Biggest Challenges

  Memoir Project

            Hardships, Failures, Struggles and tough Obstacles are all about learning what your weaknesses are to becoming a better person. Some say you can grow without a struggle but in my opinion, you cannot get stronger without a good force of resistance.

Lets talk about resistance. To me resistance means a mind force holding you back and not being able to over come it without seeking some sort of help or guidance. One of the biggest resistances I had is juggling with being in school holding down a good job and being the best mother I can to my children.

The first thing I want to mention is, In my opinion, being in school has always and still will be an resistance.

Being in school sometimes gives me anxiety because I want to become perfect at what I do. I always want to make sure I make good grades and hopefully be on honor roll. I love all my professors, and the way they are passionate to help us succeed in our future goals. I love how they are patient with to us students but my resistance is staying focus and on track of my studies.   When you first go to college, it should always be the most exciting thing ever in your life. I’m not young like the majority of college students. Usually when students go to college, its pretty much when they fresh out of High School. I regret starting late at times but there’s a benefit of starting college later. I feel more responsible in my work compared to when I was younger. I also want to admit being older I feel like I have to prove something. With that it encourages me to strive harder and overcome that obstacle. When people say accomplish something, I know I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. When I set that mind frame it makes me want to work harder.

Being in the mindset of being out of school for so long can really take a toll on you.  Meaning when you decide a few years later to go back a few thoughts can go in your head I knew I asked myself, “Do I really need to go to school?”, or “Is it worth me going back?”  Just to add, being adjusted to your home lifestyle and next having to get back into school was something that I had to get acquainted to.  After thinking and looking at the field that I wanted to go into; I decided that I want to go into the medical field. Which is and will be the medical field.  Crazy part about this is all of the jobs I was enquiring were asking for some sort of degree in order to get the job. I even notice the small desk jobs you needed to have some sort of training to go. Now after finding that out, I defiantly was going back to school. This here was officially marked as the next step up my ladder. With that being said I needed a new change in my life in order to get into the field that I want.  Going back to school was something that I had to get adjusted to. I having to do homework, projects, and getting as much tutoring I need so I can make good grades in my classes while maintaining my normal lifestyle. I know for a fact I didn’t want to go to school and waste any money. That’s what I notice too was a challenge for a lot of students. I talk to younger kids in the past that went straight to a University for a semester then later dropped out because they couldn’t handle all the pressure. I’m happy and blessed that I decided to go to HCC to peruse my education. One thing I love most is being in a smaller class, which helps a lot when it comes to completing my schoolwork. Had I went to a bigger University like University of Houston I would have been just like the other students who couldn’t quickly adapt to a new environment.

When you try something that you are totally not use to that’s when you can easily fall off track. Me, I did not want to fall in that category when I decided to go back I want to finish and that would be a huge accomplishment for me.  My main reason of going back was to become a better person and educate myself to succeed in my dreams.

I have heard numerous of times people say if you just go to school you can get a great job and get lots of money. School is just like a full time job; you want to decide on what job field you want to peruse.  You have certain hours that you need to attend, and even though you don’t get a weekly or bi weekly paycheck, you learn something in the end that will benefit you in the long run. Thought this semester my main focuses I want to do is studding and taking care of my children.

The thing that comes across my mind is the big obstacles that I will face this semester are managing to keep up with going to school and raising my household.  I have three beautiful teenage daughters and the biggest struggle while raising them is making sure they in school keeping good grades.

 Being a mother may be a challenge at time but it is also a blessing.  All three of my teenage daughters are my world and I would go above and beyond to provide for them. Even if they are older and out of the house I would still break a leg for them, I love them to pieces. One thing, having three kids can be a hardship at times, meaning trying to find food for them, giving them shelter and all the necessities in order for them to live. Again I say, I wouldn’t mind breaking a leg just to give them the world and they deserve everything. 

As a full-time student and having kids, I will say too it is a struggle. I always want to make sure that my kids go to school learn and come back home safely. They ride the bus everyday, which sometimes I always worry because I want to make sure that they come back home safe and sound. Todays society is very crazy and just a split second you turn your back around something can happen. I’m not really an overprotective parent but I want to see my kids see me make it in life. I’m a big role model to them and I want them to be the leader and show them that if I can do it they can too. 

It’s so wonderful watching my kids grow into the lovely young ladies that they are today. I remember when they were young little babies, I questioned myself, and “I wonder how will they turn out when they become older?” I’m proud to say today I have two have their own jobs and now I have one graduating high school this May in Cypress. I am so proud of them can’t wait to see the next chapter in their lives when they get much older. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.  I want them to succeed and achieve whatever dream that they desire.

