Graduate of the Year essay submission
by Ashley Arrabal from Key Largo, Florida
Penn Foster has made such an incredible difference in my life. To start with let me tell you about myself. At the age of 16 I ran away from home. My family was living with my grandparents (my step-father’s parents) because we had lost our house, and my life was crazy. In a matter of months my life went from a normal teenage life where money wasn’t an issue to having no place to call home anymore. I was constantly fighting with my mom and after she had me put into a mental hospital for being a troubled teen, I ran away to live with my mother’s mother (my grams) in Florida. I ended up graduating high school and decided to move back to my home town of Fayetteville North Carolina where at the age of 18 I had legal guardianship of my sister, due to some things that were out of my control. I worked as a waitress at a restaurant and my sister went to school during the day and worked at night. They were tough times but we survived. After my sister graduated high school, it was time for me to get my life together. I moved back to Florida where I myself ended up with a substance problem. After checking myself into a rehab facility, I got my life back. I was watching a movie on lifetime with my grams when I saw an advertisement for Penn Foster. I immediately called the number and decided that’s how I could fix myself. In 2010 I got my associates degree in Business Management through Penn Foster.
The Penn Foster experience means so much to me. What they were able to offer me was amazing. I could work during the day and go to school on my own time. I also didn’t have to worry about coming up with crazy amounts of money because they had such an easy payment plan that was manageable. My work, which I have been with now for 11 years, also supported my dream of graduating. They helped pay for my schooling and once I got my associates I became more of an asset to them. I am now an assistant supervisor.
Graduating with my bachelor’s degree is very important to me. I wasn’t able to have children, but 8 months ago my husband and I adopted a newborn baby girl. I want to do this for myself and for her. I want her to grow up and be proud that she was raised by an educated woman. I want her to see that education is key and that everyone can do it. I want her to know that life has obstacles but that overcoming them is very important. College degrees will get you further in life and will help you to become more successful. It also helps you with your self-esteem.
Once I finish this semester I will have my bachelor’s degree in Business Management. I will be 32 years old by then or almost 32. I can’t wait for the day my final grades post because I know I will feel such a sense of accomplishment. It may have taken me 7 years to get here, but I still got here. I plan on continuing to work at my job, but I know that I will have more opportunities because I did get my degree. Thank you Penn Foster for changing my life. I proudly have a Penn Foster College decal on my car.