I have returned to college after being out of school for several years because, I am motivated to obtain my associates degree. I want to finish what I started years ago. When I was in high school, I became discouraged with my studies due to an illness and ended up dropping out of school. A few years after that I had an opportunity to return to school and obtain an Associate’s degree. When I started the program I was doing well until my illness returned. I found myself having a hard time juggling my school work, my illness and a job. I eventually started failing classes and ended up giving up again. At this point I had once again, let life’s challenges win the battle. Looking back, I understand that I failed when I returned to school because I wasn’t mentally prepared nor was I mature enough to deal with issues as they happened. Looking back at it now I understand that I made a terrible error permitting fear to take …show more content…
over and not asking for help when I needed it. An education is essential in order to survive in this world we live in without it life becomes that much harder. I understood that whenever I did return to college to pursue my education I would take it very seriously. I did not want to nor would I allow myself to make the same mistake twice. I want my attempt at a college education to be worthwhile and absorb as much knowledge as I can. Over the years I have had several great jobs where I gained a plethora of skills and knowledge, but without a college degree there was no way to advance in any of them.
Currently I am a secretary for the Board of Education in NYC and the requirements to keep our jobs are always changing. When I got hired the only requirement was a high school diploma, prior reception experience, computer knowledge and the completion of several workshops. Within this last year many rules have changed, all new school secretaries will need to have a minimum of an associate’s degree in order to be considered for a position. Even though I am currently exempt from these rules, I do not feel confidant knowing I have not obtained my associates degree. My current goal is to obtain my associates degree. This degree will help me move ahead beyond a secretarial position and into a paraprofessional position. The degree does not need to be in any specific area in order for me to move forward into the paraprofessional position the fact that I will have a degree is what is
important. When I arrived here at Empire State College I noticed that the school didn’t have a set required courses that we needed to take. What Empire State College does give us is the liberty to pick our own studies. I wanted to take courses that would broaden my knowledge but at the same time have some type relevance to things that I am passionate about. The courses I chose relate to one another even if it isn’t directly. Mathematics fit in with science which fit in with art and history which fits in with psychology. I am a volunteer at my local church where we have several services and programs one of them is helping raise awareness and tolerance for the LGBT community. The church also offers cooking classes for teenagers who have working parents and an art program in which we use recycled materials to create sculptures. I participate in all of these programs because I believe in giving back to my community. Too my surprise Empire State College offered courses that would help me not only gain knowledge but would also make me a better asset to the program. One of the first courses I took was The Science of Cooking, I have always loved to cook and I help teach the children in the program how to cook, but I myself never really questioned the science behind the actual cooking process. It was interesting to learn about the structures of the fundamental concepts of biology, chemistry, and the physics of food preparation. I could finally explain to the children why frying foods in oil is called dry-heat method. I also took a course in Art & Sustainability. In this course I learned how to examine visual works of art that connected to our natural environment. This course also helped me to develop an appreciation for the human imagination and to develop an appreciation for art as personal expression and ecological awareness. Art class with the children has never been the same, I have helped the children create works of art using materials they recycled at home. The children and I have both become more aware of the earth around us and the importance of making our own contributions for a cleaner tomorrow. The course that I have taken that has impacted me the most has been Gay and Lesbian in American Culture. I was amazed to see this course amongst the list of courses. This course helped me to understand and asses the role of sexual identity and the role of stereotypes in American culture. This is the course that really made me understand that education opens up the world around us. Education allows us to view the world from a different perspective and really teaches us about respect and tolerance towards everybody. The ESC guidelines for interdisciplinary associate degrees state that “A common reason for choosing the Interdisciplinary Studies area of study is when students are either not yet prepared or do not wish to construct a comprehensive concentration or focus. In this case, all studies are listed within a single column and the program can be regarded as somewhat comparable to a broad liberal arts or social science major at local community colleges.” My degree plan includes broad spectrum of studies. I have also addressed the SUNY General Education guidelines in my overall degree plan. I have chosen courses that helped invigorate my desire to learn. My courses include Algebra which will cover math, Introduction to Psychology will cover social science, The Science of Cooking will cover natural science, College Writing will cover basic communication, Art & Sustainability will cover the arts, U.S. History from 1865 to the Present will cover American history, Art, Music & History will cover western civilizations, and courses in Introduction to Children’s Literature and Gay and Lesbian in American Culture will fully cover the humanities area. Many of my general education courses helped to create my liberal arts associate degree. I have covered eight of the ten general education areas. I have chosen courses that helped invigorate my desire to learn. When I made the decision to attend Empire State College’s Center for Distance Learning many questioned my decision. Many people even proceeded to tell me that I would not be getting a real education and I would just be given a diploma. Today I say to those people Empire State College does not give away A’s you have to put the work in to earn them. I can honestly say that my decision to complete my education here at Empire State College is the best one I have ever made. Although the learning method is not traditional it is a perfect fit for those of us who need the flexibility to juggle taking care of our families, a job and completing our studies. Although my current goal is to earn my Associates Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies it is my desire to eventually continue my studies and obtain a Bachelor’s degree.
