For incoming students starting college for the first time, school can be overwhelming with not knowing the campus, making friends, meeting professors’ expectations or receiving good grades.
Irene Espinoza, 18, a freshman at Bakersfield College is a full-time student as well as a part-time cashier at Foods Co.?She does not like having to juggle between the two.
“I don’t really?have a social life.? Coming to school, going home and doing homework then going straight to work is basically my life.?I’ve had the same life schedule since my junior year in high school,” said Espinoza.?
When asked why she became a student at BC, Espinoza responded, “I had planned on going to a four-year university straight out of high school, but my family went through a hardship, which led me to attend BC.”?
Espinoza added attending BC “is like attending an over crowded high school.? I don’t think it’s that different.”?
School and work are first on her agenda.?She also expressed concerns about parking. “I didn’t expect parking to be as hard to find as it is. On the first day of school I had to park on University Avenue while my class is in the Humanities building. I hope parking gets better throughout the semester.”
While at BC, Espinoza’s goal is to complete her general education classes and transfer to a four-year university.
Her plan is to work hard, study hard, and to attend school regularly and on time in order to be successful in completing her courses within the time frame she has in mind.
Espinoza is undecided in what subject she will major in but has sociology in mind. It is common for freshmen to be undecided their first year of college.
She was born and raised in Bakersfield and graduated from East Bakersfield High School where she enjoyed being involved.
She was active in high school participating in publicity, leadership, yearbook, and KIWINS, which is a unified organization that yearns to help others and focuses on localizing services. In addition to her senior class involvement, she also worked in the finance office.
The Rip will follow-up with Espinoza in its final issue for the fall 2010 semester.