Same as any other regular students who decided to go to college and committed to excellence, I also wish for a bright future. However, there are many obstacles along the way. Before I came to America, I had never thought about college because my family could not afford for me to attend. My dad passed away when I was eight years old, and my mom has been struggling in supporting the family. It became worse around the year of 2006-2007 when my mom’s business had a major financial difficulty. My siblings and I were forced out of our home, and ended up living in our brother-in-law’s house. Fortunately, in September 2007, the U.S. Consulate approved our paperwork and allowed us to come to the United States. It was a dream came true for my family because we believed we would have a fresh start and a better life here in the U.S.
As we moved to America, I personally was so grateful for a chance to go to high school. Nonetheless, I was overwhelmed by the language barrier. When I was in Vietnam, I never thought that
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When I transferred from LA Mission College, I applied to become a part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). To become more involved in school’s extracurricular activities, I joined the program called the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) which is an honor society on campus. With NSLS, not only I get to meet different people at school, I also have a chance to build leadership skills. Other than NSLS, I am also a member of the Layer 8 club and a member of the Management Information System Association (MISA). Through these organizations, I have a chance to meet with professionals in the IT field and learn new things from them. I also learned the importance of being active in the community by participating in these school activities. They help me getting involved and contribute to the community through volunteer works and also shape me to become a better
Our whole lives our parents told us that we need to go to college to be successful. They told us that college would insure us a great life, but for many, that isn’t the case. Many students go to college hoping to get a degree, but many drop out due to insufficient funds. While for some, college might be the right choice, that doesn’t mean that college is for all of us. One of the reasons i believe that college isn’t worth it is because of student loans and debt.
I have been an active member in multiple school extracurricular activities. Mu Alpha Theta is one of the clubs I part take in, and I have been a member for three years. In Mu Alpha Theta, I participate in inter-school test, practice math problems and attend math competition. Another club I participate in is National Honor Society. I have been a member in National Honor Society for eleventh and twelfth grade.
Remembering how long and uncertain our journey has been, from leaving our hometown and family sixteen years ago, to obtaining green cards, to years spent saving enough money to afford citizenship, I realize all that my parents have sacrificed to create a promising life for me. Thus, I have decided to never let past obstacles prevent me from creating a successful future. Reflecting on the reasons as to why my family moved half way across the world—the high crime rate, insufficient job openings, and no real opportunities for improvement, allows me to realize that attending a college in the United States is the key to making those dreams a reality—dreams of safety, opportunity, and success. Being a first-generation college student means that I have the opportunity to make my parents proud, honor their sacrifices, and give back to the country that has given me a new identity and allowed me the opportunity to improve my
College was always one of my biggest goals and something i do not plan on giving up on not even with the thought I possibly will be in debt during or after i get my college diploma. But this isn't the same situation for other young adults throughout the US, a lot of young adults don't even dream of college because of student debt. The thought of it alone almost made me feel like it’s something impossible. In this image unfortunately, I see my future and the future of a lot of my peers and family members .
Not only do these clubs recognize academic excellence, they also provide many opportunities for community service. Blood drives, food drives and Operation Christmas Child are only a few of the projects that we participate in throughout the year. I am
As long as I can remember, I knew that college was going to be part of my future. That is because I always knew what my family expected out of me. College is not only important to me for the reason of making my parents proud, but for making sure that I create more out of myself, as well. With a higher education, I will have more job opportunities available, potentially be able to earn higher income, and obtain more useful life skills than somebody who does not have a college education. To begin, having a college education under my belt is important to me because I will have more opportunities for a job, after I complete my four years.
Is college worth it? Does it teach us actual skills or is it more about paying to have a piece of paper certifying our degree so we could get in the workforce? In their research paper “Should Everyone Go to College”, Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill try to answer these same questions through graphs and data taken throughout the years. They find that on average college graduates make significantly money over the years than the ones who did not pursue an education after high school. Another example that they provide through their analysis would be of someone working in a STEM job having acquired only a high school diploma can expect to make more money over a lifetime than someone with a bachelor’s degree working in education or personal services.
Why do I want to attend college? College is an honorary achievement and it separates the determined from the undetermined. Owning a college to degree is an honor and an ecstatic feeling. Through college, that job is that much closer in the grasp. Through college, a person can perform at an elite level and really push themselves for greatness.
Doing what I love and being able to support myself and loved ones is important to me. I am a very independent person and I like to do things my way. I like to set individual goals everyday, whether that means doing my homework before a certain time, or completing something for the week. They help me get my work done on time and efficiently.
As a first generation student to attend college from a family of seven, the journey to a higher education has been arduous and overwhelming. My family gives me all the encouragement I need and are very optimistic about pursuing a higher degree. Unlike myself, my parents did not have the opportunity to attend college. My parents were born and raised in a small town in Mexico where the highest level of education they received was fifth grade. I have worked since I was 14 years old to support my parents with bills, and also saving for college and my own vehicle.
I moved to U.S from Vietnam five years ago with limited English proficiency. I encountered both cultural and language difficulties in every aspect of my life. I focused overcoming these challenges by studying English and learning everything I could to help myself and my family navigate American society. After I graduated high school, I became a medical interpreter devoting my time to serving the Vietnamese community. I learned language barriers really challenge healthcare experiences and patient's overall health.
The experiences that I have had with attending different programs has helped me shape into the person I am. Learning different skills and learning how to be more comfortable with speaking as well as learning from the fields I want to go into. I would say that what makes me unique and distinctive from other teenagers is that I like to stay focused in school I like to learn and I want to become a successful person. I strive to become become better each day.
Growing up in a small, farming town has made me the person I am today. 4-H is a way for children to become active in their small communities. It has been a part of my life since I was little. 4-H has taught me many important lessons in life. As the current president and reporter of my club, I have to be organized, responsible and a leader.
The future is a big worry to many students as they go approach high school and graduation. Some have no idea what they want to do with life. Some students have known what they aspire to do even back to their freshman year. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future until this year, my senior year. I definitely know now that I want to go to college after high school.
A college education is very important for me to obtain the career I want. College will provide me the knowledge and practice I need to be successful. Going to college will help me get accustomed to the pressure of the real world and will give me the opportunity to become independent. Graduating college is my number one goal in life. It would be an awarding payoff for all the hard work and dedication to my studies throughout high school.