After graduating high school I decided to take a gap year. I spent my time working and enjoying my life as a fresh high school graduate. I was free of all due dates and expectations. I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the bigger question. My “gap year” became a four-year recess in my education. Four years of “living in the real world” went by, and the inevitable question became impossible to ignore. How is my existence going to make an impact? I knew that I was going to have to go back to school to pursue something. But what? I was never at the top of my class, or even close to being a great student during my time in public school. The idea of starting my college journey late gave me severe anxiety. The idea that it was already too late for me flooded my mind. I wasted too much time. I would be just beginning my journey by the time my high school graduating class would be graduating with their bachelor's degrees. It took a lot of reflecting and confidence to finally come to terms with my situation. I had to start somewhere. It didn't matter if I started late, I just had to start somewhere. If I didn't start right then and there, four more years could pass and I would still be in the same place. I enrolled and spoke to career advisors at Bunker Hill Community College. They assisted and reassured me that coming back to school wouldn’t be a waste of time. There’s no harm in learning new things, even if that meant school wasn’t right for me. After talking about my skills and interests, the career advisors pointed me in the direction of education. Funny enough, the one thing that gave me the most anxiety was the path I chose to pursue. In the spring of 2022, I enrolled myself in two classes. I took the opportunity and gave it my all. By the end of the semester, I finished with A’s in both classes. That feeling was enough to light a fire inside of me, propelling me forward into my studies today. I was never an A student, but this time around I had a chance to be that student. With hard work and a lot of focus, I was able to maintain these grades through the 2022 fall semester. At the end of the 2022 fall semester, I received an email from Bunker Hill, informing me that I was placed on the Bunker Hill Merit List. The only person who ever told me I couldn't achieve greatness was myself. From going back to school I learned that achievement is out there, I just have to go and get it. I am currently enrolled in three classes at Bunker Hill. I am still maintaining A’s across the board. It feels good to know that I am achieving what I constantly told myself I couldn’t achieve. I am working towards my associate's degree in Education Concentration. I am constantly checking my progress and thinking of the day I finally will graduate from Bunker Hill. I plan to graduate by the spring of 2024 and move on to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees at Lesley College. One thing I know I can teach future students is that it doesn't matter where you start or where you finish, as long as you start and finish somewhere. I can see myself in the future counseling students who were lost just like I was, and guiding them toward their path to greatness.

After graduating high school I decided to take a gap year. I spent my time working and enjoying my life as a fresh high school graduate. I was free of all due dates and expectations. I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the bigger question. My “gap year” became a four-year recess in my education. Four years of “living in the real world” went by, and the inevitable question became impossible to ignore. How is my existence going to make an impact? I knew that I was going to have to go back to school to pursue something. But what? I was never at the top of my class, or even close to being a great student during my time in public school. The idea of starting my college journey late gave me severe anxiety. The idea that it was already too late for me flooded my mind. I wasted too much time. I would be just beginning my journey by the time my high school graduating class would be graduating with their bachelor's degrees. It took a lot of reflecting and confidence to finally come to terms with my situation. I had to start somewhere. It didn't matter if I started late, I just had to start somewhere. If I didn't start right then and there, four more years could pass and I would still be in the same place. I enrolled and spoke to career advisors at Bunker Hill Community College. They assisted and reassured me that coming back to school wouldn’t be a waste of time. There’s no harm in learning new things, even if that meant school wasn’t right for me. After talking about my skills and interests, the career advisors pointed me in the direction of education. Funny enough, the one thing that gave me the most anxiety was the path I chose to pursue. In the spring of 2022, I enrolled myself in two classes. I took the opportunity and gave it my all. By the end of the semester, I finished with A’s in both classes. That feeling was enough to light a fire inside of me, propelling me forward into my studies today. I was never an A student, but this time around I had a chance to be that student. With hard work and a lot of focus, I was able to maintain these grades through the 2022 fall semester. At the end of the 2022 fall semester, I received an email from Bunker Hill, informing me that I was placed on the Bunker Hill Merit List. The only person who ever told me I couldn't achieve greatness was myself. From going back to school I learned that achievement is out there, I just have to go and get it. I am currently enrolled in three classes at Bunker Hill. I am still maintaining A’s across the board. It feels good to know that I am achieving what I constantly told myself I couldn’t achieve. I am working towards my associate's degree in Education Concentration. I am constantly checking my progress and thinking of the day I finally will graduate from Bunker Hill. I plan to graduate by the spring of 2024 and move on to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees at Lesley College. One thing I know I can teach future students is that it doesn't matter where you start or where you finish, as long as you start and finish somewhere. I can see myself in the future counseling students who were confused and lost just like I was, and guiding them toward their path to greatness.

After graduating high school I decided to take a gap year. I spent my time working and enjoying my life as a fresh high school graduate. I was free of all due dates and expectations. I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the bigger question. My “gap year” became a four-year recess in my education. Four years of “living in the real world” went by, and the inevitable question became impossible to ignore. How is my existence going to make an impact? I knew that I was going to have to go back to school to pursue something. But what? I was never at the top of my class, or even close to being a great student during my time in public school. The idea of starting my college journey late gave me severe anxiety. The idea that it was already too late for me flooded my mind. I wasted too much time. I would be just beginning my journey by the time my high school graduating class would be graduating with their bachelor's degrees. It took a lot of reflecting and confidence to finally come to terms with my situation. I had to start somewhere. It didn't matter if I started late, I just had to start somewhere. If I didn't start right then and there, four more years could pass and I would still be in the same place. I enrolled and spoke to career advisors at Bunker Hill Community College. They assisted and reassured me that coming back to school wouldn’t be a waste of time. There’s no harm in learning new things, even if that meant school wasn’t right for me. After talking about my skills and interests, the career advisors pointed me in the direction of education. Funny enough, the one thing that gave me the most anxiety was the path I chose to pursue. In the spring of 2022, I enrolled myself in two classes. I took the opportunity and gave it my all. By the end of the semester, I finished with A’s in both classes. That feeling was enough to light a fire inside of me, propelling me forward into my studies today. I was never an A student, but this time around I had a chance to be that student. With hard work and a lot of focus, I was able to maintain these grades through the 2022 fall semester. At the end of the 2022 fall semester, I received an email from Bunker Hill, informing me that I was placed on the Bunker Hill Merit List. The only person who ever told me I couldn't achieve greatness was myself. From going back to school I learned that achievement is out there, I just have to go and get it. I am currently enrolled in three classes at Bunker Hill. I am still maintaining A’s across the board. It feels good to know that I am achieving what I constantly told myself I couldn’t achieve. I am working towards my associate's degree in Education Concentration. I am constantly checking my progress and thinking of the day I finally will graduate from Bunker Hill. I plan to graduate by the spring of 2024 and move on to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees at Lesley College. One thing I know I can teach future students is that it doesn't matter where you start or where you finish, as long as you start and finish somewhere. I can see myself in the future counseling students who are lost just like I was, and guiding them toward their path to greatness.