Community College Success Stories

[Cherry31416]

My early childhood experiences are what led me into "trouble" (so to speak) regarding the school world, so I'll try to sum up what I can from the beginning to what's brought me here.

My father and his family were what you'd call the stereotypical Irish drunks. Not only that, but there's an almost 100% incidence of severe mental illness and cognitive dysfunction on his side, which, of course, was exacerbated by drinking...and more drinking...and more drinking. My mother, meanwhile, has never been what you'd call assertive, and could never get up the gumption to walk out (even to bring me with her); not only that, but even in the small town region where I grew up, my father's parents were extremely well-connected and loved by all. Add to that, my mother taught elementary school in the district where her someday father-in-law was once principal (and she his employee), and later a town admin, and she met my dad through that. Even more Twilight Zone Mayberry for you: The old man once taught CCD/catechism in the local parish where my mother went to church as a kid. This is at least 20 years before she ever went to work and he was her boss. Creepy, huh? Well, ain't that America, as John Mellencamp would say. (Miley Cyrus and her brother/husband/father/second step-cousin twice removed might also agree.)

Anyway, Mom and the boss' son, my father, were later married, and had me, but my mother's never been a drinker or partier or part of the "in-crowd" (the "good girl," one might say), and that was a big reason why she quickly fell out of favor with the in-laws. You know the whole thing about a mother-in-law clashing with the wife-to-be because the bride has found herself "in trouble" at some point? One of the biggest arguing points was that my mom didn't, and my paternal grandmother thought she was preachy and pure. She (grandmother) probably would have preferred it if my father had knocked up the entire varsity cheerleader team rather than settle down and get married to a good wife and mom.

Now, from time to time, I had to visit with these nutcases, who reeked of Marlboros and Budweiser, when I was a little tyke still sipping my apple juice. Not surprisingly, I used to get terrified and throw fits because I didn't want to leave mom's side and head to the worst little smokehouse in New England. Physically and in demeanor, my paternal grandmother also reminded me of Ursula the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, which was #1 at the box office around this time, and the parallel imagery resonated deeply within my fragile child psyche.

So my mother became emotionally and physically ill because she did actually want to leave my father, but knew full well that she'd lose any custody battle to the incoherent but powerful Dead Kennedys of Stepford-Amityville. She left her job teaching and was never able to return. Everything just deteriorated from that point on -- her health, my father's habits, and because everything was in such disarray, my emotional state grew worse as well. Once it came time for the first day of school, I wanted to withdraw into my little security shell, and would again throw fits when that forcefield was ever penetrated.

So my mom, being the good mom who would have spent her whole life and career going to bat for the 60 or so kids in her Kindergarten class, now had to face the intolerable cruelty of the town school board for just one -- her own. When my father's temper flared up, she would bring me to stay at her mother's house for protection while she took the blows (often physically) in their arguments. But according to the school board, I was spending too much time at Grandma's (in the neighboring town, ironically the same town where Mom once worked) to be counted as a resident/student of the school district where I still did live. It wasn't that I "lived" at my grandmother's, but would stay there from time to time.

Nope, according to the school board I had to spend 100% of my time and sleep 365 days of the year in my "hometown," or I wouldn't be allowed to stay in school at the public level. So we tried private (Catholic) school, but I was still prone to emotional upset, and if you think the playground bullies are tough (see an earlier post in another section), just wait until the nuns beat the living "demonic possession" out of you. Not only that, but I was tested as having a "gifted"-level IQ, and the See Spot Run format of the picture-book Bible stories just bored me to tears. (This is the Catholic Church, too -- big believers in the notion that a little knowledge by a precocious young female is too grievous a sin to amend with an "apple" for the teacher!)

So Catholic school didn't work; public school didn't want me; plus, for my stark-raving fear and "tantrums," the school board wanted me sent off to some insane asylum for "feral" children, so to speak (where they get more "feral" being away from society IMHO). On and on the battle raged; it so happened that the same year I had my first day at school was in 1990 when the ADA was made law. Unfortunately, it took awhile before I was able to get any of the help I needed to succeed and handle the emotional element as well as the academic part -- even in grade school.

