“Mom, did you make any friends today?” my
9-year-old daughter asked after my first day at
Rock Valley College. “No, Sweetie, I did not.”
My 12-year-old son had a more astute
observation: “Aren’t you embarrassed to
be there? I mean, you are older than the
other students.” I was embarrassed and
quite self-conscious — for about 15 minutes.
That embarrassment quickly made way for
enthusiasm and the realization that I was
finally taking the next step toward bettering
my life.
“Going back to school” was merely an idea I
had been mulling over for months, and when
it was time to take action, Rock Valley College
stood out as a great fit for me. The reasonable
cost and location of the main campus meant
that I could attend classes without adversely
affecting my family’s finances. Their helpful
staff guided me through the sign-up process,
and before I knew it, “going back to school”
had made the leap from idea to reality.
My family noticed a change within weeks;
I was happier, more organized, more focused.
My workload forced me to manage my time
more wisely and work more efficiently.
My intellectual frustrations disappeared, as
I was challenged by my professors and the
class material. I felt confident, ready to take
on new academic challenges and fill in my
knowledge gaps.
However, the changes I’ve experienced
run deeper than that. There is a renewed
sense of curiosity and a desire to learn in
our house — not only for me, but also my
children and husband. They see the value
of a quality education; they see me study, of
course, but they also share my excitement to
learn more material, to open more doors. By
demonstrating that a life filled with education
is a rich life, I set the stage for my children to
succeed in their chosen paths.
Without the excellent professors and great
classes at Rock Valley College, it would have
been difficult to pass these lessons on to my
children. “Education is important” would have
been just words, instead of a way of life they
now see. The example I set sends a stronger
message: pursue education with passion, and
happiness will follow.
Rock Valley College has made it possible
for me to reach my new potential and set
higher goals for my life. It’s easy to see that
I’m happier — which has a very nice trickle-
down effect for my family — but going back to
school has enriched my entire outlook on life.
Anything is possible with an education;
I felt that from my first day at Rock Valley
College and still believe it today.
My community college has most certainly
changed my life for the better, and I even made
a few friends.
The following is the republished essay for Rock Valley College student Rebecca Hines. Rebecca entered and won the Paul
Simon Student Essay contest at RVC, an annual contest that asks students in 500 words or less to address the theme of
“How My Community College Has Changed My Life.” After her essay was chosen as the winner at RVC, she was entered
into the statewide competition where she went on to win top honors from among 24 students representing community
colleges across the state. Rebecca is the first RVC student to claim the top prize in the state competition since the
competition was created in 1990.
“My family noticed a
change within weeks;
I was happier,
more organized,
more focused.”
— Rebecca Hines,
RVC student
How My Community College Has
Changed My Life
