Reflection:

What does it take to graduate from Bronx Community College?

Today, July 10th, 2015, I woke up very sad and questioning myself why am I continuing with my college career?  Why am I doing a bachelor degree in City College when I already have an associate degree from Bronx community College? Those two questions are not easy to answer because right now, I cannot find a full -time job because of my college schedule (I am talking about a PROFESSIONAL FULL-TIME JOB).

                Well, then I reminded myself: “Edwin, In 2009, you went from Louis D. Brandeis high school to Bronx Community College for one reason: To become somebody worthy for society, someone professional, someone that can earn money from a professional career and set as an example for your family”. Then, I remembered all sacrifices I had to make to graduate from BCC:

a)       I was lost the first day I went to Bronx Community College with a college map that confused me more than my own instincts.

b)      I had to take remediation classes because “My English was not good enough to write college essays’’ (Me not speaking English hahahaahha).

c)       It took a lot of energy to go after class to the writing center, math tutoring and other tutorial departments and look for that extra help to improve my grammar, learn the math equations and build myself as a professional journalist/teacher.

d)       Look for the right advisors.

e)      Hold my tongue and my thought about some arrogant professors that forget they were students as well and they teach in a community college (Some of them are teacher BUT CAN’T TEACH- YES, a future teacher is saying this).

f)       Summer classes (HATE THEM- BUT I NEED TO TAKE THEM TO GRADUATE FAST)

g)      Being a full time worker and full-time student- not easy.

Outcomes:

1.       I Graduated with honors and a 3.5 GPA

2.       I have worked in four different departments at Bronx Community College

3.       I had been invited to apply from local, out-sate, public and private, prestigious and non-prestigious colleges and universities because my strong student record at BCC and now City College.

4.       I Learned how the system in college work (Financial aid, CUNYFIRST, the different type of college in USA- GUYS- Do not apply to private universities or “prestigious colleges” unless you have money enough to pay the tuition or- that “prestigious college” offer you a SCHOLARSHIP that will cover your whole tuition- YOU DON’T WANT TO REGRET LATER ON IN LIFE ABOUT TAKING AND PAYING STUDENT LOANS)

5.       Networking with many professional people

6.       I was accepted in CITY COLLEGE ( Because I learned how the college system works- I refused to go to private college and I am happily “Married” and attending CITY COLLEGE- I Love the campus,  the faculty people, the program, people, The classes, etc. Since I made the right decision, I have been a strong student keeping a high GPA of 3.7 and became an honor student as well).

7.       I had gone through internships that have prepared me for the “real” professional world and I am reading to graduate in one more year.

8.       THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE: I KNOW MYSELF AS A STUDENT, AS A PROFESSIONAL AND AS A PERSON. That is right, because of all the good and few bad experiences that I have gone through in BCC, I am able to say that I know where to go, what to do and not do. Soon I am graduating from City College with two majors: Spanish Education and Journalism. The good thing about knowing yourself is that nobody can tell you what to do or what to not do. It is a pleasure to share my thoughts with you and today I July 10th, 2015, I remembered myself where I started from and how am I going to end- as a student (a happy ending).

Guys, do not give up, do what you have to do, set up your mind and get yourself together.  Graduate from BCC, go to senior college and remember yourself how special you are. There is always a reason why you are going through a lot of SH-T in all your classes. NOBODY HAVE SAID YET IT IS EASY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE- Taking into account all the reasons above. BUT NOBODY HAVE SAID YET IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.  

1.       , I have being a strong student keeping a high GPA of 3.7 and became an honor student as well).

2.       I had gone through internships that have prepared me for the “real” professional world and I am reading to graduate in one more year.

3.       THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE: I KNOW MYSELF AS A STUDENT, AS A PROFESSIONAL AND AS A PERSON. That is right, because of all the good and few bad experiences that I have gone through in BCC, I am able to say that I know where to go, what to do and not do. Soon I am graduating from City College with two majors: Spanish Education and Journalism. The good thing about knowing yourself is that nobody can tell you what to do or what to not do. It is a pleasure to share my thoughts with you and today I July 10th, 2015, I remembered myself where I started from and how am I going to end- as a student (a happy ending).

Guys, do not give up, do what you have to do, set up your mind and get yourself together.  Graduate from BCC, go to senior college and remember yourself how special you are. There is always a reason why you are going through a lot of SH-T in all your classes. NOBODY HAVE SAID YET IT IS EASY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE- Taking into account all the reasons above. BUT NOBODY HAVE SAID YET IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.