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Education Inspiration: Michael, 25

When I was sixteen, my parents moved from Wisconsin to Southern California. What a disaster! For many reasons, I floundered socially and wound up hanging out with a pretty rough crowd that didn't have a lot of ambition. Needless to say, I adopted their mentality about school and was a bad student. After graduation, I realized that my life was going nowhere. With a bad high school transcript, I was only able to get into my local community college. Although my expectations for meeting cool and studious classmates were low, I was surprised to find that many of them were in my same boat and were serious about making something of themselves. I became good friends with about five guys, and we studied together. By working as a team, we all thrived and have since moved on to bachelor's degree programs at some great 4-year universities.
Michael, 25
Los Angeles, CA

I was terrified as I entered my college math class for the first time. I needed to pass this course to get my degree, but a lifetime history of failing in math followed me into this room. I chose a seat several rows back. I didn't want to make a fool of myself in front of the other students, all of whom were young enough to be my children. Our instructor greeted us cheerfully, and immediately reassured us. Don't worry," he said, "there are many paths to succeeding in math, and I will help each of you find a way that works for you." His comments gave me the courage to ask for help, and each day I met with Dr. Mike to work on math. If something didn't work, he would try another approach. Thanks to his patience and my determination, I earned my degree, but I'm most proud of the "A" I received in college math!
Karen Lawson
Reno, Nevada

After being downsized from a corporate position and taking a series of dead-end jobs, I returned to college. Twenty-six years had passed since I'd set foot on campus, and plenty had changed. Personal computing and internet research methods did not exist when I received my associate's degree in the 1970s. Within a few days, I felt at home on campus, and soon had the confidence to try an online course.
While I was working toward my bachelor's degree in English, I enjoyed working together with other students to critique our work, and our professor encouraged each of us to find our own writing voice. Although I endured many sleepless nights and consumed a typical student diet rich in caffeine and carbohydrates, that first university writing course jump-started my college career and ultimately led to a master's degree in English and a new career as a writer.
Clare Whithorn
Reno, Nevada

When I was in high school, track was everything to me. I was king of the long jump, and there were articles in the local newspaper about my talent and future as an athlete. Needless to say, I got a pretty big head about it. One day Coach asked us what we wanted to do in our lives, and I declared that I wanted to do long jump as a career. After practice, he took me aside and told me that I needed a backup plan. I got defensive, but he went on, saying that injuries and competition would always threaten my career, and I would need a solid education to land on once I got older. I got a track scholarship to college, but Coach's advice stayed in my mind. I majored in Nutrition and Foods, and when I hurt my knee, I found a great job as a nutritionist for marathon runners. I'll always love the sport, and thanks to Coach Miller's good advice I'll be close to it for the rest of my life.
Marcus P., 28
Texarkana, AR, USA

Nobody ever said I could do it--in fact, most everyone said I couldn't. Nobody in my family has ever gone to college, and the women in the family are pretty much expected to have a husband and two kids right out of high school. Sure enough, I had a wonderful husband and two beautiful girls before I was twenty-five. Still, I had this nagging dream to go back to school. My mother disapproved, but my husband suggested I take a course online to try it out. I loved it. When my family saw I was serious, they immediately supported me. My oldest girl made flashcards to help me study. My husband packed lunches for the kids and helped clean the house. Everyone pitched in, and the day I got my degree was a day of shared happiness. Now, I know how it feels to challenge myself and succeed. And so does my mother--at fifty-five, she's starting classes next semester!
Jesse C., 32
Bend, OR, USA