My first day at Northern State College is a scary thought for most kids and some don’t even think that college is right for them. I was one of those kids, but my first day at Northern State made me change my opinion. I never knew if the college life was right for me, I thought high school was alright but nothing special. I was an average student with very little ambition to do my homework or anything really. My focus was on sports and my friends that’s the only thing I liked about school. I knew once I graduated I had to go somewhere, that is the expectations for graduates here in America. For me though I didn’t really know if college would be for me or not. I decided to take a shot at it and see if I liked it. This time I was going out …show more content…
The whole way I was sweating and thinking about the new experiences and who I would meet and if I would get along with people. South Dakota is not the greatest scenic state so the drive seemed even longer than it actually was, I passed some towns that had less than 50 people living there and I was thinking to myself, “what on earth did I get myself into”. My mom and I got into Aberdeen around 2pm and couldn't find the campus, we eventually found campus 15 minutes later and started to unload all of my things. I'm not used to sharing a space with another kid, so I was sort of nervous. I set up my tiny room and looked at it, it was nothing special but I was satisfied. We had freshmen activities the whole day so people could meet and make new friends, these activities seemed really cliche to me but I …show more content…
I knew that college is a step up from high school and I really needed my head on straight if I wanted to succeed. I have never been an outstanding student or been on A honor roll. It was not as if I couldn't have been a great student, but my mindset and ambition were lacking quite a bit. My senior year was a wake up call for me to get my things in order. A couple days later when I had my first class I was very nervous I thought I was just going to be swamped with homework. The professors took everything slow and made it very easy to transitioning into a college level learning environment. The first couple of homework assignments were an adjustment because I wasn't so adapted to think at a higher level than expected. Through trial and error I learned to adapt to higher learning in college. Students at Northern pushed me to become a better student and I soon found myself in the library almost every day working on homework or preparing for tests in other classes. I enjoy learning now and If you put time and effort into your assignments they are not so
I always heard that college would be tough, but I went in to college with a set mind that I was going to finish strong and at the end be successful. I kept my head focused and always made sure to get my work done no matter how hard it was.
At the beginning of my freshman year, I was ready for whatever was going to be thrown at me. I was excited for the new school and the new opportunities. I had barely made the golf team but for some reason that did not faze me. I had friends from my prior years of schools and I was happy. The classes were easier than I thought they were going to be which was my biggest worry going in. Little did I know that my friendships were the biggest issue.
I decided at that moment that I would return to school and graduate with my bachelor?s degree. I made a promise to myself that I would finish my education. If I complete my education, I would make my parents proud of me. Plus, I want to be the first person on either side of my family to attend graduate school. Adults return to college primarily because they desire a higher paying career or a professional job. This could be a registered nurse, an elementary school teacher, a policeman or an attorney. It could also be an accountant, a journalist, a librarian, an interior decorator or a beautician (Smith, 2001).
In short, I feel junior year provided a foundation for the more mature and adult chapters of my life, and without the numerous obstacles of junior year, I would never have gained the key to a successful future.
As a first-generation college student, the process of applying to colleges was not only an overwhelming experience, but it was a lonely one. My parents did not understand why I would spend hours perfecting my essay or why I worried too much about paying for college. When college decisions started to come in the mail, I was ecstatic that I got into the
At the outset of college, orientation, I was not so thrilled. Number one because Mason likes most everyone else was my second choice. I had hope to get into UVA but I knew my grade point average went to *censored* my senior year and it wasn't going to happen. So here I am sitting I the theater in the basement of Johnson Center listening to some old guy, whose brown suede jacket and bright pink shirt are making me dizzy, go on and on about the honor code. Don't cheat, gees that's a new concept. The night finished up with some cheesy get to know you class dance and sleeping in the dorms at Wilson. Ah the smell of stagnant air that had not been circulated in four months. Combine that with a super soft sinking mattress and one can image the kind of sleep I got. It made staying home and working at Wal-Mart looking more and more like a wise career move.
