Personal Narrative: My Decision To Return To College

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

After a long journey of ups and downs and a 6 month long hiring process, I started my journey as a public official working at the sheriff’s office in Jacksonville, Florida.

My College and Career goals include graduating college and getting a job. I wish to attend the University of Alabama. I plan to major in occupational therapy or speech therapy. After I graduate with my bachelor's degree I wish to get my master's degree. After I finish my schooling I want to receive a job that allows me to provide for my family. I wish to receive this job in my degree's field. After receiving this job I wish to improve to reach a leadership role.

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.

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

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

In 2014 when I decided to go back to my local community college I was told that I would have to retake my math class. My goal was to pass this class and to be able to move forward in my studies. This is something that was very hard for me to complete when it was placed in front of me because it was by far my weakest subject in high school without a doubt and that was back in 2008 when it was somewhat fresh on my mind. This was now six years later and to be honest I really had no idea how I was going to complete this class. Which made me feel very defeated I felt as if there was no one for me to move forward because of the roadblock.

I always believed that things would just work out in the end. That I did not need to be wrapped up in over complicated situations because they would unravel themselves. I had this idea that I would grow up, go to college, and then get a job. My older brother Joseph had a similar idea. He started at the University of Dayton in August of 2015, but decided to come back home to our house in Bucks County at the end of October in 2015. His simple decision of “college wasn’t for me” had single handedly ripped me from my cozy reality that “everything works out” and had pitted my family against one another.

Colorado Christian University was clearly the correct choice for me. I enjoy learning not only for

Who would have known I would come back to college? After all, my first semester in college was not all that bad. I entailed some stressors along the way, but I completed my first semester. Gracefully I passed all of my classes. I knew from then on that I can accomplish what I think I cannot, college was one of many.

The decision to pursue secondary education has always been a goal throughout high school. As a successful high school student and a potential first-generation college student, the idea of successfully obtaining a degree not only would fulfill personal satisfaction, but also expectations held by my parents. Within my senior year of high school in South Carolina, I was greatly interested in becoming an aerospace engineer; a very admirable profession in the eyes of my parents. After carefully considering Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, I ultimately settled for Blacksburg to become a Hokie. Unfortunately, the college lifestyle was too overwhelming and I had to withdraw after my first year. This moment was very disappointing for myself and parents. However, I knew I couldn't give up the possibility of a college education, so I entered the workforce with the thought of going back to school when I was ready and prepared. Initially, the motivation was within myself, but later in life I learned that the significant people to build on that motivation was going to be my family and employer.

Once I leave to college to start my future I hope that I won't leave my father with the constant fear of worrying about the financial troubles that lie ahead of him. I want him to be able to relax and know that his daughter is well taken care of. This scholarship will help me accomplish my goals and watch out for my family.

Even though I’m only in the beginning of my transition phase, I feel as though my transition into college will go smoothly and my action plan will be successful. After complete the transition guide based off of my current situation, my current self, my current supports, my current ability to strategize, and my action plan.

I have decided to go back to school to finish my degree. The first time I went back to school was from 1999-2002. I went to Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I almost completed my degree before I had to move back to Tennessee. I then joined the Tennessee Army National Guard and became a full time National Guardsman. My family had told me several times that I need to complete my degree, but I never gave it much thought and never seemed to have time due to deployments. Time has flown by and I realize that I don’t want to allow the college credits that I earned to go to waste without a degree. My ultimate goal for using this degree along with almost twenty years experience in human resources is to start my second career working