Why College Is An Important Part Of Life

College is an important path that adults need to consider taking in their life. Considering one’s culture, beliefs, and environment, people will see college as a need or a want. Transitioning into college without any prior knowledge is stressful which can cause the person to not go to college. This paper will be covering a student’s perspective on her experience of transitioning into college. The positive and negative factors that she had to overcome will show how she developed as a student and as a citizen in society. College is an institution of higher learning, so there are bound to be different scenarios that the student will encounter which will help build her characteristics and hone her skills for a better future.

Life Span Project: Transitioning into College

The idea of transitioning into college is a huge step towards investing in a better future. Students are spoon fed from their kindergarten days to high school years. Applying to college is a step that the student needs to handle all on their own. Having to plan what college best suits them, students tend to have cold feet then decide to not go to college and instead apply for jobs. Other students have support from family and prior knowledge that can help smooth the transition into college. Depending on the current status of the person, the outcome of the student going to college can vary. My transition into college was one of total confusion, stress, and regrets.

High School Conclusion

During my senior year, there were several goals that I wanted to accomplish for my future but going to college was not one of them. I was part of an elite society referred to as National Honor Society (NHS), but I did not feel more special than the other student. I was president of the business club, yet it was not in my interest to pursue a future in the business field. I was given opportunities to take the SATs, ACTs, and ASVABs, but I did not see the purpose or benefits in it. I still took advantage of the opportunity because I was not given any other choice. I had good test results and a great academic standing, yet I did not bother to apply to any of the schools that reached out. My only plan was to get out of high school and get off the rock. Apparently, the universe did not agree with my plans, and had set obstacles in my way to push me to where I am now.

During my high school graduation, I was surprised to find out that I was accepted into three off-island colleges, and I also received scholarships. I did not apply to any of these colleges or for any scholarships. I found out later that my counselor had applied for me and whenever I was told to sign papers and provide documents under the idea that it was for graduation. My plans began to change and improvise ever since my name was called during graduation. After the graduation, I made plans to live with my siblings in Utah and find a job to earn money. Money makes the world go around, so in order to survive this world, I believed that I had to make money and everything else will fall into place. My parents did not agree with my plan considering that I had better opportunities in furthering my education. It was best that I obeyed my parents because it would benefit me in the long run. I attended the meetings concerning the scholarships and I was given a choice to use my scholarship for an off-island college or the local community college. I may have been prepared to leave the rock, but I planned only to be surrounded by family members and friends. I was not prepared to meet the outside world and encounter new people in a new environment, so I decided to go to the local community college. In this situation I can apply the theory of constructivism by Piaget where it states:

Piaget's theory covered learning theories, teaching methods, and education reform. Two of the key components which create the construction of an individual's new knowledge are accommodation and assimilation… Accommodation is reframing the world and new experiences into the mental capacity already present. Individuals conceive a particular fashion in which the world operates. When things do not operate within that context, they must accommodate and reframing the expectations with the outcomes.

My life did not go according to my plan, so the only choice I had left was to accommodate to the situation (Piaget as cited in Teachnology, Inc.).

Prior Knowledge