Personal Narrative: My Educational Experience

Growing up in a less privileged household has not only offered financial and academic challenges, but has also helped me to realize the value and power of achieving a higher education.

I always thought that the lack of opportunities I had were what was holding me back my entire life. I realize that there was a strong lack of communication amongst family members. We didn’t always know where we stood in the group, but there was a strong foundation laid by my mother that hard work will get you to where you need to be whether you are rich, poor, black, white, male, or female. It took me 37 years and this class to come to the understanding that there are certain social forces and factors that come into play during our lives, but ultimately we are in control of the outcomes and how we present ourselves to

I find myself reading this short paragraph over and over(above). My topic sentence makes me happy and proud. Going back to school was the best thing I have done. I chose to talk about going back to school to the “future employer” because it shows I am motivated as well as dedicated. This class has brought a lot to my attention. The mannerism that is expected in the “business world” is to speak and write well. It is extremely important to know how to write (type) a meaning full and proper paper whether it is for school or work. I have noticed a great impact in my vocabulary and writing skills. My boss told me on Monday he is impressed with the new docs I typed up for our new clients (with no help from him). I was not excited about this class

I believe everyone has established goals during their life. They might not write them down or even have a plan of how they will be successful, but the ultimately outcome is based on the individual and their persistent to accomplish it. One goal that I have dedicated and work so long for seems to be coming to a close, but it is a step forward in achieving my ultimate goals. Through planning and being focus anything is possible. Goals that I have established after my post-graduation consist of areas in my personal, academic and professional life. My personal goal is to continue to make every day count and see it as an opportunity for growth. For my academic goal is to obtain my Licensed in Clinical Social Work. The professional goal is not to be passive, but instead begin

In the previous years, I have made the decision to work concurrently with my education. I have been working as a waitress in a local restaurant for years. My parents were opposed to my working since they wanted me to focus on my grades, but I wanted to lessen the financial burden for them. Both of my parents never received an education and they wanted me to solely focus on school to secure myself a better future despite our poverty.

When I first think of education making an impact on my life, my immediately goes to the teacher that inspired me to pursue the field of education: Mr. Quesenberry. The truth is, I never expected to enjoy his 8th grade Civics class. Though I had many wonderful social studies teachers before 8th grade, each year history was always one of my least favorite subjects, and I expected Civics to be the same. Before I took his class, I thought that the government was just a bunch of old rich guys who made laws and ran the country, and I didn’t have the slightest idea about the many complicated issues that the United States was facing or about what I could do to get involved and fight for my values.

I have faced many challenges in my pursuit of my post-secondary education, the main obstacle being financial support. I come from a family of four, technically three after my parents divorced. my mother is a single-mom supporting two daughters who both go to post-secondary school. My mother has supported me my whole life paying for swimming lessons, soccer training, clothes, and other expenses. Therefore, I have worked my hardest this year to pay for my tuition, rent, and other expenses by myself. I want to take off some stress and pressure that my mother feels to try and support my sister and i, all while paying for other bills. In other words, I want my mother to not have to worry about paying fro my tuition or rent, until I absolutely need

My understanding of society hasn’t changed so much as deepened since the first day of class. I knew for a long time that life is unfair but not to the extent that I realize it is now. I didn’t realize that inequality is institutionalized in our society so that ‘certain kinds of people’ are set up to succeed while ‘other kinds’ are set up to most likely fail. That for all the talk of the American dream, America

“When you grow up in a poor area you don’t get the same opportunities as other people” (Palos, "Precious knowledge"). My K-12 educational institutions all lacked something very similar, resources and supplies this was due to money. I remember going months in core classes like math and history without a teacher. Even though I did not have many opportunities I made it, I made it to a University. Now I am here in the same classes with students who came from wealthy schools that had nothing but unbelievable resources. We are now set on the same level, regardless of our past and given the same opportunities and resources. I made it to college where I am not cultured shocked by any race, where I am confident in my person; I had to go through a lot emotionally to be this open minded.

Public school systems need to be more sensitive to their students. Parents play the major role in determining a child’s academic outcome, but the school system needs to notice children who don’t necessarily acknowledge their gift. These children need guidance -- I believe it is the schools’ responsibility to provide it to them. I have been through a situation that makes me feel strongly about the subject. My example is an indisputable case in point.

I was born in the Caribbean not until I was nine years old that I move to the USA. Growing up in the US was not easy for me, because having to learn English was so hard that at time make me regret my mom did that to e but i found a way to make it easy for me when I surrounded myself with friend that did not speak my language for me learn it faster way to learn because for me to communicate back to them i have to try my best,I felt left out being unable to understand what the teacher was saying I and the fun the kids was having was not the type of game I’m used to was hard but I learned faster that way because I motivate myself to be able to learn fast enough to be able to participate with my class in their activities.

Imagine falling of a chair. Not that bad right? Now, imagine falling of a chair in front of the whole cafeteria. Funny? Yes. Painful? Definitely. So embarrassing that you hid in your teacher’s classroom for the remaining time of the school day? Sounds like me! After many years of mental preparation, physiological therapy, and complete avoidance of using chairs in front of others, I was finally able to overcome my tragedy. Like every other day, I ardently waited for lunch time to arrive. As soon as the bell rang, I ran to the cafeteria. I sat, I ate, and just when I was about to throw my food away…

Due to my financial situation, I had no other choice but to stop attending UIC for the time being. During my Sophomore year, my financial aid was revoked at UIC due to SAP. Managing my time was also a big issue for me at the time; working 30+ hrs a week, having a huge workload from school and barely sleeping, it took a huge toll on my mental and physical state. Freshman year, I selected 5 classes totaling, 16 credit hours, and that was the toughest transition coming from high school to college. The transition was hard and I wasn’t able to adapt quickly, I found myself lost and very unsociable during my years of UIC. I did not make any classmates, friends until my sophomore year of college. All these factors made it tough for me to do exceptional

“I began learning long ago that those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others.” Booker T. Washington’s wise words accurately summarize what I learned throughout high school. I noticed that selfish people are the unhappiest and most discontent. In sharp contrast, I also observed that people who dedicate their lives to others are the most joyful and satisfied. People I admire tend to be selfless and servant-minded. I strive to mimic them, living with a selfless mindset. My special interests, talents, and unique experiences enabled me to make others’ lives better.

On March 16, 2016, I shadowed Michelle in 7A (toddler unit) and radiology, which was an eventful day full of thought-provoking and noteworthy patient interactions. Through my shadowing experience and observations, I gained knowledge on the way that child life is utilized in unique patient situations, how fast-paced inpatient units can be, how to properly prioritize patients, how to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team, how to properly rate psychosocial distress risk, how to handle bereavement situations by providing memorial based activities, charting techniques and so much more. This week I was able to reflect back to my knowledge of development so that I could better relate our coursework to my practicum experiences. In this journal,