Personal Narrative: My Life After Attending College

I am pretty sure she was more excited than I was when the college acceptance letters came flooding in. My aunt still pushes me to do better not only in school, but in life. My father and I don’t talk much anymore but he has since told me that he is proud of me for doing so well. He showed me the type of person I don’t want to be not only as a student and parent, but as a high functioning person in society. The drive to do better for so many years has made me become a person which that drive comes somewhat naturally now. I will keep doing better until I

This is a reflective essay concerning my READ 3423.01 with Dr. Reid in the fall of 2016. As I wrap up my first semester at Texas Women’s University I am awed and thankful. I am the first person in my family to attend University. Some find this surprising because I do come from a family that has done well professionally, but that was due to grit and personalities. The fact is, I was never even spoken to about attending college while I was growing up. I believe this is because no one before me had this experience to share or encourage. The truth is I tried my hardest to not be at school from middle school on, I just wasn’t engaged in the process. Of course, there were a few teachers I connected with, like the business and history teachers, but I hated the rules and structure of the environment. I amazedly graduated with my high school class, as my friends went away to Universities I took some classes at the community college. What I found was that when I got to pick my classes I flourished. Even the classes that others said were too hard to take during summer quarter, I excelled in those as well. As life unfolded I got married, moved out of state and had two daughters. When it was time for my daughters to attend school I was pretty apprehensive about the idea of it. I opened a preschool in a mother-in-law apartment we had on our property and decided they could learn there in a small community. That preschool led to homeschooling, and large educational co-ops. I lived in a

When applying to colleges, many people have different views on the endeavor. Some people think that it is an exciting adventure filled with many turns and twists, and decisions that lead to a different outcome, while others may think that it is a stressful ideal, filled with looming questions, pressure,

I never dreamed that I, John Cecil Thompson, would get the opportunity to attend college. My mother told me to consider myself lucky. She had always valued my education, and if it weren't for her I never would have even applied for college. Divine intervention was the only explanation as

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.

Firstly, the cost of Lawrence is high. For that reason, many who attend Lawrence are of upper-middle class backgrounds. Despite my accumulation of some cultural capital in college track classes, much like in Educating Rita, I feel like an outsider in this institution of higher learning. Secondly, and also like Rita, I do not entirely feel comfortable with my family either. Initially, the new information and skills I was learning in school were not accessible or relevant to the lives of my family members, which caused a conversation divide. Then, in thinking about college, much like Bonnie in Tearing Down the Gates, my family is concerned if my education is "worth it," or are they going to feel like "failures" since I will be in so much debt (191). While they view college education as important, they sometimes are critical as they think the pay of my intended profession does not justify paying Lawrence's high tuition. Instead, I could be going to the technical college to earn a "practical degree" for less money. Thus, my pursuit of higher education has caused tension between me and my family members. Finally, I have even internalized some of this thinking in my own habitus as I have contemplated dropping out and transferring many times due to the looming threat of debt. While I did not, I do work over 40 hours a week in the summer and work three jobs during the school year to help pay for my school. Which, as Schlosser notes, takes its toll on my well-being, school participation, and success (79). Additionally, as the result of financial threat and worry, I have abandoned the possibility of graduate school right out of undergrad, which would help me pursue my ultimate aspirations in life. In the end, rather than simply dragging me away with

Returning to college has been a prodigious challenge. One in which I determined I would meet head on with resolution. As a fine arts student I was fortunate to find a mentor in the Paradise Valley Community College Theater Director, Andrea Robertson. Andrea perceived potential in me and encouraged pursuit my goals as a writer/director. I took the initiative to approach Andrea with the idea to write and direct my own play in the Advanced Directing course. This past fall that idea came into fruition. As a director I oversaw numerous different areas in the production of my play. These were roles filled by fellow students, allowing the opportunity to provide guidance and leadership to peers. I worked with actors, stage management, set design, prop

The night before my first day of college my dad sent me a text that read, “Big day tomorrow. Get up early, sit in the front, and participate. This is your school and education. I am proud of you. You are ready for this. Have a great day and have

Similarly, my Mother advised a great deal in my choice to continue with my education. Back in 1988, when I was seven years old, my mother graduated college with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Watching her work tirelessly while trying to raise me, work full time and attempting full-time credit hours, instilled in me the desire and drive to achieve my goals. She has been my role model as a non-traditional student. She helped me achieve a workable school/work/life balance. She has been my constant cheerleader since my decision to return to college and pursue an undergraduate degree.

