Scholarship Spotlight Spring 2009 - Ohlone College Foundation
Ngan Vu
- Steelcase/One Work Place & Ohlone College Foundation Scholarship and
ASOC Leadership Scholarship
“My first year here at Ohlone has been one of the best experiences of my life. I strive to continue my education, and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer in being able to finance it.”
A year ago, when I was a high school senior, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in. The pressure of having to decide what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life overwhelmed me, and I lacked the insight to determine my desired future career. I never planned on taking the community college route since I was accepted to UC Irvine as an undecided major and wanted to start the fall there. It was during this time my mom had to tell me, eyes full of tears, that it would not be possible for the family to afford sending me away to UC Irvine. This was the first time I had to realize and accept that I could not realistically afford the college education that I wanted. I took the alternative route, which was to attend a community college to save money for the first two-years until I would transfer to a UC. I was disappointed about the situation, but I knew that sacrificing my freshman admission to UC Irvine was the best solution for the family. In addition, I knew that I would be able to start over with the same diligence I had in high school.
During my Macroeconomics class fall semester, I discovered a fascination for the topic of business and economics, and so now I am majoring in business economics. It fascinated me that in every class, all the things I learned would be directly applicable to real life. I came to the realization that business and economics surrounds me everywhere all the time. Most importantly, that class gave me the tools to comprehend and get a sense of understanding with what was happening around me during this current economic crisis. The recession has affected me personally with my dad losing his job this past year. This has taken a toll on my family with my mom struggling to provide for the family on her own and with most of our invest savings depleted. This current financial struggle my family and I are experiencing is all the more motivation for me to immerse myself with the knowledge of my field of study. I feel passionate that if I am able to understand the intricacies of business economics, I will better prepare myself and my family from downturns such as the one we are facing. With my dad being unemployed, it is clear to me that attending Ohlone was the right decision after all.
Business economics, which deals heavily on decision-making, has made me more aware of the decisions I make and the trade-offs that come with every decision. This is especially applicable to my role as an Associated Students of Ohlone College (ASOC) Senator. During every general ASOC Council meeting when conducting business, I must constantly vote and make decisions on behalf of my fellow Ohlone students. Ever decision I make has to be a selfless one that is in the best interest of the students. As part of the ASOC Council, my main objective is to represent the voice of Ohlone students. I love being on the council because I am surrounded by other students that share the same passion I have to make an impact on our Ohlone community. The aspect that draws me most to the ASOC Council is the idea of being a part of something beyond me, a bigger picture.
I am a people person with a gregarious personality, so I find pleasure being able to be out there promoting awareness of issues that impact us students. This is the reason why during the fall semester, I presented in each of my classes in order to make my classmates aware of the severe budget cuts that would have a heavy impact on our abilities as students to afford an education. I collected signatures for a letter drive to our local state legislature in order to voice our concerns of how the budget cuts would negatively impact us. Last March, when the student Senate of California Community Colleges (SSCCC) hosted a march to the State Capitol against budget cuts, I was an instrumental part of organizing and urging Ohlone students to attend. Marching to the State Capital on Sacramento was an unforgettable experience. We were joined with thousands of students from all over California showing that our education matters to us. Even if the march would not bring immediate solutions to the current state budget crisis, the point was to express and make our voices heard. It was at the march that I felt a deep sense of a bigger community, not just the Ohlone community, but the community of all California students. I continue to represent the voice of Ohlone Students, now on a state-level, as my newly appointed position of SSCCC Region IV delegate for Ohlone College. I will be attending the SSCCC Spring General Assembly held in San Diego next weekend to represent Ohlone College among all the other California Community Colleges that will be present. I truly believe and support the core belief of the SSCCC that access to a high quality educational environment is a right for all. I take pride in the California Community College system, especially Ohlone College, for providing and affordable quality education to all students, and that is why I am extremely excited to be involved with the SSCCC. Aside from the SSCCC, I am continuing my commitment to the ASOC in hopes of being elected ASOC Vice president for the 2009-2010 school year.
I do not regret my decision to stay home and attend college at Ohlone one bit. My first year here at Ohlone has actually been one of the best experiences of my life. Now I have a major that I am passionate about. Now I am part of a school organization that I am enthusiastic about. And overall, I have gained a sense of direction that I lacked before. The apprehension that I felt before has transformed into certainty that I am exactly where I am meant to be. I still may not know the exact career that I want to pursue, but I know for certain that whatever it is I will be satisfied if I make a positive impact on people’s lives. I strive to continue my education, and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer in being able to finance it. I always strive for personal growth, and I know coming to Ohlone is only the beginning of my journey to self-discovery. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to afford a quality education as I work towards my goal to transfer to UCLA to pursue my major in Business Economics.
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