Blog #23: Reflecting on Today's Experience

Today, we were originally assigned to work on creating a thesis and draft plan of our essays. However, we did a different assignment instead. I found out that today was the last day that students could participate in the Student Government Association’s essay contest with an IPod Shuffle as the prize for the winner. So, I figured the classes would prefer to write on this topic instead.

The topic that the students wrote on was (summarized) “Why did you come to SAC to study?” The results were very interesting. Many students talked about gaining valuable skills on a small campus before they moved to a larger university. Some students talked about how their parents went to SAC and that they were expected to go too. Lots of students referred to their status as first generation students and how they were attending SAC because it was affordable. Most students described SAC as a first choice, not an only choice, and most students referred to SAC as a place they wanted to attend over some of the other community college options that were available.

The reason I came to SAC is because of the opportunities the college offers. I have an opportunity to work with students who are very much like me. I was a first generation student who affected all of my family. After I went to college, my mom went back. Then my husband went to college and got his degree. While I was in school getting my master’s degree, both my daughters and my husband were attending classes at the university too. It is my goal as a teacher to help my students not only make it through my class but to successfully make it to earn their college degree(s).