One of our scholarship students, Michael Love, just wrapped up his first semester at SIUE with quite impressive results.
First, he made the Dean’s List with a 3.625 GPA while taking: Introduction to Computing I, English Composition, Introduction to African American Texts, Precalculus, and Public Health for a total of 16 credit hours. On top of that schedule, he also completed his 10 hours of volunteer service in the community at the KIPP school he recently graduated from.
Talking with students who are on their own path to college in the future, he gave them first-hand advice of all the things he’s already learned while making that huge leap.
Like every student we try to serve, we also asked that Michael write a short self-reflection essay looking back on the moments throughout this past semester that really stood out to him. It’s so important to take stock of all the triumphs and challenges so that you learn from both. He spoke candidly about some of those and how they’ve helped him already become a better person.
Here is the full text of his answer that we are so thankful to be able to share with you:
The proudest moment so far has been receiving my college algebra exam score and passing. This may seem like a small feat, but this class has really challenged me and made me grow to better understand math and the critical thinking process. This small achievement is what allowed me to be able to make it on dean's list and be able to actual see how all the hard work throughout the semester paid off. My college experience was like what I expected the only huge shocking point was the different people and personalities. I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet a wide range of people and keeping an open mind on topics I never thought I would discuss. In addition to this the amount of freedom was a little different than high school but I quickly adapted to that by filling it with studying and finding an organization to join. College has challenged me by taking what I though I new about certain things and making me rethink or correct it entirely. For example, my college algebra professor on the first day of class said, “You think math is just about memory, but many of you are about to see how wrong you actually are”. College has certainly made me go outside my comfort zone; rather it being giving a full 15 min speech in front of an entire class or just being asked to write an argumentative essay on a very sensitive topic. Even though these challenges seemed hard to overcome, I successfully managed them by reflecting on all the support I had and would have. My career path did not change because even though I know majoring in computer science is going to be difficult I still love it because it keeps me on my feet and makes me feel like I am truly striving towards something great. Furthermore, after taking some of the classes required for my field of study, I gained a deeper enjoyment for the career path I chose. In all college has been a wonderful experience with many ups and downs, it has made me grow as a young adult and see some things with a different perspective, but it has mainly helped me see I am not alone when it comes to facing certain challenges.
Something I know I took for granted was assuming that college was a given after I graduated high school. Never really imagining a scenario where I not only wasn’t accepted by a school, let alone couldn’t afford it.
And I took that immature mindset with me when I miraculously did go to a 4-year university, though, because I didn’t quite realize the opportunity in front of me I gave a mediocre performance at best.
Which is why I started I Do It For Her in the first place. Because only after my own lackluster showing in college and graduating into the 2008 financial crisis did I realize just how pivotal a college degree could be. If taken seriously…
So being able to at least be a small part of the solution for deserving young adults who simply need that last bit of financial support is part of the promise I made to someone special to one day change the world. And your support is what helps us give these incredible individuals at least a fighting chance at facing the adversity life has a tendency to keep throwing at them.
- Adam