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Education Biography

September 10, 2018

Machelle Jackson’s Education Biography

One who thinks of education often thinks of learning within a school setting, me, on the other hand, I believe that education comes from everyday experiences not just in school or by teachers. I strongly feel this way because before ever attending my first day of school my education had already begun.

Both of my parents where active duty military and couldn’t provide me with all of the attention I required. My maternal grandparents stepped in and helped. So, I moved before turning one month old from North Carolina to South Carolina. Some of my first educational experiences came from my grandparents who had little to no education. My grandfather could read and write, and my grandmother could recognize the alphabet and numbers but couldn't print her name. They both were born in the 1940s and were Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:h

forced to stop school to work on farms. They birthed six children whom four went into the military, and the other two went straight to work after high school.

Although I lived with a family that had little education, they wanted more for their family then they had for their selves. My earliest memories included training incorporated into everyday situations. From helping while doing everyday chores they also added counting or some learning. I can still remember my grandparents always telling me that it doesn’t matter where you start you always can determine where you will end, and no matter what give your best. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:educa Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:o Comment by Grammarly: Deleted: be Comment by Grammarly: Deleted: type of

At the age of three, my grandparents signed me up for a Head Start program. It would be my first actual schooling. Before beginning, I could count to ten and recite my alphabet. I am not able to recall a lot about this experience other than mostly what was told to me. But I do remember being excited to go. I did complete two years with the Head Start Program. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:This Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:really

As I was ready to start my elementary school years my mother came back to South Carolina and I now had two siblings. So, I went from being the only child in a two-parent home to residing with a single mom and younger sister and brother. There was no pressure to have all as from my mother. I knew she expected us to have good grades. I focused and kept up good grades throughout my elementary school days. It was very effortless to pick up and learn new things. I was placed in honor classes. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:really Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:e Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:a Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:y

Once reaching my middle school years, I was still excited about school. I was sure that I wanted to be a doctor. I became active with activities and joined the band and ROTC. My grades were still passing. However, at this time I wasn't as focused and did not continue the honor classes. It was during this time that I came to find out that I didn't like blood. Because of this, my dream of wanting to be a doctor ended. I did know that I loved to help people and wanted to do something that involved that. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:h Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:T Comment by Grammarly: Deleted: ended Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:ik

After graduation from middle school, I was ready for a new stage of life, high school. My first year of high school was in 2011 when the tragedy of 9/11 happen. During this period was when I found out that it wasn't as easy as it had been all before. I was finally starting to mature to situations that were taking place in the world. Seeing all the first responders touched my soul and encouraged me to want to be able to be able to help others. Over the years we were exposed to many different career fields throughout these years. Many of them involved college, and honestly, I wasn’t excited about having to go back to school once completion of high school. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:T Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:really Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:h Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:really

Upon completion of high school, I was happy that I had reached adulthood. At least I thought so. Not thinking about having to face the real world and all the responsibilities that came with it. My mother suggested that I attend Denmark Technical College and complete their Cosmetology Program because I had a passion for doing hair. I did, and at the beginning I enjoyed it. My instructor even allowed me to come to her shop and do hair. There was a lost interest when a lot of time was on techniques that would never be used by myself. The decision was made to stop and start working at a call center. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:w Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:s Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:fin Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:lly Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:gr Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:wn Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:really

Having some time to go by I decided I needed to make a change and felt that I owed more to son. When my son was seven years old, I decided to go back to college. I learned of an undergraduate program at Claflin University that was for working adults. This program offered two majors, and one was Criminal Justice/ Sociology. The opportunity was perfect for me to work during the day and further my education at night. I completed the program and graduated in 2015. I was the first in my family to graduate, and I did so with honors, Cum Lauda. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:s Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:the Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:opportunity

After overcoming many milestones and graduating from college, I found a career at a local college within a month. One day while at work I was assisting with a college recruitment fair and I saw an old colleague was also a Dean at a local college. He asked what I was doing now, and I told him I just finished my undergraduate and was working at the college. He told me about the graduate opportunities and encouraged me to apply. I considered for some time called the college but never had anyone follow up. After a year I applied and was accepted.

At this point in my education, I have placed in many situations that I could have allowed me to become a victim of my circumstance. However, I have overcome those and am currently I am one semester away from graduating with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. All of this was while being a full-time mother, partner, caretaker at times and employed. In conclusion, the little girl that was raised by two uneducated southern grandparents used what they taught her without even knowing they were training her never to become a victim of any situation she was placed into and became the graduate student that she is now. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:been Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:ut Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:through Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:t Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:a Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:T Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:i Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:, Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:as Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:e Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:ch Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:to

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