School, though it is one word, it is a word that will change everything in my life. One word that will determine my future and what it holds. Choosing to be a part of the Rutgers School of Nursing’s EOF Program is a massive opportunity for me to had come upon in many ways socially, academically, and financially. I love that the program offers students, like me, a chance to taste the atmosphere of college before our semester begins in Fall. I believe it is beneficial how we are taking college introductory courses and are able to meet new students and staffs before starting in Fall. Furthermore, my parents come from Vietnam and sacrificed a lot for my family to make sure we will achieve a higher education prior to high school. My father is unemployed and my mother makes $20,000 a year with efforts to raise 5 children to become successful. My parents pushed school towards me and my siblings because they want to guarantee that we have a chance at an education, unlike them. However, my parents blame themselves and are disappointed that they cannot help much with our education. …show more content…
Therefore, the main reason I chose this program is because the staff and students here knows our struggle. They understand it. They know that college is expensive. They know that we need help academically and financially. I love how this program can provide help for me, not just financially, but, beneficial actions to make sure my future is straight ahead of me. I believe in the EOF’s program’s goal. I love how those involved in this program believes in me. I know for a fact success will thrive from this program and will get me far. So, school? Yes, it is small. Six letters, one syllable. Yet, those six letters, including the EOF program, will get me far and will ensure a successful
“You don't want to be like your parents!" triggers memories of the day I found my compelling reason to attend college. My grandfather is a very wise man who exhibits the meaning of sacrifice and hard work in my family. My first visit to the UOG admissions office with him was a dreadful experience. As I gazed at the cost of tuition yearly, I felt a sudden weight on my shoulders. For a moment I felt like a traveler lost in a foreign place trying to figure out where to go and how to get to my destination. I knew at that moment that I could not afford it unless I found a job to pay for the expenses or received some form of financial aid. As I requested a FASFA form and began filling out the application, my hand began to tremble and again I felt
Halfway through dinner I decided to tell them. “That 's great baby, you know we support you no matter what,” says my Mom. As I bring out the numbers for college tuition, their faces seem to changed from excited to nervous. “I cannot afford that, honey,” says my Dad quietly, being unemployed then. That upset me because I was determined to follow my dreams.
How does being the first in one’s family to graduate from college impact one’s desire to finish college? Some of the major barriers first generation college students face include lack of motivation, lack of support, and low income finances. Some freshman students might lack the motivation to do well in school because of the lack of appropriate role models or mentors in the academic environment. These difficulties can be tied to lack of support at home; the parents might not be concerned about their child's education, maybe the parent lacks the ability to guide them through college, the parent might not have the process of having not navigated it themselves. Parents might feel embarrassed that they don’t have any knowledge to help them through college.
I was raised in an encouraging household where both of my parents greatly valued education. Although they were high school graduates, neither could afford to attend college; a combination of family and financial woes ultimately halted their path. As a result, my parents frequently reminded me that getting a good education meant better opportunities for my future. To my parents, that seemed to be the overarching goal: a better life for me than the one they had. My parents wanted me to excel and supported me financially and emotionally of which the former was something their parents were not able to provide. Their desire to facilitate a change in my destiny is one of many essential events that contributed to my world view.
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.
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.
Academics has always been an important part of my life. Ever since I was a young child my parents have pushed me to lead good life academically. All throughout grade school I have had decent grades (generally speaking in the nineties or above), and I owe this, at least partly, to my parent's determination to give me the best possible education. I also owe this to my will to be at the top of my academic game. This was naturally quite easy for me up until my senior year of high school. When my senior year came around, there was a lot of pressure on me to make a lot of life changing decisions. When all of this was put on me, the last thing that i wanted to do was change the way i was living. I loved the way my life was, and going away from home to college wasn't something that i felt i was ready to do. Because of this i decided to enroll in Genesee Community College, which is about five minutes away from my house.
My entire life I have always been viewed as the black sheep of my family, and out of 14 grandkids, I was always the one that nobody ever thought would amount to anything. My father was a high school dropout, and everyone assumed that I would be an alcoholic drop out, just like him. I never had a wonderful childhood where everything was laid before me to choose from; instead, I have had to fight and scrap for every little bit of approval from everyone in my family, and my peers. All of my Aunts were school teachers, and my Uncle was a chemical engineer, and they were able to send their kids to college as soon as they graduated from high school. It has taken me almost a decade to be able to send myself. I was never able to achieve good grades when I was young. I tried and tried to make good grades, but trying on your own with no help can be like the blind leading the blind. I had almost given up all hope before I came to Lone Star College, but my experience at LSC saved me; there is no better way to say it. My time as a student here has instilled a refreshing sense of pride and...