So for about 10 years while this ongoing battle went forth, my mother would do anything she could to provide me with opportunities to learn, and to coexist with other kids on the playground and in other activities. I never much cared for the other kids but loved the academics, which, of course, presented a problem at this point, because grade school is when kids are doing their team projects and Girl Scouts and sleepovers, and I came at it from a more pragmatic perspective (I actually used the term "pragmatic" at about eight!), and tried to avoid the play groups as much as I possibly could. They wanted to bead; I wanted to read. I'm OK, you're OK, right? Wrong. See, all the while I was now back at "home" (where the sleeping giant could still pack a punch), I wasn't "officially" being home-schooled, because there was some type of "agreement" that had to be entered between my parents and the school board to match the curriculum (this is way before NCLB, by the way), and unless I was either sent back into the jungle to swing on the regular monkey bars, without any supportive measures, or sent off to swing from the lights with kids who really believe they're monkeys at places like Judge Rotenberg (Google it -- in their view, Soylent Green is children), essentially I was being truant, and now the law had to step in. Can you believe I actually had to set my size-two feet in pink socks and saddle shoes into a courtroom because of this mess???

So flash forward to 2001. It's now August, my fifteenth birthday, and the board member who made my life such a living hell because the decision to prevent me from "inclusion" in the classroom was hers, is now gearing up to retire. Now the "case" is dropped, bada-bing, and you're fifteen, time to go to school. You can imagine the shock of this, the bittersweet numbness of a should-be sophomore having to make up for a decade of lost time. But I surprised myself, because I did. High school is hell for most folks, but actually, I became very friendly with the faculty who understood my rather unprecedented situation and helped me to thrive. Which I did. I mean, the following month was Sept. 11, and the month after that, my mom's mom, who had taken care of me when Dad was being a "posterior crevice," was rushed to the hospital after having a stroke -- on my baby brother's eighth birthday, to boot. There's a law that states you can't "graduate" high school with a diploma from regular school (not night school or a GED) past the age of twenty. So to compensate for my "missed" requisites I would attend high school part time (to "ease" myself in), and did an articulation agreement with my local community college to take the 'developmental' coursework as a substitute for ninth-grade English and so forth. Thankfully, I graduated a mere two months before I turned twenty, because I was determined to walk across the stage and be rewarded for my hard work in the real-life school of hard knocks.

Want to hear more about fate? Guess when I graduated high school and rid myself of the devil for good.

June 6, 2006. 6/6/06.

So right out of high school, I matriculated as a full-time student at this school, and did very well my first two semesters. In 2007, though, I dropped out because at the time, I was taking what's called "half" courses (thirteen-week seminars sort of squished into five- or seven-week intervals), and for three of those five (or seven, I think), I had fallen ill with a severe bout of pneumonia. The stress of college life and more catch-up work really knocked me for a loop, plus I'd never really resolved any of the emotional clutter that was still bound up from the past. I was practically high on a myriad different antidepressants and I just couldn't think straight. Chest cold or no chest cold, I was heading for a break in more ways than one.

2009. I'm at home, still not in school, growing fat on TV and junk food and basically going nowhere at the age of 23. Guess what, that summer I got swine flu (or what people later told me was swine flu), and was really sick and probably could have died. So I got sick on Father's Day (hm, more symbolism here?), and was not even halfway to recovery by my birthday in late August. Around the same time, my father went through a bout with MRSA, and everyone was under as much quarantine as was humanly possible for us, because we live in really close quarters and no one really has a "bedroom" of his/her own. My grandmother, by the way, did recover remarkably from the stroke in '01 -- and another mini-stroke weeks after returning home that year -- and another the year before this (she's a fighter, I tell ya). Now that I didn't require a "district" per se, I would stay more often in relative peace at her house. Of course, I still "lived" with my folks, and two people roaming about with contagious illnesses (and one possibly infecting the other just through the air), isn't good for a nonagenarian's well-being, but surprisingly she was the only one who never got sick!

