Let's meet Liz

Let’s meet Liz

    I saw Liz and the first impression I get is that she seems really nice but shy. I probably seem the same way to her. Liz has three older brothers. Two of her older brothers went to community college for a long time and later dropped out. She says, “My brothers’ experience in college is my motivation to do well in college. I am setting an example for them even though it is ironic since I am the youngest.” I think only few people are  willing to do what Liz is doing. It is admirable because many people would have given up, but Liz did not, she went forward. She says, how her middle brother told her college is hard and that she should not go. She said to him, “I ain’t you.” She did not let her brother’s comment knock her down instead she turned in all her required college applications and choose to attend California State University, Los Angeles. I do not have any siblings, so I have never experienced a sibling’s discouragement.

    Naturally, all college students begin their educational journey in elementary school then middle school then transition to high school and lastly, college. Liz attended part of first grade in Huntington park, but then  moved to South Gate. She states, “It was a perfect time since I was bullied because of my left hand.” Her experience with bullying made her feel like she could not talk to anybody and felt that others would judge her.Bullying played a great role in her ability to make friends and stopped her from joining activities. However,Liz decided to join her school’s cross country team during her sophomore year in high school. She explains how cross country helped her come out of her shell and express herself. Cross country helped her train both physically and mentally. Liz says her team was like her second family.

During every students senior year in high school there comes the time to fill out paperwork and apply for college. In this time period students must decide where it is that they want to go to college. Liz decided to attend  California State University, Los Angeles because the campus provided her a feeling of belonging and she liked the environment. Liz was part of her high school’s AVID program. She says, “AVID is an elective course, that helped me  prepare for college. AVID helped me get to college and because of it I did better in school.” I wish that my school had an AVID program this  program would have helped me so much when it came to the college process.

    The transition from high school to college is an  exciting time for lots of students because they finally are able to feel like an adult, independent and experience a great sense of joy. These are all the feelings that Liz felt when the semester began. Liz aspires to be a travel nurse because this way she can help people in the moment and provide care for them. Liz and I share a passion for helping others. Liz would like to travel to Sierra Leon, Africa where she can help others.” I think it is extremely cool what it is that she wants to do because not a lot of people are willing to leave their home for the sake of helping others.