Why I'm Still in College

After going through a traumatic brain injury March 19th 2010 going back to college wasn't easy. Then again nothing was easy. Having to relearn how to walk, talk, and everything associated with normalcy was a long and stressful journey but, here I am today virtually normal. Truth is that attending college took me less time to do then learning to walk again. Yes my first semester at Chabot, fall 2010 I was in a wheelchair. I was accepted into the DSRC center with open arms and they helped me significantly. My DSRC counselor Kathleen registered me for two introductory classes. PSCN 20 and the disabled/stretch P.E. class. Going through all of this made me feel very alone. I thought about taking a semester off, but then what would I do?
So for me the thing that almost made me drop out was that I felt disconnected with the school. I didn't have friends or a reason to show up every day. My biggest reason for going to school each day was because it was a lot better than staying at home looking out my window from a wheelchair. I literally lost all hope and saw no future for myself. I had only my family for support, and you can't take your mom to class. Feeling lost and without a purpose almost broke me so I sought out for help and guidance.

 I meet with a counselor not from the DSRC after my first year at Chabot and she gave me excellent information. She told me to join some clubs and passed on their meeting location and time. I chose to become part of the Puente Club and the MECHA club. After that I met some good people and I now had a reason to go to school. I actually looked forward to going to school. I made friends and we hung out and consoled each other with our problems and it just felt great being a part of something.

 My passion for school then blossomed after receiving a year's worth of 4.0's. My confidence shot up and my dreams got bigger. I think that was another deal breaker for me. After the accident I had zero confidence in my abilities and I felt sub-human. But after I passed some intro classes with flying colors I then felt like I belonged in school. My confidence grew and grew as I challenged myself just a bit more each semester. I went from taking 1 academic class and 1 PE class, then 2 academic and last spring I was able to take 3 academic classes 10 units and I managed to get a 4.0. So as you gain confidence you should push yourself more and more until you reach what ever it is that you want.

My advice for anyone struggling academically and or socially is to not give up. Try and persevere because the rewards are outstanding! In the book "Wonders" by Brian Cox he talks about Hindu religion by talking about their belief that, “In order for new things to be created, the old order must first be destroyed.” (80) I guess that's what had happened to me. I was completely destroyed. It was as if I were reborn. I started from a clean slate. I had to learn how walk, talk and do everything over again. In that process I also developed an incredible work ethic and a passion to over come what was thought to be impossible for me to over come. 

Anyone who doesn't have confidence in their abilities my advice to them is simple. You have to start somewhere. Rome wasn't built in a day, so take all the introductory classes before taking an advanced class. Your confidence will raise significantly because you'll most likely ace those introductory classes and you'll be ready to challenge yourself with the next class. It's ok to take it slow. Take things one step at a time.