If this statement of purpose was a speech for my non-profit women’s organization, I would start with some self-deprecating, humble-brag explanation of my circuitous thirty year journey through college and how it lead to my pursuit of a doctorate in Communication. I would pepper in awkward anecdotes highlighting differences between my young classmates and me. There would be laughs and knowing nods. It would also be an oversimplification of a complicated and difficult journey culminating in this first step toward achieving my biggest dream. When pressed to describe my family life growing up, I would shamelessly quote Allison from The Breakfast Club “My home life is unsatisfying.” By the time I reached ninth grade, I had attended three elementary schools and three middle schools. Growing up with a mentally ill mother meant chaos …show more content…
The Justus (Samuel) Charitable Trust was looking for candidates for their program geared toward disadvantaged teenagers. Serendipitously, I found myself simultaneously enrolled in high school and college at the tender age of fifteen. College was a glorious escape from a troubled home life and was the kind of challenge I desperately craved. A year later, I successfully petitioned to skip my senior year of high school to attend college full time. As much as I loved learning, this decision had more to do with survival than academics. My home life had been steadily unraveling for years and I realized it would be better for me to dictate my own exit terms. Had I been older, it may have indeed been my savior. However, a troubled sixteen year old living on her own is ill-prepared for the social and academic pressures of attending college full time and living on campus. It would take two decades of therapy, a child, a successful career, and co-founding a women’s non-profit organization before I would finish that elusive bachelor’s
I am the product of divorced parents, poverty stricken environments, and a blended family, but I refuse to let that dictate the outcome of my life. At the age of ten, I had to assume the role of a fatherly figure to my three siblings, so I missed out on the typical childhood most would have had. I grew up in neighborhoods where gangs and criminal acts of violence were a pervasive occurrence, but I resiliently did not allow the peer pressures of others to force me to conform to their way of life. By the age of 15, I received my worker 's permit, and that allowed me the ability to help my mother financially in the absence of my father’s income. I worked the maximum amount of hours I could while balancing my academics and extracurricular school activities. I was a scholar athlete and triathlete in high school, and although I continuously faced much adversity, I still managed to be accepted to the University of California State, Bakersfield after I graduated from high school in 2005. Sadly, after
In the reading “Who Goes to College” written by Cecilia Rodriguez Milanes I was able to see myself in her situation. When she was a senior she had no idea what she was going to do her following year, all she knew was that her parents wanted her to attend college. She always wanted to work, she liked being able to provide for herself but her parents always told her that college would come first. She had no clue of how college worked, what classes she would take or what she would do there. After all the confusion she had of what college truly is, she began to love it. I believe that Cecilia Rodriguez chose the right path, even though she was not completely sure of what she wanted to do she always worked hard and never let any obstacle put her
“Coastal Carolina is too far away for you to come home when you have the chance.” Kaylee (my Girlfriend at the time) said to me in my first car as we talked about college choices. I told her about my acceptance to Coastal Carolina University I received from Mrs. Emmons (personal guidance counselor in high school) during a school day, early February. Kaylee’s words made me start a to question myself; “What other colleges can I choose?”. I came home and sat down with my parents in the living room with my Coastal Carolina acceptance letter in my hand and they were proud of me. I asked my parents the same question I asked myself earlier that day “What other colleges can I choose from?”. When
This shocking, life changing, news had me at a stand still in my life I didn’t know what to do. Seeking advice from my family I turned to them and what I should do, most of them had told me I should take a break from college and settle into becoming a mom and pick school back up later on,“I didn’t want to leave. But it felt like that was maybe the reality of the situation.” Maybe taking a break from college was the best option, I hadn’t even decided on a major at this point in life, why did I think going to college and bring a life into the world was something I could
I began to look at college as a fresh start of life. I had the opportunity to change anything I want about myself. However, the day before leaving, I wanted to change my mind, I no longer wanted to leave everything that I have known for my entire life. But, I refused to show my new feelings because I knew it was a common feeling among other college bound freshman. After some tears and deep breathes, I realized I always wanted to go away to school and if I backed out, I would regret my decision for the rest of my life.
