Central Washington University Top Questions

When I got married at a early age of 22, I had to leave my family and friends and relocate to the United States with my husband. I was already in my third year studying Physics and I had to leave everything behind to be with my husband. But before leaving Nigeria I also made a promise to my parents that I would complete my education, because they spent all what they had to send me to college back in Nigeria. The on only way to make them proud was to complete my undergraduate degree and even further in my studies. But coming to America I realized that I had to work, so I combined schooling and work, this was what I never had to do because my parents made me go to school full time and took care of all the bills so I can focus in school. So it was quite rough for me working and schooling at the same time but I got used to it and became better in what I am doing. Life is not a bed of roses sometimes you need to make things work for you to become a better person in life.

As a single parent, it has become easy to lose myself as a person. After returning to college the Fall of 2009, I have discovered who I am! Upon enrolling last fall, I was in pursuit of an Accounting degree, however, this experience has shown me that I am a far more creative and hands on worker, so I have changed my major to Culinary Arts. Not only am I now on the path to a career that I will truly enjoy, but I find myself expanding my horizons in many other ways. For a fact, I have become a better parent. I am more disciplined and can, thus, provide more structure for my 1st grader, and I am also happier because I am learning and growing and becoming a well-rounded woman with the progression of time. I have also learned the most important lesson college can teach; enjoy what you do and have fun doing it! I am blessed to attend college, and look forward to my educational goals improving the life of my daughter and motivation, Taylani.

I've learned many new things that I wouldn't have been able to learn anywhere else. I've had classes that would help in the workplace, such as the "Customer Service" class. The professors have been such great role models in teaching us the best they are able to. There has been many events that give us opportunities to find work in the various job fairs and college bashes. Attending college has been a valuable experience because I've learned to be a dedicated and hard-worker. Since no one from college would force you to attend, you have to be the one dedicated enough to come to class on your own. College also has been valuable to attend since it helped me become a hard-worker in studying, homework, classwork, projects, etc. These two traits I've gained helped me keep up a steady 3.3GPA and also have applied the traits outside of college such as working and everyday life. Education has become very important in the real world in order to go far in life.

My name is Kimberly Hitchcock and I am a 41 year old single mother of three boys. Jordan 16 Joshua13 and Jaxon 5.In 2007 I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive breast cancer I underwent radical bilateral mastectomies and chemo. The following summer my cancer spread to my ovaries and I underwent a complete hysterectomy. This march I was diagnosed with invasive vertical spreading melanoma. I underwentanother surgery June 15 and am being watched for possible metastisis. I am a breast cancer survivor and recovering addict through this I have come to know fear... I believe, that fear robs you of all good will. Fear moves challenges from the realm of ability to the impossible. Fear lives and thrives, grows, and dwells on defeat, not steps to recover. Fear tells the heart to quit, to give up, it’s useless and fear spreads despair from the brain to the body. Helplessness is an attitude that refuses to declare that the human heart and spirit can be stronger then the disease. My school experience has been invaluable to me it has given me hope for a better life . College has taught me the value of perseverance and hard work.

I now know where I'm headed and what have to do life. I'm the first in the family to get a bachelors degree. I know that I want to get my master degree. Some of my teacher have given me valuable exprerience and given me new light on my furture.

The education that I have gotten has been extremely valuable. I have met teachers that even though I am no longer in their class, I feel like I can go talk to if I have questions, or problems. I didn't at first have a chance to have the "College experience" I served in the military, and bounced around quite a bit. Now that I am done serving, I have had a chance to get involved. I feel like the experiance here and in the military are great partners, and give me a better foundation for life.

A sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt from anything else that I have done. More confidence in obtaining good job with good pay and knowing I have job security. Use the skills I have aquired to volunteer and help others. Knowing I can take care of myself and be on my own during college. Student loans were worth it. Friendships with people I never knew existed or would have never know existed. Great memories that can't be just made.The greatest benefit was the completion of a long term plan/goal. Realizing because of college that there are a lot of things I can accomplish if I want to.

College has helped me to see what can be accomplished with enough determination. Before I started college I was a little intimidated by those with college degrees, but after being in college for almost two years, I realize that it is something that anyone can accomplish with enough determination. It is all about being committed to the process. Many of the business classes I have taken will have a very real impact upon my career and the decisions that I make at my job - especially my economics classes. I love learning , anything from random facts about biology to calculus. I enjoy it all!

I have learned that being in school is very importatnt to me. I had to take a year off because funding was not there. But being back feels great and it has really motivated me to do the best that I can do and be the best that I can be in any situation. No matter where I go to school I will make the best out my education.

Taking the opportunity to go away to college has been valuable because it has forced me to live life on my own and build relationships with new people and to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I think that I would have regrets if I had decided to stay at home and go to a community college rather than attend Central Washington University. So far my college experience has taught me that I can make my own choices and if other people are not satisfied with those decisions then it is up to me to fix them or continue to carry on with what I want to do. I am now living on my own and I believe that to get the full college experience, one has to make mistakes and learn through trial and error who to trust and which friends are real friends. After beginning excited and anxious about college in the fall, one will shortly figure out that academics is the main priority. That is why I am here. The rest of the experience just falls into place because it is part of life and life will continue to happen.