Aaron's First CCC Summer Experience
I teetered between CCC & an expensive private school for quite some time. After, reading and researching both, I decided that CCC proved to be the best option. After stumbling upon oneyeartransfer.tumblr.com (a blog that inspired me to begin this blog actually), I knew what I wanted to do.
I decided to get ahead by taking a summer course at my CCC: Art 101. I needed it for a transfer requirement, so why not?
I was bewildered coming into class (and even the campus itself). The atmosphere is completely different: no bells, students of various ages, and addressing instructors as "professor" instead of "Mr./Ms./Mrs."
My professor's name is Professor Park. She began class by going over her syllabus -- in what appeared to take 15 minutes -- and then dove into the first lecture.
I didn't know the format, so I found it imperative to be as attentive as possible. I studied material every night; I was on top of all my assignments.
Soon enough, Professor Park announced an extra credit assignment, an essay that would give me points towards my first exam. I took this opportunity, and began to write.
I didn't know how to write an "Art Analysis" paper. So, I did what I felt was right & e-mailed my paper for feedback.
And after multiple drafts, I sent the final product at 2 AM in the morning.
When I walked into class:
"Are you Aaron?"
"Your paper is perfect. I loved it. You write really well."
She proceeded to talk about my paper in class half-way into the lecture. It felt great having older students ask me for advice on how to succeed on the paper. One student, even attempted to bribe me for a copy of my own paper (to which I declined, but offered to help).
I got to know my professor one-on-one. Once a CCC student herself, Park transferred to UCLA, and later got her PhD at UCSD.
I told her about my ambitions: wanting to study Public Health and prospectively transferring to UC Berkeley or UCSD.
"Berkeley? My little sister just finished her first year there."
"Her friend just transferred in as a junior, and he says the transition was not difficult at all."
We talked for 20 minutes, walking out of the classroom and into the center of the campus.
You know, that conversation was really eye-opening to me.
It was easy to confide in her.
At the last class meeting -- right after I finished my final exam -- I told her:
"Bye Professor Park, I really enjoyed your class."
She called me over & said,
Aaron, I teach argumentative writing at UCSD. If you ever need a recommendation letter, you can e-mail me anytime. Please really take my offer on this!
That was the best thing any teacher, instructor, or mentor has offered me. Having been it my first CCC class & college, it meant a lot to me.
I'll be just fine here at Mesa, and I thank Park for making me realize that everyone has different paths.
Perhaps, I underestimated myself.
I realized that I made the right choice.
And just like Park, there are many more people that I'll meet along my journey to the UCs.
