Alisha Ramos

English 250/260

Straightening Out your Priorities for All the Right Reasons.

            As a college student you will always face many challenges, and I have learned that so far as a first-year college student I am not taking this experience seriously. I am way too concerned about my personal life and basically have all my priorities mixed up for all the wrong reasons. I quickly learned that once you enroll in college you have high expectations and a lot more responsibility. There are more assignments daily and more complex reading assignments than high school ever had. One thing you need to know about succeeding in college is  getting your priorities straight and getting serious about your future.

            You have so much more responsibility as you grow older and I quickly learned that getting your priorities mixed up is going to lead you into the wrong path. As a college student you have to be prepared and aware of what ever comes at you. Coming to a college straight out from high school is a dramatic change. In the Gavilan College catalog they offer a ''First-year experience'' to the students.  It is a support program that will strengthen your reading, writing and study skills all at the same time becoming familiar with the campus and its resources. Teachers and counselors work together to help students develop connections between the courses and your college experience. The goal is to help students build a strong foundation and place you on the road for college success.

            When your priorities are mixed up, you put all the wrong priorities before all the right ones. Basically your social life is above everything including your top priority education. In the end, all you have is a stressful life with many assignments and not enough time to get everything you want done. This is obviously not good for your future. You are not showing responsibility. In the Gavilan College catalog there is a ''Student to Student Mediation.'' This provides students with an opportunity 

to problem-solve together in a safe environment. This program will help students who are in conflict to reach solutions. I feel this will help you keep sane, I always feel stressed out and put my homework assignments last over my friends and family. With theses support groups I feel that it will put me on the right path and show me why I need to straighten out my priorities.

            As I read on about these solutions I see how I could fix my problem and how I could learn from it. Me personally, I go out with my friends and hold the homework and studying off  until later. That's how I have always got through my High School career, but now that I am in college I see I cannot make the same mistakes as I did in high school. I've always been an average student, never really an A student but you can't afford to make any mistakes at all in college. Your going to college for your future. Although you do not have to be here like you had to be in high school, it is for your benefit for your future.

            The benefits of having your priorities straight are to get on the right path put your education first. You could still have a social life but you do not have to feel obligated to put your friends before yourself. Socializing is not everything, and if you straighten up your act you will see a change in your college success.

            I see why it is important to show more responsibility and put your all into your work because you are working towards your future. Don't let something so little ruin your future. I have come to realize that I do not want to be like most students and drop out. I would like to be the other half that chose to stay in college to better my life. And stay because I want to and not because I am obligated to.

            I have noticed that people who put so much time and effort into their school work are more successful in life. They face there challenges and gain from their learning experiences and I deeply admire that. In the end I know that I can adjust to college life. I now know to get all my priorities straight and it is just a step toward my goals and future.