<Biggest Rambling Post EVER...
In High School I had a clear vision of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do, but really wasn't in a position to get there. I had horrible grades in high school, and was going to start off by going to a local community college. Community college is great, especially for EMS, but it's hard to become a teacher with an AS degree.
I applied to a local university and got in, and started going there the next week (for the start of my freshman year). Again, this university wasn't what I wanted in life, and wouldn't really get me where I wanted to be. After working my *** off for two semesters, I applied to Michigan State University, but they turned me down.
I started the next college year with a bipolar roommate that I had to call 911 on several times. He threw stuff in his sleep, I caught him having phone-sex with his step-sister at 2:00 AM, and his girlfriend went through all my stuff when I went out on the weekends.
I called and called MSU, but got the same old "try again" routine. I kept calling back, day after day, determined to find a way to get into MSU. Still, they kept saying the same thing, but I was determined (or really dumb). I kept calling, and offered the lady chocolates and a dozen roses if she just gave me a chance. She wanted to get me off the phone, and told me that if I took a math class she'd let me in. She knew, just like I did, that it was already October of the fall semester, which meant my chances of finding a math class were zero. I went online and searched every community college in the state for that math class. It took days of calling community colleges, but I finally found a half-semester class that would fit her requirement.
I went to sign up for that math class, only to find out that it was beyond full. I literally kept calling every hour, during class and in the middle of the night, hoping someone would drop. I wrote letters to the community college's dean, along with everyone else that would listen. Each of them told me that I'd have to wait until the next semester, which mean I couldn't transfer to MSU until the following year. I drove up there, waited in endless lines to be told that there was nothing they could do. I didn't take no for a answer, and spent a couple days in the community college's registrars office meeting everyone I could. Everyone said no. I called the college and started dialing random extensions and telling my story. Most people said they were busy, but one secretary in the registrars office felt bad. She told me she'd see what she could do, and told me to answer my phone if I received a call. I remember receiving that call, sitting in the doctor's office, and taking it, because that call was damn important. She got me in the class.
That semester I took 21 college credits, and somehow found a way to get a 4.0 in that math class. I took my regular classes, did homework, and then did math at night and on the weekends. I don't think I passed a single math class in high school. MSU hesitantly let me in, and I literally packed up my stuff and moved in with a bunch of random roommates.
While at MSU I found my chances of getting into the teaching program were also dismal. Over the summers I took classes at two different colleges almost two hours apart, all while living at home and working EMS. I'd start my drive at 7:00 AM, arrive at MSU at 9:00 AM. Have class from 9:00-12:00. I'd get home at 2:00, study, and then leave for my night class in Detroit. I'd get home at around 6:30 or so. It sucked... but I knew there was an ultimate goal. I paid $25 a day for gas alone, and an additional $10 for parking at both colleges.
After getting into the college of education, I was told time after time that this and that wasn't possible. When it came time to apply for graduation, I found out the my college degree in History wouldn't let me teach. I wish someone would have told me that three years ago. My senior year of college I started doubling up on credits so I could get another degree.
Last year I graduated college with 2 extra years of college credits. I worked harder than I ever knew I could, was turned down more times than I care to remember, but I never lost sight of the ultimate goal.
My student teaching was one of the hardest experiences of my life, and for weeks I drove more than two hours each way to my placement..…every day… in the Michigan winter. I can remember the multiple times being stuck on the highway until 7:00. 8:00, or 9:00 PM, waiting for an accident to clear. The year was full of failures and mistakes, and on several occasions I seriously contemplated just quitting. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life, and I shed more tears than the previous ten years combined, but I someone managed through it.
Life if full of obstacles and letdowns, but from every experience I’ve learned something about myself and others. No matter how crappy you may feel, approach it as a learning experience. How can you make the best of it? What did you learn? What will you change in the future? Once you answer those, then it’s in your hands. You can do whatever it takes to make it happen, and I’m confident you will!
/End Ramble>
you know what you want to be and what it will take to be the best that you can be, GOOD