Personal Narrative: Time Constraints Of Being A + Student

Starting middle school challenges any kid transitioning into a teenager. Simple small changes like going from cubbies to lockers excite students. Bigger changes like transitioning from one all day class to six individual classes and pluses and minuses to letter grades can leave some students shell-shocked with new responsibilities. I remember the struggle I had keeping up with all of this in my first year. I found social studies homework especially difficult for me. I went to class and didn’t give the course work my best effort. As a result, my grades slipped to the point that I had failing grades in a few classes. I didn’t know what to do, and didn’t really want to do anything about it. I was drowning in a pool of laziness. One evening, I nearly began trembling when my mother decided she wanted to check my grades.

The infamous answer to the question, “What is your primary goal for going to school?” is “to further my education, get a job, and be successful” such a cliché if I must say myself. My goal attending school is to make my family happy, as well as myself. In high school, I did not apply myself like I should have done because I was not sure if college was in my favor. Also, being the child of a single parent wanting to attend college seemed impossible, especially far from home. In a family where no one has surpassed the first two years of college, I feel a spotlight is on me to not only finish, but also finish strong. I know how proud my family will be of my accomplishment and how rewarding it will be for me trying to obtain a decent job in the

As a first generation college student, I have the desire to not only make my parents proud of my academic achievements, but to be the first person in my family to receive a college degree. At a very young age, I was always expected to receive A’s and B’s in my school assignments, as well as my final grades. However, I was never rewarded or congratulated whenever I did receive those grades because it was already expected of me to achieve them. Hence, a time in which I have experienced failure but also felt like I let my family down was when I received a D in my Critical Thinking course I was already retaking for the second time.

Returning to college has been an exciting and terrifying decision for me. My husband has

Through the experience of working as youth leader for freshman connection I have grown as a better leader. To help incoming freshman was incredible experience for me. I joined freshman connection to serve school and defiantly to get knowledge and team building skills out of it, so that it can help me make my college experience better. I think I have achieved all the goals that I wanted to through working as youth leader. Additionally, not only that but also to work on community service project on bullying has really allowed me to serve as teacher helper. I liked how I was able to assist student to make poster on bullying. It was fantastic experience to help students in class to come up with ideas on how they can serve through different ways

“Always driving around like idiots, tryna’ prove how macho they are… And they wonder why they get shot at.”

My capstone activities will primarily focus on learning how to properly read, write, and speak Hmong. I will also be adding history courses with topics related to the Hmong because I personally feel that I do not know enough about my roots and history. I know that in order to be successful in who I want to be or what I want to be, I need to start with myself.

Being a first generation college student was a big challenge for me. A new life ahead of me had just started, it was like a new book with a new page on it. I started off going to community college which was such a big impact in my life, I was able to learn many valuable things that at the beginning I wasn't prepared for. I want to make a bigger impact not only for my self but for others as well. I want to motivate people that no matter what gets in the way, or the circumstances we are facing, we can all fight for what we want. it just takes energy and passion for what we love. I've developed so much confidence in myself, and also the ability to help others as well. This is just the beginning of something bigger, I'm excited for everything that's

“Four AP classes is a lot,” my parents warned, reading the list of courses I would take in the fall. “Are you sure you can manage that?"

When I picked out my classes last spring for junior year, I struggled immensely on whether or not to sign up for advanced placement language and composition. I already had signed up for four other advanced placement courses, so by no means would I have been slacking if I defaulted to enroll in honors English in lieu of advanced placement. In addition, writing does not come easily for me either; I feel like I am in a constant state of writers block. Grammar also has a way of tripping me up too.

Transitioning from high school to college has many hardships; however, my most difficult struggle is mentally realizing that I am now an actual college student who cannot have any faults. Back in high school, I was able to study lightheartedly because there was no money involved, and second chances were offered on assessments. In present time, I have to do well on an exam the first time it is given with the mindset of fulfilling the expectations of my scholarship donors and others. Since I am not the biggest fan of my major, I miss the high school version of Heather who was able to dream and imagine where she would be after graduating. My distress is realizing that the people I shared my interests to have gained and is out accomplishing them

I'm African and I'm the first in my family to graduate high school and attend college.

Throughout my educational life, I have struggled to beat the odds that were stacked up against me to achieve the goals that I aspired to. These struggles made me who I am, and though they plague me today, I will never let my dyslexia get in the way of my goals. Though my early educational life the thought of obtaining a higher education was never projected for my future. I remember vividly being told that I would be lucky to graduate high school, and to eventually work at the local Burger King the remainder of my life. It was that day that I defined my future.

My ultimate educational goal is to graduate from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, with a degree in business administration. Although this sounds relatively simple, I know that there is a great deal of effort that goes into such a feat.

I check my watch as I race to catch my first ever Austin Metro bus home. My