So back to me, well, throughout this summer-long ordeal, I basically flushed myself of not only the hazy fever but the foggy mind that I had from all the "mood enhancers." One would think that coming off the depression meds was a surefire ticket to a padded room at Bellevue (and not the halls of higher learning), but for the first time in my whole life, I felt clear as a bell once the fever rushed out. In January 2010, I finally returned to school.

That semester was a rocky return, but I actually came away from it feeling much better than ever. One of my professors from an elective English course I took is also the advisor for the school's literary journal, who was taken aback at how well she thought I wrote -- and encouraged me to submit a piece and/or become part of the review staff. They don't meet in the summer, so once fall started up, that's just what I did. I've not only found the best of friends with the other students on board, but even had a piece accepted and published in the journal -- and another piece I wrote for a campus-wide essay contest won second prize and FIFTY BUCKS at that!

Right now I'm part-time, taking a few noncredit personal enrichment classes in my spare time, and 98% of the way finished with my Associate's Degree (with a 3.85 GPA and Phi Theta Kappa too!). I'm hoping to transfer to Emerson College, aka Jay Leno's alma mater, come fall. I don't take anything besides Tylenol for the occasional headache, and have become more interested in the realm of alternative/mind-body health and wellness rather than bandaging the symptoms but never treating the wounds. Sure, in the time span it's taken me to get a "two-year" degree, I could probably have a bachelor's by now. But for a turtle like me who used to live life in her shell, I can testify to the fact that slow, and maybe a little unsteady, does ultimately win the race.

Speaking of unselfish shellfish by the North Shore...finally, the world is about to be my oyster. :-)

(And let me be the first to say, I have to give mom a boatload of thanks.) ^_^

[newstart1234]

Long time reader/poster here, under a new name to protect privacy:

S did great in HS, 3.9, decent test scores, accepted to several excellent schools. Started out as an engineering major at a good private university. He did okay, A's B's and a couple of C's. However, he came home that summer behaving very strangely, and eventually was hospitalized for a severe mental illness. Over the next 2 years he was hospitalized multiple times, was arrested and spent some time in jail. We thought we had lost him, his mind was gone. We spent tens of thousands of dollars for treatment above and beyond what was covered by insurance, plus huge attorney fees. We did tough love to the max. S kept trying to attend school at the local CC, but inevitably would become manic and have to withdraw. He racked up at least eight or more W's, but occasionally would complete a course, usually with an A.

Thankfully, eventually S had had enough, and began to get some insight into his illness, follow his doctor's orders with meds and good living habits, no drugs. Fast forward to now: He's been well for almost two years, has continued to attend CC, completing all the general ed requirements and pre-requisites for his new major. He's been working full-time at a job he loves for the past 7 months, and is self supporting in his own apartment. Yesterday he received his acceptance from our local state U to finish his BA. If he goes full-time, it will take one year, maybe with a summer included. If he decides to continue at his job, his boss likes him so much that he will adjust his hours so that he can go to school half-time. I am so proud of him.

[kelingdun]

I am approaching 50 now. Went to Glendale community college in early 80s. transferd
to california state and graduated with EE. Met my wonderful wife in Glendale community college also. Now I work for a great electronic company as middle management. high 6 figures and great stock options (think apple!). Wife is making the same. We owe so much to the community college system!

My son goes to community college and I am proud of it!

[MongooseMuffin]

What a lot of people may not realized (although I know a couple in here hinted at this) is that local CC's usually have transfer agreements with the big State Universities. The State Universities want to guarantee that the transfer students are prepared for classes after transferring, so they meddle quite a bit in the curriculum of the CC. For Example, Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis (Which I attended) has strong transfer arrangements with Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State, and IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis). IUPUI is simply taking the best colleges from IU, and the best from Purdue and bringing them together into one University in Central Indiana.

Anyway, almost all of the courses at Ivy Tech are, in reality, controlled by a University, not Ivy Tech. IUPUI supplies ALL of the tests, quizzes, and the final exam for some of the Math classes. Sinces the IUPUI school of Mathematics is, in fact, the Purdue College of Mathematics, IUPUI students study the SAME THING as Purdue students in W.L. and in a very strange, convoluted process, a lot of the math classes at Ivy Tech are supervised by Purdue University.

