Just an FYI, along with the vast majority of my fellow leaders I wish to congratulate all those in PTK for a good year and all your aid in the many activities that have occurred throughout the year. It should also be of interest that many positions will be open for those that wish to take up the mantle for next year, so definitely check that out. Since I will be departing Chaffey College due to the fact that I should be transferring to a University (UCLA Pre-History Major) if everything goes according to plan... [Maintain GPA/Do not go insane with all the pressure of Finals Week and Procrastination on Projects]; I wish to leave a relatively simple/lengthy piece of advice for those that are in a point in their lives where they are searching for what they want out of life. Hopefully this whole last words thing can be kept as a ceremony for all PTK Historians from this time on... Hopefully!!! This is my piece of advice column.
Life in a Community College by Patrick Guarte [PTK Historian 2009-2010]
3 Tips/Blurbs To Surviving a CC and 1 Blurb on How to Get into UCLA
1. Chaffey College is a pretty cool place... For Real!!!
You just have to get over yourself and realize that for the most part, the Professors you meet here are highly invested in the students and love what they do... but of course you will meet some Professors that are otherwise. I'm just being realistic, I tell it how it is.
2. Make the most of your Community College Experience.
Life is too short to feel bad or feel left behind when comparing yourself to others. Sure your friends may be in a large University and "partying it up," or maybe they already have jobs and are earning money but they have different life paths. While I was starting at Chaffey I felt left behind, my friends were off at Cal Poly or UCSD or UCR and doing exciting things with their lives, going to parties and living life... and then some came back to Chaffey.... while I was getting ready to leave and go off to better things. This is not to say that they fell off in life, but more so to say that what you put into life, you get right back out. If you stay focused and dedicated you can achieve close to what you want in life and you surely will end up in a better place than where you started.
3. Make Friends
I have met the most interesting people at Chaffey. People from all walks of life. Listening to their stories and discussing life really shaped my world view. Also, I ended up meeting another History Major from Chaffey in an Asian History class who is also transferring to UCLA with me(Kevin Hyun Lee). Kevin was also a member of PTK. Good Times ahead!!!
4. How to Get into UCLA for History? aka How I Got into UCLA aka Really Now???
Quite frankly I have no clue why I was chosen but here are some of the things that I did...
-Volunteer in community service (Church... 5hrs./week for 5 yrs.... 2 in Highschool/3 in Community College).
-More Volunteer Service... while I was a Nursing Major... (1 hr./week for 2 yrs.)
-Join PTK (Honors Society)... and I did not join the Honors program cause it was too hectic to add that with sports... which I will talk about in a bit.... aka next.
-Chaffey College Swim Team (2 Yrs.); Yes I was the slowest guy on the team but i'm proud of it and I will always remember the events, friends and road trips.
4.5 Do what you love...
I found a major that I was passionate about and I pursued it. Life is too short to live in a what if. Live in the moment and be spontaneous, that is the spice of life. I remember what my Professor in World History said to us in class one day, "No one will know who you are in a 100 yrs. from now (Professor Asiris Cruz)," and that got me thinking..."I may never be an important person and I may never change the world, but what I can do is do the things that I want to do in my life and live my life the way I want to in the most productive manner possible." Part of that was choosing History over Nursing. I was doing it out of fear of the future rather than doing it for a passion. History was my Passion. [Note... Plagiarism is illegal and also pretty wacked out just for those that wish to complete copy this.]
- Live NOW!!!! Go outside and breath the air aka Toxic Fumes of California. Do you realize that you're alive? You do, but are you aware that the fact that you exist in this moment is remarkable??? Truly crazy... I'm pretty hyped right now actually.
-From Your Friendly Neighborhood Historian: Patrick Guarte
If anyone needs to contact me for information or aid, my Email is almightyawpoo@yahoo.com.
