How the Inevitable Helped an HCC Graduate Grow
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icture this, you are fresh from high school, or you are just starting your new year at HCC. What's the problem the average student faces? That problem is work. Be it looking for a job or already being in one, the dread of balancing schoolwork and a job strikes the average student.. This was a rude awakening for my sister, HCC graduate Lucia Solis. For Lucia, her daily routine consisted of rushing from school to work. The usual allure of the scent of fresh toast and eggs from the kitchen ended up being replaced by anxious butterflies in her stomach from the unbearable thought of all the responsibilities the HCC student had. Driving from school to work made her stomach turn and her head spin. It was all a blur for Lucia. She felt the need to “run home from work, get ready, and not have time to eat.” It was hell for such a hard working student. Even her schoolwork had diminished, as she would “wake up at 6 A.M. before class to do homework and still not have enough time to finish.” This led to grades falling and sleepless nights finishing schoolwork. This stress had taken a toll on Lucia’s mental and physical health, leading to problems like high cholesterol. One responsibility ended up taking precedence against the other; it was like a tug of war between school and work. It was overwhelming for the HCC graduate, and Lucia felt as if she was losing control. She felt as if no one recognized her battles. “I was thrown into it, but life is life,” she added. What followed were months of the same fight with responsibility. She had doubts about the worth of managing all this work if it meant feeling like a husk.
By Evan Solis Staff Writer
She still struggles. It’s inevitable, but she says it is that stress and experience that made her stronger in the long run. Lucia even thinks that it could be worth it to take the responsibility of working. She sees no difference between the full-time and parttime student; their work is equally worth it. The graduate feels as if the struggle that students will go through will lead them down the same path of learning that she went through, making them a stronger person, but ultimately, it is the student’s choice of what they want to do. Before I interviewed her, I never really had a thought of her feelings and her struggles, even seeing her every day (what a brother, right?) This is something everyone ends up doing, never realizing the everyday battles of those around them. I know that seeing my sister rise strong from one of the biggest struggles the average student faces gives me faith in going forward through the school year. Taking a chance to hear her really shows me how someone can rise as a person.
“There’s people who fall and don’t push themselves to get back up, so they don’t know what their true potential is.”
“I felt like I wanted to quit, but I couldn't,” she says. Lucia had too much on her plate. She trudged on with the late nights of studying and just barely making it to work from class. She felt helpless, but still she didn’t quit. She didn’t shy away from asking for help, nor did she feel embarrassed about her conflicts. Lucia had support from her family, her friends, and her school. She met up with her advisor, Professor Brenner, for help with her troubles. On the days Lucia felt down, which were plenty, her mother was there to lift her up. It was one fateful Monday morning that didn’t feel like such a slog and more like the usual. She was finally used to it. Lucia got ready for the day with her finished work on hand, came to class on time, and was ready for work. It was these struggles that made her a stronger person, she feels. What made her stressed and lose her balance school wise ended up teaching her how to multitask and grow resilient to the responsibilities that life throws at the average student.
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HORIZONS Spring 2022
Photo by Evan Solis Lucia Solis today, ready to take on any challenge life throws at her.
