To the Graduate Selection Committee,
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.
Starting college as a Freshman is exciting; it is also unnerving. The comfort of everything I know is going to disappear and it will be time to grow up and face reality. However, reality isn’t doomed to be negative if I prepare for my future and
Entry #1: College has been one of the most intimidating experiences for me. This is the second time I started college the first time I got pregnant with my daughter and my husband joined the military so we moved many states away. I ended up dropping out. I blamed my husband joining the military and becoming pregnant for not finishing. Truthfully it was a lack of trying. Granted it would have been harder for me to finish school it was still do able under those circumstances. A hurdle I had to face before start college is to stop making up excuses and to stop blaming my situation for why I could not do it. I would constantly say that I could not do college because I was a stay at home mom. When being a stay at home mom should have been a reason
I am aware of the hard work and perseverance necessary to complete graduate coursework, and that this endeavor requires discipline and dedication. I understand that I will need to be diligent in managing my time. I consider myself to be mature, perceptive, and highly motivated, qualities which I believe are necessary for graduate
Just when everything was finally going great as far as my college goes I hit the biggest rough patch. Starting my freshman year of college was the biggest accomplishment thus far in my life at the time. I had set such high goals for myself and then failed at them drastically, unintentionally at that. As being the first generation college student in my family, coming to college was a must for me. Growing up living in a paycheck-to-paycheck household was not the worst but I knew somewhere out there were better opportunities that I need to take advantage of once my time came. I wanted more for myself but until this screw up. I came to the real conclusion of what that better was. Better was getting myself together so I could be one-step closer the gold behind the psychology degree I will receive in May 2020.
Beginning college is much like any life altering change; at first can be frightening. Students doubt their ability to adjust, fit in with classmates, and balance responsibilities' in order to excel. As you see yourself succeeding and enjoying the very things that you were afraid of. Usually this proves to be liberating and empowering, that is how fears of failure and incompetence are quickly replaced with confidence and success.
During my first two years of college, I had no idea what I wanted to become in life. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. I entered college only because I was told by my parents that I had no choice but to attend college. I went into undergraduate school with the mentality that it was all just fun and games. My freshman and sophomore years were filled with partying and all other sorts of nonacademic activities. My grades were suffering tremendously. By my junior year of college, I had finally made a decision on what I wanted to become in life; I wanted to become a Clinical psychologist.
My life has not always been as bright and promising as it is today; I had no idea where my life was going, or how I would possibly be able to attend college at all. Since I was a child, my self-esteem has always been low, and any time college was brought up, it simply made my confidence drop even further. I never believed I could handle college, and never thought I would even be given the opportunity to attend.
I should graduate because I have been going to school for 12 years now. I think that one test that I have failed should keep me from graduating. I should also graduate because I want to make my mom proud because I would be the third person in my family to graduate. I also want to set an example for my younger siblings. And show them that can graduate and make our mom proud.
When I started college, I was very happy, but clueless. It felt amazing that I had the opportunity to continue my education, but I did not know how to make it through my first semester. However, I said to myself that I should grab this great opportunity, or it would go pass me. I looked up for supports from every resource I could get from college, and surprisingly I made it through smoothly for the last three years. I feel so grateful and honored that I am going to be first generation in my family ancestry who is graduating from college.
When college started, I didn’t know anything about how life was going to be or how much work I would have to put in, but I think I’ve progressed a great deal towards being the person and professional I want to be since then. There are many things I’ve learned since the beginning of college like programming and handling responsibility. This has been a short semester, but I’ve come a long way in my life.
As an incoming freshmen I’m learning to accept new challenges, time management and comprehending my mistakes. On the first day I’ve learned to be on time, stay organized, and be prepared for class. At first, I was extremely nervous about meeting all the professor and classmates because I didn’t know anyone. However, I’ve been comping with the changes of meeting new people and getting use to the transition in college. In addition, the transition from high school to college is what I expected it to be. Because I’ve had many individuals who have advised me that when you enter college you’ll be expecting many assignments and responsibility.
Being in college has brought on a new identify for me. So far it has been formed of positive and negative thoughts and experiences. Starting with the most unpleasant experience so far, college is intimidating. I have found that relying on my family as a source of income while being away from them is risky. Trying to budget is difficult, and deciding whether I need books or food is impossible. Another fear of mine is time management. This is the first time I assemble my schedule. I decide if I when it is time for homework, for laundry to be washed, when it is time to eat, or time to clean my room, and all the other decisions that used to be made for me by an adult. Now that I’m the adult this strange freedom is pushing to test me greatly,
The most significant challenge I expect to face transitioning to college will be confronting the absence of my family. First and foremost, I am a family oriented person and I accept that college will be a drastic experience for myself. I won't wake up every morning to eat breakfast with my sister nor will I be taking the same road to school. In college, I will most likely be walking to my class occupied with mature adults rather than the same people I have been knowing for four years now. I’m definitely going to miss coming home to my mom’s delicious food and our family dinners. However, my motivation to show my family that I can be successful without their assistance will definitely help me move forward so I can be with them as soon as I get
Throughout my lifetime I have listened to people reflect back on their college experiences and explain how college is supposed to be “the best experience of your life.” The summer after my senior year I use to try and imagine what my first semester was going to be like based on what I had heard people talk about in the past. After my first semester at NC State I realized that I couldn’t fully understand what college was like until I experienced it for myself. My first couple of weeks at Ohio State was rough and really tested my strength (mental and physical). I faced challenges and obstacles that I had never heard about in those past college experience conversations. All of a sudden there was no one to get me out of
“College is an experience of a lifetime they say.” That quote is definitely applicable to my experience so far, even if it hasn’t been long. I've already developed immensely as a person and I’ve only been here since August 17th, so close to two months. College is a transition like no other I’ve experienced before. I mean over the years as a student you've had to transition through various phases like from preschool to kindergarten and then middle school and from middle school to highschool, but highschool to college seems like the greatest leap. Through my time spent here I’ve already learned some valuable lessons. However the most important traits i’ve noticed about myself is that I’m starting to become independent, I’m learning how to balance different aspects of my life, and I’ve learned that education is all in my hands.