Hearing Other People's Experience's (H.O.P.E.) College (ePub)

The goal of any college aspirant is graduation! According to the National Center for Education Statistics (N.C.E.S.), a federal entity collects, analyzes, and reports data related to education in the United States and other nations. The national average of completion of post-secondary studies is six (6) years. During this time frame students encounter life issues, greater self- awareness, persistence, critical thinking, and so much more. It is assumed these foundational characteristics serve a lifetime.

After two decades of teaching in various higher educational settings, including advising, counseling, and coaching countless students through their academic endeavors, I have reflected on my professional experiences and education journey and realize that I and many committed faculty members and administrators have often dealt with students who struggle that include fitting in and adapting to new academic and social college norms. Our adeptness to support students in balancing their personal and academic lives wildly affects their academic achievement and attainment. A segment of the college process often overlooked is the life challenges that impact the college experience and possible degree completion. Often students are told they must wait to enroll to comprehend the intricate turns that await them during a college experience- wait no longer. This installment in the H.O.P.E. series provides a glimpse into student self-efficacy and a commitment to graduation over 25 years. Each story is personal and uniquely expresses a persistence that the tassel is worth the hassle!

For years, the art of storytelling has been away in many cultures to pass down history, experiences, and fortitude to those who will listen. H.O.P.E.-The College Edition provides an outlet and brings real-life experiences, advice, and lessons while giving a lifeline to students who are embarking on their college experience. These stories will inspire students to keep pushing, to have the audacity to succeed despite circumstances, and recognize that they are not alone in their experiences. By sharing other's experiences in the college journey, it becomes abundantly clear you are not alone. An emotional connection is formed when students hear how other people have experienced a few bumps in their journey yet still managed to graduate. This gives HOPE and provides light to what is often an uncertain path in college. Years of anecdotal conversations coupled with quasi-explanatory research through real-life interviews provided the backdrop of the emotional context to the educational journey captured in this series.

Through my personal and professional experiences, I have found that self-efficacy is an essential variable to achieving the college education dream and relevant academic success skills. Skills that become building blocks for academic tenacity and levels the playing field. Skills that must be reinforced in and out of the classroom and offer a roadmap through challenging times. This installment in the H.O.P.E. series is more than a collection of stories. It is a unique complementary resource that should be included in the academic success toolkit for any student commencing or continuing their college journey. This must-read collection of stories highlights students' college experiences on their journey to college graduation from the early 2000s to the present. The stories and academic success skills presented as an appendix provide a holistic framework that adds to higher education culture.