My Main Three Goals

 College is no joke. It's about a lot of dedication, time management, and commitment. The transition from high school to college, I thought at first, was not going to be a great difference. However, it is. Teachers here, mainly may care somewhat whether you come to class, if the assignments are being turned in, or if you pass the class in fact. Most of the students, I can say think this is cool and even take advantage. My main goal, is to not get carried away and care about my classes, care about turning in all of my assignments on time, being punctual to class and to dedicate time into studying and homework. Another of my goals is to make time for everything. In other words, TIME MANAGEMENT ! I currently work, am a full-time student at San Diego City College and an expected mother. All of this isn't easy for me to be honest. I, just like others, struggle. Last but not least, my last goal is to STOP BEING A PROCRASTINATOR ! I can not hardly tell you how much this problem has put me through a lot of stress and pressure. I am sure to say that my work would be presented in a better perspective if it wasn't for this weakness. Like I had stated at the beginning, college is a whole different deal. Professors will not accept late assignments, they do not care of whatever excuse you may have. They will only care if the assignment was turned in on time. I know for a fact my goals will not be easy to meet due to the fact that I am used to the complete opposite . However, I will do whatever I can to change all that even if it takes time. I know that these weaknesses will get in the way and later become a great obstacle in my education. This is not a risk I am willing to take because I am very committed to further my education at whatever cost.  

Financial Spending

One of my assignments was to keep track of my financial spending on two weekdays and one day of the weekend. I was impressed and shocked at how much money I had used up. For my first day, I decided to keep track of my spending on Monday, August 20, 2012. This is the day I bought my very first set of college books from the bookstore. Luckily, The EOPS office had given students a gift card of $200. Little did I know, I would end up spending much more than this quantity. Buying only a total  of 4 books, it cost me $353.96. How was I suppose to pay for the rest was the question that ran through my mind? Where would I get the rest of the money? Thanks to the checker, she asked me if I wanted to pay the rest with my Pell Grant Money. I was immediately happy because I hadn't thought about that at all. Now all my books were paid and I still had a current balance at the bookstore of approximately $75. No more struggling at the bookstore for me.

Losinq A Mother's Love

 "Your life is worth talkinq & thinkinq about", this is what my professor had said to me in class today.

He had showed us an imaqe about the topic "homelessness".

What do you think when you hear the word 'homeless' ?

Bums ? Bad clothinq ? Rotten teeth ? Smelly ? People on the streets ?

Well let me tell you that there are different types of beinq homeless.  For example there are those that do live in the streets and beq for money in order to survive and the type where they have a place to live, a bed to sleep in, and food to consume but no support from their parents.

I am that girl that is homeless.

In my situation, one day my parents simply decided to kick me out of the house. They were just tired of all my "bullshit". It was easy for them to just say, "I don't want you here anymore." However, they never thouqht about me, they didn't care about where I would spend the niqht, if I had anythinq to eat, etc. It was a very difficult transition in my life I have to admit. At that moment, I never knew anythinq about being homeless or services that helped with this specific situation. But, with the assistance of CPS, they helped me look and discover places I had never known about before and with that, I found Toussaint Academy.

Toussaint is a qroup home for children from the aqes of 14-18 years old in which have no place to qo. It is a free-of-charqe place and provides the residents with food, clothinq, basic needs, shelter and support.

This place has truly chanqed my life around. I have been motivated to do better in both school & life. Making wise decisions is not a problem anymore, settinq my mind to somethinq & not being afraid to qo for it is what I do.

Now, I am qlad to say that I have become a qreat role model to not only to my little sisters and the residents at my qroup home, but to my classmates as well as to the community.

Yes life was rouqh but everyone has to learn how to overcome hardships, focus on yourself and education above all else.

My relationship with both my parents is still building up and it is makinq proqression little by little.

So do you think you have a hard life just because your parents are strict? Let me tell you it's nothing compared to my life.

The Writing Process

Why is writing important?
Writing isn't just putting ideas or thoughts down on paper. It's not just to turn in assignments and pass a class.
It IS who you are... it is a way of expressing oneself and to let people see your personality.
Many people when asked write a reflexion paper or  an essay, all they think about is having an interesting first sentence and a thesis. But, this isn't all there is to it.
There has to be many thinking involved and brainstorming in order to create ideas, an interesting hook that attracts the reader, a thesis statement and 3 ideas that support that main idea. Last but not least, the conclusion is at the end to summarize everything that was said in the paragraphs above. Here is where you restate your thesis statement in different words and briefly state your opinion.

Responsibility .

 During pre-teen years, we are being guided through life and beginning to learn who we are, our interests, and basically learn to live day by day. At this moment, we don't realize the responsibilities that we will have to take on once becoming an adult. We, as children now, must learn to deal with pressure in order to learn the real meaning of responsibility. 

Responsibility is knowing that something is wrong and choosing not to do it no matter how badly you yearn to or how big the pressure is. 

We learn to be responsible as we grow by making wise choices and leaving behind bad influences. We learn to be responsible by learning from our mistakes. But the real question is, who teaches human beings to become responsible ?

