Life is full of transitions, how they are handled and the choices made ultimately effect the overall outcome. College is a transition in which many students begin to truly discover who they are, and what they are meant to fulfill in life. Throughout my time at the current institution I attend, the journey has not been what I quite expected. My goals were afflicted, this includes several unexpected roadblocks throughout the course of it, which ultimately have been detrimental to my success. In order to truly discover the path that is right for me, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to fulfill this is to take my journey to another institution of higher education. I aspire to be a part of a school in which not only are academics
As I reflect on my college life, I wonder about the choices I have made that have led me to where I am today and that will guide me into shaping who I long to become. The things I have had to sacrifice, the support and experiences I have had with family, friends, strangers and work colleagues. I don’t know what I will be doing three months or thirty years from now but I do know that I want to have new experiences. When I graduated from high school, I knew I didn’t want to be that person that moved back to the same town and stayed there for the rest of my life. I even contemplate leaving the United States in my adult life. Who really knows, maybe those cards are still in the deck. For now, I know my immediate goals include focusing on completing my college education the best I can, and moving away from my comfort zone, broadening my horizons and taken risks.
College is not for everyone, although, everyone should have some form of higher education. "Should everyone go to college?" is an essay meant to inform students of the pros and cons of going to college. Owens and Sawhill state that the cost of a college degree may not be worth the money that students put into furthering their education. In their article, Owens and Sawhill use three different rhetorical appeals; egos, logos, and pathos; to persuade the readers to think consciously about attending college. Their argument was effective because it forces the readers to look at the overall college experience in different aspects.
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.
For all teens, the transition into adulthood is generally seen as a challenging and scary process. For teens diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as their caregivers, this transition is often more complicated. The period of transition for individuals with ASD into adulthood is intensely more challenging due to their “unique characteristics, the lack of services that address the special needs of such individuals in adulthood, and the expectations of society for a typical path to adulthood in the face of atypical problems” (Geller and Greenberg, 2009, pg. 93). Without the necessary resources to transition, teens with ASD find themselves unprepared for life at work, in college, or community living. Through this paper, the reader will obtain knowledge in regards to what ASD is, the barriers it yields concerning the transition into adulthood, and the effects it has on the individual as well
At the start of the semester, my oblivious state of nature associating with the Chinese culture reached an unacceptable level. Implementing a necessary change, I decided to educate myself on different cultures starting with China. I failed to ponder that such a rich, deep culture existed outside America. Encompassed by this country’s unique yet suffocating melting pot culture, my outlook believed ideas such as uniformity between American Chinese food and Authentic Chinese food. After this course, my bigot perspective widened as I witnessed diversity in the world. Before this class, when I thought of Chinese food, my connotation jumped to thoughts associated with chop suey, but as I progressed my education, my mindset gradually pondered foods like steamed buns or “New Year Cakes” with authentic Chinese food.
In “Choosing Success in College and Life”, Carol Kanar exposes students to the foundational skills that they will need to develop in order to be successful in the college setting. Effective interpersonal skills and understanding that people are the biggest resource can be two of the biggest factors in how a student assimilates to campus life. Students can be intimidated by all of the offices and professional titles that surround them when entering this new surrounding. It is important that students understand that their desire to succeed is met by college professionals’ mutual desire to see the same. The blueprint for this success should first begin with the students’ inner belief in themselves. Second, the student should familiarize themselves with all that the college has to offer by way of various supportive offices, support groups, and clubs. Finally, the students should begin to set scholastic, life, and financial goals for themselves.
Diana Sanchez is currently working in journalism and formatting stories for the newspaper. Her college essay involved her racial identity and described her neighborhood as a “little town”. Her essay sent her straight to acceptance at both Iowa state University and Loyola. “Telling your story should be the end goal of your college essay” states Diana “It gives insight on how you might be contribute to the campus.”
With the understanding and acknowledgement of lack of successes in college transitions and beyond, it is necessary to make changes to allow for more successes. As a result, much research has been done in this area assessing ways to better facilitate success in transitions. In her article “Marginality and Mattering,” Nancy Schlossberg, a professor of counseling and personnel services, discusses the importance of mattering as a key component to success in transitions and beyond. Transitions mark the end of one stage of life and the beginning of another. They are naturally difficult as they involve rediscovering our place and purpose within a new context and how and where we fit in, in this new stage.
The transition from high school to college is a tough, life-changing path many young people take in their life. Student loans, being away from your home, meeting new people, etc. are a stressful and new environment that young people many times run into blindly. Running blindly is one of the worst ways to begin in such a live changing experience. Small, but important information can be your difference between life and death in a college situation.
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.
For many years I have had the desire to return to college and pursue a degree. I hope
College has been a truly life changing experience for me. I have met new people, learned new things about academics, and even learned about myself. However, things are very different from what I went into this expecting. Unfortunately, I still feel restricted in a lot of ways because I am in pathways. After six weeks in college, this is how my experience has been thus far.
The first year of college is an emotional rollercoaster. Students pack their belongings and prepare to move to a new town, environment, and take the first step towards adulthood. Bright eyed and anxious to start this new chapter of their lives, first year students often become overly confident and optimistic in their ability to handle challenges and obstacles they will encounter during their first year of college, especially the students who excelled in high school. Students who thrived academically in high school often struggle a great deal their first year of college because of bad study habits, time management, and dealing with a larger load of stress.
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one student to dissolve the bonds which have held him to his high school life, he can get fairly intimidated. Making the transition from high school to college can be a tough one. I remember my experience in such a transition vividly, as it was only a short time ago.
At the start of my undergraduate education, I was taken aback by what I had ahead of me. Now finally out of high school, a bevy of opportunities suddenly sprang themselves upon me. I was faced with the questions of what classes to take, what to study, what to participate in, how to fend for myself, how to accomplish my goals, and countless others. After struggling with these monumental questions, I realized that, in fact, nothing had changed. I was still the same person I had always been, only now presented with much more opportunity and room to grow. Thus, rather than continuing to flounder in grandiose thought, I began to experience what only a university can offer, by embracing the infinite potential presented to me.