Allyson’s Master Plan

by Angel Acosta on January 21, 2012

Scholar: Allyson Ijima

School: Kapi’olani Community College

Hometown: Kaneohe, Hawaii

At the beginning of senior year in high school, I solidified in my head a plan for my college years. It went something like this: After graduation, I would attend Paul Smith’s College (in upstate New York) for four years, where I would major in business with a focus on entrepreneurial studies. While attending school, I would find time to give back to the CFES program. Then I would graduate with my bachelor’s degree in spring 2014.

When I received my acceptance letter from Paul Smith’s on New Year’s Eve of 2009, I was determined to put my plan into action. But as the second half of senior year started, obstacles arose that would delay my opportunity to attend a Mainland college. I was crushed to learn that I had missed the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s deadline to apply for the fall semester, and that I would be attending a community college instead. I still wanted to experience college in a distant setting, and now that meant the other side of the island. Thus in fall 2010, I officially became a Kapi’olani Community College student.

Although community college had not been my intended plan, I still took learning seriously and was not going to let anything, even the name of a school, affect my plan for academic success in college.

Now that it has been almost two years, I do not regret any part of MY college experience. During my two years in college, I have learned to balance my time for work, school, and play; switched my intended major three times; met (and probably will continue to meet) amazing people; been invited and joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; and started the first-ever HEROES program within the Hawaii CFES schools – and I still found time to mentor CFES Scholars in the various schools here!

My new plan is to either take all the classes I can for another year and then transfer, or graduate from Kapi’olani Community College with my associate’s degree in New Media Arts, with a focus on Interface Design (fancy talk for “graphic arts”). Either route I choose will lead to additional course work at one of my two current choices: the University of Alaska in Anchorage or California State University in Northridge. I will graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree in Art, with a concentration in Digital Art/Graphic Design. I currently do not have a “college graduation date” goal, but I do know that I want to start my career by the time I am 24 years old (basically, I am giving myself five years to complete this plan).

The most important lesson about college that has been etched into my brain and that I can share with future college students is, your college experience is what you make it – no matter which school you choose to attend. It does not matter whether the higher education institution is private or public, in state or out of state, two years or four years. College is college!

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Servant Leadership at Standing Rock

by Angel Acosta on January 10, 2012

 

Cattle grazed as I drove across plots of land within the Standing Rock Tribe Reservation in North Dakota.  The sweeping expanse of deep blue sky coupled with the flat terrain reinforced the fact that I was in the Midwest.  As a CFES program director for the Standing Rock Community Schools, I spent a few days on site supporting CFES programming and learning about the Lakota Sioux Tribe.  I was energized by what I witnessed happening there.  As the wind blew across the vast rural landscape outside, students and administrators worked diligently to build a nurturing and academically enriching community inside.

What struck me the most were the community service projects that students had put together.  For the holiday season, CFES Scholars at Standing Rock High School delivered over 400 toys to the local elementary school. Donning elf hats and accompanied by Santa, the Leadership Team rejoiced in the holiday spirit of giving.  Scholars said that it was such a heartwarming experience to see the faces of the children light up upon receiving a gift.  They also sang songs with the younger students and promised to continue serving the community at large.

The Leadership Team’s next mission was Project Lala-Unči, a service event revolving around nurturing the relationship between high school students and elderly community members from across the reservation.  Lala-Unči means ‘grandfather-grandmother’ in the Lakota language. The main goal was to play Bingo and bond with the elders.  Scholars took turns calling out numbers and giving out prizes to winners. This service project helped to bridge the generational gap and motivated Scholars to maintain the service momentum.

Leadership through Service is one of the core CFES practices.  Students in all 150 CFES schools in 22 states coordinate and implement service projects that enrich and support their local and national communities.  The Leadership Team at Standing Rock Community High School is just one of many exceptional student-led teams from across the country committed to intently and intensively engaging in this practice of serving and making the world just a little bit better for those around them.  I encourage all of you to engage and serve like our Scholars at Standing Rock.

 

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Reflections From A Sophomore

December 22, 2011

Scholar: Jasmine Jordan School: University of South Florida Hometown: Sarasota, FL   This is my second year in college and I love it! There are more opportunities here at the University of South Florida than I can keep track of. It can be overwhelming at times but in a fantastic way. I am on winter break [...]

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Words From A Wise Scholar

December 20, 2011

  Scholar: Any Ng Hometown Sarasota, FL School: New York University   Finishing my first semester of college gives me the same feelings I had after surviving my freshman year of high school: it’s a reminder that things won’t ever be the same – a weird mix of nausea and accomplishment. Time seems to have [...]

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The Uplifting Power of Education

December 5, 2011

Scholar: Holley Murchison–CFES Program Director Hometown: Harlem, NY College(s): Odessa College, University of the Pacific,Brooklyn College As a new CFES Program Director, Angel and I thought it’d be great if we shared our college experiences with you. You’ll hear all about his experiences in one of next month entries but for now, let’s welcome December [...]

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Make Art Save Art: My College Path

November 17, 2011

  Scholar: Laura Alston Hometown: Sarasota, Florida School: Booker High School When I entered high school, it was a jumbled web of confusion—at least for me it was. The thought of going to college was far from my mind. Before I could even have a chance to stray from my college path, CFES swooped me [...]

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Pushing the Boundaries of Higher Education

October 30, 2011

  Scholar: Andy Ng Hometown: Sarasota, FL School: New York University It happens everywhere: sitting at my desk; on the staircase in between classes; walking through Russell Square Park; and even while I’m cooking dinner. I remind myself repeatedly of the unbelievable opportunities I’ve been blessed with thus far in life; the ones that have [...]

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Ready for the Challenge

October 12, 2011

Scholar: Anisa Frampton Hometown: Harlem, NY School: Wadleigh High School—Harlem, NY So this is my senior year.  It has just begun and it feels as if it’s almost over!  Every morning and every night just flies by.  I’m so afraid for the approaching decisions I will soon have to make involving college, applications, senior dues [...]

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College on the Horizon

October 12, 2011

Scholar: Afua Laast Hometown: Bronx, NY School: Frederick Douglas Academy—Harlem, NY I don’t know which one went by quicker my summer or the first week and a half of school. I have always heard that senior year is fun but stressful; I can attest that I was not lied to. This year, I will be [...]

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