Fighting for My Future Now
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
1
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
2
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
3
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
4
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
5
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
6
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
7
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
8
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
9
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
10
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
11
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
12
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
13
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
14
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
15
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
16
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
17
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
18
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
19
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
20
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
21
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
22
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
23
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
24
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
25
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
26
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
27
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
28
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
29
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
30
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
31
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
32
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
33
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
34
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
35
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
36
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
37
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
38
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
39
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
40
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
41
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
42
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
43
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
45
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
46
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
47
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
48
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
49
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
50
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
51
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
52
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
53
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
54
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
55
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
56
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
57
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
58
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
59
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
60
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
61
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
62
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
63
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
64
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
65
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
66
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
67
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
68
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
69
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
70
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
71
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
72
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
73
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
74
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
75
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
76
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
77
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
78
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
79
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
80
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
81
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
82
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
83
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
84
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
85
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
86
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
87
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
88
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
89
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
90
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
91
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
92
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
93
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
94
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
95
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
96
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
97
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
98
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
99
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
100
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
101
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
102
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
103
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
104
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
105
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
106
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
107
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
108
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
109
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
110
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
111
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
112
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
113
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
114
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
115
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
116
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
117
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
118
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
119
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
120
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
121
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
122
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
123
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
124
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
125
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
126
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
127
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
128
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
Instead of completing high school, I elected to obtain my GED due to an anxiety disorder that kept me
from being successful in the traditional school setting. At sixteen years old, I thought I had it figured out. I
was going to go to college before my high school class graduated, and I would be ahead of the curve. But I
learned quickly that college coursework is tremendously differen from high school. College requires a
level of self-discipline that I had not yet developed. More importantly, college requires a substantial
amount of courage and confidence that I was sorely lacking.
In the spring of 2005, I attempted to take my first two college classes. I withdrew from both within the firs
month. I made excuses as to why I could not complete the semester. I told people that it was the professor’s
fault for making the information too difficul or teaching the material too quickly. I told other people that
the readings were too easy and I was wasting my time. The truth was that I was afraid to try. I was afraid
that if I tried, the result would be failure.
After eight consecutive semesters, I had completed only five classes successfully, accrued seventeen
withdrawals, and got three failing grades. In those four years, I was placed on academic probation five
times because I neglected to withdraw from classes and just received a failing grade instead. I made the
decision to find an entry-level job in an offic so I could grow with a company to be successful instead of
getting an education. Through a little bit of searching, I found what I was looking for. At the time, it
seemed like the perfect place to be, and
I was excited to start.
129
I was working at an HVAC company in the offic part-time as a general offic assistant. My duties included
answering phones and taking messages. There wasn’t a great amount of room for growth, however it had a
better salary than any of the previous jobs I had at fast food restaurants and retail stores. I worked at the
company for nearly two years before I asked for a raise. It took a month of contemplation, and the owner
finall agreed to give me a raise. I waited for my next paycheck, excited to see the increase in pay even
though I knew it wasn’t going to be very big.
The raise meant that I had accomplished something, but when I received my next paycheck, the pay rate
wasn’t changed and it felt like I had accomplished nothing at all. When I questioned the owner about it, he
said he forgot and he would change it for the next pay period. This same routine went on for two months
until I made a big decision. The moment I received my paycheck, three months from when I originally
asked for a raise, I walked out of the offic and drove directly to the registrar on my local community
college. I registered for classes again, but this time I promised myself it would be different; I was fighting
for my future now
I then started taking classes again in the fall of 2011 going part-time. I attended every class and studied as
much as I could. I took every opportunity for extra credit assignments. I didn’t stop to doubt myself. I just
kept my thoughts focused on finishing the assignments—one at a time. Before I knew it, I had successfully
completed the semester. I continued to take classes and try my best—taking every challenge head-on.
A year later, in the fall of 2012, I received a letter in the mail inviting me to join the honor society. Up until
this point in my life I had let my anxiety disorder rule my life. This was proof that I was finall on the right
track. I reluctantly joined and decided to continue to further push myself outside my comfort zone to
challenge my anxiety.
44 Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Not only did I start going to meetings, but I participated in every event that the honor society had to offer.
That included bake sales, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, and volunteering for the college itself.
The opportunities came at me from every angle.
I then started to be recognized by the college. In addition to being recognized for my good grades, I was
also recognized for my involvement with campus activities through the honor society. I received both a
Distinguished Student Award from my college and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. I
joined everything I could after that, including two more honor societies, one for English and the other for
Psychology. I enrolled in a noncredit bearing leadership class on campus so I could have even more
experience that would help me with my future goals. I even went on to run for a regional office position in
my honor society and won. I was able to travel to California, Florida, and Missouri, all because of campus
involvement in the honor society.
I still have anxiety, but now I am able to cope with it without letting it dictate my every move. I have
confidence I always thought that because I wasn’t that cookie cutter all-American student, my
opportunities would be limited, but getting involved on campus opened so many doors for me. I learned so
much about what it was to be a leader. I learned what it meant to be part of a team and the value in building
relationships. I learned what it meant to be engaged both inside and outside of the classroom.
I developed a deeper sense of who I am through my campus involvement. Sometimes I think about what
would have happened if I never had taken that step and joined the honor society or never attended any
meetings. Honestly, I probably would have been okay. I would have been steadily gliding through my
education. I would have shown up to class, taken notes, then gone home and studied. I would have
probably then gone on and found a decent job with a regular amount of satisfaction. But who wants an
okay, decent, or regular life? I don’t; I need more. I want to love what I do and enjoy every moment I can.
130
Maybe the honor society isn’t something that you are interested in and that’s okay. Do something different
and learn about all of the opportunities that your campus offers and pick one to try out. Make your life
more than run of the mill—and start now.
131
