Why I Chose College

Over the course of my high school years I have been generally pleased. I have had many highs and a few lows but for the most part I would call it a success. Looking back, I know there was never a time I did not give my full effort. There were times when I wanted to give up, but there was never a time that I allowed myself to do so because college was just way too important to me. I want to have a quality career not just a job. College is the key to that. I want to become a neonatal nurse, I want to help babies have a bright future and most of all I want my life to have a purpose. College will open the door to be able to achieve these things and so much more. I do not intend to use college just to get employment. When I attend college I want
Freshman year I enrolled in an Upward Bound program at the University of Connecticut and honestly it was the best decision that I have ever made in my high school career. I never knew there was a town in Connecticut called Windham and I did not realize how similar New Haven and Hartford really were until I got accepted to this program. It showed me that not only Hartford students were struggling in Connecticut. It gave me a chance to see how other towns were living and what other students had to go through on top of attempting to get an education. Without this six week program college would not be as important or seem so much like a reality as it is for me today. Staying on a college campus, sleeping in dorms, eating dining hall food, walking to class and even participating in college student extracurricular activities while still doing class work made me realize that I can actually go to college and be successful while having fun. They taught us studying habits and time management skills that I still use to this day. They showed that asking for help while in a college setting is one of the most beneficial things that you can ever do for yourself. Most of all they taught us to never lose hope. There was a time when we were losing our funding and the program was almost shut down my second summer but we persevered and it is still continuing to help first generation, low income teenagers. I feel that if I
I have gotten many other awards and honors that range from art competitions, National Honor Society and countless academic acknowledgements over my high school years but this award made me feel the most accomplished in life. Since my first summer out of a three summer program I wanted to get the Robin Walker award. I would not have felt that I successfully finished the program if I didn’t. The award is based off of an amazing past member who passed away at young age and left such an impact on the program that they created an annual award in her name which they give to the most “Outstanding Student”as said on the plaque. When I started the program we had a dorm floor full of sophomore students by my last year there were about 8 of us. Obtaining this award showed that I was committed to completing the program. It showed that not only did I academically excel in the program but also my character was intact. Most awards are based on something that you have physically produced. This award is about the person as a whole and that is why it means so much to me. The person who presented me with the award has seen me raise my hand for every question and help my peers with their work in class but also make jokes and dance at a party. This was not an award that was just given to someone who looked good on paper but based on how that person acted in everyday life. This award made me feel