Around this time last year, I was stressing out getting acceptance letters from colleges. I probably have gotten CSULA and CSUN acceptance letters but I wasn’t satisfied. I applied to UCLA, UCI, UCSD, and UCR. I was getting updates from them and their admissions have asked for many paper works, including one that was way out of my hands, my permanent residency. My first rejection letter was from UCLA. I mean I knew that I might not get in because of the tough competition but of course I was saddened by the news. The rest of the schools had other issues but to make the stories short, I didn’t get any acceptance from them. I was disappointed. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for them. I mean, heck I was in the top 10% of my class that had 495 seniors. I was in band (section leader for almost 3 years), student government (JCO& SCO), Tennis for 2 years, Key Club Officer, plus the extracurricular activities I did outside school. The sad part was knowing that people that ranked lower than I did got in to those schools I applied to. It was very much disheartening but my mom reassured me that God has a plan for me and that time, I did not see it.

I took the placement test for CSULA and they’ve offered me great opportunities but I didn’t want to go there. CSUN has unit cap and I practically never thought about going there either. It seemed like a midlife crisis at such a young age. I’ve worked so hard in high school to get nowhere in life. Again, my mom assured me that God has a plan for me.

At that time, I gave community colleges a chance. I mean, I have lost all I have hoped for and there’s no harm in trying other opportunities. I signed up for PCC visit with my school and actually loved the campus. Also, a good friend of mine toured me around and practically got me to where I am school wise. At that moment, I knew I would end up going to PCC. I got my paper work done and I had to wait for my registration date to come to sign up for classes. Everyone knows how hard it is to get classes and my case was worst. I probably got the last day to register for fall classes and I keep asking myself, why is this happening to me? Here’s a student who planned her life set up after high school but it’s all falling apart. 

From frustration, I just tried and tried to look for classes. I read about Math Path, a program that offered 2 consecutive math classes within the sixteen weeks of school as long as you pass with a C or better. I decided to crash the class from desperation. I was wait list number 23. I know it seemed so far but I kept coming everyday at 6:30 am until the end of the week, when the teacher finally added me. It was a relief to get that class because that class alone offered 8 units. I was able to get 4 more units that made me a full time student. 

This has been one of the biggest struggles I have encountered that really tested my faith and pushed me to the edge. Today, I saw why God didn’t put me where I wanted to be. He did have a plan. Almost all my friends that are attending the colleges I applied to are currently paying about $2,000 per semester out of their pockets. I know that my family couldn’t afford that and I would end up with a really big loan, especially I wanted to go to graduate school. Today, I am barely paying anything for tuition fees but I could really use some money for my needs/wants. In addition, I got my residency and I’m now getting financial aid to help me pay for books and parking permit. I’m truly blessed that I can now get something than pay school for the same GEDs I’m taking at PCC. 

God definitely taught me a lesson. My patience and faith have come a long way and I know He was reminding me that I can’t take on life without his approval. I also thank my parents for support that no one can understand. The feeling of hitting rock bottom is worst feeling and they were always there to pull me through. Thank you to my friend Casey for helping me with EVERYTHING 24/7 and Matt who continually helped me through my emotional meltdowns and helping me think that the cup is halfway full than halfway empty.