School

Education has always been a major priority in my life. I worked ridiculously hard in high school, took a number of AP and honors courses, and got a tutor for the SATs so that I could get into a good college and receive a quality college education. I went to all these lengths mainly for myself and because I knew I was capable of doing well, but also because I'm extremely competitive. Well to put it lightly, my college experience has turned out slightly different than expected. It started at Cal Poly and that lasted for one year. Jarrett and I got married at the beginning of what would have been my sophomore year and so I left Cal Poly and moved up north. I took a quarter (or semester) off and then started classes at the local community college that January. This was a very humbling experience for me. I was used to all of the things that the university level offers and I already knew I was capable of succeeding at a university level, so I felt that the community college was a set back for me. In the end, the year I spent at the local community college turned out to be a very rewarding educational experience. After a year at the community college, I finally had enough credits to transfer to UC Davis. I started classes there in January and as you know, that only lasted until June. I think leaving UC Davis has been probably one of the hardest parts of moving to Guam. I was so excited to receive my degree at Davis, I loved all of the professors that I had in those short 6 months, and I loved being surrounded by people that were passionate about school and excited to learn. For months I have researched what the next step in my education will be. I have about a year and a half left until I receive my bachelors. Unfortunately, my major is not offered anywhere on the island or online, so due to a change in major, it might take me an extra semester to receive my degree. Once we arrived here, I visited the university on the island and was sadly disappointed. I was passed around like a hacky sack from person to person because no one knew what to do with me and all my transfer units. They greatly encouraged me to be a home-economics major and when I strongly refused, they were insulted. So I moved on to plan B. Online schools. I have been very picky when it comes to online schools and slightly hesitant, once again due to my competitive nature and the fact that I feel like going to school online is just not at the same level as sitting in a class at UC Davis. Well after much research I stumbled upon a program at Penn State. They have a world campus which offers enough courses online to complete a degree. Students receive the same quality education that they would if they were sitting in the classroom. Graduates walk at the ceremony to receive their diploma with everyone else, and the diploma is the same as those who went to class in person. I am so excited about this opportunity because every aspect of it meets my standards. I am just awaiting word about whether or not I have been accepted, so I am writing this to ask for prayer. And if this doesn't work out, I pray that the Lord would shine light onto other opportunities.

Oh and to add a picture to this boring blog, here is a picture of Jarrett's first day back at school. He is taking an economics class right now and working towards his bachelor's through the University of Maryland. I'm so proud of him.