Education Never Ends: The Goals of a First-Generation College Student
By Malaysia, a senior at MHS
When I enrolled at Milton Hershey School, I was given unlimited access to books, technology, and the expertise of our faculty and staff—all the tools I needed to be successful once I graduated.
College has always been a goal in my life because no one in my family has graduated from college. Therefore, I knew that everyone’s expectations of me would be high and I would only strive to meet them.
During my time at MHS, I worked the hardest to achieve academic excellence in the classroom. In middle school, I especially enjoyed using the Catherine Hall library. I checked out at least six new books every week because my family pushed me to absorb all I could.
I also surrounded myself with young people who wanted to achieve the same things. Your friends represent who you are even when you’re not around, so I gravitated toward people who would help me succeed.
As a group, we have achieved so much together including making the distinguished honor roll, participating in varsity sports, and enrolling in the Temple Program in high school.
The Temple Program is an opportunity for MHS seniors to graduate from high school early and begin taking college courses on the MHS campus. At the end of the program, I will earn 17 college credits and begin an internship for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.
These classes are the most challenging I have taken in my high school career, but I feel more prepared for college than ever because I have used every stage of my life as a stepping stone to get where I want to be. I plan to attend American University and study international business with a minor in marketing.
However, college is not the final stage for me. It will be a place where I will better my education and understanding so I can not only be an attractive potential employee but a better version of myself. Beyond college, I plan to continue learning and growing because learning never really stops after you leave the classroom.
As world-renowned philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti said, “There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”