Responsibility, in my opinion, is self-taught. Parents don't really teach you. Teachers, tutors, friends, counselors, nor police teach you. Every single individual learns for themselves. 

Childhood

My Childhood 

my childhood was the time when i was innocent
when the world seemed to be fair
when my universe was around my toys

my childhood was the time when i lived in dreams
when everyone was selfless
when everyone appeared to be a friend

my childhood was the time when my life was full of colours
when sorrows never knocked my door
when smile was gift presented to everyone

my childhood was the time when love was pure
when there were no obligations
when tenderness prevailed

my childhood was the time which is long gone
tears flow from my eyes when i go back in my childhood
my childhood will never come back but
the child in me will never go

-jahanvi .

Childhood memories are mainly forgotten. However, we all know that even if we could remember them, it would be the best recollections ever.  Everything was like a dream. You always you got what you wanted by just simply crying for hours. You ate all the time and played none stop also. Parents would dress you up with cute little clothes and tied your hair up with colorful ribbons that matched your outfit.

No bills to pay, no financial problems. What else can you ask for ?

Time passes by so fast. One has to enjoy life as it is before it is too late.

Lesson Learned

Procrastination. If a person is usually a procrastinator, the sooner they get out of "this bubble", the better. College is all about time management and dedicating time to your work. Not putting everything to the last minute. 

Throughout my entire life, I have always set things to the last moment. In comparison to school, I knew that would have the chance to turn in my assignments late and get partial credit. But hey, at least I didn't get an 'F' on the classwork/ homework. Right ?

However, in the real world, in the college world, this such thing doesn't exist. The professors will not accept ANY late assignments at all. Both professors and staff expect us students to act like a grown ups, to take responsibility for actions and work. In college, you will be treated as an adult. 

It is time to transition from a kid to a grown up.

But are you ready ? What will it take for you to be ready for life && college ?
In my point of view, I am not ready. But I an striving for a better education and life. I know perfectly what I want and I will do anything I can, no matter how hard or impossible it may seem, in order to achieve that goal or dream. it won't be easy but I am a fighter.

The Summer Program

 City Colleges' mission is to provide education to those that want to strive for a better education && to help people get further in life. This year, City College has provided a summer program for those that want that extra help, to help the incoming first years a little experience to what "real college" will be like. In my opinion, this Summer Readiness Program has definately helped me improve my study skills, as well as in preparing me for the Fall semester. I am currently enrolled in two English classes && a Personal Growth class. It is an 8-week program in which students attend Mon.-Thurs. from 8:45 am-2:45 pm.  

I have to admitt that I was scared at first because it was going to be a different environment for me and because of the fact that I have no experience whatsoever with college. I didn't know what to expect.

Many people had been trying to persuade me not to go; telling that it was just a waste of time. However, that desicion wasn't there's to make. I had decide to attend the program because I strongly felt that it would give me a great advantage as a first year student.
So far, the program has helped me learn a lot && I feel as if I am an actual college student already.

I strongly recommend you to look into this program if you are a first-year student coming into San Diego City College.

American Dream

Everyone has a dream, but why call it THE AMERICAN DREAM ? 
Is there 'British Dreams' or 'French Dreams' too?
What is the actual definition of it?
The typical answer when askinq a person what their "American Dream" is: 
qet a deqree, have a qood car, nice family, money...
But not everyone gets to actually live this life? Do we?


My dream, is like any other dream. Have a decent life, qraduate out of high school, have a decent job, go to college and pursue a career out of whatever I want to be in life.
"Up to now each American what they wanted is to enjoy one's own life with others money".
Yes, money does play a biq part in life, however, I don't believe it buys happiness.
In real life, "The American Dream" is what each individual person wants to be.

Things In Life .



Honesty. Not a very common thing in a persons life to do, most of the time. At the end, honesty is a virtue. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. In the year of 2010-2011, I was what parents say about some of their kids, 'out of control'. I would stay out way past curfew, maybe not come home at all, lied, wouldn't  call home, smoke && drink. Thinking that I would get away with it like all the other times, I kept doing what I was doing. My parents would talk to me && try to figure out what was going on, but nothing helped. Once my mom had enough, she started taking action. She called the cops on me, tried to put me in juvinal hall, etc. She would lock me out of the house for little or no reason. There are various 'runaway' calls for me when she would lock me out herself. She kicked me out of the house numerous of times. And whats of my father? My daddy! I love my dad with all my heart. He is my entire world. He supported me with everything, always gave me good advice and guided me throughout all my life. I was "daddy's little girl". He would get into fights with my mom every time he would find out what my mom was doing with me. It resulted me getting kicked out of my house because of all the problems. I am currently living in Toussaint Academy, a group home located in downtown, San Diego that is associated with Father Joe's Villages. Now, I am proud to say that my life is great. I have made a tremendous improvement in not only my life, but personality as well. My relationship with both my parents has improved but is still under construction. There is nothing to complain about, but at the end of the day, honesty was key to a good life.