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I was never called into a counselor's office to look into colleges because they just expected,
"Well, oh, she has F's and D's so she's not going to college. Oh, her brother dropped
out of high school so she's gonna (sic) do the same thing."
I didn't think I’d actually be able to stop procrastinating. I always thought I had my
best work done while procrastinating. Before I was just jumping from a job to a
job and from a job to another job. I ended up coming home and taking a year off
to try and work and get myself back together and then I came here and it's helped me get
my study skills back. I was working full time as a chef. Probably
wouldn't have made the choice to come to school if I hadn't suffered a back injury that prevented
me from working in the kitchens. I got hooked up with a state run program, Mass.Rehab. They
suggested school. That they would help with tuition and so I couldn't say no to that.
I had to take advantage of that. I am from the busy streets of Boston,
Transferred out to the suburbs of Massachusetts As if it was white flight.
I am from the basketball courts and the rubber suspended tracks,
Endlessly working out I'm from a beautiful piece of land
Between the earth and the sky, That wears a blue dress and a coral necklace.
From loud bachata parties and fireworks before midnight.
I'm from the Dominican Republic. My first language is Spanish.
I'm from Saudi Arabia, from Mecca. That's a religious place.
I'm still fighting with the English and with the writing courses but it (sic) there has
been a dramatic change in me since I'm coming here to the college.
Actually, this is my first time in college, so I didn't know how to take really good notes.
I had to look at the other students, how they are taking the notes.
The first lab was at the beginning of the semester. I didn't know like names of materials.
I don't know their names. They would say a “tube.” I don't really know what is a
tube is. Because I don't have it in my language. We're reading Plato. I got into it at an even
deeper level than I think the teacher was expecting and that kind of surprised me.
The first assignment I was I don't know, it was like designing something, but I need to
download the software on my laptop. I download it. I didn't know how to work with it but
I look at some YouTube videos and there was a CD with the book and then I got a full marks
on the first assignment. So I was really proud of myself.
I'm from a hand built house, From the sharp smell of new stained floors
To a fresh coat of paint. I'm from split up parents,
From shared holidays, A place where all fingers were pointed at
me I'm from my father's big brown
And my mother's curves, From Cape Verdean blood American born.
From my great grandmother's baking And my grandmother's cooking.
My grandmother had her BA before I was born but after(sic) fourth grandchild decided that
she was going to study for her masters and she has gone ahead and done that after children,
grandchildren and forming a life for herself. So I always said that if she could do it while
married with kids and grandkids, then I can do it without any.
When I was in high school I hated it and I didn't want to be there. But I think everyone
should get that time period from school and get that break from school before they attend
college because it really helped me out. I really got to know who I was
I have dyslexia and registered with the Disabilities Office and they've been fantastic. They knew
better than me what the challenges were going to be for me and they were right on the money.
I'm going there, To the new future.
A future without corruption, injustice and dictators.
A future when everyone is treated like a human With no exceptions.
I came far This I know
Where I'm going? Is that even the right question? Doesn't the journey start from where I am?
Welllll. Hmmmm. I know I'm determined to get to the end of
my own road. I am leaving a hot steamy kitchen
And going towards the Department of Conservation and
Recreation. I am going to math and biology,
To a house full of plants and a yard full of flowers.
I am going to I'll save up and let me pay. I think I would major in Criminal Justice,
minor in Special Ed. I hopefully see myself as a history professor.
I really want to be involved with helping people learn.
I want to be a doctor. I want to be a doctor. Psychologist.
Working. Working in the environmental field. Breeding fish...would be fantastic
If you write down your goals on a small sheet of paper or something, maybe one day you're
gonna (sic) if you look at it everyday, maybe one day you're gonna (sic) make it.
The future and the past doesn't (sic) exist. They are all in the present. If you're doing
what is your job, with love, with your heart, you wouldn't, you avoid a lot of mistakes.
So, if you want to see the results for tomorrow you had better start now.