Download - My Journey
Talent only goes so far; hard work does the rest. To all my inspirational professors I encountered along my journey (2011~2015); to the
tutors/counselors/UC representatives who helped guide me to transfer; to my mentors;
and to my best friend, Nathalie V.
Foremost, I am writing this letter to my lovely professors and to everyone who has had a
positive impact in my life. I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your endless support
and your guidance in helping me become the person I am today. Spring 2015 will be my
last semester at El Camino College, and I will be transferring to UCLA in the fall of
2015. I have been waiting for this moment since I started college in 2011. Therefore, I
would like to share my journey with you and express how your encouragement helped
me.
When I first started college in summer 2011, I studied in the west wing of the library.
There were always students studying independently. Likewise, I always studied alone in
the library until it closed. I honestly thought I was the first one in and last one out.
However, there were other students who were just as motivated as I was. It was that
moment when I realized that I was not the only one who wanted to transfer to a university
or simply wanted to be the best; I had competition everywhere.
Coming from a disastrous first attempt in education, for the first time in my life, I wanted
to find out how far I could go. Hence, I joined the Honors Transfer Program. This meant
an enormous challenge and also meant more competition. But nothing was going to stop
me. I knew that if I could not compete with fellow students in class and get the best grade
in class, I would have no success in the real world. Luckily, my perseverance helped me
pass all my 29 classes and helped me maintain a 4.0 grade point average.
I always believe in hard work. I have met and made many friends since I started college,
and I find it funny when people say, “You’re smart,” to me. But I ponder and question
myself; what exactly does the word “smart” mean? Am I considered smart when I barely
graduated high school with a 2.0 GPA, bubbled in all Cs on all my Scantron exams in
high school, read only three books until I started college in 2011, didn’t know what
Harvard was, started from Math 12 (basic arithmetic) at ECC? Did I change from stupid
to smart in a short period of time? No, it’s not that I’m smart or gifted. My concept of
success is very simple: hard work. I’m not smart, but I work twice as hard as anybody
else. The word “smart” is ubiquitous, but I still have trouble defining this word.
Out of the 29 classes I took at ECC, I would have to say Biology 10 H was the hardest. I
had an amazing biology professor and a tutor. I fondly remember the time I received my
first exam back. I had a red mark labeled “96/100” in the corner of my scantron. Oh, boy,
I was ecstatic to get that “A” because the last time I had received an “A” on a science
exam was in sixth grade. My first exam went well, but I received a “B” on my second and
third exams. I hadn’t changed my study habits; I had studied the way I always did. Yet I
just couldn't execute. I panicked. I thought I was going to get my first “B” in college. To
get an A in class simply meant getting all A’s on the exams. However, my level of basic
knowledge was below average, so it was extremely difficult to keep up with the class and
my competition.
For the first time, I thought hard work might not be enough. Towards the fourth exam and
the lab exam, my professor told me what I needed to get on my exams to avoid taking the
final and finish the class with an A. I needed 100/100 on my fourth exam and 50/50 on
my lab exam—yes, perfect scores. I was looking for a miracle. I remember venting this
situation to a mentor. The answer sounds silly, but she simply said, “Work harder.” At
first, I didn’t grasp what she was trying to tell me, but she was right. I just had to work
harder, work twice as hard, which I did. I studied and bombarded my professor/bio tutor
with questions. I studied, studied, and studied.
I went in well prepared for my fourth exam and the lab exam. To go straight to the point,
I received a perfect score on both of my exams. I learned that anything is possible. But
my story doesn’t end here. I couldn’t find any words to describe my joy, if joy was even
the right word to use. On the last day of class before the final, students were giving our
biology professor chocolate and gifts. For some reason, I wanted to do more than just
give her a gift or walk away with an A in the class. I wanted to get an A on the final for
my biology professor and show her my appreciation for the subject. I told her that I didn’t
have a gift, but I was going to do my best to get an A on the final. As preposterous as it
sounds, I wanted to take the final.
I had an evening class that day, so I couldn’t study until nine o’clock that night. As you
all may know by now, I studied like crazy. I studied like there was no tomorrow. I took
the final the next morning, determined to get that A for my biology professor. The night
of the final, I emailed my professor to thank her for a wonderful semester. A couple of
days later, I received a response from her saying, “You are very welcome. You did the
hard work and you did get an ‘A’ on the final. Please keep in touch and let me know how
you are doing as you progress along your journey.”
Fortunately, miracle found me. My actions have demonstrated that hard work can
demolish anything. In retrospect, besides hard work, I couldn’t have gotten to where I am
today without the help of my best friend, tutors, and, most importantly, my passionate
professors. Thank you all for your countless hours of education and your endless support.
Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect
them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your
future.” Indeed, I am glad that I didn’t go to college right after high school because I
wouldn’t be here today. I would not have met my inspirational professors and my best
friend, Nathalie V., who changed my life and always put a smile on my face (you’re the
best). Where would I be today if I hadn’t met them along my journey? All I can say is
thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I could share more stories, but I don’t want to turn my farewell letter into a book.
One thing people can never take away from me is my education. Your passion and
inspiration have been indispensable to my success in college. You changed my life. Not
only did you change my life, but you also created the fundamental blocks of success to
my future. Please continue to inspire hundreds and thousands of humble incoming
students, which will ensure their educational success. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
Sincerely,
Makoto Kishi