Personal Narrative: The Day I Left For 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.

Since the start of the semster I have learned many different things about myself and how I can become a better student all around. Summer classes can fly by fast and doesn’t feel like a real semester. That it is just to get credit and move on to the next semester. That was not the case for me this summer semester because I needed to think about the rest of my college career. This summer semester is my first one coming back from academic suspension and I took last semester at South Plains College and Tarrant County College. I did really well making a 3.00 GPA overall and am most likely going to make a 3.5 this semester. This will be a huge boost to my overall GPA. The point is am at the point where I am ready to graduate and will try my hardest to get the best grades I can. I really just changed my mindset towards college and the way I prepare for tests and studying.

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.

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

It’s never too late. These are words I whole heartedly believe. A year and a half ago I decided to go back school to study nursing. Coincidentally, a week after I enrolled in classes I found out I was ten weeks pregnant. As any woman would I had my doubts about whether I could handle going to school and now being pregnant. But then I thought, I now had even more of a reason to go back. I would soon have a child who would be looking up to me. I wanted to be able to set a good example for them. I started attending classes in the fall as a part time student. Considering I had not been in school for over ten years the transition was a lot easier than I had thought it would be. My teachers were nice as well as my classmates. I finished a semester

The droplets of rain emerge from the towering clouds as I step onto the vibrant green grass for the first time. I lock eyes with the monstrous building and tilt my head back until I have reached the roof. There I was. A stick-like, puny, first year college student looking at my home for the next four years. Yet I can't manage to take a second step. I stand there, staring at the giant brick block and lift my classic yellow rain jacket hood up over my impressively soft chocolate hair, protecting it from the harm of the rain. Four years of Ireland weather lays ahead of me. Four years of bunk beds in dorms. Four years of competing for the number one student. For years of awkward parties and tests. Four years until I'm out.

Throughout my four years here at Blackfoot high school, I’ve changed a lot. I went through many different phases from my freshman to my senior year. My freshman year I remember thinking “I don’t need college,” “College isn’t for me,” “I’m not going to college,” Boy, was I wrong.

A family sitting around a dinner table, refugees being placed into healthy environments, a house full of family and friends, these are all images I conjure up when pondering my future. I wish to begin my journey to obtaining this fantasy by pursuing college. College represents an extremely important piece to my future and to get there, I must work extra hard. I see myself attending a University to attain a masters degree in global studies. To be able to get to that point I must reach out and ask for help, the reason for applying for scholarships. After college I would like to locate a job somewhere in the south, such as Tennessee. Once I've had a few years of settling into my career, I enjoy the idea of starting a family. Yes, this does involve

Since I was so young I was worried that I wasn’t ready to take on such a big challenge, but graduating early was the better of the two choices I have ever made. I had to decide on this my sophomore year, which at age fifteen wasn’t an ideal choice to make at the time. There were many considerations I had to contemplate about: my high school career in basketball, college, and leaving my friends.

My life began 14 years ago on September 22, 2000 at about 1:30 pm at Mesquite Medical Center. I weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. I have a sister who is 6 years older than me and is currently attending Stephen F. Austin for her 3rd year. When I was born, I had little blue spots on my body, but the most noticeable one is on my finger, it has grown as I have gotten older. My dad also has these mysterious spots and has been to many dermatologists to try and figure out what they are but no doctor knows exactly what to call them.

As each day comes closer to the start of college, the question becomes how will I survive the 4 years of college? How will I avoid being part of those who drop out? How will I pay my gap? How will I pay my college books, fees, etc.

When I was in middle school, all I could think about was college. I fantasized about going to my dream school, going away really far and being all on my own. At first I thought it would be terrifying, but after a while I soon began to think that it would be extraordinary, living a new life in a new city. My expectations about college would increase every time I thought about it. At the time, I recall that I wanted to attend New York University, to study child development so I can become a pre-school teacher. I enjoyed children very much and thought that, that would be my life after high school. But after a few years, my mindset about college altered. I no longer thought about going to NYU because I expected it to be a very challenging life

Most children live in a quiet neighborhood where they play for long hours all day without scraping a knee. Others come from less ideal circumstances. Now you are probably wondering which environment I grew up in. Seeing where this letter came from should tell you that I originate from this less ideal world. I was nurtured by my mother who was raised in a poor community in Puerto Rico and occasionally with my father who was raised in the streets of New York City. With their intentional love, in addition with the boundaries that they have set for me, they have made a path for me to grow up in without being affected by the cities dangerous nature.

Life on a college campus is a massive change from home and family life which few people experience before college. I, however, have had the unique opportunity to participate in a pseudo college involvement. In the summer of 2014, I attended the Joffrey Workshop TX, a program of intensive training for serious dancers. Although nearly all of the other 90 students that attended thought of this as purely an opportunity to do what they love all day, I recognized it as an opportunity to prepare for college life. I learned how to save exclusively, live by and for myself, and appreciate diverse populations

Less than a week away from college. When I was younger I would mumble under my breath "I only have __ more years until I can leave." What a brat, right? But now I can;t help but be an even bigger baby than I was then. I mean it's a little weird to think about. I won't have to yell at my little brother about keeping the seat down.. because that is a real thing. I don't understand how that kid can spend hours with video games that require the most intricate hand-eye-coordination BUT can't aim for ten seconds.