College Entry Essay

As with all parents, my father wanted better for his children. Having never sought a post-secondary education himself, university attendance was encouraged for my brother and I. Growing up in a low-income family meant that in order to do so, I began working a combination of full and part-time from secondary school onward. Being unable to afford full-time tuition, I pursued my education part-time. As I was unable to afford a car, later combined with a novel epilepsy diagnosis, there was an opportunity cost in spending three hours per day on public transportation going to and from work and school. Registering for a full course load was not feasible without incurring large student loans.

Although part-time education prevented me from achieving some academic honours, such as Dean’s List, it gave me an opportunity to mature while still attending university. During the fall of 2012, I made a choice to extend my degree by an additional twenty-seven credits to prove myself academically to the College of Law. In doing so, I achieved straight As for sixty-two credits, graduated with distinction, received the Kenneth Alan Edgeworth

For the past five years, I have been employed at Cactus Club Cafe and have been promoted through Host, Expediter, Server, Bartender, and Closing Manager. Despite the lack of prestige associated with working in a restaurant it has taught me valuable lessons both in and out of the workplace. The ability to juggle multiple ongoing deadlines in a high pressure environment while excelling at both social and public speaking skills are imperative. This environment is sink or swim. Through preparation and diligence, I was able to thrive. Over my years, I have perfected my ability to memorize, command the attention of a crowd, problem solve, communicate effectively, and work in a team as both a leader and an