Planning Ahead

I chose to attend adult education classes at Overfelt High School for three

reasons. First, I need to get my high School Diploma. A high school diploma is a

requirement in order to get a good job. I will probably have to work for a long time,

and I do not work at low paying jobs for the rest of my life. I am currently a cook at

a fast food restaurant, and it is not an easy job. Second, I also need to take some

computer classes. There are many good jobs in the business world, but I need

computer skills in order to get an interview at any of the high technology

companies in Silicon Valley. Finally, the tuition in the basic education classes is

free, and the time for the classes is free, and the time for the classes is convenient.

There are classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This is my first step

toward a better future.

 The First Week of School

The first few days of school are often difficult or new students for three

reasons. First of all, everything is strange and new. The school campus seems

large and confusing. Students often get lost and come to class late because they

cannot find their classrooms. They also have trouble locating the financial aid

office, the student health center, and the bookstore. For another thing, it is often

difficult for new students to make friend. Students come from many different

countries and speak any different languages such as Spanish, Japanese, Chinese,

and Vietnamese. As a result, new students often feel alone and shy because it is

difficult to communicate with their classmates. Finally, when students meet a new

teacher, they do not know what to expect. Is the teacher hard or easy? Is the

teacher kind or impatient? Does he or she give a lot of homework? Although,

teachers are usually friendly and helpful, students are always nervous the first few

days of class.
 Evergreen Valley College

I like Evergreen Valley College for three reasons. For one thing, it has a

good child-care center. This is very important to me. I am young mother with a two-

year-old daughter, and the child care center gives me the freedom to take one or

two classes a semester. In addition, it is easy to get to campus by bus because the

bus stop is only a block away. My car is old it is not always reliable. If I have a car

trouble, I have another way to get to school. Finally, the school is a friendly place.

Most students do not know each other at the beginning of a semester, but they

have many opportunities to become acquainted trough school clubs, sports, and

group work in class. The teachers are also very friendly and usually have a good

sense of humor. It means a lot of to me to have such a good school in m y

neighborhood.

Dao Nguyen