Personal Narrative: My Life After 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.

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 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.

Not only monetarily, but also mentally. Attending would certainly allow me to go to my dream school, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, while still being fiscally responsible. Additionally, it will allow me to go to almost any other university if I so desire. Eventually, it will allow me give back to the community and support other aspiring students. I am also positive that SC GSSM will help me mentally. With the low teacher to student ratio, the teachers positive attitudes will no doubt rub off on me. I also believe that the college style teaching environment will teach me responsibility and the value of planning. Attending GSSM would most certainly mold me into a mentally and mentally and fiscally mature citizen.

they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please

The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences, as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs through seven schools. Students benefit from small classes and opportunities for research, leadership development and unique learning experiences on campus and around the world. SMU is dedicated to shaping world changers. It prepares students to make an impact through their chosen professions and service to society. SMU was founded by what is now The United Methodist Church in partnership with civic leaders. This is the main thing I appreciate about this school. I appreciate how much they put in into being a leader for yourself and your community. This is why I want to go to

1. What experience do you like talking about the most? What has been the most interesting, intriguing, and exciting part of your life- why, and what did you learn from it?

When I go off to college I plan to go to a college that fits me. College is important for anyone’s career, and I want to be successful. That is why the university I attend has to feel right, and inspire me to succeed. Washington University in St. Louis does that for me. WashU makes me challenge myself, and ensures me that it is the perfect place to go. Some of the university’s great qualities include their majors, the location, and the community.

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

My mom swerved off the street lane when I told her I wanted to go to Seattle for college. It pained me to see her shocked and saddened. But when she spoke, her tone was filled with nothing but pride and happiness. I made the decision on SPU as a thirteen year-old in middle school. I'm willing to admit that one of my personal flaws is my indecisiveness. And while this is true, I've never had any doubts about Seattle Pacific University being the right university for me. Even though I made the decision on SPU so young, I've never regretted nor questioned it. SPU held promises that I knew I desired : an education that would enhance my professionalism, stimulate my imagination and increase my knowledge. After learning of its Christian faith, I knew that SPU would also deepen and strengthen my faith and passion for serving God and people.

So coming from such as a small community and such a small high school the chance to get into this college will help me out in a great manner because it will lead me a long way in life. Therefore that will give me a chance to be successful in my career that the college can teach me for. Also palm beach college can teach you to be a responsible person and teach you to not depend on nobody for your work. Whenever you get a great advice from people close around telling you how great of a college palm beach state is it also motivates and encourages you to want to come to the campus even more. Most of all the college do not be in section all day like a typical high school and another things is the professor may teach you people skills that most people may not have because they have been shy they whole four years of high school. What encourages me the most is the college is not a type of college where you do all types of partying and things that will have you distracted from learning like most university do becauses they have many parties on campus that can lead you to messing up with your grades. That’s why I would love to have a chance to be able to be on the campus of the

Like most people, I didn't grow up knowing exactly what I wanted to do as an

“Tomás, what school do you want to go to this fall" my mother Martha, said to me. This along with the many “Hey, where are you going this fall? Want to room together at Ole Miss?” forced me to think about my impending future after my high school experience. Being from Mississippi I was not an Aggie from birth, my mother attended the University of Texas makes hissing noises* and my father, Thomas Braly Jr., attended a little school on Mackinac Island that ceased to exist only 4 years after opening. So with little to no major direction or fixed plans for my future I went with what I know and love, the water. All of the schools I applied and got accepted to had a sailing team or had maritime related courses, but Texas A&M here at Galveston just seemed to work

I was given a life sentence at the age of seventeen. Since I was a freshman in highschool I have had plans to attend college after high school. I realized that I was an average student but I always tried hard in school hoping to one day impress the admissions board of a college I hoped to attend. I took classes in highschool that were completely out of my comfort zone in hopes to figure out what I would do with my life after high school. During junior year I was put into a web design class that submerged me into what seemed like another universe, the cyber world. I even learned a new language, program coding and how to design websites. I was fascinated and I would spend hours on end learning this new language. Soon I decided that I wanted to

Higher education is the crucial base for all the people who desire to further their education. An ideal higher education should be able to open one’s horizon as well as secure their hopes and dreams for the future. An incoming freshman applies to multiple colleges based on different qualities each university has. Some would mention quality books or well trained professors. Others would lean more towards the aspect of once in a lifetime opportunities that only college can provide. The perfect college environment is one with activities, lifetime opportunities, and a cultural environment.