When it comes to the topic of college, Martin Espada, the author of "Why I Went to College," argues that college is a must and that if you do not attend college there will be consequences. In comparison, David Leonhardt, author of "Is College Worth it? Clearly New Data Say," also argues that college is very important to get a higher paying job than those who do not attend college. In contrast, Leonhardt also argues that college may not be the best idea considering the substantial amount of debt provided with college. My own view is more with David Leonhardt because I understand both sides of attending or not attending college with the positives and the negatives of the dilemma. This discussion is important in our society today because we constantly push the idea of college on to kids that may not even be ready for college or the fact that the debt may not be worth it; also the rise in the wage gap between college students and non-college students.
Is college worth it? Is college worth the time and energy you invest? This is a question that many students ask themselves as the cost of college rises and jobs are harder to find. As a 27 year, old college student myself I really thought about this question. I had to think back when I first started college at the age of 18 and how I was excited about starting college. I easily got tired of all the work that it took to get the degree so I dropped out. After having my first child and trying to work and take of her and myself with only making minimal wages, barely get by that when I knew college is worth it. A college education is one of the most reliable paths to financial success for students and gives the opportunity
Honestly college at this certain point in time does not seem worth it. Everywhere else in the world college is free but the United States. People would feel more motivated to go to college if it was free. College is the main reason Americans are having to live such a hard lifestyle. My father did not go to college and makes eighteen dollars an hour. On the other hand my aunt did go to college and make twenty-four dollars an hour but is still paying back student loans so after paying all of her stuff back she only makes around fifteen dollars an hour that she gets to bring back and that doesn’t include taxes. That’s the reason college doesn’t seem like a good choice to make in life.
One day while folding clothes, I saw a commercial sponsored by the President Barack Obama Ad Campaign that encouraged stay- at- home mothers and single mothers to go back to school to get their college degrees. President Obama is specifically assisting moms to go back to college by increasing federal stimulus monies as well as financial aid. Right then and there, I decided to go back to school to further my education and increase my chances of starting a career in the field I would be trained in. I wanted to be able to earn more than minimum wage in this already stressed job market. My decision to go back to school was not an easy decision. For the last seven years, I have been a stay- at- home mother and during that time I have often thought about going back to school and earning a degree. But, whenever the thought of going back to school crossed my mind I would feel as though I was neglecting my duties as a wife and mother. I also suffered from a paralyzing fear of failure that has always kept me from pursuing the possibilities of obtaining a higher education. After much prayer and discussion with my family, I finally made the decision to move forward with my plans to obtain a college education.
Throughout high school and during my undergraduate studies, education was never a top priority for me. Only during the past two years, in the "real world", have I realized the importance of education. I look back at those years and wish I had done more and realized all the potential I had in my hands and not wasted so much time. During my undergraduate career my social activities consumed my life. My friends were not motivated to do well in school so I followed their lead. My grades were low, and I did not even care. After I graduated in 1997 with a Psychology B.A. and lost touch with my old friends and old ways, I have realized that I should have spent more time doing some soul searching and thinking what it was that I wanted to do with my life. I liked Psychology but what I really wanted to do was work with children more closely. I had spent my junior and senior years involved in internships at Head Start and at a High School in a Program for teenaged mothers. I loved my work there. At Head Start I was a Teacher Aid for the pre-school, teaching the children to read, numbers etc. And at the High School I counseled the teenaged mothers, took care of their kids while they went to school and after the school day I tutored them with their homework. After being out of school for a while, I started to miss that. The feeling that I was teaching something those kids, the feeling that I was making a difference. I was determined to find a job in education, with my background in Psychology, how hard could it be? I found work at a residential school for runaways and abused teenaged females. It was great! I was ready to go, I was going to change the world and change those girls lives. What I didn't realize is that will alone does not make me a teacher and that I needed training, a lot of training. I made a lot of mistakes in that job. I got discouraged and decided to forget about working with children, forget teaching and do something else that paid more. So, I got a job as a Secretary, I did that for about two years. Teaching, working with children was always on my mind.
This summer, after I was informed that I had been offered a teaching assistantship, I was terrified. I was not sure that I was capable of teaching students about a discipline in which I still possessed such a conscious doubt of my own abilities. For most of my life I was what you might call a non-achiever. When my parents strongly suggested that I enroll in college (the other option being to leave the house) everyone around me just sort of held their breath waiting for my inevitable failure. Then a strange thing happened. I passed my classes, and even enjoyed them.
The path I have taken toward obtaining my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business, Management, and Economics, with a concentration in Marketing, has been different than I expected when I first started college. I started at Brooklyn College at 17-years-old and frankly, I wasn’t ready for it. I struggled to balance an awkward schedule of classes and inconsistent study habits. I never felt completely comfortable there and after two years of performing poorly, I enrolled at Kingsborough Community College. I viewed it as a new start and seized the opportunity. I decided to major in Business Administration; I made the Dean’s List, and saw my grades improve dramatically. After completing 74 total credits, I decided I was ready to return to a four-year-college. I initially considered returning to Brooklyn College but at this time my grandmother had become ill. I applied to the College of Staten Island which was near her home and would make it possible for me to help her out with whatever she needed and attend school locally. This worked out great for my first semester. I carried a 3.47 GPA and decided to major in Business, with a concentration in Marketing. At this time, I was working part-time while in school. But due to certain circumstances, I was forced to obtain a full-time job in addition to other part-time commitment. This made it very difficult for me to enroll in classes as most of the upper-level marketing classes that I needed for graduation were only offered during the day when I would now be working. I enrolled in night and weekend classes for the next two semesters but my grades began to suffer. In the last semester I tried to register at the College of Staten Island, I couldn’t fit the courses I needed into my ever-growing w...
