Explain What Obstacle Impacted Your Ability To Be Successful At Usf
At first I was a bit apprehensive about writing my personal statement because it was so... well personal. On the contrary I'm now eager to get my story and plans known. I hope to share my experiences to help guide others in similar situations.
1) What obstacle impacted your ability to be successful when you were first at USF?
When the news of my acceptance to the University of South Florida first got to me I was ecstatic. I relished at the thought of becoming a college student and its power of endless possibilities. Unfortunately, this short lived glorious moment changed when I discovered I was pregnant during my sophomore year. At the time my apartment complex, Campus Lodge, offered a $500 gift card for lease renewals. A trip to the abortion clinic seemed to be a conspicuous choice. After receiving my gift card, however, all I could do was stare at …show more content…
it with lack of assurance... I could not bare the thought of killing my own child.
As my body went through drastic changes so did my performance in school. College courses are demanding enough as is and with severe morning sickness added it becomes near impossible to succeed. To make things worse I was in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. My fear of what he would do if I tried to leave, as well as my cowardice at the thought of raising a child on my own, channeled my naïve decision to stay with him. I was physically in college but my mind became trapped in anguish of my pregnancy and domestic issues.
Once my son was born I was determined not to drop out, but the stresses of working two jobs and attending school full time became victor in our tug of war.
After a few years of struggling and being laid off my mother begged me to come home and I finally agreed.
2) What steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle so that you are confident you will be successful when you return to USF?
My son gave me the strength I needed to escape that abusive relationship. As a matter of fact my ex was just released this month from prison after serving time for assaulting the woman he dated after me. She had the strength and courage I lacked, at the time, to do what I failed to. I regret that I did not report him because I may have been able to save her from that heinous experience. Currently I am engaged to a remarkable man who supports me and my ambitions. He is raising my son as his own and the two are inseparable.
3) To return to USF, you must attach documentation of academic or non-academic success which began after you were academically dismissed from USF. Summarize below what you chose to do and why you chose that
path.
My purpose was always to return to USF after learning a trade or skill that would allow me to sustain a reliable job. Within a month of moving in with my mother I was offered a position as a Food Runner for the poker floor at a local casino. There I learned to deal cards and I have successfully been a professional Poker Dealer a little over four years now. Dealing cards is a great skill to possess due to the high demand of dealers everywhere. Another great benefit to this job is it's part time work for full time pay, by reason of time being just as important as money in my plans to return to school.
In addition to dealing I started my own business "Peaceful Mind" and I can work from home whenever I please. I also discovered "Fastweb" which is a website that offers scholarships, grants, and internships for anyone attending or planning to attend a higher education institution. I am currently working on a few essays to enter in this month on their website.
4) Why are you pursing the major identified in your petition? What do you hope to accomplish by earning this degree?
My thought process has wisely changed. I am still excited about school but I am much more determined and focused. To be honest when I first arrived at the University of South Florida my career path was unknown. Whatever I did I knew I wanted to help others but I did not know exactly how. I believe my lack of goals contributed to my easily distracted mind and loss ambition. After working as a Poker Dealer for four years I have been exposed to good people losing battles of addictions to gambing, drugs, alcohol, and so on. My path is clear, I will become a psychologist or psychiatrist to aid those seeking a way out. During my years at the casino I have made many friends, some who have even had suicidal attempts, they thanked me for having a beautiful personality saying I have helped them. The reality remains that I am no professional and I can do so much as a Poker Dealer. Seeing so many people lost and demoralized everyday and knowing I can do nothing hurts me, but not for long.
5) Knowing that a second dismissal from USF is final and you would be unable to return again, what plans have you made to ensure you can be successful now above and beyond overcoming your previous obstacle? I have no fear of failure this time around. Previously I made poor decisions and created many of my prior obstacles which could have been prevented. I should have protected myself during intercourse to avoid pregnancy and fled at the first sign of abuse. After going through with the pregnancy I omitted the option to take a semester or two off and limit the amount of courses I took. This would have protected my G.P.A. and completion ratio instead of dropping, withdrawing and failing classes.
My mind is far more mature and capable of making wise decisions now than it was before. Partial proof this is recognizing my mistakes, another part is correcting them and not accepting failure. I see trails as a speed hump, they slow you down but they don't stop you.
The comfort in having my at home support system is definitely a huge bonus. To top that off I have reliable transportation along with a steady job and my own business. My help at home and short hours at work gives me the time needed to complete my school assignments. Doing research on the USF website I was able to find many tools, such as tutoring and writing services at the library, available to students to help us succeed.
