Fast forward a few years, and that same mindset carried me into college. In 1993, I enrolled at Dickinson-Warren Business College. It was a new environment, and honestly, it came with its own set of challenges. Balancing coursework, personal responsibilities, and the pressure of performing well wasn’t always easy, but I stayed focused. I knew what I wanted, and I was determined to prove to myself that I could rise to the occasion. Earning a 3.67 GPA wasn’t just a number to me; it was proof of hard work, late nights, and a lot of self-belief.

Then, returning for the first time to DVC College in 1998 to pursue my A.S. in Business, I was stepping into a new chapter, one that brought even more clarity to my goals. However, I was not focused, and my first experience here at DVC as a student didn’t go quite how I expected or planned for it to go.

Now, as an adult returning to college here at DVC after 26 years, I’m attempting to achieve my dream of earning my degree. This time, it means so much more because I’m attending with my youngest daughter before she transfers. My goal is to walk the stage in the same graduating class as her, and I want my grades to reflect the hard work and dedication I’m putting into achieving that goal. (Word count: 326)