Future Alumni Essay Contest - Runner-up
After being a stay at
home mom for nearly two decades, I realized that my job as mom would eventually
come to a close and I wanted to start something new. I was comfortable being in
the shadows of my husband's accomplishments; therefore, I assumed I would get a
part time job and do some volunteer work. Behind the safe thoughts of an entry
level job, was a gnawing desire to get a degree and have a career that could
support me if something happened to my husband. I was not sure of what I wanted
to do as a career or where to start. I did not know much about Trident
Technical College; I assumed it was for people that did not want a four-year
degree. I applied at College of Charleston and was denied based on poor
academic performance at a college twenty-five years prior. I applied to Trident
with the idea that I would prove myself worthy of College of Charleston. When I
registered, I was told to declare a major. At that time, I realized that
Trident partnered with other schools for engineering degrees. I liked the idea
of being a civil engineer and building structures. Civil engineering sounded
fun; how hard could that be? I have raised teenagers. What could be more
challenging than that?
I was floored by the
changes and challenges of beginning school again. My first year, I was like a
baby that did not know anything about college. I was confused about payment
dates, FAFSA, G.P.A., D2L, scholarships, using a computer, and just about
everything. My math teachers have helped me survive my first year as an
engineering student. After a year of classes, I earned a 4.0 GPA and a
scholarship for the upcoming semester. I became a math tutor and a member of
both the honor society and the civil engineers club. Over the summer I also enjoyed
the opportunity to shadow engineers at the Army Corps of Engineers in
Charleston.
I completely underestimated the impact that
being a successful college student would bring. I wish that I would have
started sooner. I love my new life. My confidence has skyrocketed. I love being
a role model to my children and other students. It is exciting to have new
financial opportunities, even as a student, through internships and tutoring. I
have been so thankful that I stumbled into engineering at Trident. When I
began, I did not have the tools or courage to embark on such a challenging
career. The teachers and tutors here have assisted me in my journey as a
successful future engineer. I have gradually grown in my confidence and
competency as a student. The environment at this school and the quality of the staff
members have helped transform my life and given me a real vision for the
future. It is a beautiful thing to have my children ask me for help with
school, and I can assist them. I encourage friends and family to take classes
to help understand politics, business, and just for fun.
I wholeheartedly
believe in the value that Trident brings to our community. I needed a smaller
school with quality staff to help me transition back into school. There is such
a variety of opportunities at this college. It is crucial for a person to get a
good paying job without a bachelor’s degree. I will continue to encourage
students to start and finish their education. I am especially partial to seeing
students succeed in the math and science fields. I would love to have more than
twenty percent of civil engineers be women. The volunteer work that I have
chosen is math tutoring; I want to help people feel competent at something
challenging. It is empowering and transforming. Also, I find it very gratifying
to connect people to resources that they need in their academic journey. I know
how important it is to network and receive valuable guidance. Overall, I cannot
imagine starting at another school besides Trident Technical College, and I
could not have achieved what I have without the strong support of others. I
will continue to be a person that says "work hard,"
"finish," and here are some tools to make that happen.
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