Self Reflection Part Two : Perseverance

The reason I have decided to return to school and continue my education is to show myself, family, and friends that I want to better myself personally and professionally, by setting goals through your life. It helps keep you mentally and physically sharp because you are always setting and obtaining goals. I want to show my collage aged daughter that regardless of your age you can set and obtain goals while working a full time jab and maintaining a house hold.

Going back to school as a working adult was never apart of my ten year plan as a high school senior. Like most pstudents, I'd expected to finish school and live happily ever after while earning a living in my dream career. I never anticipated my career being far from a dream or deciding to pursue another degree, ten years after my initial decision to pursue an undergraduate degree. I'd never thought about the effect of student loans nor did

My mom had finally reached college after many years of education. She was very excited to go to college and leave home. She soon found out that college was not going to be easy for her. When she was a freshman she had huge financial struggles. After getting student loans she paid for her books and tuition but could not pay for other things. She had to learn how to deal with humiliation after asking some friends if she could stay with them. Next, she had to take on many part-time jobs to get through college. Learning to multitask was another big part during this time. She had to make time for her studying, homework, and projects while still having to work after class. Lastly, after lots of determination, she made it through college. Even though she had to keep up with work and schoolwork, she finished with good grades and got her college degree. My mom now has a very successful job, and now that she can get through tough things with determination. Overall, my mom struggled but was able to pull herself together and finish

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

I found a job that I have been at for twenty years now. Ten years ago I met my current wife; she had put herself through college and was proud of her accomplishment. Throughout our marriage she would encourage me go back to school and complete a degree for myself. I would always tell her there just was not enough time in a day or money in the bank for college; this was my excuse so I wouldn’t fail.

Through many life obstacles I was not very fortunate or goal driven to attempt to go to college after high school. Grew up in a military family so my family was stricter about keeping their children

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

Young adults are now living on their own, having to balance money and to pay rent, and to have the discipline to get up for school with no one making you. The people at college were there because they wanted to be. I, unfortunately, did not want to be, so I made it apparent in other ways. Having that new found independence does not have to be a bad thing. For me, I would skip class because no one made me go. I would stay out to the late hours of the night because no one told me I had to be home. I would make poor choices because I would not listen to anyone. For me, my new found independence did not work out so well. I was young, naive, and careless. Now I am smarter. No one is paying for me to be in college. I am. No one is forcing me to go; I want to be there. I want to make something of myself and not have this guilt hang over my shoulders anymore. I want to say I have a degree and be the best role model that my children can have. I may not have “new” found independence, but I had the courage to finally forgive myself and try again. It took me many years to convince myself to go back to college. Am I too old now? Am I smart enough? I finally had to put all my doubts aside and give this college thing another try. I am different now. I am older and wiser, and this is my

I made the decision to go back to school for many different reasons. I saw it as an opportunity to continue my education, potentially make more money in my career and prove to myself that I could accomplish this goal. Even after, placing this personal goal on hold for the past ten years, having three children and working. I knew this would definitely help me in the long run. It has always been dream of mine to graduate from college. To do what only two of my family members before me have done. Growing up in Compton, California. College wasn't an option for most, however I was fortunate enough to have parents who believed in me and my sisters and really pushed us to continue to further our education. I believe moving forward if I stay persistent

Homer’s The Odyssey, an epic poem about the trials of Odysseus on his return journey, demonstrates that perseverance is at the heart of every hero. The ability to endure hardships is not a quality that is attributed to many characters, and in The Odyssey, a character’s lack of perseverance will bring him his demise. Similar to Odysseus, Penelope, his wife, perseveres by staying faithful and unmarried for twenty years, while waiting for his return. Through The Odyssey, Homer suggests that those who are loyal to and homesick for their homeland are willing to persevere for their homecoming, and thereby they complete the journey that proves them a hero.

I grew up in a single-parent, low-income home outside of Santa Rosa, California. The idea of college wasn’t introduced to me until long after I had already become just another statistic. I dropped out of high school when I was 17, in the midst of a teenage rebellion, thinking I already knew everything and didn’t need anyone’s help. I left home, got a job at a fast food restaurant, and stayed with friends off and on until I realized that maybe I didn’t know everything quite yet. After a severe reality check, I found a sense of responsibility that encouraged me to get my G.E.D and find a great job. I was very determined to take everything I learned as a child and use it as a what-not-to-do guide. By the time I was 19, I bought my first house and quickly realized I could either set limitations with excuses or achieve goals with endurance. The

Going back to school was an inspiration in itself. I chose early in my life to put my education on hold to take care of my children. Now that they are all grown up, I am turning the attention back to myself. My main goal during this venture is to graduate. School is very challenging for me, but I’m willing to stick with it.

My journey for school started thirty-eight years ago; I graduated from high school in 1979. I attempted to attend college after I graduated from high school, but I married a few months later and chose to drop out of school. My second attempt was in 1992. I attended community college and was now a mother of three children. Suddenly, my husband passed away.

I must say I struggled with the idea of going back to college. I am 34 years old. What in the world was I thinking? College, now? How old will I be when I graduate? Well I went against my thoughts and self doubt and went for it. I am enrolled in college, community college, but it’s a start. Hopefully it will be amazing and will lead me to success. I am currently in my first quarter. I have a long way to go, but I am going to get there, no matter what.

Henry Ford, said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” For years, I thought I was just too old to return to school. However, for 20 years, I’ve worked in a career that provided great financial stability, but it never brought happiness. When I was laid-off, I made the decision to not return to the corporate world; instead, I started my process of becoming a successful counselor and motivational speaker. Spending time with my family and doing what makes me happy are my overall goals in life. So here I am forty-one and enrolled