Four Step Thinking

This is a process I thought up while in the Philippines.  It is very simple and is easily over looked.....

                                            Here is where I am; for example, you are a college
                                               freshman.

                                            There is where I want to go e.g. graduate in two years or
                                               less without taking out loans, grants or test out of any
                                               subject.

                                            This is what I have to work with e.g. only the will to
                                               graduate.

                                            These are the obstacles in my way. These could be
                                               anything: spouse, money, socializing etc.

This is how the process worked for me. I came to the States in September 24, 1994 no money, transportation and no one to assist me in any way shape or form. I do mean no one other than my crazy brother who was reluctant to even drive me to the schools I needed to request transcripts from. That was all right me because if I had to rely on anyone other than myself to help me then I should have never have left.

I needed to rid myself of the ghost of being uneducated. On Monday the 26 of September I went on my hunt for transcripts from Long Beach State, my high school and Los Angeles Harbor College. After visiting Long Beach State again, I said to myself I would never return to this school again nothing has changed still long, long, very long lines. The following day I went to Cal State Dominguez Hills to interview with an admissions counselor. I was insulted when she told me because of my embarrassing grades made at Long Beach she strongly suggested I concentrate on bringing up my grade point average by taking plenty of Spanish classes. I am not Latin.

I took a critical look at my grades and I felt embarrassed to show the other counselors out of 87 units I took at CSULB 12 units went to my degree and I barely passed them. I knew I had to start all over.

This where I applied step one; this is where I am. I had to start all over. I know where I stand in the academic arena. After realizing where I stood, in the interim I was looking for a job. I worked as a tire changer 17 months. It paid the bills and was a constant reminder of why I needed to have my degree. This job paid $5.75 an hour. I saved money for the balance of the year. The job was located about two miles from my home and about six miles away from Harbor College. While I was working I submitted an application to Harbor and looked at the class schedule for the spring semester ’95. I had to take all the general education requirements over. I scheduled my classes in the morning as early as possible. I after conferring with my employer about my class schedule I spoke to the instructors and requested the syllabi of their classes. I asked if they were going to be any significant changes and what could I do in the meantime to prepare for the classes. I just received strange looks.

The cost of school was $75 for tuition another $30 for supplies then going broke for books which was roughly about $300. I took 18 units my first semester. Class started at 7 a.m. and I arrived at 6 a.m. for tutoring. Until Noon I was in class from Noon to 12:30 then off to work I went. At 6 p.m. I promptly left to go to my evening class.

I ran this program until I arrived at CSU Dominguez Hills. The jobs varied however, the timetable was similar.

The most important parts of this program are consistency and money. Every time you are inconsistent you are wasting your money. The obstacles for me were money and study time. I would always be hit with unexpected expenses for some book.

The obstacles diversify from individual to individual. You can only be the one to address them. The rhetorical question is "how does this facilitate my graduation?" If you have to explain this to yourself then you probably don’t need it. Believe me; don’t ever listen to those people who say, "Well you need a life."