I was the first in my family to attend college.
Thanks to the Arizona Assurance Program, a scholarship and support program for low-income Arizona students, I had an opportunity to build a future I could be proud of.
When I arrived at the University of Arizona, I wanted to become an Air Force pilot and joined the Air Force ROTC detachment.
But the transition from Yuma to Tucson was a culture shock:
A bigger city
Full-time college student
Full-time ROTC cadet
Full-time job
In my first economics class, the professor said,
“Look to your left, now look to your right. These will be your closest 850 friends for the semester.”
I laughed, but the reality hit harder than expected.
I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t manage my time well.
When my first semester grades posted, 1.7 GPA, it felt like a punch to the gut.
At that moment, I realized: If I didn’t change, I would be going back to Yuma permanently. And my pride kicked in and I refused to let that happen.
seems to be a trend with my sense of pride in my stories
I returned to school on academic probation with one goal: turn it around.
I sold anything that was a distraction, TV, video games, anything that wasn’t helping me move forward. Even my friends called me out because I wouldn't spend time with them.
By the end of the semester, and after summer school to replace grades, I had raised my GPA to 3.0, cleared academic probation, and opened new doors for myself. Part 2 of the story coming later...
The experience taught me lessons I carry to this day:
Accountability - No one is coming to save you. Own your results.
Adaptability - It’s not about how you start, it’s about how fast you learn and adjust.
Discipline - Dreams require more than ambition. They require sacrifice.
Sometimes the best thing that can happen early in life is failure, because it teaches you how to get back up stronger.
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona Foundation
First published on LinkedIn.