Likewise, the Nursing Program is the same story, but it is overseen by IU.

Hope that made sense...

[doc53]

My daughter has been attending a local CC for 1.5 years, mainly taking gen eds. She even had to retake a couple of them (don't really know what happened there.) When she graduated h.s. she couldn't get into the state college because she had low SATs, but they had an agreement with a cc near them and she would go there for one semester and then go to the state college. Well, she got sick and subsequently missed too many classes and they withdrew her. (I assume she has to list that school as she did attend it, but never received any grades.)

Although she will not have her a.s. for another year, she is applying to transfer now as she will have to change campuses at the cc to continue with her major, communications, and she doesn't want to travel to the other campus. She's only applied to one school so far (the original state college she was supposed to attend and the only state school she is interested in) and seems stuck as far as where else she wants to apply. Money is a huge concern as we have nothing to help her pay for it. Her gp should be around 2.25-2.5 at the end of this semester. We live in the northeast.

My concern is more about coming in as a transfer and making friends, etc. Although she had no problem when she was living at the state college, she was a freshman at that point, and now I'm not sure if she will be a sophomore or junior, and she will be coming in - most likely as an oos student - at a time when most kids have already formed friendships.

How have those that transferred - and lived on campus - adjusted?

[iMunster]

So many inspiring stories. I truly thought that I was screwed from the moment I got rejected to all the schools I wanted to go to right out of high school. I felt so upset that I was going to be stuck at a community college. I'm at my first year of a CC right now and I feel that it was one of the better choices in life. I wouldn't be happy attending a school that wasn't my first choice. Community college gave me a second chance.

[Song02]

To add to what MongooseMuffin stated, CC's offer quality education -- the only real difference is that they offer it at lower prices. I attend Foothill Community College, which is the second best CC in California. We've had Stanford professors teach part time at Foothill and many Stanford students are recommended to take classes here just to save money. There tends to be a stigma around community colleges, but they really are held to a high standard. If this weren't so, top universities wouldn't give us priority transfer agreements.

[JGrden]

Wayne County Community College to the University of Michigan.

Graduated with an average GPA in high school (3.1) and decided to enroll full-time at the local community college. I went in knowing that I wanted to push myself and not make the same mistakes I made in high school. My ultimate goal was to apply to the University of Michigan. During my fourth semester I applied and a few months later I found out that I was accepted to not just the best school in Michigan, and one of the best around the world, but to my dream school.
It's up to you to succeed and go where you want to go. Really, the sky is the limit.

[Suchann]

I don't go to CC but i teach business courses at one. Here are a couple of success stories of business students:

Student A: After causing a horrendous traffic accident, in which he nearly killed another person, this student got his act together, worked full-time while attending a CC, made nearly perfect grades in business courses, transferred to ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business. He graduated near the top of his class and started in investment banking making an entry-level salary of $80K. (And this was a few years ago!) He had no previous work experience other than waiting tables. He was hired by a bank among graduates from Duke, Harvard, Yale. He attributes his success to having a second chance at a CC.

Student B: Was very qualified to attend a high-level state uni but needed $$, so he got a scholarship to play basketball at the CC. Made nearly perfect grades, transferred to a prestigious university business school, and was offered three jobs during the worst hear of the recession. Turned down all offers to go to law school.

Student C: Was a nationally ranked figure skater for several years and put off going to college until mid 20s. Went to CC for two years, transferred to university business school, and got a prized full-time position with Goldman Sachs. He said the best teachers he ever had were at the CC.

There are many, many more stories, but these are my favorites.

[PRiNCESSMAHiNA]

Suchann, all three of those stories are incredibly inspiring

[Suchann]

Thank you, Princess! My eyes well up when I think of these young men - and they're not even my own kids!

