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Character development introduction
Literary Analysis
Literary Analysis
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Graduation out of Pride or Fear? In Paul Toughmay’s “Who Gets to Graduate,” he follows a young first year college student, Vanessa Brewer, explaining her doubts, fears, and emotions while starting her college journey. As a student, at the University of Texas Brewer feels small and as if she doesn’t belong. Seeking advice from her family she calls her mom but after their conversation Brewer feels even more discouraged. Similar to Brewer I have had extreme emotions, doubts, and fears my freshman year in college. “The image of herself as a college student appealed to her- independent, intelligent, a young woman full of potential- but it was more than that..” (page 1), is the first emotion that I felt connect Brewer and I; both strong for wanting …show more content…
This shocking, life changing, news had me at a stand still in my life I didn’t know what to do. Seeking advice from my family I turned to them and what I should do, most of them had told me I should take a break from college and settle into becoming a mom and pick school back up later on,“I didn’t want to leave. But it felt like that was maybe the reality of the situation.” Maybe taking a break from college was the best option, I hadn’t even decided on a major at this point in life, why did I think going to college and bring a life into the world was something I could …show more content…
Brewer was unsure if she was fit to attend a university, despite discouragement from outside sources Brewer remained at the University of Texas and kept on pursuing her future despite the fact that she failed such an important exam to start her future. While I was unsure if going to school while being pregnant was something I could handle I also knew staying to make a better future for my child was my best option. All college students have negative occurrences throughout their school experiences, even though they might be different, they go through similar doubts and fear of what they should do while considering their
In the essay “College Pressures” by William Zinsser, Zinsser speaks about the pressures and anxiety that plague college students, all the while wishing that they had “a chance to savor each segment of their education as an experience in itself and not as a grim preparation for the next step.” Referring to the 1979 generation of college students as “panicky to succeed”, he lists four of the following stressors for college students.
In Jennie Capo Crucet 's essay, “Taking My Parents To College,” Crucet describes her own experience as a freshman college student who was faced with many challenges that were unknown to her, as well as the cluelessness of what the beginning of her freshman year would look like. I felt like the biggest impression Crucet left on me while I was reading her essay, was the fact that I can relate to her idea of the unknown of college life. Throughout her essay, she described her personal experiences, and the factors one might face as a freshman college student which involved the unknown and/or uncertainty of what this new chapter would bring starting freshman year of college. Crucet’s essay relates to what most of us
In Jennine Crucet’s story, “Taking My Parents to College” she really explains to the reader how challenging it was leaving home and starting a new chapter in her life. When the author and her family first arrived to Cornell University, they were sitting there when the dean ended his speech with: “Now, parents, please: Go!” Being a first generation college student Crucet nor her family had any idea that they were not supposed to stay for orientation and had to leave her as soon as they got her settled in. They did not even have all the right materials and supplies that she needed to begin with by stating, “Every afternoon that week, we had to go back to the only department store we could find, the now-defunct Ames, for some stupid thing we hadn’t known was a necessity, something not in our budget: shower shoes, extra-long twin sheets, mesh laundry bags.” Both Crucet and I suffered from similar issues during our first few weeks on our new journey in college and we both had no idea what was ahead of us.
It is expected that within a span of four years drastic changes can occur to any person. An example of such case is our experience throughout four years of high school or college; it is a time in which each obstacle that we surpass will become an experience that builds character. We have all left our childhood behind, but we have yet to taste the full essence of adulthood. Within these years of being cast astray to find our own paths, it is common for us students to experience regular episodes of anxiety, stress, and crippling self-doubt.