After graduation of my high school, I’ve decided not to attend college. I spent over three months preparing for college admissions. Over three months of studying for the SAT and writing essays for colleges. But, all this hard work was blown away in just a week. The week before the May 1st, the decision day, I had made my decision not to attend college. I have decided to return to my country and start working. Of course, there was a strong disagreement from my parents, but I didn’t hesitate. For the past years, I have worked in many different kinds of places and I have faced the true reality. This made me want to attend college and brought me to Concordia College.
Society puts too much pressure on high school students to attend a 4-year college right after graduation. Though this is an attainable goal for some, a great majority of students are not fully prepared for the demands of college. 4-year schools require an incredible amount of maturity and preparation, leaving very little room for mistakes. Schools often overlook this aspect because their main goal is to get as many students into 4-year college as possible. This is a great goal to have however they send students off to college who aren’t ready to be handle the difficult of their courses while being away from home. My senior year of high school, my family and I came to the conclusion that we were not going to be able to afford four-year college tuition. This upset me at first because I felt like all my hard work and good grades went to waste. I dreaded the thought of going to community college because my who...
When I think of the United States Flag I feel honored. Everyday in the morning after the school bell rings I place my hand upon my heart, and say the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Everyday I am reminded of the appreciation I have for my country. The flag represents all the veterans who fought for our country. When I look at the flag the white stars on the sky of blue represent the past veterans who served our country, the red stripes represent the bloodshed of the fallen soldiers who died protecting our country, and the white stripes signifies innocence and purity.
While I wish finding my way around the school was my only problem, I was faced with some internal challenges. As the school year started, my friends slowly started to leave to these “big shot” colleges or simply move away to other community colleges. I, too, wanted the complete “college experience” somewhere in Arizona or across the country; yet I felt stuck and unaccomplished. I also felt jealousy which could have been because I did not get to decorate my dorm room.While talking about dedicating hard work to your education, Gina Rodriguez said “Just remember, during those times of fear and doubt, that you are right now discovering your true strength.” And in those times of doubt, I reminded myself why I could not just move and leave everything behind. The root of my challenges and concerns are my family. As I enrolled as a full time student, my family was fighting some financial problems which created marriage troubles for my parents. I could not leave at a time like this. I knew it was not the first time my parents were talking divorce but somehow I knew it was best to stay. I got financial aid from the school which saved me the fuss of asking my parents for money. It really meant so much to not put another worry on their
College takes a serious toll on people, some are able to strive through and come out on top and some suffer from outside family issues, can’t financially keep up with school or just lack the skills that are needed for higher education. College sometimes just isn’t for everyone; and students can’t handle it all like I couldn’t myself.
The stereotypical version of the normal life of a teenager proceeding to college would include high academic standards met throughout their high school career and outstanding outside testing scores resulting in automatic entry into the institution of their choice. Many of these individuals have the support of their accomplished family members in the form of financial support. There are those who have not had the luxuries of any easy upbringing but forced to decide between a life with a college degree or full-time employment. For myself I want to have it all and to achieve that I have taken on both.
Wow! 12 years of hard work, 12 years of perseverance, 12 years of dedication! A great king once said, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel." We each have mentors in our life who give us this counsel. What we choose to do with it determines if we are considered foolish or wise. Naturally, we tend to think we are always right, and even on the occasions when we are right, there is always something to learn from a second opinion.
By 2011, I had obtained three credentials: a Bachelor’s degree from American University, a Masters from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a second Masters from the University of Cambridge. I largely attribute my college successes to the ongoing reminders from family, teachers, mentors, and college advisors to ‘think big’ – and, perhaps equally important, I benefited greatly from the financial assistance provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Coca-Cola Foundation. Drawing on personal and professional experiences, I am now committed to helping many more low-income students earn postsecondary credentials—especially given that a college education is needed more today than at any time in our nation’s history.
As the end of my senior year in high school approached, I had to make an important decision. What school was I going to spend the next few years of my life at? When the financial aid packages arrived, I was torn between two colleges. After sitting down with my mother and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both schools, I came to my final decision. It seemed like a year ago I was imagining what college life would be like and suddenly before my eyes, I would be a college student in a matter of four months.
Katharine Butler Hathaway once said, “A person needs at intervals to separate from family and companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be open to influences, to change.” In doing this, I broadened my horizons and changed my outlook on life. Now, as I move on to college, I am leaving my family and friends again to educate and better myself so that I am prepared to walk down any path on the road of life.