Gap Year To College Freshman
Heading Back To School With Help From Palm Beach State College
By Christina Charles
As I walked off the graduation stage in May 2023, I couldn’t shake this feeling of internal dread about the future. Despite my peers’ happy faces and their families’ enthusiasm about their upcoming move-in days, the rest of my year would include months of sheets with my punch-in and punch-out times. I smiled for the cameras, went home and got ready for work the next day.
I had pondered my entire senior year about what I wanted to do for “the rest of my life,” and by graduation, I still didn’t have an answer. I decided to take a gap year. I imagined my old schoolmates graduating together and going on to become lawyers, doctors and other useful members of society, while I’d be stuck finishing whatever degree I decided to do.
Yet as stressful as my situation was, it ended up being a year devoted to not only saving toward college, but gaining life skills that I knew would pay off once I got enrolled. As my gap year was ending, I was beaming with excitement at the thought of all the knowledge I would earn going back to school. I have gained a positive work ethic, a solid schedule and a clear headspace, and all that was left was my education.
Picking which school I was enrolling in was a no-brainer — Palm Beach State College at the Loxahatchee Groves campus was it. It was so simple to schedule a tour online and could hardly contain myself as my tour date approached. Finding the Loxahatchee Groves campus was extremely easy, and the directional signs made it a breeze to meet the campus recruiter.
What seemed like one the scariest times in my life turned out to be one of the most welcoming experiences I have ever faced. As I opened the door to the clean and air-conditioned building and walked up to the student assistant, who helped check me into the office, I was greeted with hellos and warm smiles from the friendly office associates, both the students and the staff. It wasn’t too long after I had checked in that Stankeisha Burchell-Webb, outreach program specialist for Palm Beach State College, appeared. She introduced herself and told me to have a seat while she prepared for the tour.
After sitting, I nervously picked up every pamphlet I saw to get an idea of what I had to look forward to. It was all I could do to contain myself as my leg shook furiously from excitement. I looked at all the majors that were presented before me. PBSC offers 130-plus programs of study, including business, arts and communication, industry manufacturing, construction and transportation, public safety, STEM programs and more. My head started spinning at the thought of me getting my associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree and perhaps even a master’s degree in any of these fields. There are also options of getting certificates in a trade that can help me get into the workforce faster. Could I really do that at this point?
Before I thought too hard, my name was called, and I sprang to my feet. Ms. Burchell-Webb shook my hand and looked as if she was more excited than I was. We walked out of the front office as she showed me where I’d be taking summer classes, along with the other classrooms up ahead. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, with the sunlight beaming into the modernly designed lounge areas. It contrasted with the image I had in my head of a stressful and fast-paced environment. I was in awe of the wide-open space. The campus had several seating areas that allowed students to have both down time and/or study sessions. There were computers and books that you could borrow or work on.
I was in awe of everything I saw. Looking into this institution, I envisioned myself working on assignments that would push me further to graduation and couldn’t help but be thrilled at the thought. I imagined all the connections and internships I’d do to build my portfolio. This is where I would find myself! Not only do they have a wide variety of classes to enroll in, but they have celebratory events, clubs and performing art shows that enhance the college experience through making friends and connections in personal interests. I had already found myself being interested in clubs such as the Black Student Union, the Anime Club and the Math Club.
Toward the end of the tour, we stopped at the Student Learning Center, where students and supervisors worked together to explain the areas of studies where tutoring was offered for free. They offered a plethora of subjects, such as accounting, writing, math and even technology/programming. You have the option of scheduling an in-person or online tutoring session. This demonstrates the accommodations that PBSC makes for students. They explained the proficiency in optional tutoring, even if you felt confident in the subject area; the extra help to master the content that would push you ahead in your classes. I recognized the staff’s desire to help students succeed, and it gave me a sense of comfort knowing that my academic needs would be met for my learning style.
Returning to the main office, I met with Armando Carrasco, the student development advisor, who went over in-depth all the classes I would need to get my associate’s degree. He presented Palm Beach State College’s transfer program to move to another university after completing your associate’s degree. He explained the optional part-time or full-time classes, and the option to learn on campus or remotely. There were so many positive options on where I could take my education that it was overwhelming.
Nearing the end of my visit, I sat with the financial aid advisor, Effie Scott-Jackson, to sort out my financial circumstances. In a typically vulnerable space, she greeted me into her office and empathically allowed me to explain my situation. She asked me about my ambitions and interests. My mind was spinning again, but this time with excitement to give my answers. She took her time to describe the best possible route to financially take care of my class requirements.
Tuition at Palm Beach State College is surprisingly affordable. Ms. Scott-Jackson explained all the resources I could exhaust to pay for my classes. This included scholarships, grants and loans that could give me the extra leverage to afford my education. She emphasized to reach out again if I’m in need of anything, that the administrators were there to make sure I was successful. This made choosing classes a less stressful process.
After a hectic and confusing gap year, it was pleasant to come to an institution that allowed me to move at my own pace and ensure my prosperity. A few months after my tour of the campus, I am now a freshman at Palm Beach State College studying for my associate’s degree and looking forward to pursuing a degree in cybersecurity and technological advancement. I look forward to my future at PBSC, and I am confident in my ability to do well at school and create a strong foundation to excel in the workforce.
Palm Beach State College’s Loxahatchee Groves campus is located at 15845 Southern Blvd. Learn more about programs at www.palmbeachstate.edu.
