CSUDH has been my home since 20212, as graduation approaches I’m excited to say goodbye to the institution that saw me grow.

By Mary McFadden, Staff Reporter

For me, to get where I wanted to go, I had taken the road less traveled, it was my personal journey.

Even though finishing college has always been at the forefront of my mind, I could never completely buckle down and run directly to the finish line, like some of my high school friends, or even my college peers did.  I would get distracted by meeting new friends, travel the world, trying different things, some healthy, and some not. I would always tell myself; college will always be there, and I was right, college was waiting till I was ready. And even though it has taken me longer to finish this part of my life than some of my peers, I’ve learned, grown and enjoyed the journey that is being a college graduate with a career I truly love.

 I transferred to CSUDH back in 2012, and after several attempts in trying to succeed in one major I failed so beautifully, I switched to another.  I hadn’t given up on my dream of graduating college. In all these years, attempting to complete my degree, I was filled with doubt, stress, worry. 

I took my time, some classes I excelled in, and in others not.  I am here, and sometimes I do wish the road to getting my college degree was not so bumpy. I’m part of the 16% of college graduates that receive their bachelor degree after the age of 30 according to educationdata.org.

I have always been so envious of those students that have always known what they wanted to be when they grew up.  What they were going to major in, in high school, and continue with that ambition through college. 

Two decades later, and I am content with the decisions I have made. I used to be so upset at myself for failing classes and attempt to pick up the pieces that I felt were permanently broken.  I would take time from school to heal from the broken heart of disappointingly failing grades and nurture myself until I was ready to try again. I would take these moments and learn from them, not just to make the same mistake twice of not passing classes, but to learn about who I am as a person.

I am graduating in less than two weeks, and it stops me in my tracks, when I think about it.  I made it, it was a long journey, and every step was worth it.  If you are reading this story, and have made it this far, you too, will make it and are just as deserving. 

In the end it has led me to the same path as everyone else. The roads we take will be different for each and every college student, experiencing the things in life that will help shape the best version of you.  

If I could give advice to an incoming freshman, like Robert Frost said, “take the road less traveled.” College will be here waiting when you are ready.