Entrance Essay

Born and raised in an urban community where a very low percentage of the youth population completed their education due to social and economic factors and a lack of resources is an experience that planted my interest in wanting to make a difference. I, like many other members of my community was raised in a household where attending college was not the norm. As the second child of four to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, I was taught at a very young age the value of hard work and education. It was evident that my parents wanted their children to achieve what was considered “unachievable.” In an environment where obtaining a High School diploma let alone a college degree, wasn’t an expectation of adolescents, my parents chose to expect otherwise from the four of us. I owe it to their support and determination that I have completed my bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the City College of New York. However, the drive and determination engraved in me has left me yearning for more. Although my parents wanted a different path for me than theirs and provided me with the necessary emotional support and encouragement, having English as a 2nd language made it nearly impossible for them to assist me with any academic shortcomings throughout K-12. My relationship with my High School Counselor only involved providing me with a school schedule and guiding me in terms of which classes I needed to take in order to graduate, something I was able to figure out on my own. My counselor didn't know me by first name, nor did he know who I was as an individual, my personal obligations outside of school such as helping my parents run a business after school hours that might have impeded with the time I should have spent strengthening my academic skills. Furthermore he didn't know my strengths, weaknesses or potential. This went on for four years where High School Counselors did just enough to get students through the next grade rather than providing us with guidance to be better students. I didn't realize until my first semester of college that I have been only prepared to be an average or just below average student. Due to this, I struggled, initially I wasn't up to par as some of the other students in my classrooms, and I wasn't used to this. I did the best I could with the resources I had and earned my degree but I can't help to wonder how things could have been different if I had someone more involved with my academic development and this influenced my decision in wanting to purse graduate studies and become a School Counselor.
My ultimate goal is to provide students of K-12 the tools and resources for educational and professional success and assist in breaking down social or economic barriers they may be confronted with. As a graduate student majoring in Counseling, I am confident that I will gain the necessary knowledge, skills and capabilities to provide the professional support the youth of today need, and I once didn’t receive.
Throughout my academic, professional, and personal experiences, I have developed various skills and qualities. Some of these qualities are ones that cannot be taught while others were developed along the way. These qualities include: professionalism, strong leadership skills, loyalty, commitment, and the ability to take on initiative and a strong work ethic to name a few. As a graduate student, my hope is to illustrate such qualities and continuously learn and hone skills. With my own personal, professional and academic struggles and accomplishments I believe I am in position to take the next step toward my long-term goal to be an effective School Counselor. This is truly a passion of mine and I believe that I am well prepared to take on this challenge and I look to Hunter College to better prepare me. If chosen, it will not only benefit me, but it will benefit our students of K-12 throughout the years to come, and the future School Counselors that come after.