As I sat in the swing with my grandpa, our conversation approached the topic of college. “Erin, are you ready to attend college and learn about the world?” Without hesitation, I answered, “Yes, I am ready to attend college.” After saying the words “college,” my hands began to sweat and my stomach turned in knots. I turned my head to my grandpa and saw a flower in his hands. As I stared at my grandfather, I wrapped my hand around his and rubbed the top of his hand. He stopped twirling the flower and raised his head toward me. I asked my grandpa, “I am nervous about college and making big decisions that can affect my future, is there any advice you can give me?” My grandpa’s frown turned into a smile and he replied, “Of course you are going
In the book Letters to My Daughters, poet Maya Angelou wrote “I am a spring leaf trembling in anticipation of full growth” (163). Anticipation is a good description of how I feel about being a thirty-six year old college freshman. Anxiety, self-doubt, and dogged determination are on my list of emotions alongside anticipation, if I were being honest I would add. Providing my children with security, find true happiness in my career, and conquer my fear of failure are just a few things that hold my hand as I take this leap into higher education. Friends and family are surprised that I have gone back to school. In January of 2015 when I applied to South Plains College, I was working for AT&T making a good living. My mother especially couldn’t
“Coastal Carolina is too far away for you to come home when you have the chance.” Kaylee (my Girlfriend at the time) said to me in my first car as we talked about college choices. I told her about my acceptance to Coastal Carolina University I received from Mrs. Emmons (personal guidance counselor in high school) during a school day, early February. Kaylee’s words made me start a to question myself; “What other colleges can I choose?”. I came home and sat down with my parents in the living room with my Coastal Carolina acceptance letter in my hand and they were proud of me. I asked my parents the same question I asked myself earlier that day “What other colleges can I choose from?”. When
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
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
When I hear the word college, I automatically think of books, education, and learning. When I reflect on the reasons why I go to college, the first thing that comes to mind is my mother. The more I think about it, the more I realize the reason why I attend college is to not only learn, but create a path to where I want to head in life. I attend college to seek the best path ahead and work hard in order to give back to the most ambitious woman I know, my mother.
Getting ready to leave for college is often one of the most difficult times for a young adult. Many people are not ready to take that next step into their future. However, this past summer, as I approached my senior year, I was lucky enough to take a trip up the coast of California to go to a National Student Leadership Conference and prepare for that life changing experience. This camp was based on medicine and health care. I received a chance to work with professional doctors and examine what a life in medicine would be like. It was, by far, the greatest experience of my life, and it has definitely formed me into the person I am today. Before this camp, I knew I was not ready to proceed with that next step in my life. But now, I know I am more responsible and knowledgeable to go to college on my own.
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.
Only three short weeks ago, I was presented with the opportunity to attend school at the University of Phoenix in order to complete my degree. While I was certain that continuing school was one of my goals, I was not sure if now was the best time. Despite my wavering feelings, I made the choice to proceed. Still, while making the decision to begin attending college, I never really considered my lifetime goals as they pertained to education. While I was set on the most obvious goal of finishing college and graduating with a degree, it still felt unsettling to begin college in general.
Many people begin their college journey by saying, "I am the first one from my family to go to college." In my case, I am not. Three generations of my family have graduated from college. Since the day I was born, it was an expectation that I would attend college. My experiences that led up to this moment have impacted my outlook on my future.
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.
At one point in my life the thought of college for me was a joke. My grades and knowledge of college showed that it was very obvious that I had no intention in going. Due to the environment and me hanging out with the wrong crowd, which in return affected my mindset. I felt that I wasn’t smart enough to go and I was better off in the military. After moving to Maryland with my I found my true self. A boy who was smart enough to accomplish anything he could put his mind to. I had finally found that push and the motivation thanks to my parents. The thought that if I didn’t find it scares me at times, I could be still in the streets back home dodging bullets and selling week for what. Because I thought I wasn’t good enough, I had to realize that I wanted better for myself. I wanted to be the first to go to college in my family, and better yet graduate with a
I used strategy two by selecting details that support my intentions and omitting details that didn’t. In the first descriptions I omit some of the details that seem more negative like the muddy ground, the steep rock tails and the annoyances from other people on the trail. I try to see my experience from a negative person’s perspective, not just a negative person but, possibly just a person that is unfamiliar with their surrounding and might be slightly fearful or apprehensive to new areas. I used these detail in the next description to convey it as a more negative experience. I used strategy three and use words that frame my subject the way I want by, using words in my first description like: beautiful, interesting, all-encompassing to give
A vital element to changing emotional reactions is through is by recognizing the intrusive thoughts for what they are, thus depending on how much responsibility he or she has for taking preventative action. This cognitive approach helps reduce the distress and uneasiness that impose unwelcoming thoughts. Alongside this, behavioral therapy techniques desensitization (gradual exposure to the perceived threat) help the individual to control his or her automatic emotional thinking. I notice that I make assumptions that are negative towards myself. I tend to over-generalize the situations, thinking it is either my fault or that I am not good enough. There were many times last week where I did not react or express myself which may have lead to uncovering
Going into this process, my initial strategy was to remain as objective as possible, while still seeking out my best interest, as well as keeping the children in mind. Deciding what I would need, as well as what the children would need was a major factor in this negotiation. But, I also had the intention of keeping things fair, seeing as though the marriage had existed for 20+ years, and that Jim deserved his fair share as much as I did. According to an article from the Harvard Program on Negotiations, this negotiation style could be described as mostly cooperative, with a small amount of individualistic tendencies (Staff, 2018). While I was focused on keeping things fair and objective, I also was looking out for myself, aiming to get what I needed to continue living as a co-parent.
On average, Americans spend over 10 hours of their day on a digital device. Many young people today believe that having their phones and computers taken away would be the end of the world. Before digital devices consumed our days, generations found alternative ways to entertain themselves, whether it be playing outside with friends or conversing with family over a Sunday dinner.