Personal Narrative: My Transition To Oak Knoll

Even though I’ve eaten lobster rolls, sported L.L. Bean jackets, and cruised lighthouse-studded coastlines, I am anything but a New-Englander. Though this has been by 4th year in Massachusetts, I still feel like I’m still the new kid on the block, the midwestern girl who’s naive to the traditions and expectations of New England. But, I am comfortable here, a result of many challenges I had to face over the time I spent in Massachusetts. These challenges did not arise when I first moved out—I was very unhappy the first and second year—it was during Sophomore year, when I started to adapt and be happy, did challenges from home spring forth on me. These challenges were from the people that I had left, family, friends, and others who felt that

During my time at Union County College I have been faced with a lot of difficulties. I’ve struggled along the way but one thing I do believe is that I have the power to do better. My GPA has been affected by my personal mistakes. In my past semesters I have let my job take over my life rather than let school be most important. I have also let my personal family problems affect my work ethic. But through my fall 2014, it was most difficult because of March 2014 I lost my father through an unexpected heart attack. Throughout my fall semester I did struggle and cope with my father not being here anymore. I believed that I wasn’t focused enough because I used fall semester as a time to occupy myself rather that time out to deal with my father’s

In August of 2012, at Grand Rapids Community College, I was placed on Academic Probation due to my cumulative GPA dropping below the 2.0 threshold. Prior to this action, I was not driven to take the action to perform well in my classes. I was lost in the options for my future and unaware of where I would end up. It was this lack of focus and drive that reflected in my performance. This was a strong turning point in my life, and after being placed on academic probation I came to appreciate the repercussions I was facing by not prioritizing my education. It was in this year that I decided on where I wanted my college career to take me. Through the influential factors I discussed in my personal statement, I had both my mind and my future set on

I was raised in an affluent community in the North Suburbs of Chicago. My hometown Lake Forest is sometimes stereotyped for being full of “out of touch” and wealthy families. It may even be characterized as a “bubble” which surrounds us, protecting us from the harsh realities of issues that affect the urban Chicago communities like gun violence, gangs, and poor neighborhoods. Yes, we have beautiful homes that sit along the shores of Lake Michigan, a lovely community beach, and good schools; however, I would like the stereotype of Lake Forest being a suburban town that is not aware of surrounding community issues to change because I believe this is not deserved.

Besides graduating from college, being accepted into the Counseling program at NOVA Southeastern University was the greatest day of my life. I was on my way to a much greater success by working on my Master. Paying for college out of pocket was a struggle, but I understand that success comes with great sacrifices. However, I wouldn’t really call paying out of pocket for school a sacrifice, but rather an investment in my future and my family. My first semester went marvelous. I was motivated and enthusiastic about the courses. I must admit graduate school is much harder than I imagine, but I manage to make time for studying and ended making A’s in both of my classes, which I didn’t expect less than that. When the summer semester I arrived, I was as excited and motivated as my very first semester, aiming to make nothing less than an A grades. However, unexpectedly my world seemed to have turned upside down in a matter of time. My mother and I decided to take a week to go

Green, black and white, the colors we represented from kindergarten on. The pride we had for Southlake Carroll was indescribable. Our Friday nights consisted of the lights of the stadium and families who eat, sleep and breathe “The Tradition”. We were raised to become the Dragons or in my case the endless hours of training to become an Emerald Belle wasn’t an option, it was a lifestyle. Although Southlake is known for great academics the favoritism was very noticeable. I was spoiled with the leniency of the teachers who felt sympathy for my fourteen hour days. I got free passes and green lights, not gonna lie, it was pretty great. When I got hurt and my training to become the highly idolized Emerald Belle came to an end, so did the free passes.

