The journey of attending college will be different for each individual. Who you are is a big part of the path you will take.
Some people like to be straightforward – follow the classes set forth by an advisor to complete, or transfer to complete, your degree. Others will browse the catalog, pulled in by their personal interests, and try to find ways to angle those interests into their studies without derailing their timeline. Another type of student is the student who needs to vary from quarter to quarter, sometimes they will need more time to relax and recover, and other times they’ll blaze forward at full speed. None of these routes are wrong, all of them will hopefully end in the same result: years of accumulated knowledge and a degree.
As a Highline College alumnx, I can say with certainty that without Highline I would never have been able to achieve what I have at this point. This summer I graduated with my Masters in Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Art. Highline was instrumental in this because it was at Highline that I truly settled into my scholarship.
Prior to Highline I tried two different colleges in California where I grew up, and each time I dropped out. But at Highline I found a community and a sense of belonging that I had searched for ever since finishing high school.
My biggest advice to students enrolled at Highline is to get involved, if you have the time and capacity to do so. Joining the Arcturus editing team, being on the National Poetry Month committee, and being a staff member at the Writing Center all prepared me for what was to come.
Working closely with Susan Rich I developed my writing, editing, and presenting skills. At the Writing Center I learned how to share my knowledge with others and how to make a difference in their lives. Getting involved is about yourself as much as it is about others. When more people than just yourself are involved, the stakes are higher, and you learn a sense of responsibility.
It took me two years and a half years, plus an extra quarter after transferring to Western, to graduate from Highline. I deeply struggle in math and found it extremely challenging to get through the math requirements, so much so that I put them off for a full year. I cannot stress to you how difficult and frustrating this was. Had I put in the work in the first quarter or two at Highline I might not have allowed the fear of failure to loom so large in my mind. Be kind to yourself: get what you absolutely must get done done as quickly as possible.
My next piece of advice is for transfer students. When choosing where to go when you transfer there are many factors to consider, namely: cost, your major, and location. For myself I knew I wanted to go to Western Washington University based on everything I heard about it. I heard it was a progressive and welcoming environment with a good English program.
In terms of location, I also knew Bellingham was in a beautiful area in Washington and I would be close to friends. Cost came into play when it came to budgeting my grants and loans, considering where to live and if I could afford it. I was very happy with my decision, and I hope you will be too after considering these things for yourself.
Finally, keep reaching for greater heights. When I was in high school my grades were abysmal. I was lucky I got to graduate. I never imagined I would go to college after high school as a result of this. I just did not believe that I was cut out for it.
But the reality was, I just needed some time to mature and think about my future. Then after a few years of working retail full time and moving states I remembered the passion I always had for reading and writing. It came back to me like a dream and I realized I couldn’t wait any more to go back to school and hone my craft.
Once I got my undergraduate degree, I took a year off. This was during the pandemic and I did not have the motivation or energy to push forward just yet. But after that year was over I went to graduate school to get my MFA in writing. This was a rewarding, exhausting, and exhilarating experience.
Graduate school may not be for everyone, but it is possible for anyone. Pushing your scholarship to the next level provides you with a wealth of opportunity, though the road is not always as easy as that. If your passion drives you, or you see yourself in a specific field, keep pushing yourself. You will learn so much about yourself through this experience, like what drives you, how you work under immense pressure, and whether or not you can withstand the weight of your own expectations.
College is a challenge, and a privilege. The Highline community boosted and buoyed me while I was a student and I know it can do the same for any student looking for support. Do not let fear or discomfort stop you from achieving any goal you set your mind to.
Look to your peers, your instructors, and your mentors to guide you, but never forget to listen to yourself. Your intuition is your greatest gift, in addition to the many resources available to you. You have what it takes to create the life you want, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you’re there.