Leaving Work and Going Back to School for a Brighter Future I thought about it for months, sleepless nights, draining my energy, do I quit my job and go back to school or do I continue to work? My family has begun to suffer; my oldest child is now first grade, my youngest is four. To continue to work means working only for family insurance and to pay the daycare to raise my children. Will they ever know the joy of summer breaks before it’s too late? Are their tiny brains being overloaded with school work and not enough play and imaginative exercise? All these thoughts run, trample and muttle my initiative to get up each morning and drag myself to a job that I’m not happy with. The tempting, aroma of fresh ground coffee beans, the hot water of the mornings shower just don’t have the same effect on my alertness and desire to go to work. Money is going to be sparse we will need to get use to a new life style. The day has come; I can’t take this yo-yoing effect of dread and despair. I have to, there isn’t another way, we’ll have to make do, I’m going to quit today. The sudden realization of a decision that’s long overdue has my stomach in knots, I feel the bile rising, going to be sick, and yet my head and shoulders feel fifty pounds lighter. There is a light at the end of this long drab tunnel. Wow, my first day home with the kids we slept until ten o’clock. Its summer time and there is no school to rush off to. There is no work that is demanding me to be there at 7:50 a.m. We can finally have a decent home cooked breakfast; eggs, bacon, toast and jam, not just some thrown together cold cereal. Today is our day; I know that tomorrow brings lots of new tasks to be done. The reality of this is settin... ... middle of paper ... ...links, final GPA for summer II eyes open to see 4.0. I can’t believe this is really happening; I have never gotten a 4.0 in my life! In the blink of an eye I’m on the phone to my husband to tell him the wonderful news, next it’s on to my mother, then my sister, and my husband’s family. This is my light at the end of the tunnel. I have proven to myself and everyone else that I can go back to school, raise my family and be all the better for it. Family motivation and the desire to better myself has really paid off. I’m back on the path that I have always dreamed I would be on. It may be later in life than I had hoped but having children young, and my latest decision of going back to school and better not only myself but my family as well has been the best and probably the most difficult that I have ever made. This truly is the greatest reward a mother could have.
Leave the sofa, go to the kitchen, and start breakfast for the children and yourself. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so fix a substantial meal to fuel the kids until lunchtime. Start preparing lunches, lay out the kid’s clothes for the day, pack their book bags, go to their rooms, and tell them to get up out of the bed. Run go flip the bacon and eggs. Put toast into the toaster, pour orange juice into glasses, and put finished lunches into book bags. Tell kids to get out of the bed again.
Growing up, my parents never expected perfection but expected that I try to accomplish my best. The effort I’ve put forth in learning has been reflected in my grades throughout my high school career. I’ve entered myself in vigorous course work such as AP Government and AP English to become well prepared for my college career, all while maintaining a 4.4 grade point average this year. Not only do I engage in AP classes, but up until this year I had no study halls. I wanted my day to be packed full of interesting classes that I would enjoy learning about. My grades and choice of classes prove the effort that I put forth in my learning. Working hard now can only pay off in the future. Learning now creates a well-rounded human being. Working to learn is why I am so dedicated to my studies now.
During my years in high school, I have learned many valuable lessons. I’m proud of the person I am becoming. Life has not been easy, but thankfully I’m a strong hard worker. I started high school with a high GPA, and never intended for it to drop throughout my years. Within the last three years, I’ve moved around, participated in sports, and got a job.
Three years ago my life drastically changed when my husband of 19 years decided he wanted a divorce. I had always been a wife and a mother and only worked part time through the majority of my marriage. Having married at 19, I never thought too much about going to college. I always thought I wanted to be a stay at home mom and never thought too much about what my life would be like once the children grew into adulthood. Now, at 41 years old, I realize how horrible a decision I made by not getting my college education sooner. Trying to go back to school while working full-time and raising two kids on my own is not fun. It’s a struggle to find that right balance of being a good student but also being a good mom. I want to make my kids proud
In June of 2018, Jasmin Sierra became the first in her family to graduate high school on time, and the following autumn becomes the first in her family to take the route of graduating college. Coming from parents who couldn’t receive an education like her, she took the responsibility to provide her family a better life. She saw her parents struggle every day to provide for her family, and I wanted to change that. She wanted to help them financially and set an example for her younger siblings. Her family is very important to her because they are her support and without them, she would not be where she is today. However, being a first-generation college student had its struggles and perks of its own.
