Literacy Narrative
College
I graduated high school in 2003 then asked myself, “Should I go to college or take a break away from school?” My life was full of making choices after high school and learning how to become a responsible adult. I didn’t have much guidance or help trying to get in college but I had to figure it out somehow.
When I graduated from Highland High School in 2003, I was working a temporary job at American Express and part time job at JC Penney. I skipped classes in high school and had to go to summer school in order to graduate. I barely managed to get my diploma. I remember walking into my summer school class feeling like a loser. I felt so stupid. I looked around wondering how many people felt the way I did or how many classes they have to take. I felt like a failure. I had made mistakes by not attending classes and not turning in homework like I was supposed to.
I started dating, snowboarding, hot tubbing, and doing nothing but having fun. I know it is ok to have fun but I needed to get college started as well. I remember one night walking into a house party feeling guilty about being out with friends and how I should be figuring out what college to attend to better my career and life. I didn’t want to make minimum wage. I went into Stevens Henagar College and signed up for school without looking at other options. I really didn’t know what other options I had. I settled for the first school I walked into. I knew it was a fast pace school and I should be done quickly. After I signed up, I still went out and had fun. I missed a lot of school again.. I ended up having two emergency surgeries right after my first child. It took me about 4 to 5 years to graduate an 18 month program. I never set my priorities straight. I was 18 years old and did not know how important college was.
I finally completed all the required classes from the day I signed up. After I graduated, I went to take a radiology test at Stevens Henagar College and they told me they had added a few more required classes that are needed before taking the Radiology exam. The classes were a few thousand dollars each and I had already had a lot of student loans. I told the school to forget it. I was not paying any more money. I could not transfer any credits from Stevens Henagar and I know this was a waste of time, money, and another mistake.
I didn’t attend school from 2008 – 2012 and one night I was working with my favorite nurse, Terry. He is in his 60’s, getting ready to retire and I said I want to go back to school and become a nurse working in Labor and Delivery or in the Nursery. I was just getting ready to go on maternity leave and he said “Get back in school right away. Do not put it off because you will always find an excuse not to go back”. I had asked some nurses at work about several different schools and what would be best for my situation and finances. I got online and applied for SLCC. I signed up for my first class and started when my youngest child was 5 weeks old. I will never forget the talk that Terry and I had. I set goals and high standards for myself and I have met every one of them.
I had never liked reading and have only finished a couple of self-help books since graduating. I finished school books that I was pushed to read but it wasn’t my favorite. I have always liked to write and keep a journal. I was hyper active when I was younger and never stayed focused. I think my elementary teachers would be proud of whom I have become and the goals I have accomplished later in life.
I am now a mother of 3 beautiful children, working full time at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, and attending college at SLCC while pulling A’s and B’s. I am a great student and have been trying hard to make it through school all over again. I will continue to push myself and be a great student because I want to show my children what I can do and they will make the right choices the first time around with my help. I don’t want them to make the mistakes I did. I will encourage them to go to college, get a degree, and set goals. Some people get lost in life or have no one to direct them. I was never told to go to college or talked to about college. I was forced to graduate high school which I thank my mother for. My mother didn’t care what I did with school as long as I got my high school diploma. It was my choice to work or go to college.
I have learned from my mistakes. I have grown up and I’m making good decisions. I feel like I push myself harder than ever now but it is because I want to accomplish so much. I am proud of myself and who I have become. My goal in life is to lead my children in the right direction, along with all the people I can help through my experiences. I know I am not the only person who has made mistakes or became lost and needed guidance. Life could have been much harder. I may not have graduated high school and may have never gotten a diploma. I took one man’s advice and it changed my life. I want to be the next person to change someone else’s life for the best.
I graduated high school in 2003 then asked myself, “Should I go to college or take a break away from school?” My life was full of making choices after high school and learning how to become a responsible adult. I didn’t have much guidance or help trying to get in college but I had to figure it out somehow.
When I graduated from Highland High School in 2003, I was working a temporary job at American Express and part time job at JC Penney. I skipped classes in high school and had to go to summer school in order to graduate. I barely managed to get my diploma. I remember walking into my summer school class feeling like a loser. I felt so stupid. I looked around wondering how many people felt the way I did or how many classes they have to take. I felt like a failure. I had made mistakes by not attending classes and not turning in homework like I was supposed to.
I started dating, snowboarding, hot tubbing, and doing nothing but having fun. I know it is ok to have fun but I needed to get college started as well. I remember one night walking into a house party feeling guilty about being out with friends and how I should be figuring out what college to attend to better my career and life. I didn’t want to make minimum wage. I went into Stevens Henagar College and signed up for school without looking at other options. I really didn’t know what other options I had. I settled for the first school I walked into. I knew it was a fast pace school and I should be done quickly. After I signed up, I still went out and had fun. I missed a lot of school again.. I ended up having two emergency surgeries right after my first child. It took me about 4 to 5 years to graduate an 18 month program. I never set my priorities straight. I was 18 years old and did not know how important college was.
I finally completed all the required classes from the day I signed up. After I graduated, I went to take a radiology test at Stevens Henagar College and they told me they had added a few more required classes that are needed before taking the Radiology exam. The classes were a few thousand dollars each and I had already had a lot of student loans. I told the school to forget it. I was not paying any more money. I could not transfer any credits from Stevens Henagar and I know this was a waste of time, money, and another mistake.
I didn’t attend school from 2008 – 2012 and one night I was working with my favorite nurse, Terry. He is in his 60’s, getting ready to retire and I said I want to go back to school and become a nurse working in Labor and Delivery or in the Nursery. I was just getting ready to go on maternity leave and he said “Get back in school right away. Do not put it off because you will always find an excuse not to go back”. I had asked some nurses at work about several different schools and what would be best for my situation and finances. I got online and applied for SLCC. I signed up for my first class and started when my youngest child was 5 weeks old. I will never forget the talk that Terry and I had. I set goals and high standards for myself and I have met every one of them.
I had never liked reading and have only finished a couple of self-help books since graduating. I finished school books that I was pushed to read but it wasn’t my favorite. I have always liked to write and keep a journal. I was hyper active when I was younger and never stayed focused. I think my elementary teachers would be proud of whom I have become and the goals I have accomplished later in life.
I am now a mother of 3 beautiful children, working full time at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, and attending college at SLCC while pulling A’s and B’s. I am a great student and have been trying hard to make it through school all over again. I will continue to push myself and be a great student because I want to show my children what I can do and they will make the right choices the first time around with my help. I don’t want them to make the mistakes I did. I will encourage them to go to college, get a degree, and set goals. Some people get lost in life or have no one to direct them. I was never told to go to college or talked to about college. I was forced to graduate high school which I thank my mother for. My mother didn’t care what I did with school as long as I got my high school diploma. It was my choice to work or go to college.
I have learned from my mistakes. I have grown up and I’m making good decisions. I feel like I push myself harder than ever now but it is because I want to accomplish so much. I am proud of myself and who I have become. My goal in life is to lead my children in the right direction, along with all the people I can help through my experiences. I know I am not the only person who has made mistakes or became lost and needed guidance. Life could have been much harder. I may not have graduated high school and may have never gotten a diploma. I took one man’s advice and it changed my life. I want to be the next person to change someone else’s life for the best.