William Zinsser’s essay “College Pressures” emphasizes the struggles students have in trying to conquer the college milestone in life. Zinsser believes that college has lost the authenticity of the overall goal of gaining knowledge for one’s own interest, rather than the overall need of going. He sympathizes with struggles college kids go through and hopes to provide insight on the overall situation. One of his major points are that succeeding the first time is not always the best way in learning, and that sometimes students need to fail in order to properly learn. The author mentions the “Four pressures, economic pressure, parental pressure, peer pressure, and self-induced pressure” and how there are “No villains; only victims” that fall
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
All students will face the terror of entering college, a place that will rip you away from the familiarity you had before. It is a place with an atmosphere so different from what you’re used to that you’ll feel it before you walk on that campus. But don’t run away just yet, there’ve been other’s who’ve felt troubled with doubt and fear about their abilities to succeed as a student in college. In the article “Conquering the Freshman Fear of Failure” author David L. Kirp implores that “students can acquire ways of thinking that helps them thrive” (1). In comparison, to Kirp’s article, the protagonist in “Make Your Home among Strangers” by Jennine Capo Crucet, also manages to overcome her doubt on her ability to succeed as a student. Students need to learn to face their fears in order to have the desired life that is filled with happiness and prosperity. First generation students constantly struggle with
When I graduated from high school, I spent countless days worrying about what college will be like. I worried about everything, like saying goodbye to my family and friends, making new friends, living with a roommate, getting involved, dealing with a huge work load, and so much more. My transition into college is quite a struggle, but it is not nearly as bad as I expected it would be. After watching “I’m a College Freshman,” I realized that the difficulties I am facing are all normal.
In the reading “Who Goes to College” written by Cecilia Rodriguez Milanes I was able to see myself in her situation. When she was a senior she had no idea what she was going to do her following year, all she knew was that her parents wanted her to attend college. She always wanted to work, she liked being able to provide for herself but her parents always told her that college would come first. She had no clue of how college worked, what classes she would take or what she would do there. After all the confusion she had of what college truly is, she began to love it. I believe that Cecilia Rodriguez chose the right path, even though she was not completely sure of what she wanted to do she always worked hard and never let any obstacle put her
It is hard enough as a teenager just getting through high school without the usual “bumps and bruises”, but for a teenager who is pregnant or has a baby, the stressors are multiplied. Schools should be willing to invest whatever the cost in the future of these young ladies by helping them out in any way they can. Providing day care, letting the girls stay in their regualar schools, and encouraging extracurricular activities are just a few of the many ways schools can be involved in helping these young women to succeed. Keeping these young mothers content and aiding them or lightening their load to keep them from dropping out will tremendously help, not only these girls’ futures, but in turn help the entire nation’s future as a whole.
Starting college was not what I expected it to be. I have always been excited to go to college since I was little because I’ve always wanted to get a degree that could help people, animals, and the environment. I did not expect my Freshman year of college to turn out the way it did. I knew there would be challenges, but I did not expect that there would be so many large emotional valleys for me to overcome. I hoped the greatest challenges I would face were midterms and finals. I did not expect the great amount of loss I would experience which began the summer before my Freshman year. I had a bright start, I was looking forward to being a cheerleader at UMHB. I made lots of friends and I was able to go see my boyfriend whenever I wanted - what could go wrong?
For many students, going to college can be scary experience; and the adjustment from high school to college can be even more overwhelming. The realization of being adult and taking responsibility of my education and future had me running for the hills. After high school the thought of going to school made me nauseas. But now my college experience made me realize that getting my education was important it was something no one could take away from that I knew I worked hard for and help build the person I am today.
When attaining a college degree, many of the obstacles and events people experience help them develop a wider perspective of the world and discover different ways to solve emerging problems. Events such as the experience one has to go through when meeting new people or attempting to cope with the new environment form a sense of diversity and quick
College is a new setting for most students, especially the ones no longer living at home. The transition can be easy and worry-free, or a challenging and stressful time. Brougham states, “Growth and change were often accompanied by the experience of stress. The cause of stress varies from person to person. Overall there can be similarities such as ’academics, social relationships, finances, daily hassles and family relationships’ (Brougham, 2009, pg 86). As student, academics is the reason why we are in school; we are aiming to get educated and to learn. Family relationships vary from student to student depending on how close the family is. My immediate family and extended family have such a close bond that when I am needed at home, I drop everything for them. Social relationships are smaller support systems individuals can count on. Finances all come down to economic status and a person’s unique financial aid package. Daily hassles range from what I should wear today to not having enough time in a day.
Brooks starts by acknowledging the stigma there is against college students, calling them more accomplished, but saying at the same time, they lack the emotional resolve that generations before them possess. He criticizes students for giving affirmations to one another freely. He also talks about “helicopter parents” and mentions the “desire for trigger warnings and safe spaces” in a way that gives the reader the idea that the current generation, is oversensitive.