Freese 1

Cara Freese

1/30/17

Rough draft

The article Transitioning from high school to college by Alexander Nazemetz, gives

five pointers on how to have fun and be aware of the college experience. After you have picked a

college and set up arrangements, you are encouraged to attend student orientation. Next you

should consider the time spent in class and time spent studying. Be sure to understand what

financial category you belong with. In college you are responsible for the way you spend your

time. Be sure to open up if you are having any issues. Finally, take your time and enjoy what

college has to offer.

The thought of me ever being in college terrified me because high school was one of the

most difficult experiences of my life. I never had supportive friends or teachers and wasnt

motivated to do my best. If I couldnt handle high school how was I ever going to be able to

handle college? I thought to myself. After I received my GED, I was confident that I could

pursue what seemed impossible. Even though I had a lot of self-doubt, there was always a small

part of me that knew I could succeed if I tried. With the support of my parents, and my passion to

become a Vet Technician, I was ready to attend college. Unlike me, Peter Rondinone, author of

Open Admissions and the Inward I, didnt feel ready to attend college. He had little support

but knew he could succeed if he tried. Even so, we both have confidence to be a success.

Upon preparing for college I had a lot of love and support from my parents. Knowing

about my anxiety, they were very patient on me taking small steps. If it wasnt for their support I
wouldnt have the confidence I needed to succeed. I dropped out of high school in my senior

year. My anxiety and depression were just getting the better of me and I had lost all hopes of

succeeding. However, after having two jobs, I decided to get my GED. I searched online for

GED classes near me and found that UC Clermont offered AM and PM classes. I had never been

to the campus personally but had heard about it through family and teachers. Upon arriving to

campus the first thing that stuck out was the size of the campus. Walking through the halls on my

way to GED class, I noticed how reasonably small the classrooms were. In two weeks I was

already feeling confident and comfortable maneuvering around the building I was in.

Marquita Amoahs Starting College means growth plus learning, introduces us to

Candace Seda, a new college attendee. Seda understands the pressure that comes with being

independent. The article states that unlike high school, students are responsible for their actions.

Seda makes many good points on how to start off college successfully. Tips for an easy transition

include registering early, having a schedule, and studying as much as possible. Seda then goes on

to talk about how to maintain a social life when in college. Excessive partying and drinking can

affect the way students perform academically. Seda ends by encouraging students to stay healthy

and stay focused.

After I got my GED, I was comfortable with the idea of not only attending college but

attending UC Clermont. The first thing I did to start prepping was look and see when the campus

was giving tours. Two months later I attended a small open house and was taken around to see

the different buildings on campus. The first thing I noticed was that the student who led the UC

Clermont orientation tour was very passionate about the campus. She had compared her

experience here to the main campus. The first thing she explained was how involved the

professors are at Clermont compared to the main campus professors. Secondly, she described
how small the classrooms are in comparison to the other campus. After the tour ended, I gave

them my transcript and got information about what I needed to do in order to become an official

student.

The first step I needed to take was to sign up and get a username. I them proceeded to

take an English and Math placement test online. For the English test, I had to write a long essay

and for the math I had to answer a series of different type of math problems. The final

preparation of attending UC was to attend a seminar and sign up for classes. The day of the

seminar I was very anxious and rattled. For some reason, all my confidence had once again

vanished. I wasnt sure where I was supposed to go and was not well prepared for what we were

going to do. Once I entered the building and found out where to go, my nerves settled a little, but

were still a little shaken. We were given a packet and listened to a presentation. I, along with six

others, was called to set up my class. Once in the smaller group, I was no longer anxious and my

confidence had returned. I decided to sign up for one class, that way I could get familiar with

how college worked. I signed up for an afternoon writing class and then proceeded to return

home. The following week, I headed to UC. I had everything I needed for the time being. The

only thing I was worried about was getting lost trying to find my class so, the night before, I

looked at a map of the building my class was in and got an idea of where it was. Once I found

my classroom I was perfectly comfortable and excited about learning how to write.

In Open Admissions and the Inward I, Peter J. Rondinone describes how he was able to

become a phenomenal writer despite his lifes circumstances. During high school Rondinone

struggled to be an efficient student. Rondinone decided to stop making bad decisions and apply

for college. In college Rondinone wrote creative stories and school articles. Overtime

Rondinone was became more recognizable. Rondinone states that even though many would
guide him in the directions he needed to follow, he was the one walking the path. In the end

Rondinone knows that if he wasnt given the chance, he would still be considered a hopeless

outcast.

Theres an impeccable difference in how Rondinone changed from being in high school

to being in college. He didnt concentrate on his learning and grades in high school. In some

way, Rondinones teachers werent very supportive of his education. Instead of focusing on

helping him, they made deals so they could pass him. Nevertheless, Rondinones perspective in

college changed completely. His education became more important than his own family. His

teachers valued his success and wanted him to earn it. In less than a year, Rondinone changed the

way he lived.

Open Admissions and the Inward I was a very inspirational read for me. Its not every

day that you hear about someone who started from nowhere and succeeds. Many in the same

situation that Rondinone was in often dont pursue change. They feel it is hopeless to try and

move forward, therefore staying in the same bad situation. It was very impressive how quickly

Rondinone realized he needed to do something better with his life. Personally, it takes me awhile

to get motivated. Often I need something to persuade me. If I know that nothing will benefit

from me working hard, I will ultimately give up. Rondinone had no idea if he could succeed or

not. Knowing it would have changed him in a positive way was all Rondinone needed.

Ive struggled a lot with confidence in my life. Its something I still to this day struggle

with. Now, I realize that I have improved a lot just this year. I know there will be times that I will

want to give up, and I know that it is ok to give up sometimes. The thing I need to remember is

that to succeed you sometimes need to fail. If I didnt have the failures I had in the past, I
wouldnt be here right now. Because of the failures, I have learned to overcome obstacles. I now

have the confidence to be a success

 Works Cited
AMOAH, MARQUITA. "Starting College Means Growth Plus Learning." New
York Amsterdam News, vol. 102, no. 34, 25 Aug. 2011, p. 33.
EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=65354859&site=ehost-live.

Works Cited
NAZEMETZ, ALEXANDER. "TRANSITIONING from High School to
College." Collegexpress Magazine, Fall2015, pp. 10-11. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=110434599&site=ehost-live.

Work Cited
Rondinone, Peter J. Open Admissions and the Inward 'I'. Change, vol. 9, no. 5, 1977, pp. 4347.,
www.jstor.org/stable/40162952.