A few months after Shayla was born my family decided to move to Canal Winchester. This was a big deal because moving means a new school. The next school year Desiree, James, and I were going to Tussing Elementary. We went there for a year and while I was there I was able to make dean’s list. The following year we were moved to Pickerington Elementary due to Tussing being overcrowded. After 4th grade I went to Diley Middle School, and while I was there I was able to have a spectacular time at Outdoor Edu. Before the school year was up my family moved to Reynoldsburg. When the school year was about to start I learned that I was going to be going to Lakeview Junior high instead of Ridgeview. The transition was much harder for me this time than

The idea of returning to school has always been on my mind since I graduated from PIMA. PIMA helped me realize I can pursue a degree instead of always a certificate. Since I was a little girl, I have struggled with some speech problems and mild case of a learning disability. I was placed in special education for a very long time. I got out of that when I was in my junior year of high school because I believed I was capable of doing things on my own. I know I am a good student. I know I am a hard worker. I have always had a pretty good GPA. Some words that I found hurtful in high school were from some of the paraprofessionals that worked with me throughout those years. I was told that I would never go to a regular four year college because of my struggles. I have kept those lies for so many years inside of my heart and soul. I am ready to prove them wrong and better myself by challenging myself to do it. I have achieved so many things since high school. Academic testing hasn’t always been easy for me but somehow I have moved forward and achieved. When I have taken assessment placement tests at PPCC I have felt discouraged with my

Growing up in rural North Carolina was both a blessing and a curse. My hometown, Fallston, North Carolina, is a tiny town way off the beaten path. Most people speak with a southern accent, are devout christians, vote Republican, think camouflage is a normal fashion pattern, and adore country music. But while I was a child, none of these things were a problem. I never realized how close-minded everyone was or how there were no opportunities for success; I was too concerned with the three most important events of the year: the Fallston FunFest, the Belwood Tractor Pull, and the Cleveland County Fair. However, as I grew older, zeal wore off and reality set in. I started to realize how conservative and restrictive it was. What little Fallston offered,

I'm from Round Rock, or for those of you who don't know where that is, we'll just go with Austin. Round Rock is great and you can find activities to find on some occasion, but when I am in Austin I am never bored. I used to go downtown a lot when I was younger with my Mother, Father, and older sister, but as my parents became busy and my sister and I became more involved in school we make the 20-minute travel to Austin less and less. I grew up with my two sisters and mother in the safety and growing town of Round Rock, but when I was able to drive my friends and I would make the drive downtown to enjoy the ambiance of Austin. I was given more freedom than my older sister was given in high school, but I couldn't complain my mother trusted me

UNC Wilmington has been my top pick for the college I want to attend to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Business ever since I was a Junior in high school. I applied for the fall 2016 to spring 2017 semester my senior year of high school and was not accepted into UNC Wilmington. I knew I had a big decision to make and I needed to figure out what I was going to do since I was not accepted into UNC Wilmington. I had been accepted to other universities and I could have easily attended one of them instead but I knew where I really wanted to be was UNC Wilmington. I finally made the decision to take one year at Cape Fear Community College and work hard to get my GPA up to where it needs to be in order to be considered for the fall 2017 semester. I realized that

Twenty-six years ago. I began the quest to find the perfect college. As I drove down the driveway of Bay Path College, I knew this was the college I was going to attend. I was drawn to the rural setting, the beautiful campus and the small academic community. My intent for life after high school was to get my associates degree, earn some money, then begin working toward my bachelor degree. In retrospect, I did not possess the confidence or drive needed to be a good student. I struggled for the next couple of years to earn my Associates degree, however was apprehensive to commit to the time or expense it would take to continue my education. After a very long break in schooling, I now approach education with a new mindset and ready to commit

The day I moved from Rockwall to Crandall was a day I’ll never forget. It was a strange couple of days. The day we moved was extremely saddening.

As you can see, I transferred to Orange Coast College from University of San Francisco last year with a low GPA. Also my i-20 status was terminated on February because that the credits I had last semester was below 12 when I was study in the first semester of Orange Coast College. I have to accept the results for my behaviors, so I admit that I made a lot of mistakes in the past, and my attitude was negative before. However, I really want to get a new chance to correct for errors made by me.

My enrollment at Northern Illinois University in the fall of 2010 wasn't as pleasant as I thought it would be. I only lasted three semesters there due to the inability to discipline myself. Therefore, I ended up getting dismissed from NIU for good in December of 2011 because of that. My dismissal provided a wakeup call for me because I had this opportunity to better myself and I didn’t take advantage of it. In the beginning of 2012, I became miserable because I wasn’t enrolled in school and was held jobless. Then and there was when I decided to get up and try again. My second tenure started at Wilbur Wright College, for the fall semester of 2012. Going to a two year college has helped me become disciplined and more focused. I was able to manage