My story began on a cool summer’s night twenty short years ago. From my earliest memory, I recall my father’s disdain for pursuing education. “Quit school and get a job” was his motto. My mother, in contrast, valued education, but she would never put pressure on anyone: a sixty-five was passing, and there was no motivation to do better. As a child, my uncle was my major role-model. He was a living example of how one could strive for greatness with a proper education and hard work. At this tender age of seven, I knew little about how I would achieve my goals, but I knew that education and hard work were going to be valuable. However, all of my youthful fantasies for broader horizons vanished like smoke when school began.
As I look to graduate, I become increasingly aware that I have my entire life to look forward to. Even though I will have struggles throughout my life, I still have my well being to fall back on. When all else fails, I am and hopefully always will be self-assured that I am here, healthy and able to bring myself through the worst of circumstances.
Today, as we graduate, with degree nearly in hand, I challenge each of you to make a difference in whatever you do. Remember that life didn't end when we re-entered school. Life continued throughout our program. Even when stretched to the limit, life only got more challenging. And now, graduating, life only changes pace. Our degree completion is not really an ending as much as a new beginning as we re-enter our lives of work and home. We thank all of our family, friends, instructors and co-workers who helped see us through this process. Thank you for this opportunity and good luck to you all.
Graduation is two weeks away, which for most of us does not seem possible. As we look back at these past four long but fulfilling years, there are some things that we shall never forget. It’s hard to believe that at one point we were little freshmen entering into these doors, with no idea what was in store for us. Four years have passed since that first day, and we have made decisions that will frame our futures. After years of studying, filling out applications, scholarships, and taking tests, we are now thrown into the real world, where there are seldom retakes, second chances are only a memory of yesteryear, and honor codes are the way of life.
I have accomplished a lot in a short period; however, my journey is not complete until I continue my education. Essentially, this degree will help foster my growth and career success. My passion and dedication will speak for itself. My hard work and determination will prevail and I am a fit more than the next applicant because I have the passion, experience, critical thinking and analytical skills needed to complete this program through successfully arguing my capstone in front of a board or committee. My goals are definitely aligned with this program and I hope my next read is an acceptance letter from the admissions council.
Life After High School I’ve just entered my senior year of high school. I know that this is a very important year. I have a lot of decisions to make and not much time to make them. These decisions will either make or break my life, and I want to make sure that I make them to the best of my ability, because there is no turning back. I need to make sure I definitely want to attend college.
I scarcely snoozed at all, the day before; incidentally, I felt insecure regarding the fact of what the unfamiliar tomorrow may bring and that was rather unnerving. After awakening from a practically restless slumber, I had a hefty breakfast expecting that by the conclusion of the day, all I wanted to do is go back home and sleep. Finally, after it was over, my dad gladly drove me to school; there, stood the place where I would spend my next four years of my life.
When Maddison came and knocked on the door at the end of the day, I felt my stress dissipate, as much as I loved babysitting Everlee and Paxton, the best part of my day was when the lot of them drove away. The well-earned stillness and solitude surrounded me like a warm blanket. Reflecting back on the day, I appreciated babysitting Everlee and Paxton, and even though periodically I felt like quitting, I persevered through the day and acquired enough money to buy meaningful gifts for the holidays. With the day behind me I felt accomplished and
As usual I woke up to the sound of my father pounding on my bedroom door, hollering, “Get up! Get on your feet! You’re burning daylight!” I met my brother in the hallway, and we took our time making it down the stairs, still waking up from last night’s sleep. As we made our way to the kitchen, I thought about what to have for breakfast: fried eggs, pancakes, an omelet, or maybe just some cereal. I started to get hungry. As usual, mom and dad were waiting in the kitchen. Mom was ready to cook whatever we could all agree on, and dad was sitting at the table watching the news. The conversation went as usual, “Good morning.” “How are you today?”
A typical Sunday morning at my house is a little less sleep and a lot more work. It 's early when my eyes open. The first thing she tells me is, “Mija, I want you to go to the kitchen as soon as you get your clothes on.” Not even a “Good Morning.” The market’s over at the Redlands and there 's a lot of traffic at that time. It usually takes me a bit to get up. There 's a whole routine to it; she 'd yell at me so I 'm up, make me take a shower, and have me go feed and take out the dogs. I don 't even know why we have five, our house barely fits two. Nonetheless, I love them all.