The Big Separation
Almost every college student has struggled with preparing to apply to college. The process of filling out all the necessary paperwork and getting everything in order can be stressful and chaotic. Occasionally it feels as if it is just too much. The overwhelming pressure of meeting deadlines and completing tasks can drive a person crazy, especially students. Preparing for college is a long, draining process that every college student has gone through. Each college student knows what it is like to constantly worry whether or not the score on the ACT is high enough to get accepted into a school or if certain AP credits will transfer to the school of choice.
It’s my junior year of high school, and I had just begun looking at colleges and universities I believed would suit me personally and educationally. Each school was severely critiqued on certain elements they had to offer, such as, majors/minors, clubs and organizations, pre-professional programs, and even extracurricular activities. This was going to be the place I would ultimately spend the next four years of my life, so I needed to make the perfect decision. Each dimension of my checklist was crucial because I needed to examine exactly what type of education and possible college experience I would possibly have. Now, it’s senior year and I have dozens of college brochures, pamphlets, applications, and much more. As the months go by, my vast amount of applications gradually thins out. I become more aware of what I 'm looking for, and what I want. By the time senior year rolls around, I have almost everything figured out. I would soon be leaving home, and on my own. However, before the big separation, there is a process that, not only I experience, but every student who decides to leave home to pursue a dream, education, or just to “find themselves”. Throughout his easy, Richard Rodriquez, author of “The Achievement of Desire” describes his struggle with the physical separation between him and his family, something that he believes is necessary (336). …show more content…
As I began to really get into my school studies, I now recognize the separation that Rodriquez describes in his essay. The higher I advanced in school, the more I needed to focus and pay special detail to my school work. Time with my family and friends became far and few. I no longer had the free time to spend laying around with my cousins or watching TV with my dad. My school work consumed so much of my time that I didn’t realize how disconnected from my family, friends, and community I really was. I was no longer a part of weekly church functions such as Bible study, choir rehearsals, and organization outings. During times when I was working on a major project or writing and English paper, I would physically and mentally remove myself from everyone. On pages 342-43, Rodriguez describes how his home was no longer filled with lively noise as it once was, “Silence! Instead of the flood of intimate sounds that had once flowed smoothly between us, there was this silence”. From my end, this is exactly what my mom and I went through. Not living together, it caused even more of a gap between us that made it harder to discuss what was going on at school. It took so much effort to explain what I learning and why it was important to me. There were also times where I felt too embarrassed to tell her what I was learning at school because she wasn’t as “intelligent” as my dad. She and I weren’t able to have political debates, discussions on biblical topics, or anything that along those lines of conversation. To further explain how serious the separation was, I would skip family meals, sacrifice sleep, and important quality time with loved ones. I had tunnel vision and my focus point was completing whatever task that had been assigned. Not being able to afford anything but a basic community college education, it was extremely important for me to get the best grades I could achieve and apply for as much financial aid as possible. I couldn’t jeopardize my chances of going to a four-year university by hanging out with friends, or easing up on my school work. To continue, while I was at school, I spent so much
Almost every college student has struggled with preparing to apply to college. The process of filling out all the necessary paperwork and getting everything in order can be stressful and chaotic. Occasionally it feels as if it is just too much. The overwhelming pressure of meeting deadlines and completing tasks can drive a person crazy, especially students. Preparing for college is a long, draining process that every college student has gone through. Each college student knows what it is like to constantly worry whether or not the score on the ACT is high enough to get accepted into a school or if certain AP credits will transfer to the school of choice.
It’s my junior year of high school, and I had just begun looking at colleges and universities I believed would suit me personally and educationally. Each school was severely critiqued on certain elements they had to offer, such as, majors/minors, clubs and organizations, pre-professional programs, and even extracurricular activities. This was going to be the place I would ultimately spend the next four years of my life, so I needed to make the perfect decision. Each dimension of my checklist was crucial because I needed to examine exactly what type of education and possible college experience I would possibly have. Now, it’s senior year and I have dozens of college brochures, pamphlets, applications, and much more. As the months go by, my vast amount of applications gradually thins out. I become more aware of what I 'm looking for, and what I want. By the time senior year rolls around, I have almost everything figured out. I would soon be leaving home, and on my own. However, before the big separation, there is a process that, not only I experience, but every student who decides to leave home to pursue a dream, education, or just to “find themselves”. Throughout his easy, Richard Rodriquez, author of “The Achievement of Desire” describes his struggle with the physical separation between him and his family, something that he believes is necessary (336). …show more content…
As I began to really get into my school studies, I now recognize the separation that Rodriquez describes in his essay. The higher I advanced in school, the more I needed to focus and pay special detail to my school work. Time with my family and friends became far and few. I no longer had the free time to spend laying around with my cousins or watching TV with my dad. My school work consumed so much of my time that I didn’t realize how disconnected from my family, friends, and community I really was. I was no longer a part of weekly church functions such as Bible study, choir rehearsals, and organization outings. During times when I was working on a major project or writing and English paper, I would physically and mentally remove myself from everyone. On pages 342-43, Rodriguez describes how his home was no longer filled with lively noise as it once was, “Silence! Instead of the flood of intimate sounds that had once flowed smoothly between us, there was this silence”. From my end, this is exactly what my mom and I went through. Not living together, it caused even more of a gap between us that made it harder to discuss what was going on at school. It took so much effort to explain what I learning and why it was important to me. There were also times where I felt too embarrassed to tell her what I was learning at school because she wasn’t as “intelligent” as my dad. She and I weren’t able to have political debates, discussions on biblical topics, or anything that along those lines of conversation. To further explain how serious the separation was, I would skip family meals, sacrifice sleep, and important quality time with loved ones. I had tunnel vision and my focus point was completing whatever task that had been assigned. Not being able to afford anything but a basic community college education, it was extremely important for me to get the best grades I could achieve and apply for as much financial aid as possible. I couldn’t jeopardize my chances of going to a four-year university by hanging out with friends, or easing up on my school work. To continue, while I was at school, I spent so much