A college's student tale
Word count: 2677
Choice count: 30
Section count: 17
Image count: 15
Error count: 2
Field Related Analysis:
Education : 28 matches (Jean, School, academic, choice, classes, college, continuing, courses, degree, failed, failing, first, grades, guidance, guidance counselor, high school, major, management, marks, motivation, register, school, score, semester, social, student, technology, training)
Law/Paralegal-Technology : 19 matches (Cause, clerk, company, estate, fact, family, House, issue, law, minimum wage, minutes, notary, paralegal, price, products, real estate, register, society, value)
Business : 17 matches (business, company, customers, firm, lead, management, manager, money, opportunity, price, products, promotion, real estate, retail, sell, technology, value)
Target Structure:
a foot in the door (2 matches)
drawback (1 match)
fulfillment (3 matches)
intern (2 matches)
internship (13 matches)
lack of (2 matches)
purpose (3 matches)
put aside (2 matches)
straight A's (5 matches)
though (2 matches)
wage (1 match)
A college's student tale
First semester in Social Science.
I started my first semester in Social Science at Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the fall of 2015. I had chosen this program because I had in mind to later become a psychologist and I found on this college’s website that this program included two Psychology courses. Sadly, there was a drawback in my way : my doctor had diagnosed me with a major depression disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. She suggested that I took some time off after graduating from high school so that I could take care of myself. I didn’t. On one hand, there was my father telling me that if I dropped out of school, it would be hard for me to go back (and he could not accept that I have nothing more than a high school degree), and on the other hand, all of my friends were going to college and I wanted to follow the lead. My mental health paid the price of the decision I made to go to college right after high school, as I saw my grades coming in. I failed three classes out of six. I had to decide whether I was going to start another semester for winter or drop out of school to take care of my mental health.
Choice 1 : Start a second semester in Social Science.
Choice 2 : Drop out of school to take care of my mental health.
Second semester in Social Science.
Luckily, my mental health had started to get better as I was going through my second semester in Social Science. Let’s just say that having very good friends and a loving family helped me a lot. I also started dating this new guy, which I liked a lot. The only issue I was facing was the fact that I didn’t know anymore if I still wanted to become a psychologist. My grades were not as bad as they were during my last semester, but I still failed two classes out of five. I had lost my motivation for school, since I had lost my purpose to even go to school. Once again, I was facing a similar decision : Continuing in Social Science for a third semester or dropping out of college to take the time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
Choice 1 : Continue in Social Science for a third semester.
Choice 2 : Drop out of college to figure out what I want to do with my life.
My first job.
Since I was not at school anymore, I had to work. One of my friends got me a job as a retail clerk at Marks, where I would work around 25 hours a week. It was not the greatest job, but I liked the idea of having some experience to add on my CV. Working really helped me work on my generalized anxiety disorder. I felt like I was opening myself more to the world as I was putting myself in a place where I had to meet new people (colleagues, bosses, and customers) and work for society. The fulfillment I felt from my new job didn’t last long, though. Indeed, I had never received on-the-job training, since the business was really in need of employees. The Human Resources Department, which was also the management, just told me that I had to try to sell the company’s products, and they quickly showed me how to use the cash register. I soon realized that I did not want to stay a retail clerk all my life and that I had to do something to change that. I had to decide whether I should find myself another job or go meet a guidance counselor to help me figure out what I wanted to do.
Choice 1 : Find myself another job.
Choice 2 : Go meet a guidance counselor.
Third semester in Social Science.
Sadly, this semester didn’t last long for me. Because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after college, I had a lack of motivation and my grades were horrible. They were so bad that I had to cancel my courses. My “R score” was already so bad because of my previous failed classes that I didn’t want to ruin it even more. Another choice was then facing me : I could go meet a guidance counselor to help me figure out what I wanted to do with my life, or find myself a job while I figure it out on my own.
Choice 1 : Go meet a guidance counselor.
Choice 2 : Find myself a job while I figure out what I want to do with my life.
The guidance counselor.
The guidance counselor really helped me. She guided me towards a Paralegal Technology, a program that I remember finding quite interesting when I was in high school, as I was looking for different college programs, but that I had completely forgotten about. The only issue was that I had to wait to send my application for this program, since it could only be done in March. Meanwhile, I could stay out of school and just work or go back to college to do some basic courses.
Choice 1 : Stay out of school and just work.
Choice 2 : Go back to college to do some basic courses.
A semester of basic courses.
I was very proud to pass all my basic courses. I was also very happy to find out that my application for a Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College had been accepted. I was excited to start this 3 year program next fall but, meanwhile, I was really not enjoying myself at Marks anymore and desperately wanted to quit. I was hesitating between finding myself another student job or not working anymore and just focus on my studies.
Choice 1 : Find myself another student job.
Choice 2 : Not work anymore and just focus on my studies.
New job and first semester in Paralegal Technology.
I finally found myself a job at Value Village. I was glad of that decision, since it made me meet a bunch of new people that I turned out becoming very good friends of mine. Those people were some of my colleagues, as well as my supervisors. This workplace had a whole different dynamic than the last place I worked in, and I loved it! I had started my first semester in Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College, and I was finding the classes very interesting, although a new dilemma was facing me : My new job was requiring too much of my time, and I was scared that it would badly affect my grades. I had to decide if I wanted to keep my job and risk failing some classes or quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
Choice 1 : Keep my job and risk failing courses.
Choice 2 : Quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
Failed courses and last year in Paralegal Technology.
