 As I look back on the last 10 years of my life I can’t help but sigh and think. “WOW, have I really accomplished this much, or is this all a dream? Will I wake up and find myself in the middle of a daydream during Algebra class and be surprised by the teacher asking me to give her my answer for problem #4.” I pinch myself just to make sure that I’m not in the middle of a high school day dream and I realize that I am 23-years-old with a college degree and living the experience of a lifetime, abroad.
I know that this wouldn’t be possible if I hadn’t had people in my life challenging me to look to the future, to plan, to imagine, and to dream. The people at The University Outreach Center taught me to do just that. I enrolled in University Outreach in the 8th grade. I can remember the excitement I felt the days we had a UOC meeting because I was able to dream about the future. It was then that I could take time from the day-to-day routine of honors courses, student council meetings, and pep rallies to consider the possibilities for life after high school. Thanks to my UOC counselors and the programs that UOC provided for us, I learned more about myself, my goals, and my dreams. I learned to navigate through admissions requirements, SAT’s, ACT’s, and financial aid. I had the opportunity to visit college campuses, meet with admissions counselors, and take an active role in planning for my future.
I graduated from Nikki Rowe High School with honors and distinctions that gave me so many higher education opportunities from which to choose. In the end, I chose the road less traveled by attending an out-of-state school. I graduated from Colorado State University the Fall of 2004, with a Bachelors of Science, double major in Psychology and Social Work. Currently, I am living in London, England learning more lessons on life, but still keeping in touch with the people at UOC, who have helped me to become the person that I am now. I was fortunate to have people who taught me to dream and to make my dreams come true; “and that has made all the difference.”
Maria Andrea Pinales
Nikki Rowe High School
Class of 2000
Colorado State University
Bachelor of Science, Double Major in Psychology and Social work
Class of 2004
|
|
