Patrick Kam

I graduated from El Cajon Valley High School in 1986.  After high school I went directly into the workforce and worked for several industries in government, transportation, healthcare, telecommunications, entertainment, restaurant and most recently the mortgage industry.  With a recent layoff from my mortgage company, I decided to make another attempt at college. This would be my third try.  School had never been one of my greatest achievements.  I feared how I would fit in with the younger generation, overcome test anxiety; learn how to study again and the fear of failure.  My outlook of college was so frightening that the thought of just standing on a college campus crippled me.

Fall 2008 is my first semester at Grossmont College.  Three months ago I attended the Adult Reentry Orientation to familiarize myself with every resource available to help me adjust to college life. My short term goal is to do well in each class and stay in school. My long term goal is to earn an associate’s degree in nursing at Grossmont College and then transfer to another college for a BSN.

I am currently taking a linked Project Success English and Reading combined course and a Personal Development course in Career and College Success.  I highly recommend both of these classes.

My overall outlook about my college experience so far is very positive and I have gained a renewed confidence in myself. Aside from school I enjoy gardening, baking and running marathons.  I have completed one full (26.2 miles) marathons and several half (13.1 miles) marathons throughout California.  I feel that a marathon and college are similar, a small part physical and the rest is all mental.

Yolaine Eddington
 

I am a mother of 1 adult son and 4 beautiful grand children 1 boy, 3 girls.  I am retired from the Navy after 21 years of service.  After 32 years of going back and forth to school and never having completed any curriculum I have found it nearly impossible to secure employment which commensurate with my years of experience as a store keeper due to the lack of formal education.  I am disabled at the moment and unemployed which is one of the reasons I returned to school in the hope that I can finally complete something that I started over 33 years ago and also secure better employment in the future.

MaryAnn Landry

After 20 plus years in retail I realized it was time for a change.  The retail business was changing.  In the spring of 2003, I started taking an accounting and an Excel class.  One of my instructors told me about the Office Professional Training (OPT) program at Grossmont College.  It seemed the quickest way to prepare for a new career and return to the workforce.  In the fall of 2003 I entered the program and graduated in January 2004.  I started working as a part-time temporary receptionist in the Instructional Dean’s office and was promoted to a full time Clerical Assistant, Sr.  Recently promoted again and am currently working in the position of Administrative Secretary for the Dean of Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences.

OPT prepared me for a successful transition from a retail job with no prospects into a career I truly enjoy.  I now look forward to the future with the knowledge that learning is life long, coupled with confidence that I can achieve whatever goals I set.
 

Rebeca Martinez

I was born in Mexico and became a nursing technician
(RN ) in my country.  After coming to the United States I went through a divorce which was a turning point for my return to school.  As a single parent living in a new country with a different language, without family and friends, it was clear to me that I would need to learn English and get an education.

When I remarried and we moved close to Grossmont College, and I returned to school after twelve years.  There are so many great programs at Grossmont such as counseling, tutoring, EOPS, and financial aid.  They became  the main pillars that helped me achieve my goals.

College has been a challenge, going through the English Second Language classes, starting my General Education Courses and then taking the pre-requisites necessary for my nursing major. 

Presently I have completed my Associate Degree in Science and have enrolled in the Orthopedic Technology program while waiting to go into the nursing program.  My goal is to get a Bachelor Degree of Science in Nursing.  The journey will be challenging but I am proud of what I have achieved so far and have the confidence to move forward!

Tammy Harmon
 

What Prompted Me to Return to School?

Several years ago, my employer at the childcare center, asked me to take a class in Administration in order to be promoted. I had tried to go to college 12 years earlier but found my life to be “too busy” to handle the responsibility of school as well.

One day when I finally had the opportunity to look through the class schedule, I caught the knowledge bug. I decided right then that I was not only going to go to college and take that class but I was also going to take a full-time load and keep going until I received my degree. It wasn’t easy trying to juggle my family, husband and four children, job and studies that first semester but I was enjoying the learning and that kept me motivated.

During my time at Grossmont College I served as president of Phi Theta Kappa – the international honor society of the two year college.

I will be graduating from Grossmont College in May 2007 with my Associates Degree in Child Development/Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation I will begin work on My Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education. The pursuit of accomplishing my goals is what drives me everyday!
 

Terry Kim

I am a non-traditional school student from South Korea. I graduated in 1995 from a school in South Korea before I came to the U.S.

Despite many financial problems as an international student I was finally able to receive a full scholarship and pursue my educational goals in the U.S, which I had always desired to do. At Grossmont College I have been on the President’s list and am a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor’s Society.

I received my A.S. Degree in Computer Science this past summer of 2006 and will receive an A.S. Degree in Math next summer 2007 I plan to transfer to UC Berkeley in fall of 2007 and will be one step closer to realizing my passion for science.
 

Suzanne Mitchell

What Prompted Me to Return to School

The turning point in my life came when, as I was recovering from a deep depression (mostly caused by being unjustly fired from my last job) I noticed that every job which advertised my qualifications, required minimum of a Bachelors degree. Any self esteem I had managed to reassemble was not strong enough to handle the crushing blows of rejection I would be afforded because of my lack of any college degree.

I am currently the President of Phi Theta Kappa – the international honor society of the two year college – a far cry from the shy, low self esteem person who started at Grossmont College in spring 2005.

I feel great. Everyone who has met me only recently has no clue about the person that came to Grossmont. The people who knew me back then notice the tremendous wonderful change in me and feel compelled to tell me. I am so happy that I took that walk to pick up the class schedule on that fateful day.

I will be receiving my Associates of Science Degree in Business Administration May 2007 with plans to transfer to San Diego State University.

Kathy Schwartz

After many surgeries and only vocational training, I decided to return to school to purse a degree in Business Administration/ Accounting. In June 2006 I graduated from Grossmont College with an AS Degree in Business Administration, an AA-CSU Transfer Degree, and a Certificate in Business Administration. I have now transferred to the University of Nevada – Las Vegas to continue my educational journey.

Charles Brown

After I retired and began work in the healthcare field I realized I needed a degree to become more job marketable. Therefore, I enrolled at Grossmont College to pursue a degree in Healthcare management. I’m a military veteran and have been active in student government here at Grossmont College. I’m currently a student at Grossmont College with the goal of graduating in December 2006 and then relocating and continuing my educational journey at Southern Illinois University.

Nancy Kerry

I had always thought about college, but no one in my family had a college degree. I decided to take a chance and enroll at Grossmont College to get the formal education that could help me make better use of (and sell) my experience. I see life now, having graduated with my Master’s degree in 2001 as…just “get in the boat, get on the road, point yourself in a certain direction but don’t be afraid to go where your own personal journey leads you…be brave, change at will and enjoy the ride!”

Mahogany Jones

I came to the conclusion that I needed to face and alleviate each obstacle and distraction head-on. I did so and returned to school, full time; determined to finish – against all odds. I’m currently a student at Grossmont College with the goal of graduating in fall 2006 and then continuing my educational journey at UCSD.