AILEEN SULLIVAN
Aileen is majoring in Liberal Arts and will be transferring to University of California, Davis in the Spring of 2020.
AILEEN'S STORY
Livermore, CA | Las Positas Community College
My family felt that if I or my siblings wanted to go to college we should find a way to finance it ourselves. Community college gave me the ability to work to support myself and save to go to school. The resources and scholarships available at the community college helped both of my siblings and I realize our dreams of attaining a higher education.
During my time as a Community College student I have had the opportunity to enjoy analyzing philosophy, reading about politics and government, giving speeches, and writing research essays on topics I would not have normally found interesting or motivating.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
BENEFIT
The most beneficial thing about community college is having the privilege of taking your time to find out what interests you and explore different academic disciplines without worrying about the ticking time bomb that is student loans. The first major I chose was not right for me, but it was easy to just start over and try new things. I also had the opportunity to join different groups and clubs like the anthology writing group, chamber choir, and swim team. Those brought me out of my shell and I made friends in all of my classes. I've met some of my very best friends at Las Positas and I am currently living with a friend whom I met in my feminist philosophy class last semester!
WHY I AM SHARING
My time at Las Positas has contributed tremendously to my development and allowed me to mature before taking on the responsibility of a 4 year school. While there is a stigma attached to community college and a prestige attributed to attending a UC (and many other 4 year schools), college is college and attending a 4 year school right away may make you feel rushed, overwhelmed and lost. Prestige is simply not worth giving up the opportunity to get the right education for you at a pace that you can handle.
ADVICE
Think about what you really want regardless of the opinions from others. College is a huge responsibility with an immense workload and a lot of pressure. Whether you attend a 4 year school or a community college, classes are difficult and have bearing on your future and your goals. If you aren't sure what those are, step back and evaluate what you want before jumping in head first. Community college has a lot to offer, and you will still have the opportunity to transfer to your dream school later on!
You absolutely get out of it what you put into it. The students who are most satisfied with their experience are the ones who participate in sports, clubs, activities, and other electives that interest them. If you really engage, you can have a really fun experience in community college.