Skip to main content

Future Alumni Essay Contest - Runner Up

The Creation of My Future
By Kalyn Judkins

 “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”  

 -Malcolm Little

 When a student in high school dreams about going to college, they think about going to big universities and having a dorm room and roommate. But that’s not always the plan, especially when major universities cost thousands upon thousands of dollars a year. Luckily, we have Trident Technical College here in North Charleston, South Carolina.

 Although I am only just starting here, Trident Technical College has helped me in so many ways. Trident helps many students, including myself, by making college affordable. I can actually get the education I need for later in life at a cost my family can actually afford. Trident has also helped me by having experienced, passionate professors to teach us. Even though I have only had two classes so far, both of my professors were fantastic. I was extremely nervous about starting school again and they welcomed anyone and everyone to learn what they were truly passionate about. My English 101 teacher, Rachel Disney, was really amazing. I already planned on becoming an English teacher, but she really made me want to focus on that goal. She was very set on her goal of truly making us better citizens in our society. I really hope that one day I can be as great of a teacher as she is.

 When I first came to Trident, I wasn’t quite sure what I planned on doing in the future; I had an idea, as I knew I had always wanted to teach, but I wasn’t quite sure what I really wanted to do. But once I actually started, and had a grasp on what I really liked learning, I finally realized what I wanted to do. Currently, I am working to get my Associates in the Arts from Trident. After I graduate from TTC, I plan to transfer to College of Charleston to major in Education and minor in English. I have always love teaching people and sharing my knowledge, and English comes very easily to me as I love grammar, reading, and even, ironically, essay writing. I know that Trident has many resources to help me reach my goals, and I can’t wait for the future.

 Once I graduate from Trident Technical College, and finally become an Alumnus, the way I really plan to help is by getting people to actually attend TTC. Many people coming out of high school plan on going to major universities rather than community college and they just settle on paying for it by student loans. By persuading students to attend TTC, I would be saving them thousands of dollars and bring in future Alumnus for TTC. So far, I have really enjoyed attending Trident Technical College and I hope that other people will as well. 

 All in all, Trident Technical College has really surpassed what I thought it was going to be like. There have been so many resources to help me reach my goal and so many influences to help me realize what that goal is. I really cannot wait for the future to start, and the first step is by being prepared for tomorrow. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Laptop is a Game-Changer

When life throws you one challenge after another, you start to appreciate the small wins.  For Trident Tech student Kristi Salvo, receiving a new laptop through the Student Urgent Needs (SUN) fund was a game-changer.  Like students across the country, Salvo’s in-person classes were abruptly switched to an online format this spring due to COVID-19. But she knew her older computer couldn’t keep up with the online demands and she couldn't afford to buy a new one. “I was already dealing with a lot and it felt like this was going to be the thing that would break me,” she said. Salvo, a veteran of the US Air Force, struggles with health issues, including a back injury and a severe autoimmune disorder. In March, she and her husband separated, leaving her to juggle the responsibility of being a student, while also being a teacher to their two young children. All this, while trying to stay healthy and safe during a global pandemic. After Salvo and her children moved into a smaller, more aff
Post a Comment
Read more

Loss of Former TTC Film Student Inspires Events

Sarah Jones, a 27-year old camera assistant, was tragically killed last February by a freight train while filming a movie in southeast Georgia.  Since then, many friends and colleagues of Jones, a former TTC student, have spoken out about the safety issues surrounding the film industry.  Film Veteran Presented Workshop in Honor of Sarah Jones Douglas C. Hart, a respected camera technician in the film industry, agrees that safety on film sets must be improved.   Hart presented a a free public workshop at Trident Tech last month. He literally wrote the book on working as a camera assistant. His textbook, “The Camera Assistant: A Complete Professional Handbook,” is used by film students at Trident Tech and at other colleges around the country. In a meeting with TTC film students and in the workshop, Hart focused on safety as well as many other aspects of working in the industry, including camera mechanics, on-set procedures, lenses and filters, and screen tests. To
1 comment
Read more

The Path to Success

As the 11th of 14 children, Kathy Simmons knows what it’s like to be a part of a close-knit family. Which is exactly why she has made her way back to Trident Technical College 33 years after graduating in 1985. Kathy’s path back to TTC began with her desire to fulfill two goals – advance her education and travel – and she figured the best way to accomplish both was through the military. So Kathy joined the Air Force in 1987, and did indeed accomplish both goals. She received her Bachelor of Arts while stationed in Minot, North Dakota, her Master of Arts from Erskine Theological Seminary and she has completed 60 hours toward a Doctor of Education from Walden University. She saw much of the country and spent time overseas in Korea. After the military, Kathy found herself back at TTC in the Admissions and Registrar’s office, and it was there she realized she really wanted to stay in education and help students find success. But a wise mentor once told her that in order to advance
6 comments
Read more