. I rolled over to see that my clock yelling 3:30pm and, that I needed to go. I realised that there was no way I was going to make it in time and, being two hours late would not work out. There was only one thing that I could do. I ran all over the house until I found Heacter and Winter.

The droplets of rain emerge from the towering clouds as I step onto the vibrant green grass for the first time. I lock eyes with the monstrous building and tilt my head back until I have reached the roof. There I was. A stick-like, puny, first year college student looking at my home for the next four years. Yet I can't manage to take a second step. I stand there, staring at the giant brick block and lift my classic yellow rain jacket hood up over my impressively soft chocolate hair, protecting it from the harm of the rain. Four years of Ireland weather lays ahead of me. Four years of bunk beds in dorms. Four years of competing for the number one student. For years of awkward parties and tests. Four years until I'm out.

I hope all is going well! I remember you saying that it might be a possibility to bring me back as a coop next semester. Just wanted to let you know that I'd be happy to come back, if at all possible.

When i was younger, just starting to become a teenager and go to high school, that’s when it all changed.

I can be pretty bad at introductions, but I’m Tyler Matthews. I like sleeping, Netflix, and Chipotle burrito bowls. I’m 14 years old, born July 5th 2001. I’m the type of person to be super organized, not likely to be late, and I guess you could say I’m a little “OCD”. My parents got divorced when I was in first grade, so I pretty much travel between my parents' houses. I’m the only child and it’s pretty great.

My decision to return to school was a struggle, I was raising my three girls and working and worried about the affordability and most of all I was constantly told that I couldn’t attend college because I had a family to take care off or constantly told “put it off until next year” time and time again. I felt resentful, infuriated and guilty and all at the same time.

Ever since Tom got expelled from school I felt bad at the same time as feeling good. I kept thinking, did I do the “right thing” or the “wrong thing”? It all happened at the recent examinations that had just passed a few weeks ago. It was the day of our final examination that we had to take everyone was nervous and excited at the same time especially Tom, my best friend.

Just a reminder I need to leave by 4:00 today to pick up Allie . Also next Monday and Tuesday Lisa is out of town for a meeting and I will need to pick Allie up from school on Monday and and take her to school on Tuesday so I will need to be leaving by 4:00 on Monday and will be in a bit late on Tuesday because I can not drop her off until 7:45 in Orland.

“I remember a big, dark cloud coming across the sky in the middle of the day.” recalls Sean Syverson. Sean was about ten years old at the time and lived in Kendrick, ID. He lived out in the woods with his parents and two siblings which were both younger than him.