It is ok to fall as long as you get back up and it is never too late to finish school. I need to be the person who my son can look up to. Now I know exactly what I need to do, who I am doing it for, and how I am going to do it.
1) What obstacle impacted your ability to be successful when you were first at USF?
When the news of my acceptance to the University of South Florida first got to me I was ecstatic. I relished at the thought of becoming a college student and its power of endless possibilities. Unfortunately, this short lived glorious moment changed when I discovered I was pregnant during my sophomore year. At the time my apartment complex, Campus Lodge, offered a $500 gift card for lease renewals. A trip to the abortion clinic seemed to be a conspicuous choice. After receiving my gift card, however, all I could do was stare at …show more content…
it with lack of assurance... I could not bare the thought of killing my own child.
As my body went through drastic changes so did my performance in school. College courses are demanding enough as is and with severe morning sickness added it becomes near impossible to succeed. To make things worse I was in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. My fear of what he would do if I tried to leave, as well as my cowardice at the thought of raising a child on my own, channeled my naïve decision to stay with him. I was physically in college but my mind became trapped in anguish of my pregnancy and domestic issues.
Once my son was born I was determined not to drop out, but the stresses of working two jobs and attending school full time became victor in our tug of war.
After a few years of struggling and being laid off my mother begged me to come home and I finally agreed.
2) What steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle so that you are confident you will be successful when you return to USF?
My son gave me the strength I needed to escape that abusive relationship. As a matter of fact my ex was just released this month from prison after serving time for assaulting the woman he dated after me. She had the strength and courage I lacked, at the time, to do what I failed to. I regret that I did not report him because I may have been able to save her from that heinous experience. Currently I am engaged to a remarkable man who supports me and my ambitions. He is raising my son as his own and the two are inseparable.
3) To return to USF, you must attach documentation of academic or non-academic success which began after you were academically dismissed from USF. Summarize below what you chose to do and why you chose that
path.
My purpose was always to return to USF after learning a trade or skill that would allow me to sustain a reliable job. Within a month of moving in with my mother I was offered a position as a Food Runner for the poker floor at a local casino. There I learned to deal cards and I have successfully been a professional Poker Dealer a little over four years now. Dealing cards is a great skill to possess due to the high demand of dealers everywhere. Another great benefit to this job is it's part time work for full time pay, by reason of time being just as important as money in my plans to return to school.
In addition to dealing I started my own business "Peaceful Mind" and I can work from home whenever I please. I also discovered "Fastweb" which is a website that offers scholarships, grants, and internships for anyone attending or planning to attend a higher education institution. I am currently working on a few essays to enter in this month on their website.
4) Why are you pursing the major identified in your petition? What do you hope to accomplish by earning this degree?
My thought process has wisely changed. I am still excited about school but I am much more determined and focused. To be honest when I first arrived at the University of South Florida my career path was unknown. Whatever I did I knew I wanted to help others but I did not know exactly how. I believe my lack of goals contributed to my easily distracted mind and loss ambition. After working as a Poker Dealer for four years I have been exposed to good people losing battles of addictions to gambing, drugs, alcohol, and so on. My path is clear, I will become a psychologist or psychiatrist to aid those seeking a way out. During my years at the casino I have made many friends, some who have even had suicidal attempts, they thanked me for having a beautiful personality saying I have helped them. The reality remains that I am no professional and I can do so much as a Poker Dealer. Seeing so many people lost and demoralized everyday and knowing I can do nothing hurts me, but not for long.
5) Knowing that a second dismissal from USF is final and you would be unable to return again, what plans have you made to ensure you can be successful now above and beyond overcoming your previous obstacle? I have no fear of failure this time around. Previously I made poor decisions and created many of my prior obstacles which could have been prevented. I should have protected myself during intercourse to avoid pregnancy and fled at the first sign of abuse. After going through with the pregnancy I omitted the option to take a semester or two off and limit the amount of courses I took. This would have protected my G.P.A. and completion ratio instead of dropping, withdrawing and failing classes.
My mind is far more mature and capable of making wise decisions now than it was before. Partial proof this is recognizing my mistakes, another part is correcting them and not accepting failure. I see trails as a speed hump, they slow you down but they don't stop you.
The comfort in having my at home support system is definitely a huge bonus. To top that off I have reliable transportation along with a steady job and my own business. My help at home and short hours at work gives me the time needed to complete my school assignments. Doing research on the USF website I was able to find many tools, such as tutoring and writing services at the library, available to students to help us succeed.
It is ok to fall as long as you get back up and it is never too late to finish school. I need to be the person who my son can look up to. Now I know exactly what I need to do, who I am doing it for, and how I am going to do it.