While I wish finding my way around the school was my only problem, I was faced with some internal challenges. As the school year started, my friends slowly started to leave to these “big shot” colleges or simply move away to other community colleges. I, too, wanted the complete “college experience” somewhere in Arizona or across the country; yet I felt stuck and unaccomplished. I also felt jealousy which could have been because I did not get to decorate my dorm room.While talking about dedicating hard work to your education, Gina Rodriguez said “Just remember, during those times of fear and doubt, that you are right now discovering your true strength.” And in those times of doubt, I reminded myself why I could not just move and leave everything behind. The root of my challenges and concerns are my family. As I enrolled as a full time student, my family was fighting some financial problems which created marriage troubles for my parents. I could not leave at a time like this. I knew it was not the first time my parents were talking divorce but somehow I knew it was best to stay. I got financial aid from the school which saved me the fuss of asking my parents for money. It really meant so much to not put another worry on their
Additionally, prestigious institutions need to take initiative to create new programs that will make college a painless transition for first generation students by implementing new policies such as mentorship or clubs. While many colleges and universities have not taken the initiative to help first-generation students, North Carolina State University is one of the few exceptions. As a fellow first generation college student at North Carolina State University, I have reaped many benefits from the different organizations they have around campus. At the Poole College of Management, I was assigned a professional mentor in my future line of work that made the transition into college a better experience for me. After listening to his forums, I was able to use the skills I had learnt from my parents and apply them to college and my study habits, benefiting me in countless ways.
Headed off to college, I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought the school I chose would be the school I would find my major in, a niche with best friends, and the four year experience I would fall in love with. As a senior in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to go to school for, but I knew I would continue my volleyball career, so I looked for a school that would fit that and all other criteria for my ideal school, and I would find the purpose of my schooling as I went. I started my freshman year of college optimistic about all the opportunities and simply of all the newness college would bring for me, as any freshman is. I began the
My High School life has helped shape the way for my college experiences that I will face. My senior year in high school is not the same as many other high school students. I am taking many advanced classes to help me prepare for college. These classes help me better understand exactly how much harder I must work to succeed.
Junior Year- “Moving Up The Ladder My Junior year was probably one of the most frustrating years for me as I tried to learn how to be a more independent person. I did have some successful and challenging moments throughout the year however, I managed to have some fun with my friends and family. For me Junior year was all about work and dedication. Some of the successful moments I had faced during my Junior year was managing two college classes at the same time.
Going into college, a lot of people assume their experience is going to be very straightforward. They think that what they’ve chosen as their major their freshman year is the major that they will graduate with, and that they’re going to make so many new memories and it’ll be the time of their life. For me, going into first semester freshman year, I was really excited. Having grown up in the Bloomington-Normal area I was super psyched to live two hours away in Indianapolis.
Through the last 13 weeks I have learned about whom I am and what makes me who I am. I have made some great friends not only my age but also older and younger than me. I have realized many things about myself that I never would have realized if I wouldn’t have came here. College is a whole new experience that you could never imagine unless you are there. It is nothing like you read or even that you watch on TV. It is completely different and you learn a lot about yourself as a person.
My first day at college ended up with great satisfaction, I though that going to college would be a great impact in my life . And being part of a class where I would learn so many things, gave me the strength to keep going. It would give the chance to relate with new people and of course, to meet new friends who could last for a life time. And of course, to become more independent. Although, I have to study hard, I feel good because I am doing the best to achieve my goals about finish college. Therefore, to obtain a professional career, with a good projection. Furthermore I also want my family to be proud of me, even though they are not with me. I want to become a successful woman in life , no matter If I have to try a million times I would never stop.
I never really thought about where my life was going. I always believed life took me where I wanted to go, I never thought that I was the one who took myself were I wanted to go. Once I entered high school I changed the way I thought. This is why I chose to go to college. I believe that college will give me the keys to unlock the doors of life. This way I can choose for myself where I go instead of someone choosing for me.