Getting ready for early time According to a report from the Century Foundation, with 11 million students, community colleges are home to 45% of the college population in the United States; in the same report, 81.4% of students entering community colleges for the first time wanted to earn a college degree in the future, but only 11.6% achieved this goal. I went to college once and failed; I plan to be successful this time by recognizing potential opportunities, overcoming challenges, listening to advisors, and using effective strategies. As a child, I always wanted to go to college, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn't even able to do so. able to complete high school. I had to drop out of school and take care of my siblings when my mother abandoned us. This was the biggest pain of my life, but I still had that dream of going back to school. I went to Job Corp and then went to trade school and eventually received my GED. In the back of my mind I still had that dream of going back to school. Going to college will open so many new doors for me and give me opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't have had. My biggest dream was to obtain a degree in pedagogy, to be able to become a kindergarten teacher. Getting my degree will not only give me a job but a career, something I've never had before. I've always worked in low-paying jobs with little to no benefits. I did what I had to do to make ends meet as a single parent, but I always swore to myself that one day I would go back to school and complete my degree. The desire for a college education is still true today. I came to Thomas Nelson to fulfill a dream, and not only will I receive an education to be... middle of paper... first things first). I will study hard, attend class every day, complete all homework, and always do the best I can. When I feel my worst, I force myself to do my best. I will always rely on my faith and trust in God, which is not a strategy; it's simply my way of life. I believe that to be successful in anything I have to put God first because when I take Him out of the equation I tend to mess up. In conclusion, even though college can be a long road, quitting is not an option. I believe that if I stick to what's important, recognizing the opportunities, staying aware of the challenges and tackling them head on, listening to the advice of my advisors, and always having strategies in place, I will undoubtedly excel. I intend to work hard and succeed. My place is here and if I have to fake it, I will fake it until I become it, because it is in me to be great. I will succeed!