I do know a lot about my mom’s childhood and background, but I know little about her greatest challenges and for me it was interesting to ask the question: “How did you overcome your greatest challenge from childhood to adulthood?” It took her a few minutes to comb through her thoughts, at the time she was wearing a purple blouse and dark blue jeans with a silver necklace. She raised the mug to her rosy lips and speaks softly, “Biggest Challenge: to trust people, to learn to trust people, I hadn’t had a lot of adults in my life that I could rely on or trust as I grew older I realized I had trouble trusting people. I overcame this challenge by learning to forgive and realizing that we all make mistakes.” This trait could possibly be associated with independence, considering how independent my mom was as a child. It made it difficult for her to trust people without a lot of strong relationships built on trust, besides her brother and sister. But once my mom got to college, she found lasting friendships built on trust and mutual respect. My mom loved college, just “stepping onto a college campus makes me want to go back”. Obviously, if you want to go back to college it must have impacted you in some way, shape or form. “College had a huge impact, not because of the academics but because of the community, I became active in a Christian group on campus which became foundational to who I am today.” My mom has always been a strong believer of the Christian faith and college helped strengthen her faith and build relationships that had similar values to hers. My mom loves being involved in a community and helping others, possibly because of her childhood experiences caring for her brother and sister. My mom has set a good example for me of how to be kind, loving and hardworking even through difficult

Entering into college, I wanted to do public health, but I wanted to be a doctor to please my father and to satisfy his hunger to have a doctor in his family. My father made sure his children went to college, and if they didn’t, it was clear they couldn’t stay in his house anymore. My parents struggled to support all of my siblings and supply each of us with everything we needed. I never realized the struggle until I got older and understood the value of money and time. My parents never wanted my brothers and I to work while we were in school, they wanted us to focus on our grades and activities that would help us get into college. Overall, the support from my family and seeing how hard my

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.

It was kind of inspirational reading about this, and I felt like it related more to me since I'm attending UNCC. She was a strong woman and wanted to build this up herself, and I admire that. It grew because of her own hard work, not the work of anyone else. This reminded me of one of the speeches made during the Day of Convocation, by a student who had actually asked her about transferring to another school. She asked him whether he wanted to be the one to help UNCC grow, or go to a “better” school and just take what they had to offer, having no part in it's success at all. This made me think a little about myself. I was accepted to UNC Chapel Hill. Even though they may be more well known, I still wanted to come here instead. I didn't have the same reasoning behind my choice as what Ms. Bonnie had told that student, but really liked hearing those words. Again, it's all very inspirational and I want to do my part in making things even better than they already

“I didn’t want to go away for college.” Heather stated. At the time she lived in Glenburn, Maine so her options were limited. The only two colleges that caught her eye were Husson, because it had a physical therapy program, and the University of Maine because it was a little less expensive and she could study there to become a teacher. “I applied for both and got accepted into both of them so I decided that I would try physical therapy because it was harder but if I didn’t like it I would switch and become a teacher.” Another reason Heather leaned towards going to Husson and becoming a physical therapist is because when she was in high school her guidance counselor told her that she was not smart enough to go into physical therapy school. Her guidance counselor also told her even if she did she wouldn’t make it into the school she wouldn’t

She has taught me many things throughout the years, but the most important quality I will bring to college with me is the strength my mom has shown to me. Growing up, things were hard but she always had the power to keep going on. When I feel like giving up, I think about how she continued no matter what. My mom tells me something her dad had told her when she was little, “There is no brick walls in life, just hurdles.” Hearing this makes me feel like I can overcome any obstacle. In college, there will be many new challenges I will face, but it won’t stop me because the results will be worth it. I know while I'm away if I ever have a problem she will always be there for me, whether it is big or