I was just 19 years old when I was forced to leave college. We had fallen on hard times, and I needed to find a method to assist my family. It was a difficult decision, but I knew I had to make it. I'd been doing various jobs to make ends meet for what felt like decades, but I only sometimes felt fulfilled. I craved for the intellectual challenge and satisfaction that came with being a full-time student once more.
The opportunity to return to college arose when our president declared and signed legislation making all tuition at state universities completely free. It was a sign from the universe to not give up on my dreams. Although the opportunity was exciting, I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling of doubt and uncertainty. I wasn't sure if I was ready to return to school after such a long absence.
But, before my hesitation grew any larger, everyone in my family persuaded me to take advantage of the opportunity because it might not come again, and I eventually agreed.
My mother looked at me with pride and remarked, "Since you're smart and conscientious, you deserve to finish your education." As long as we work diligently and remain persistent, we will be fine. You must take advantage of this opportunity and put yourself first for a change.
My younger brother also chimed in: "Think how proud we will be of your achievements when you graduate. Believe me when I say it's well worth the effort."
Their encouragement inspired me to give it another shot. I visited my city's local state college admissions office to ask some questions. Unfortunately, because of the change from the old curriculum to the K-12 curriculum, most of my previous college subjects were not credited, and I had to start from scratch. Despite my disappointment, I registered for a Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) program and filled out the necessary paperwork.
Hence, in August of 2019 I resumed my schooling.There was a lot of struggle in the first few weeks. I couldn't keep up with the younger students and the overwhelming amount of information they were exposed to. To avoid another setback, I put in more effort than ever before. I paid close attention in class, took extensive notes, and raised my hand whenever I had questions.
The turning point occurred when I received my first poor grade. There were times when I wanted to quit because I believed I would never be good enough. Suddenly, recalling what my loved ones had said, I realized that I could not let them down. I had no choice but to give it another try.
I devoted a great deal of time to studying, reading every available textbook, and doing sample tests. It was so helpful that I even joined a study group. Slowly but surely, I began to notice improvements. The results at school improved, and I gained confidence in my own abilities.
Unfortunately, the pandemic struck before I could even finish my first year of college, forcing me to stay at home. Although online classes allowed me to continue my education, the experience was vastly different from traditional, face-to-face classes.
And, as one might expect, the change threw me off guard. Although it was convenient not having to commute to school from Monday to Friday, not being in an actual class presented many challenges such as getting disconnected during Zoom or Google Meet classes, self-doubt, depression, and so on.
It was only though sheer determination and constant support from my family that I was able to prevail and make it though the end of the pandemic. With the pandemic over, I was finally able to return to school and reconnect with my classmates and teachers. This was fortunate because I doubt my thesis would have gone as well if I had presented it online.
And now, I will have my diploma in hand in a few months. It has been a long and challenging road, but I am so pleased with myself that I have not given up. I have tried, failed, and tried again, but this time I have succeeded.
My family is overjoyed that all of my hard work will soon be rewarded. "I knew you could do it," my sister says as she wraps her arms around me.
"You've earned this because you worked really hard," my mother adds. "Congratulations; we are very proud of you."
I can't thank my family and everyone else who has helped me enough. I could not have succeeded without them. Armed with my education and a renewed sense of self-assurance, I'm ready to move on to the next phase of my life. I'm willing to risk failure to try again because I know that nothing is impossible if I keep going.