Stress Reflection

The last semester was a very challenging semester for me emotionally, physically, and mentally. I had recently had a change in my relationship status and was left alone to pay all the bills. The full-time schedule made it difficult for me to pick up hours at work. Being a single mother of three children, this had devastating consequences on my family financially. By mid-semester I was forced to work third shift and weekends to try to compensate for the wages I was losing. This dramatically

The Science of Stress is an informative video by National Geographic detailing the body response to stress. Stress is the body’s way of getting itself prepared to face a challenge. It is constant problem that everyone has to deal with. It was originally meant to aid our survival, but over time it has become dangerous and lethal to our well being. National Geographic’s video gives us a scientific view of what goes on in our bodies when experiencing stress and its effects on it.

Starting college in August of 2008 was completely different than what I was expecting. My parents loaded up my car and sent me on my way to gain a college degree and experience life on my own, but looking back over the situation, I tend to ask myself numerous times do I think I was ready for college and the responsibilities that were to come along with it. Each time the answer was no. Being the first person in my family to go off to college away from home, I had no idea what to expect, or how to handle the things that come along with college life. Needless to say, it took me several major changes and me leaving my first university and transferring to one at home for me to get a handle of the situation.

I had never been happier to be finally freed from church work and attend church of my choice and belong in a community. However, after my wedding, I realized that I need to have some income for me to provide for the family, which led me to find another position for youth director. Since then my life has been difficulty. I have been working as a youth director on weekends, full time student and a grad assistant for almost a year and a half. Every day of my life has been either at school or at church. I think this was a big reason why I suffered a lot in terms of financial, social and community, physical wellbeing. I am constantly tired all the time because I have no day to rest. I think I am progressing in terms of my career wellbeing because I know where I am headed now. I think the test helped me to identify my major problem and helped me to look forward to that graduation day so that I can just have a full-time position without serving as a youth director on the weekends for financial reasons. I honestly look forward to that day so that I can find a community where I can belong and be who I am so that I can thrive.

My mother and sister we’re able to find gainful employment and no longer rely on me financially. Of course with my father’s passing I no longer have to travel back and forth. And I’m able to focus on my course work. I’m still employed with my same employer. Now, I have a more understanding upper management team who works with my school schedule and allows me to work part-time. I was also diagnose with attention deficit disorder and I now work with the DRC here at CSN to ensure I have all the accommodations I need to succeed here at CSN. I also utilize the resources here on campus such as the SRC (Science resource center) and the smart think tutoring services on canvas. I’ve also retaken courses to rehabilitate my GPA to prove that I do want to be successful here at

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

I come from a low-income family with a household of eight people. I have my dad, my six siblings, and my mother passed away a few years ago. As a first-generation college student I felt so many emotions. I came from a high school that didn’t prepare me for college courses and that became a problem. What made it worse was that my dad didn’t go to college, so I couldn’t go to him for help. I was scared, depressed, unprepared, I was doing everything on my own. I also felt like I didn’t belong because I believed I wasn’t as smart as the other students or “rich” enough. When I first arrived at UC Davis, I was immediately intimidated. All of the other students seemed so educated and professional and I just compared myself to them without even getting to know them. Let me tell you, getting here wasn’t easy and I know it wasn’t easy for you either, so feel accomplished. You made it! Now that you’re in UC Davis, you will be expected to work hard. Times may get rough, but just remember that help is out there. Take advantage and don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek help.

The program is both social and academic. I was too ambitious to productive during my last summer of high school. Thus, despite being financially struggle, I tried my best to use my savings to attend the program, with the help of tuition scholarships. In here, I built great connections with faculties and friends, whom I still stay in contact and who are helping me with my academic endeavor. Being an on child who was raised protectively in home and never allow to go on field trip, I thought this was a unique program that allows me to gain independence being far away from home and support myself. The program taught me how to get along with roommates and how to be friends with different people before my real college life started. In the beginning, I shed blood and tears, missing my parents so much. However, I knew that the most difficult obstacle to overcome is overcoming myself. New Start gave a new effect on my work ethic because of the experience I had with college students’ team work and with the conference that I presented. The transition to college became easier a few months

Before I began my program here at University of Phoenix my learning and personal growth was not a major factor. In May 2002, I was faced with a life or death situation. I was attending a private college in New Jersey. I went in for an annually check-up and was informed that I was pregnant. That day changed my life drastically. I was working two jobs and going to school part-time, so I always have been hard-working and a dedicated individual. Learning that I was about to have a child immediately made me become unfocused. In December 2002, I was about to give birth when I broke my lower left

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

Coming back to school after being away for 17 years has been one of the most emotionally taxing endeavors I've experienced. My career experience was working in the quality control field. Being apart of the industry was very satisfying until the point in which the 2008 recession hit. Having to go through the uncertainty of being laid off and the frustration of trying to reenter the work force with only a high school diploma brought into focus that I needed to finish the bachelor degree I had started. While attempting to find gainful employment I took the opportunity to begin the process of transferring to a school here in California. I had originally started my degree in Lincoln, Nebraska, but moved out to California with my significant other.

These problems felt crippling, but after working a retail job with a friend, I was able to slowly overcome my personal problems and gained confidence in myself. I later transferred to Oklahoma State University and majored in microbiology. While I was attending OSU, I should have been more selfish. Putting others ahead of myself contributed to the poor reflection of my true potential found within my transcripts. I lost sight of my future goals while time was split between work, school, and taking care my girlfriend at the time and her daughter. Through the difficulties of those years, I emerged as an infinitely better person and after our separation I gained a sense of self-realization. Life is full of tough choices and I feel confident in making decisions quickly and effectively. I returned to Tulsa from Stillwater with a renewed sense of self and a clear view of the future I

In the article, “I was That Girl On Halloween –Here’s How I Learned My Lesson” by Alden Wicker, discusses how she was influenced to change her perspective when buying or creating a Halloween costume and how it has a hostile response in peoples cultures. Wicker

The first time I went back home after coming to college was a rollercoaster of emotions. After arriving home I was embraced with open arms by my mom and dad. This was the first time I had seen them since being dropped off at college and I suddenly realized how much I missed them. I called every so often but being in my own home being able to talk and with them was something I hadn’t ever experienced. All of my worries about homework and future exams were gone and I got to enjoy the company of my parents. At the beginning of college I constantly felt like I couldn’t be myself. Coming home these feelings vanished because I was surrounded by those who loved me. After spending a few hours catching up, I went to reconnect with my high school friends.

Growing up in a country where educational preferences were given to boys, my father went against the society norms and encouraged me to get higher education. Along with his guidance and my thirst for knowledge I was accepted in engineering program. I was happily pursuing my degree, when suddenly all this came to halt; my father was seriously ill. He wanted me to get married before he leaves this world. Few weeks later, I met my husband, who at the time was visiting Pakistan for his cousin’s wedding and within months I was married. I came to United States with a hope of better future and dreams of finishing my education, but was unable to do so as I was expecting our first child and had no one to help us with the baby. I dedicated myself to raise our daughter, but deep down that feeling of emptiness lingered. Life kept moving forward, we moved a few times, gradually I started to adapt to being a stay home mother of two beautiful girls. Numerous times I brought home admission forms from CCBC but started to doubt myself if I was going to be able to do restart after such a big gap? I started volunteering at my daughter’s school and was soon hired as a teacher’s helper to assist with children with special needs. While working at school, I was again in an environment that reminded and encouraged me to fulfill my lost dreams. In 2012, I enrolled at CCBC with no career path in mind: I just wanted start again! Once I started I never looked back and I will continue to thrive.