<p>I went to junior high in the ghetto and learned nothing. I eventually left high school my senior year. Spent years working minimum wage jobs and finally went back to school at the age of 26. Here I am now, four years later, attending UC Davis to get my degree. </p>
<p>If you would have told me 12 years ago when I was in HS that I would be living in CA and attending a school from the world famous UC system, I would have either laughed at you or called you a nutcase. </p>
<p>But here I am. You can either let the past run you into an early grave or you can let it motivate you to make a change.</p>
<p>Berdson,
Pretty incredible story man. Congratulations on getting where you are. As a socal native, I can answer a couple of your questions. Definitely be prepared for a major reduction of hearing “hella”. Total bay area thing for sure. As for the taco shops and the rest of everything, I think you’ll find that Irvine is pretty unique in that it has a little bit different feeling than the SoCal everybody thinks of with SD and LA. My gf goes to UCI so I’ve been there quite a few times; it’s a great atmosphere and I can’t imagine you wouldn’t enjoy it. Just thought I’d comment on this post because the title caught my eye and everyone here seems to have a pretty great story.</p>
<p>P.S you’re totally right about HS. i coasted through with a 2.7 completely unmotivated, and after a year a half of community college i’m applying to LA SD, and Berkeley with a legitimate chance. The system definitely needs some work haha. good luck to you!</p>
<p>I broke my ankle 1st year of HS, and long story short, I ended up dropping out and developed agoraphobia. Now I’m hoping to put in an app this year for LA, SD, etc. and as long as I maintain my GPA, I have a really good chance at getting in to both of 'em. Life is too long for there not to be second and even third chances.</p>
<p>Hmm, same as everyone’s story, I guess. I dropped out at the beginning of my junior year – didn’t even finish adult school or my GED process. I got nothin’. So going to CC, I had to start from the very beginning to prove I wasn’t “dumb,” and in about a year, I’ll start applying to four year universities.</p>
<p>I feel like I missed out on a lot of things, but looking back and looking at who I am now, it probably would have been more detrimental to me if I had stayed (I wasn’t exactly popular – I’ll put it that way).</p>
<p>I live in Irvine. UCI is in a city that not filled with ‘taco shops’ – far from it. Very boring when it comes to party scene because police will roll it. It’s a upper/middle class city, very expensive and safe city. Very strict city because they make sure everything is perfect and that nothing is out of place. </p>
<p>1.)There is no “bad” part of town in Irvine, everywhere is safe and clean.
2.)Anti-homeless city, they arrest them and kick them out.
3.)Very clean, no trash or dirty areas in Irvine. They constantly clean the city 24/7.
4.)Very strong infrastructure
5.) Modern and classy structure gives Irvine a very ‘upper’ class feel.</p>
<p>I used to work in Irvine/Tustin. You’re absolutely right about “nothing out of place.” It’s very clean, not much going on. For entertainment, people go to The Spectrum. I enjoyed my little bit of time there.</p>
<p>I dropped out of hs but then realized I made a mistake and enrolled in a wasc certified charter school. I got my diploma the same month I would’ve at my high school^_^ and I made more friend there.</p>