[rluna28]

Didn't care too much in high school never applied my self. went to local cc. on my 2nd day of classes got into fatal car crash that almost took my life. 2 days after ICU and 2 surgeries I returned against the doctors wishes. teachers said I couldnt catch up but I got a B+ avg my 1st semester. stress took over and I developed chronic debilitating hives. (whenever I had to speak in class or was in too much sunlight or heat I would get a rash that felt like I was burning.) I withdrew after the drop period hurting my GPA. when I finally came back was working 60 hrs plus school full-time. after 2.5 yrs I transferred to a state college that anyone could get into. I flourished & became very popular. I was well spoken and good looking at first everyone put me on a pedestal but after junior yr I was harassed, stalked and bullied.

[rluna28]

Didn't care too much in high school never applied my self. went to local cc. and on my 2nd day of classes got into (fatal) car crash that almost took my life. 2 days after ICU and 2 surgeries I returned against the doctors wishes. teachers said I couldn't catch up but I got a B+ avg my 1st semester. I was being charged with homicide (I was not reckless, drinking or speeding, just an accident) stress took over and I developed chronic, debilitating hives. (whenever I had to speak in class or was in too much sunlight or heat I would get a rash that felt like I was burning.) I withdrew after the drop period hurting my GPA. when I finally came back I was working 60 hrs plus school full-time. after 2.5 yrs I transferred to a state college that anyone could get into. I flourished & became very popular. Student athlete, well spoken and good looking at first everyone put me on a pedestal but after junior yr I was harassed, stalked and bullied.

This was before the major bullying cases so I didn't know how to react. College had become my world and it was crumbling. I withdrew or abandoned my classes, incompletes became F's, I was disillusioned, I had failed. I couldn't become a teacher anymore becuase I was found guilty and could not pass background checks. I worked at dead end jobs for 3 yrs postponing my return. I didn't like who I had become My future wasn't looking too bright so I went back to my CC. I could have transferred to one of the many state Colleges who take anyone but I wanted to get my associates(I previously transferred early w/ 3 classes left to take) and I wanted to retake a few classes to boost my then 2.0 gpa.

I started with 1 class last summer and got a A- (had gotten a d before in that class).
last fall I took 3 classes and got a 3.4 (deans list). I became more confident, my self esteem went up along with my GPA. Now with a 2.49 I was close to the 2.5 the transfer pact required to get into the state universities which were more prestigious. Then I thought why not aim for the more selective (flagship) which required a 3.0. I am now in my second semester back in CC and have one more to go. by the end of this summer My gpa would have gone from 2.0 to 3.0 or close to it. I am now also thinking about even more prestigious private schools if I can afford them. Northeastern's avg transf. GPA is 3.3( a bit of a reach but not impossible) Bently 3.3 also. Suffolk 3.0, Umass(Amherst) 3.0. Though I will have an accumulative 3.0 I will have an upward trend or a 3.5 for my last 40 credits. (I hope they notice this)

I am still improving my study habits and have along way to go but coming back to CC has allowed me to find my self. as a kid I wanted to do great things but a part of me thought those things were unreachable. the biggest difference between old me and new me is that My goals are higher and I am more mature. though I wasted a lot of time I would not be doing this well If I hadn't gone through those hardships. IN my bio class I have the highest test score avg. no one is close to me this makes me competitive and boosts my confidence. My bio teacher even said that I should become a doctor. This tells me I can achieve anything I set my mind to and that's what CC did for me.

My 5 and 7 yr old sisters go to an after school reading n math program. I look at them with envy and think "I wish I can go back and coach my self as a kid so I would do some things differently." and then I realize that its not too late to make a change, to better your self the ship has not sailed. even if you where a horrible student, even if you made some mistakes you can always change no matter how old you are no matter the obstacles. This is America where the sky is the limit....

[tdccarpenter]

Out of high school I was accepted to several in and out of state public and private universities, however was not offered enough in scholarships to attend. I am graduating with my AA this month and have received numerous accolades at the CC including top graduating student 2011, been elected to state office in a business fraternity, and been offered a scholarship to my state's flagship that covers all expenses. My college experience is far from over, but so far I can not say I regret my decision.

[Absurd]

Went from being black-out drunk in the dean's office at my high school with two sheriffs on either arm my junior year, to accepting Cornell's offer of admission for Fall 2011 as a transfer student.