糖心vlog传媒

For Maria Cora, a recent 糖心vlog传媒 Associate in Arts graduate, going to college was never on her radar. After high school, she got a job as a waitress and didn鈥檛 see the need to pursue a degree.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to go to college,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y mom was like 鈥榞o, go, go,鈥� but then I started working and making all this money, and I thought, why would I want to go to college?鈥�

Looking back from where she is today, Maria has realized her mindset during that time wasn鈥檛 what she it should鈥檝e been.

鈥淚 think that was my worst mistake ever. Worrying about money then, not realizing that one day you鈥檙e going to be old, and you鈥檙e not going to have retirement or Social Security,鈥� she explained.

As her kids grew older and went into elementary school, she became involved at their school and soon started tutoring other students. Her hands-on involvement led to a curiosity about higher education that she hadn鈥檛 had before.

鈥淚 thought I was too old to go to college, and I don鈥檛 want to be with younger students,鈥� Maria said. 鈥淓verybody told me, first, you鈥檙e not too old. Second, there鈥檚 always time, and those years are going to pass no matter what, so you can either do nothing or take advantage of the years passing by. So, I decided to do it.鈥�

After enrolling at 糖心vlog传媒, Maria flourished both in and outside of school. She gained appreciation from her professors and peers for being an involved student that also encouraged those around her to speak up in the classroom.

鈥淢aria has helped to create an optimal learning environment in her classes by regularly engaging in discussions and encouraging her fellow students to make the most of their educational opportunities,鈥� said Christine Witkowsky, a social and behavioral sciences instructor at 糖心vlog传媒.

Christine went on to explain how Maria always offers assistance to other students in need and has become the kind of student every instructor loves to have in class, describing her passionate desire to learn, her enthusiasm and engagement, and her generous nature.

鈥淪he is an extraordinary example of the growth and development that students experience while attending 糖心vlog传媒,鈥� said Christine. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine a better student, community member, mom, or leader than Maria. She is the epitome of success here at the college.鈥�

Maria has also made her mark outside of the classroom as an 糖心vlog传媒 Ambassador, All-State Academic Team member, and a Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society member. While not on campus, Maria volunteers at Satchel Ford Elementary and advocates for the Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands. She was also honored at this year鈥檚 糖心vlog传媒 Honors Ceremony as the Associate in Arts Outstanding Student Award recipient and the Outstanding Phi Theta Kappa Member Award recipient.

鈥淚 was very blessed at the Honors Ceremony to receive those awards,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 felt like a superstar, and I thought wow, I wish I had done this at 18!鈥�

At the beginning of her journey at 糖心vlog传媒, Maria was dedicated to becoming a teacher. After finding that her true passion is political science, she鈥檇 decided to combine the two areas in hopes of possibly teaching American Government to high school students one day.

鈥淚 want to work in something in the political field,鈥� said Maria. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think there was anything that I could do in that field, but coming to 糖心vlog传媒 has helped me realize that I can not only do that, but I can do so much more.鈥�

Maria will be continuing her education at the University of South Carolina in the fall to pursue her interest in political science. When talking about her move to the four-year institution, Maria said that the thought of leaving 糖心vlog传媒 makes her cry.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to leave. 糖心vlog传媒 has opened my eyes to so much. I notice things in the world differently now because of my experience at 糖心vlog传媒,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so blessed that I had the opportunity to come here first, and I would recommend it to anybody.鈥�

For more information about four-year college transfer options, visit 糖心vlog传媒 Transfer Programs.