Success Without College

Not accepted. Declined. The ultimate decisions that will decide my future in college have arrived; and as I shuffle through them, I recognize a repeating pattern. The bittersweet words conceal the sensitive messages that aim to end childhood dreams. We regret to inform you that we do not see a place for you in our excelling community. The decision has been made; Have I simply failed at showing my personality? Where do I go now? I sit in my chair pondering these thoughts as I type this story and I see myself smiling. These letters would not stop my goals and aspirations from becoming a reality; I would let these denial letters ignite my determination, but rather, I would let obstacles give me a reason to work more diligently. If I was rejected from every college I applied to, I would find a job that allowed me to express and achieve my goals and aspirations, I would aggressively pursue an education later in my lifetime, and I would refocus my life to not include college.

A great example of success without college is a story that affects me very closely; the story of my stepdad’s progression into his current position as the leading safety director of a dredging company. He took long hours to aggressively work his way up the ladder of his career, spreading his name across multiple companies, and always finding ways to become a pacesetter. After almost 12 years of strenuous effort and numerous awards, he found himself in a leadership position in one of the biggest dredging companies on the east coast. With a strong will to achieve, a passion to learn new concepts, and the ability to dream big, we are able to accomplish a multitude of goals in our