Personal Narrative: Moving To College

Returning to college, after graduating high school twenty-five years earlier, proved to be not only rewarding quite challenging as well. Viewing myself as a self-starter with extensive investigative skills I truly believed college path mapped out correctly, so I never met with an advisor, what a colossal mistake! I had self-scheduled all my courses and although I faced a few obstacles I was finally at the end. After completion of all my pre-requisites I applied to the LPN-RN Fast Track Program, little did I know my past would stop me dead in my tracks.

I have defiantly not had a normal or a comfortable life. I have lived in RVs and cars on the streets of NE Portland, been homeless twice and I have left the country on multiple occasions cause of my family financial situation. As recent as two years ago I was in Central America and Southern Mexico looking for a safe and decent place to survive in. I missed a year of school. Currently, I live in a leaky, moldy, single-wide trailer home in Rockwood Neighborhood in Gresham. My parents are divorced; my dad, who I live with, is unemployed, has health issues, and has no formal education. So I provide for him and myself.

The book The Prince of Los Cocuyos can relate to my transition into college. The first time Richard Blanco came to America and felt out of place. College is all about experinces and getting to know yourself and learning who you really are. It is hard leaving high school and having to transition to college. Being used to teachers reminding you about assingments to now going online and having to remind yourself. As I begin to start my college experience I thought college would be easier no one telling you what you can and cant do, but its really not easier it might honestly be harder. Having to do so many assignments all at once. I feel like college is all about self motivation and being able to push yourself to work hard. Which I actually am

First and foremost, you did it! You survived all crammed hallways, the cliques, and all the times you thought your parents were controlling you way too much. As this new chapter opens you will soon realize that your parents were always right and you really do need to not procrastinate and should balance your school and social life. College truly is the best four years of your life, but there are a few things you must always keep in the back of your mind.

Throughout High School I thought I was proficient in reading and writing in my English classes, from freshman year to senior year English classes were easy and felt I could transition my confidence to community college after graduation until I took the English assessment exam and failed in the spring of 2012. Failing my entrance exam was devastating and I refused to accept my results, I waited two academic year before I can appeal to retest my English entrance exam and after weeks of waiting I was approved to retest. After I retest the results were the same, I was placed in remedial English not only was I devastated again but I personally felt worthless. I did not know what was wrong with my reading and writing but I had no choice to enroll

Entering community college with little programming experience, I was eager to learn. I registered for my first programming class excited, with a fresh mind. My professor introduced the class to our first program, "Hello World." Instantly, I was hooked. As I uncovered the complexities of problem-solving and the importance of proper syntax, my love grew stronger. Eventually, with experience in C++ and JAVA, another professor presented a life changing opportunity to me.

After recently graduating from Fullerton College with two associate degrees in psychology, I could have not accomplished this goal all by myself without the proper guidance that I received from EOPS and FYSI at the time. These programs were established to support former foster youth at Fullerton College in their education as long as they met all the conditions for each semester. As a result, this was valuable for me during my time as a community college student, allowing me to guarantee that I would finish all my requirements on time to transfer to a good university, and becoming more involved with the campus each semester. That being said, this is one of the main reasons as to why I am applying to your program, so I could receive the support

Going into college, I knew that there will be an abundance of life lessons learned, but I did not ken that I would be able to absorb so much in such a short duration. This past year in college, I gained vital skills and grew stronger mentally. College is a place where everyone learns from their failures and successes, and with that, there are numerous things to learn from that. My experiences in college edified me how to work with others, communicate with professionals efficaciously, and make perdurable relationships. In addition, being away from home and living in an unfamiliar environment without my family availed me to become independent. Surviving on my own, I learned to make my bed, cook, do laundry, clean up after myself, and more. College taught me skills beyond the classroom, and it withal a leeway to becoming independent away

When I was a junior in high school I wanted to go to a four year college, however I changed my mind and I decided to go to a community college because of reasons. The first was when I came from Ethiopia I felt like I got a second chance on my life. I wasn’t a bad student back there but I wasn’t a very successful student either. I was always in the middle. Because I got second chance I wanted to use it very well. I want to do big things in my life.

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.

Entering college is usually a pretty big life change. Though it may seem fun, it may also

For more than a decade, I grew up around ringing slot machines and glaring casino lights. It was not like any other childhood environment, but then again, Las Vegas is not any other city. I was admittedly less serious about my education because I knew that students there usually attended one of two closeby colleges, so I did not see the purpose in challenging myself to pursue any other college. However, the decision to move to a new city and state came as a surprise when one day my dad suddenly told my family that he’d accepted a new job in Irvine that offered a higher salary. My first reaction was to be angry- I could not fathom leaving everything I’ve ever known: my friends, my school, my home. We left Las Vegas on June 8th, 2013, two days after my last day of freshman year of high school.

“If you want to continue your education, you should go to the local community college like everyone else here and be a teacher, daycare worker, or nurse. You really cannot afford anything else, and why would you want to leave home?” These are the general comments I heard when the time arrived for me to decide my future after high-school. As if to the echo their words, I was rejected at big name colleges and waitlisted at the out-of-state college I would eventually attend. With my mom being a single mother and I as a McDonald’s employee, it was also true that my family could not afford the price tag of an expensive college. Following the path expected of me would have been easier, but I wanted to see another side of the world and experience something new. This is why I left my hometown to attend a liberal arts college where I knew no one and would make a fresh start. However, striving to be an individual in a society imposing conformation and perfection has been the greatest obstacle I have had to overcome.

    What is college anyway?  Is it a preparation for the "real" world?  I guess it depends on what you think the real world consists of.  If you see the world as a never ending party filled with blood shot eyes and hangovers, coffee with extra shots of espresso and lost homework assignments, late rent and stacks of dirty dishes, parking tickets and MIP's, tailgating and basketball games, all nighters and pizza,

As I graduated high school, I thought college would just be yet another four years of high school, and I was wrong. College opens many new doors in a young man or woman’s life. There are new responsibilities and pressures that you will have to deal with, and with more freedom these responsibilities and pressures can be difficult to handle. College has changed a great deal over the years and these changes, such as more freedoms, make college a much more challenging experience. You need to start preparing for college now by making yourself more responsible and having more self-control. Although you think college is merely partying with easy classes on the side, I have experienced pressures and work loads that make the experience challenging