“What do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was younger, I was frequently asked this question. I believe we’ve all been asked that question at some point in our lives. Some of us know exactly what the answer to that question is, but I did not. I’m the type of person who enjoys trying new things, so deciding on just one thing to do for the rest of my life sounded daunting. One of the subjects that piqued my curiosity the most was art. I dabbled in a variety of media, including digital art, and I taught myself how to use Adobe programs like Photoshop. It was a fun thing to do as a hobby, but I wasn’t sure how I might use those talents in a professional situation. 

My concerns about what I wanted to do with my life grew even more when I graduated from high school and could not afford college. Coming from an immigrant family, it’s not always easy to find resources or opportunities, and oftentimes you are not even aware of the resources that are available, so after high school I found a job and worked for a year before ever thinking about enrolling at Black Hawk College. The way that came about was a bit comical. I literally just woke up one day, got on the BHC website and registered. 

Initially, I chose massage therapy because I thought I could make good money doing that, but it wasn’t really something I was passionate about. My job at the time was as a receptionist at a chocolate manufacturer, but they allowed me to work with their graphic designer from time to time. It was then that I realized that graphic design was something that I wanted to pursue. After further investigation into what career programs BHC had to offer, I quickly changed career paths and decided to get my Associate’s in Applied Science in Visual Communications, and that is when my journey with BHC began. 

I was not qualified for financial aid at the time, so I had to continue working to pay for everything out of pocket. I ended up taking several semesters off. The first time that happened, I was considering dropping out. I had always done well in school, but college was different. It was difficult for me to keep up with work and school while simultaneously trying to maintain a social life. I returned to school, but not long after I moved out on my own for the first time, and the increased responsibilities that came with that decision made juggling everything even more difficult. 

Following that, I took several more breaks due to financial constraints. I needed to work full-time to afford to pay rent, but I also wanted to further my education, so I chose to start with any online classes available. I carried my laptop everywhere, did my homework at work during my breaks, and studied late at night. At times, it became too much and I took time off simply because I needed a break, therefore getting an Associate’s degree has taken me far longer than I anticipated. 

I now have a full scholarship from a non-profit organization called UMOS, which has made it much simpler to afford education. It has been a long, fun, interesting and at times difficult road, but I have enjoyed every bit of it, and I am pleased to say that I am on track to graduate this semester. This fall I was given the opportunity to intern at BHC’s marketing department. To say I’m excited would be an understatement because I get to learn even more and do things like write a blog, for instance. I am looking forward to bringing you along for the rest of my journey and showing you a glimpse of what life as a Black Hawk College student is like.