Failure leads to success

As the end of my final semester at Del Mar approaches, I can’t help but to look back at how I’ve improved as a student. 

I wasn’t born in Corpus Christi, but my heart has always been here. I was born in a small town named Uvalde. I attended elementary in Corpus Christi but moved back to Uvalde after an incident my parents had. Growing up in a small town really shaped me to be a little shy and timid when it comes to new things. I didn’t even attend school in Uvalde, but rather an even smaller town named Knippa. 

I loved my high school but I did felt deprived of creative experiences. I didn’t take any creative classes until my junior year. 

Coming right out of high school I knew my life was already complicated from the get-go. I initially started college as a transfer student thanks to dual credit at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as an accounting major. Little did I know that I was going to hate my classes and eventually stop attending. I fell into the trap of giving up on my education because I didn’t like my major. At age 18 I had no idea what to do, so I ruined my grade point average and got academically suspended from the school. 

On top of that my parents decided to call it quits and get a divorce. I knew family issues were also a big factor to a student’s performance, and I felt like my life was falling down a sewer. 

I have to thank Southwest Texas Junior College for giving me my second chance. If it wasn’t for them I probably would’ve became a college dropout. I didn’t feel ready to go back to school and face my dreadful GPA, but thankfully they pushed me to take classes there and transfer to Del Mar College to pursue journalism.

Changing from accounting to journalism was a huge difference but it proved to me that I wanted a more creative and social career rather than a 9-to -5 job in a cubicle. I want to be a field reporter whether its traveling across the country or even covering local events in whatever city I get a job. Maybe even one day I can become a news anchor. The sky is the limit. 

When I finally got to Del Mar I knew I made the right decision. This school has offered so much in my academic time of need. I had no idea that I would fit in so perfectly in the journalism department. 

Getting to know my classmates, adviser and lab adviser has been such a tremendous step forward. Working hard to proving myself to be a decent reporter was my main objective. I felt like I reached that when I was offered the position to be the associate editor for the Foghorn News. 

I remember the day I started my first news writing class. I was so nervous because I was getting those failing feelings again. I threw out a pitch on reporting on the rising rates on STDs within the county. As I finalized my drafts I was told my story was going into the next issue of the Foghorn. I was so excited when I saw my story on the front page. If I gave up I wouldn’t have the strong personality or social skills I posses today.  

School has also distracted me from my parents’ divorce in a good way. Del Mar helped me prove that even when life gets low you can pull yourself up again. If I’m being honest, my dreams were delivered. 

As I graduate this May I only see the stars in the sky glowing big and bright. I want to tell them that I’m coming for them. I’ll be transferring to the University of North Texas to obtain a bachelor’s degree in journalism and broadcasting. I’ll always have Del Mar in my heart as the beginning of my reporting career. 

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