Personal Narrative: My Life After Attending College

“Going to college was just an excuse to go find me a husband but don’t tell anyone,” Marianna said laughing fixing up her earpiece. Leaving her mom at the train station sobbing, she went off to Tabor College in Kansas. When she entered college all of her emotions hit her at once she felt nervous but, she also felt excited to start a new chapter in her life. Entering college was one of those moments when you have the spotlight on you and you feel everyone is judging you .Luckily she had one of the closest friends you can possibly have, a sister. That’s when her and her sister’s journey began.

Arriving on campus was surreal. The buildings were huge and people were walking around every where: families and other young men around my age. I had never been more nervous in my life. Standing there on campus I knew that I had no other option but to succeed. This was a major blessing and opportunity. Going to college just wasn't something everybody did or could do. I needed to make the most of this. Standing there in front of the school I promised myself that I would do my very best to make my mother

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

After a moment of silence, she smiled. “My dad never went to college, but he always inspires me everyday to go and better myself there. And my mother did go to college, and she is a walking example of how I can be in the future. Not only do I have them as a backbone, but I have my own personal strive to want to go. I have a fear of being a failure, not being successful, but I know that college is a one way ticket to brighter future, not only for myself, but for my future children as

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.

She became a mentor to me and someone I truly look up to and admire. My interest in pursuing my graduate degree at Rutgers has grown from my love for the college, its close proximity to home and fulfilling my mother’s wildest dream. I always knew that no matter what field I chose to be in, it needed to reflect the values my mother instilled in me, my upbringing in Ghana and social work embodied

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

Life is all about choices, and the one choice I knew I wanted to make was to go to college and achieve my educational goals. Knowing that my family could not support my two older sister’s college endeavors let alone mine, I knew I had to act. Throughout my high school years, I applied myself constantly through taking challenging coursework and involving myself in clubs that I was passionate for. All of those years led me to overcome the biggest obstacle a senior student

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

My mother always wanted better of me so she went to college to help her education and to also make more money because of the rising cost of colleges. My mother said during the interview “...my biggest influence was you and your brother, seeing you boys has always pushed me to try my hardest and keep striving to make sure you guys have it easier than me and your father.” This was her explaining that because me and my older brother meant so much to her she used us as the reason she wanted to enter and graduate out of college. My mother Jessica is the biggest role model in showing me that education and college pays off in the long

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

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

I recognize the reason behind my mother’s position. She yells at me because she wants the best for my future. I invent a mutual purpose to shoot for the best college, my abilities can get. We then brainstormed that we should just let my grade point average and job interest decide. I was extremely happy that my mother was so cooperative.

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

When I was in my junior year of high school, my mother decided to go to college to receive a Medical Assistant degree. It was a delightful time for my brother and me, to have a better chance paying for college. My brother and I never expected what the outcome of my mother