I’ve heard stories where some people would usually say when you are a parent its hard to go to school because you have a family to raise. I said not really so. The key to having kids and going to school and also I want to mention I have a job too. The key to keeping all three is making sure that you have a good balance. If you don’t have that good balance, in my opinion you wont be able to balance anything at all. It would be like your whole life is crumbling upon you because you don’t know where and how to focus on your goals while maintaining your own family time at home. 

There are times in life that can be very unpredictable. It can be so difficult to the point where you cant seem to find balance in you work, school, and family schedules. Whether the problems come from grades dropping due to your involvement in after school activities, having to cut hours at work to accommodate your school schedule, or the constant back and forth between work and school with small time slots and no-down time; we are constantly striving to maintain balance in our lives. To me, individuals must be ready to expect the unexpected if one wants to have any sense of structure and organization in their lives.

I remember a time when I was having a difficult time maintaining good grades and keeping up with my homework. I’m not going to lie, there were times where I felt like quitting and asking is this really for me to peruse.  Even out of school I really noticed my passion in helping others was so deep that I would put all my energy on the court without even realizing and didn't put any of the same energy in to my school work back then.

With the push from my daughters I am happy to say that if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be in the drive to keep going for my dreams. There are times where I feel like quitting or even just dropping out because the work could be so much but my daughters always tell me to never give up and my favorite one, “Keep going mama”, you can do it.

Before I started to attend Houston Community College. I didn't realize how developing a school schedule that fits you was very important. The first semester of school I was overwhelmed because I scheduled all my classes right behind each other. I was thinking that it was going to be easy but I didn’t realize till the end that when those tests were piling up it started to become overwhelming. This is where my new concept of fatigue started to lure upon me and I felt as if I was draining myself out. Without the needed downtime in between class, having to rush to school just right after work then on top of that, dealing with rush hour traffic all times of the week, my body started to become restless.  It was hard I say in my top 5 most struggling parts of my life, its just the habit of being in the feeling of always having to rush all the time, was hard for me to overcome.

     As more and more responsibilities start to pile on me, I've learned that feeling overworked and juggling many different life demands is natural.  Well let me add, it did keep me busy a lot and I did feel like I was accomplishing something when I did make it to my destination. Yet, no matter what changes that may occur in my daily agenda, I still try to maintain a stable mind set and not let too many things stress me out.  

I remember a mentor came to me and we had a talk about life. It was really good I may say and she did give me good advice. One to mention she told me to keep a planner. With that planner it helped me stay organized and get my tasks done during the day.  It helped me stay balanced too where I wasn’t as overwhelmed. Having balance in your life eliminates a lot chaos.

Throughout this past semester my main focuses I was doing was studying and taking care of my kids. I was also involved in community service from helping juvenile kids and being involved in community service at my school. We did thanksgiving drives angel tree drive and my list goes on in the long run from all the smiling faces that has really made me feel blessed and thankful for where I am today.

 Going to school will always be a challenge like getting my kids ready to go to school. Yet as well as hopefully be very successful is always on my mind when I'm in class. My hardest class this term will be the dreadful math.  Till this day Math has and will always be my weakest subject I know I’m probably not the only one. The first thing that was on my mind when I was in the class was the final exam and passing. Im always very nervous before tests because of the fear of studying and thinking that what I study will not be on the test.  God put some incredible people in my life to help me pass. I go to study sessions in the math lab as well as quizzing each other it was funny because the only thing that was on our mind was passing the class and I will say our hard work and determination worked. On a good note this semester I have an amazing instructor who is willing to help us in no matter what way.

            My biggest success of last semester was passing all my classes’ period!  I don't know how but like they always say when you try hard at something you will have a good aftermath on it. I thank God for I have to keep my grades up especially if I want to achieve my dreams. I want to do that again this year.

Now also keeping up my gap right now my gpa is a 3.0 and I am truly blessed for that. Being a single mom isn't easy and trying to go to school too. I feel like I had more than one job but I was certainly up for the challenge. I learned how to respect life as a bigger force than no other. I will say I am up for the challenge next semester.

I have not changed the degree plan that I am pressing. The reason why is because I already knew my passion is to help people. I volunteer a lot and help a lot of ill people. I already said to myself that my future is to be in the medical field. I like to make people feel better about themselves as well as put smiles on their faces when they are terminally ill I hope later after I graduate I will have a big impact on a lot of people lives. I am a people person and I defiantly love being around people.