Luckily, the grades from my paralegal courses turned out great. On the other hand, the basic courses I had left to do suffered from the lack of time I put on them, and I failed them. I then decided to quit the job that I liked, because I didn’t want it to negatively affect my grades anymore. Once it was done, I started getting straight A’s in some courses. Soon came my last year in Paralegal Technology and I had to decide where I wanted to do my internship for my last semester. I had two interviews in two different places, and I had to choose if I preferred to do real estate or notary law.
Choice 1 : Get an internship in real estate.
Choice 2 : Get an internship in notary law.
An internship in real estate.
My internship in real estate turned out to be wonderful. It gave me the opportunity to put put a foot in the door and discover what it would really be like to be a paralegal. Luckily, I was an intern in a firm located in my hometown, at ten minutes from my house. I even had the pleasure to get paid at the minimum wage and the company offered me a job after I get my degree. All my academic progress makes me proud of where I am today. I can’t wait to get my degree and finally call myself a paralegal and do something that brings me purpose!
Write a choice here.
Out of school, mental health and a new job.
Since I was not at school anymore, I had to work. One of my friends got me a job as a retail clerk at Marks, where I would work around 25 hours a week. It was not the greatest job, but I liked the idea of having some experience to add on my CV. Working really helped me work on my generalized anxiety disorder. I felt like I was opening myself more to the world as I was putting myself in a place where I had to meet new people (colleagues, bosses, and customers) and work for society. Luckily, my mental health had started to get better as I was working at my new job. Let’s just say that having very good friends and a loving family helped me a lot, in addition to the fulfillment I would get from working. I also started dating this new guy, which I liked a lot. The fulfillment I felt from my new job didn’t last long, though. Indeed, I had never received on-the-job training, since the business was really in need of employees. The Human Resources Department, which was also the management, just told me that I had to try to sell the company’s products, and they quickly showed me how to use the cash register. I soon realized that I did not want to stay a retail clerk all my life and that I had to do something to change that. I had to decide whether I should find myself another job or go meet a guidance counselor to help me figure out what I wanted to do.
Choice 1 : Find myself another job.
Choice 2 : Go meet a guidance counselor.
Promotion.
I finally found myself a job at Value Village. I was glad of that decision, since it made me meet a bunch of new people that turned out becoming very good friends of mine. Those people were some of my colleagues, as well as my supervisors. This workplace had a whole different dynamic than the last place I worked in, and I loved it! The only thing was that it was still not the career that I wanted to have for the rest of my life. I didn't feel fulfilled there. That was until my manager presented to me a promotion. He wanted me to become a supervisor. I was wondering if I should take that promotion and try to pursue a career in management, or go meet a guidance counselor.
Choice 1 : Take the promotion.
Choice 2 : Go meet a guidance counselor.
New job, new program, new dilemma.
I took advantage of the fact that I was now working full time to put aside some money, although I was really not enjoying myself at Marks anymore, and desperately wanted to quit, and so I did, right after having found myself a job at Value Village. It made me meet a bunch of new people that I turned out becoming very good friends of mine. Those people were some of my colleagues, as well as my supervisors. This workplace had a whole different dynamic than the last place I worked in, and I loved it! I was also very happy to find out that my application for a Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College had been accepted. Therefore, a new dilemma was facing me : My new job was requiring too much of my time, and I was scared that it would badly affect my grades. I had to decide if I wanted to keep my job and risk failing some classes or quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
Choice 1 : Keep my job and risk failing some classes.
Choice 2 : Quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
Straight A's.
Since I quit my job, I had more time to focus on my studies and it rewarded me : I was getting straight A's in pretty much all more courses. All of my grades were great. Soon came my last year in Paralegal Technology and I had to decide where I wanted to do my internship for my last semester. I had two interviews in two different places, and I had to choose if I preferred to do real estate or notary law.
Choice 1 : An internship in real estate.
Choice 2 : An internship in notary law.
Straight A's and Paralegal Technology.
Since I quit my job, I had more time to focus on my studies and it rewarded me : I was getting straight A's in pretty much all more courses. All of my grades were great. I then started my first semester in Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College, and I was finding the classes very interesting. Soon came my last year in Paralegal Technology and I had to decide where I wanted to do my internship for my last semester. I had two interviews in two different places, and I had to choose if I preferred to do real estate or notary law.
Choice 1 : An internship in real estate.
Choice 2 : An internship in notary law.
Internship in notary law.
My internship in notary law turned out to be wonderful. It gave me the opportunity to put a foot in the door and discover what it would really be like to be a paralegal. I was an intern in a firm located an hour away from home, which cause me to be late a couple of times. Maybe that is the reason why I was not offered a job there, after I get my degree. All my academic progress makes me proud of where I am today. I can’t wait to get my degree and finally call myself a paralegal and do something that brings me purpose!
Write a choice here.
New path.
I ended up not liking my new job as a supervisor. Management is therefore not for me. My manager let me have my old job back, so I got back to being a cashier. I decided to go meet a guidance counselor, and she really helped me. She guided me towards a Paralegal Technology, a program that I remember finding quite interesting when I was in high school, as I was looking for different college programs, but that I had completely forgotten about. The only issue was that I had to wait to send my application for this program, since it could only be done in March. Meanwhile, I could stay out of school and just work or go back to college to do some basic courses.
Choice 1 : Stay out of school and just work.
Choice 2 : Go back to college to do some basic courses.
Full-time job and Paralegal Technology.
I took advantage of the fact that I was now working full time to put aside some money. I was very happy to find out that my application for a Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College had been accepted. Therefore, a new dilemma was facing me : My new job was requiring too much of my time, and I was scared that it would badly affect my grades. I had to decide if I wanted to keep my job and risk failing some classes or quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
Choice 1 : Keep my job and risk failing classes.
Choice 2 : Quit my job to fully focus on my studies.
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