#SoCanU: From remedial math to calculus

Featured below is an interview with another #SoCanU project rockstar, Sarah! Sarah graduated from Lake Sumter State College May 2014 and is currently pursuing her bachelor's in global business at the University of South Florida. 

Favorite thing to do on the weekends?
Lay out in the sun with some friends or go to the beach and relax.

Favorite food/meal?
Anything Italian... sooo I'd say chicken Alfredo!

What made you decide to choose community college?
So I could stay home, save money, still be with my friends and family while I needed to grow up a little.

What obstacles did you overcome in community college and/or in your transfer university to achieve your degree?
I really struggled in math when I got to college. I didn't like math all my life, until I had an amazing professor. I went from remedial math to calculus! I even tutor math now.

I also have a learning disability called dyslexia. It is a reading learning disability that can hinder a lot. I never let that be an excuse and never will even though I will have this disability my entire life.

What are you most excited about for your future right now?
What is most exciting is that I have so many goals and I'm already fulfilling them. The crazy part is, is that I have no idea where life with take me and I'm okay with that.

What is the best piece of advice you can give our readers who are currently attending community college?
Never give up, don't let others make decisions for you. Don't be a follower, if you have something to say...say it! You can do anything you set your mind to, if you really want it.

From a 1.3. GPA to a 3.5: How one CC student didn't let his learning disability get in the way

Since I've been writing and speaking about community college students I've heard more stories than I can count about students who've taken a GPA in the one-point digits and raise it up two points and above and graduate with honors. They never cease to astound me. This is not an easy thing to do. But every story affirms it can be done. 

And one such story recently came to me from Austyn who has just graduated with his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and is on his way to graduate school.

When Austyn began community college he faced a barrier many students face: a learning disability. His effected his reading comprehension, and college became instantly difficult."I really struggled to understand all the material and it wasn't easy. I had a really hard time my first couple years of college; I felt like I was the only person struggling."

Austyn ended up receiving a 1.3 GPA in his early semesters. 

Austyn admits there were times he felt like giving up. 

But he didn't.

Austyn took the initiative to ask for help - the secret to college success in my opinion, and yet something too few students do. He went to the tutoring center and the disabilities office and took advantage of all the resources his community college had to offer.

These services helped Austyn raise his GPA enough to be able to graduate from community college and transfer to the University of Central Florida. 

While at UCF, he then developed a relationship with his advising research professor. "He believed in me and in turn really helped me believe in myself and work harder than I ever worked in my life. I didn't know what he saw in me when he asked me to do research for him, but his encouragement really invigorated me."

A few weeks ago Austyn graduated with his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida with a 3.5 GPA at UCF and a 3.0 overall. 

He's now working on applying to Columbia University for graduate school. 

Austyn's advice based on his experience? Simple: "Never give up, try to find some way to believe in yourself, don't let other people's comments get to you, and always try your best. Life is really hard, but if you get knocked down, just get back up.

I would love to hear your story - it's as easy as answering a few questions. You'd be surprised at how much sharing your experience can inspire someone else. Just go to isaadney.com/blog/you to learn how. Thank you so much!