The abysmal completion rate I’ve begun this year with is the result of my failed year of college in 2001. To be short, I earned eight F grades in two semesters. I was obviously not prepared enough to succeed with
“A good education is a foundation for a better future.” ~ Elizabeth Warren. The reasoning behind why I want to go to college is to better my future. I am considered one of the first generation in my family to go to college, putting a lot of meaning behind why I believe I should go on to a different path. From a very young age I have always held high expectations of myself, even of the numerous changes in careers I had obtained an interest in. I have always envisioned myself going to college because I certainly value education. I believe that the more education I receive, the more valuable I am to this generation of the work force. Not only does my passion of learning hold place in the reasoning behind why I want to go to college, but because of my role models growing up. My parents both encourage me on a daily basis to go to college, and have encouraged my initiative to seek more in life. My father once explained that he once had this opportunity to receive a free ride to college but decided to stay home and start a family. He of course never looked back or regretted his decision because if not I wouldn 't be here today, but he encouraged me to take on these amazing offers and
Noted authors, Brandon Chambers, is quoted saying, “If you are going to fear anything fear success. Think about what you are doing and when you succeed what life you will have.” There are several different reasons why I could stay home, work and not go to college; I could go to work every day and make more money for the house, it’s easier, and I would be less stressed. Now, on the other hand there are many reasons why I should go to school; such as further my education, make my family proud, and make myself proud. I am attending college for several different reasons. One reason is to further my education. I hate feeling like I don’t know something, I like being the person everyone comes to for information. Also, because I want to be better prepared for my major, I want to be better then the next person with the job credentials. I want to major in Social Work and Criminology. I dream to be a counselor or an clinical service social worker. I want to help people who need someone there for them someone who can guide them or even just talk too. Another reason is because I would be the first in I would be the first in my family to go to college. I feel in some type of way I am setting an example for my parents and my brother that they too can go back to school. Lastly is simply because I love school. I love knowing more and more each day. College is not for everyone, but I will be successful by grasping the benefits, preparing for the problems, taking heed from experts, and working on strategies to be successful.
“A generation ago, a high school diploma was considered enough prior training for beginning administrative assistant, and that is still the case in some offices” (Fulton-Calkins, Rankin, and Shumack 6) Administrative assistants have a big responsibility and have to have technical skills. (Fulton-Calkins, Rankin, and Shumack 6). You can obtain an associate’s degree in this selected field. Here at Wilson Community College the degree would be in Office Administration.
When I made the decision to return to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) I looked at many universities. I needed a university that was going to work with me not against me with the challenges of my already crazy life. Three challenges that I know I will be presented with during my time in school will be time management, distractions and support.
College is a very important thing. If you go to college you will most likely get better pay in your career. Also, with a college degree, you have more opportunities. I believe that everyone should go to college. If you don’t go to college and just go into some job and that fails then you have no backup plan. A college graduate is more likely to be offered employment than another who didn’t attend college, if you have a college degree you will make more money in your lifetime than someone who doesn’t have a degree, if you are considering having children having a college degree is very beneficial to them, you have a higher chance of having better health yourself, college is very beneficial, and if you go to college you will have a better social
I took computer science and programming classes while I work full time in Safeway as a supervisor. Working in customer service greatly helped me to communicate and learned the culture. I also learned to be attentive through listening to their needs and be able to provide them the absolute service. Therefore, I also progress in willingness to learn. With my working experience, I learned to come out of my shell and keep progressing. However, in the last two years, there are so many obligations that I had to focus such as working full time while in school full time. Some of the years had been rough due to physically, mentally and emotionally exhaustion. Some of the quarters in school were greatly affected and led to failures because there are times I focused too much earning money to support my family and myself to survive and to have an education. It was hard to balance between work and school. Even though I failed so many times, I repeated some courses to be able to understand, practice and comprehend those classes that I failed. I believed that before success, I had to experience the pain and struggles of failures. For now, I am learning to be flexible in keeping up with all the responsibilities. I realized that people cannot get what they want or need because they have money, but because they
I believe everyone deserves a second chance, so I asked myself, "Why don't I?". I know that if given the second chance, I would succeed, I would reach my goals and pass my classes. Two years ago, I had negative influences in my life, and today I have rid myself of the negative and my life is filled with positive and supportive people who are encouraging me to go back and believe I can achieve anything. Now, I'm currently only working one job, and even though I am fulltime there, my boss is understanding and supportive of my decision to go back and is willing to work with me so that I am able to have time for school. I also have a small group of friends who are also returning to college and we have agreed to have study sessions twice a week every week to encourage each other and make sure we all succeed in