Personal Narrative: I Am A Non-Traditional Student

Iv noticed that my peers and myself have nowhere to blow off steam or socialize with each other. I feel it would do my peers and myself some good to have somewhere to go to socialize and blow off steam.

Being a non-traditional college student is hard for anyone, for someone who gets anxious easily it can be even harder. I remember my first day of college, I had spent the previous week sick and could barely talk because I still had a lingering cough. Pacing back and forth at home, I contemplated if it was too late to back out and quit school before I had even started. I changed my clothes several times and thought about giving up so much that I was nearly late to my first class. Additionally, in all the excitement I only took the time to know when my classes started and not where they were actually held. I had no idea why I was even here.

Serving others by utilizing the lessons I have learned through my experiences and my talents is how I want to live my life. As a first generation college student, I want to integrate myself in programs or start my own mentorship program where I am able to mentor and give back to students who are first generation college students as well. I feel it’s important to reach out to first generation college students because the amount of pressure we receive with little to no guidance can be discouraging and lead us to feel alone in this process.

I am a single parent first generation student. My family is low income and my father left us when I was beginning 9th grade after coming home from prison two years previous. He not only left us but my five month old brother. My three D's in first semester freshman year were hard to increase not only because we moved three different schools in a span of 4 months but I also had to fill into my fathers role as the caretaker of my siblings. While my mom was working I had to watch my baby brother which explains my large amount of absences, I do not want to seem as if I am excusing my self because I am not I let this moment in life define me for a short period of time before I final snapped out of it and realized moping would not excuse my performance

Going into college, I knew that there will be an abundance of life lessons learned, but I did not ken that I would be able to absorb so much in such a short duration. This past year in college, I gained vital skills and grew stronger mentally. College is a place where everyone learns from their failures and successes, and with that, there are numerous things to learn from that. My experiences in college edified me how to work with others, communicate with professionals efficaciously, and make perdurable relationships. In addition, being away from home and living in an unfamiliar environment without my family availed me to become independent. Surviving on my own, I learned to make my bed, cook, do laundry, clean up after myself, and more. College taught me skills beyond the classroom, and it withal a leeway to becoming independent away

The droplets of rain emerge from the towering clouds as I step onto the vibrant green grass for the first time. I lock eyes with the monstrous building and tilt my head back until I have reached the roof. There I was. A stick-like, puny, first year college student looking at my home for the next four years. Yet I can't manage to take a second step. I stand there, staring at the giant brick block and lift my classic yellow rain jacket hood up over my impressively soft chocolate hair, protecting it from the harm of the rain. Four years of Ireland weather lays ahead of me. Four years of bunk beds in dorms. Four years of competing for the number one student. For years of awkward parties and tests. Four years until I'm out.

Legacy has provided a wonderful foundation for me as a first time college student. To start, Legacy has created a cohort in its own to provide support for me and many other first time and returning college students. Before entering into college I did not have a lot of different responsibilities to take care of. My main focus was to go to high school, got to work, and go home. Starting college and especially the Legacy program has taught me more responsibility. I have been taught how to manage my time. Although, it is still a work in progress, I still have learned how to go to work, go to school, study, and take care of my responsibilities at home as well. Taking English 60/100/117 and Ethnic Studies 129 has help me everywhere from studying

As a non-traditional student, I had many opportunities to lead at school and work. As a matter fact it is hard to consider an internship because I am always having jobs which also gives me a chance to improve my leadership skills. I believe that a good leader must also be a good follower. I learned this in my first formal job as a chemical technician.

I’m a fighter. People tend to affiliate that with something negative but I think otherwise. I consider myself a fighter because I know the things that I have gone through and what I had to do to get past that. I can almost surely say that the majority of my classmates and people in general haven’t gone through half of the challenges that I have experienced. I’m not saying that I’m somehow better or superior but I do consider myself more mature, experienced, and responsible. I have repeatedly gotten a taste of what real life is and I know how hard it truly is but not even that has stopped me from wanting to pursue my dreams. As an immigrant who will be a first generation college student I have felt the stress and pressure not only from my parents

I remember being a little girl and hiding behind my mom when someone came up to me to say hello; I used to be so nervous to even meet their eyes. At our family get-togethers, for Christmas and New Years Day, my family attempted to start conversations I would politely smile and hide behind my closest parent. I remember her telling me “It’s okay to say Hi to the people I talk to, just do not talk to strangers.” I tried to listen to her and follow her instructions but every time I would try chickened out.

Do it gordita, you will love it. I promise. - Those were the words from my father when I questioned why he wanted me to hand out those vibrant birthday pencils each month in the office during elementary school. Till this day, both my parents have always encouraged me to work hard each day, for one day it will all be worth it. Towards the end of 5th Grade, my teacher gave me a packet to give to my parents. I never bothered to give any importance to it, but as the years passed I realized that “packet” was my open door into a marvelous program known as Student U. Stepping into this country with my family, inspired me to be successful not only for myself, but for my parents. Coming to a new country was never easy, especially having to learn my way around in a completely new world. Student U was an experience that began with a middle school program and later transferred into the high school program. Getting into Student U through my parent’s dedication and admiration to see me successful was one of the very first steps towards achievement.

When I began college, I had no direction. I started my college career enrolling as "undecided," taking liberal arts courses to fulfill base requirements while considering a number of majors. Writing has always been a strength, science an interest, and other subject success varied with my personal interest in the content. I truly believe that my limitations in those early days were functions of my own interest and self-discipline, and my A or F transcript is good evidence of this.

Imagine: a 99 lbs, 5’4, skinny, shy, ginger kid. Doesn’t seem like the athletic kind does it? This was me as a freshman, and I was really self conscious about myself, granted I was taller than the shortest people who were once taller than me about 2 years ago, I was still skinny and light. I was a good runner, placing 1st in my very first track race, but I hurt my hip during practice and didn’t say anything to the coaches because I was scared they’d say, “Wow, I knew this kid wouldn’t be able to do it, he’s so weak! Just look at him!” so I continued and placed last every race, but I still tried right?

What I expect to learn from this experience is turning what I learned in the classroom and using it in a real world setting. In addition, using this experience to grow and develop these skills to be able to further my abilities for the future. An internship like this would use my both my passion of politics along with my degree path of political science in the confines of future career path. To learn the fundamentals of Representatives have not only impact on local policy but also the influence they have on national policy and how both local and national policies influence one another. Furthermore, I have been born in raised in Holland, MI and have always been interested in the political backbone of West Michigan. Not only would this be a

White walls reach towards me, greeting my nose with dying bodies from left to right. For the past six years, life outside of school was a broken record playing the same sad song, "she's have another seizure", "call 911", "she's sick again", and "he's sick now." As I entered the seventh grade, my family entered an ever-evolving world of crisis: brain tumors, uterine cysts, cancer scares, strokes, ...illness after illness. What first seemed like a difficult but singular challenge that would start and end with the seventh grade grew into something unimaginable -- a series of medical hardships for my entire middle and high school career.