The Start of a New Chapter by Azia

The Start of a New Chapter by Azia - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Greetings, I am Azia Rogers, a first-year criminal justice scholar hailing all the way from Long Island, New York. August 22, 2019 was the start of a new beginning, it was the start of being on my own and making the best decisions for me. It was also a transition not just to college but in a whole new state. I was 17 hours away from home, but I am proud to say I attend the illustrious Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Although college may not be for everyone, since some may choose that they don’t need a degree for their career path, I believe the college experience itself is important. If you never have change you may never grow. Just within the first semester I learned a lot about myself, and I was willing to change all my flaws to become a better me spring semester. You will surround yourself with a ton of people, but when it all comes down to the end you will know the people that need to be around you, also called your support system. In high school you may just talk to everybody and be cool with everybody. In college that’s fine too but college is a learning experience, and you’ll learn that you need to surround yourself with people who have goals and care about their grades. Being around people that motivate you will help you become more successful and you could possibly pick up their great habits and skills.
Opportunities aren’t always around so when they come it’s best to take them. Florida A&M University sets up great opportunities for us by having us meet with employers and try to set us up with jobs and internships. I missed out on trying to get internships because you’re supposed to come with business casual or business professional clothes on, and I failed to have that. Now I know what to bring for fall semester to be more prepared. I will strive to get internships for my career because jobs can be very competitive when it comes to the hiring process, so the more experience you have the better.
To get through life you need to learn how to be independent and be responsible. There may be situations where you have to fix something with housing, financial aid, or your academic advisors and your parents might not be there to help you. The most they can do is guide you through the phone if you’re out of state, but the rest you’re going to have to talk with different people in person and figure out solutions to problems.
Some teens start their own businesses during high school, such as doing hair and makeup, and feel as if they don’t need college because they already know what they’re doing and they have clients. College would actually be important for them to go to because it can broaden their clientele and they will have a better opportunity to network with people. College is all about who you know and not what you know. If you meet the right people, they will brighten your future and many more doors will open for you.
It’s very known that majority of the time, the more degrees you have the more money you will make. There’s no point in settling for the bare minimum when you could take the chance to go to college, and hopefully end up living with the dream house and dream car you’ve always wanted to because you received your degrees. Whether it’s a community college or a university, it’s important to take the path that helps you grow as a person and guide you to a successful life.