There are over 24,000 students currently enrolled at Fresno City College. Some students may be here fresh from high school, while others are returning students from passed semesters, or perhaps some older students, looking to brush up on some highly regarded skills. But whether we are young, old, green, or wizened, we are all here for one reason: to follow a dream. Each of us has had a childhood dream of grandeur and wonder that fills our hearts and spurs us forward through life, and for each of us, that dream is different. According to SCCCD’s Institutional Research facility, 49 percent—the majority—of students received degrees in interdisciplinary studies this semester, while two percent received degrees in architecture and related technologies. Of the 100 majors offered here at FCC, it seems, though, that the most popular are general studies, nursing, medical, and business and management according to American School Research.com.
Many students walk about FCC, taking classes and earning degrees or getting the credits in order to transfer to another school for one reason or another. But why are they here? What drives them to get up each and every day and battle the parking lot and cafes in order to make it to their various classes?
“I want to be a film director,” says Jen Vo, psychology major, “I used to take classes for it in high school, but extenuating circumstances caused me to have to give up my dream for a time. I started studying psychology after that in order to understand more about what happened, but I have been thinking lately that I want to go back to studying film and work towards becoming a director.
According to the researchers at SCCCD Institutional Research, six percent of graduates this year will be receiving a degree for media and communications, while 22 percent will be graduating with a degree in social sciences.
There are many dreams out there, and many reasons why we follow them. Some of us may still be holding onto our dreams from years ago, whilst others have set aside theirs in order to pursue knowledge of a different sort, or because the current recession has given them only a certain number of options. Here at FCC, we are here for many reasons, and many of us are here at FCC in order to either fulfill those dreams, or to use the schooling we receive here as a stepping stone in order to find our way towards making our dreams a reality.
“I have always wanted to be a history professor,” says Alex Grant, history major, “I’m trying to get my transfer credits here in order to go to Santa Barbara College where they have a major for the specific time and area of history I want to teach, and then I am planning on moving to Cambridge, where they have a major for Welsh history around the same time as King Arthur was fabled to live, which is what I want to reach about. After I get tenure, I’ll be going to class every day in full plated armor to teach about this brand of history.”
Researches at SCCCD Institutional research facility say that approximately 10 percent of students receiving degrees this semester will be receiving them for their pursuits in the field of education, and that Fresno Unified School District is the fourth largest school district in California. Teacherportal.com implores those looking to become teachers to go the extra mile and go for more than just a Bachelor’s Degree, but to go for your Masters or PhD, like one Miss Mariah Dean.
“My dream is to be an English teacher,” says Dean, “I was inspired by a teacher I had in high school to do this. She was one of those teachers who was really cool, but still got a lot of work done with her students, and was able to teach me a lot. I took my CBEST right out of high school because of this, and my NCLB instead of waiting until I finished school here. Right now I am taking classes so I can transfer to Fresno State, and then one day be a teacher.”
Mariah Dean went on to explain that the CBEST and NCLB tests are required tests for those looking to get into the teaching field. Apparently, most people wait until after they have received a certain level of schooling to take these tests, but Mariah took them right out of high school, determined to meet the goals for her dream. According to California Comparison.com, approximately 34 percent of all teachers in California are English teachers of one level or another, which means that there is always room for more. We all have dreams, and many of us are here at FCC because of those dreams, but whatever your reasons ladies and gentlemen, follow the feelings in your hearts, and let your passion shine in all that you do.