My parents have this perfect life for me pictured in their heads, and the first thing they see me doing is going to college. They expect the best of me, and so by going to college, I will not only have fulfilled their goals for me, but I will have accomplished one of the goals I have set for myself. In our culture, when parents come to the age where they can’t support themselves, it is the duty of the children to look after them.
My educational experience has been exhausting but personally rewarding, from getting academically suspended from Porterville College, to making a triumphant return, I have experienced my own defeats and had made good come backs. Coming from relatively conservative parents who didn’t really support my personal endeavors and constantly comparing me to my siblings, only two of which actually got degrees but only after years because they got into relationships which only slowed their academic progress. My youngers of the older sister didn’t pursue a degree and instead became a correctional officer.
As a grown up, I am now overwhelmed by life and its responsibilities while having to work low-wage jobs, just to pay rent and bills in order to survive. Throughout the years, this typical lifestyle has become extremely harsh and it has taken its toll on my morale. On a few occasions, I have bounced from job to job while also experiencing layoffs. Hence, there was even a brief period, in which I was homeless, too. Consequently, it was one of the lowest points in my life, but I never lost hope. In contrast, it was also a moment to reflect back on my failures while recognizing the advantages of how any form of higher education can enhance the quality of my well-being and vitality. Without a doubt, the decision of enrolling in college has proved to be rewarding and it was my first step towards a promising life for my family and
After graduated from middle school, I got into a selective high school with outstanding academic achievements. It was first time I left home and moved into dormitory. At first, I worried about making new friends in a new school. Later, I found out living in school actually helped me make friends easily because we not only spent time in class, but also we enjoyed meals, sports, and hobbies together. Interaction in the peer group let me understand how to get along with others, and how to work as a team. In addition, having chance to try many different courses let me learn about my interest. I found out that I was fond of art, and I was excited at using coloring to express my feeling. Creating my art project really brought me explore my identity. It was something that I wanted to pursue because I have passion for, but not because of the influence from my family. The art teacher encouraged me for applying majors related the fine art if I wanted. I appreciated the teacher provided a positive impact on my social development because “the school environment can be a warm, welcoming place that encourage learning and productivity. Or, it can be a scary, intimidating setting that discourages students from even being there” (p. 214 ). I liked being in art classes with encouragement, and decided to go to an art school. However, my father disagreed with me. He requested that I can only major in accounting or business; otherwise he will not support my college education. Authoritarian was the way of my father’s parenting style, but I refused to follow his value to toward independence. I filled out the application for art school without telling my parents. However, as I spent more time on drawing and designing, my math started falling behind. I tried my best to catch up my math, but I failed at college entrance examination. Meanwhile, I felt extremely isolated when my parents just migrated to
College is going to start my own life on a foot that is ready to leap because my career is going to take off right out of the gate. All-in-all I’m going to college for three main reasons. My immediate family is a reason because I want them to be proud of me for doing something right for once. My future family is also one because it’s a big part of my life that I want to be happy and always feel comfortable. Finally for my personal financial well-being, so I can be able to treat myself to all the luxuries I want for myself. Going back to line one, all of these things are a part of my future. Isn’t that what college is for after all, to prepare people for their own futures and what they bring? A university is not my future, it’s only the beginning of it.
My journey as a student has always been focused on the path to college and success. Before I even set foot in kindergarten my mother, a college dropout, always told me that “honor roll wasn’t an option” and that I would be attending college in the future and achieving a degree. Most of the time I made these requirements. Most of the time I was awarded honor roll or had a newly edited list of colleges to attend, but sometimes life got in the way of my dreams of achieving success.
My future choices were guided by my past life experiences due to my upbringing in my matrimonial family set up, and had so many insults coupled with the fact that my friends with whom we grew up together had finished their college education and I am still struggling with my adult education. I had received insults about not being a college graduate and I had to decide that it is time for me to pursue my education. I have seen my extended family members whom are college graduates and in love with them each time they visit our home and they in turn always encourage me or offered me an assistance to further my education. I am a single mother, I work as a CNA, and have been separated for 10 years. After a careful thought and so much consideration, I had to summon courage to proceed and continue my college education.