I've just lost every bit of motivation

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I go to De Anza, and I want to go to SJSU. Well, I could have done that straight out of high school. The reason why I don't want to continue being a transfer student anymore is b/c I feel it's useless to transfer to a UC, knowing I will have to spend sometime first figuring out what I should major in and because college life sucks at CC. It's only my second week...too Maybe I should give it some more time? And if I want to go to SJSU right now, do I need 90 quarter units?</p>

<p>Lately, I've been thinking and thinking about what to major in and what I want to do. It's not going anywhere. Prior to this, I wanted to go to Law School so I could be a House of Representative. Then I've received major criticisms based on my personality and the nature of the job--how could I have that much money to run, how I suck at public speaking and so forth. Basically, my dream requires A LOT of money. I am poor. I live with my parents, and we only have enough to live on, not for me to even bother on anything else... </p>

<p>Now, I was thinking of spending a few extra years so I could take random classes, so I could see what I like/don't like. So again, I have no clue what I want to do in life or what to major in. If I could narrow down my major, then I could find a job in that field. If anyone wants to give me their two cent, that would be greatly appreciated. I'm open to all your kind/mean/helpful words.</p>

2

<p>You and I have one thing in common. Lack of motivation. But instead of not knowing what kind of major I want, I know what my major I am persuading. I am not sure why I am give advices now when I can’t even get myself straight out but I am just going anyway.
Instead of taking random classes, try to take harder classes. I am not sure about you but when I taking hard classes, I feel motivated (at first,lol) and I getting too busy to even think about boredom. My first semester at CC which was last year was boring, I took 17 units but only 2 are transferable and I got most A’s. They were easy so I felt so depressed because most of my friends were attending UC’s and I stuck here at CC taking dumb classes. Now it is my second year, I taking 19 units and all of the classes are transferable and they are pre-requisites classes for my major. I am suppose to doing my homework right now but instead I posting here and lurking around on Facebook. Once you started taking hard classes, you don’t even have time to worry about transferring, instead you will worry more about the classes that you are taking and the grade for the classes that you are taking will affect your chance of getting in of your dream schools.</p>

3

<p>^So so so so seconded, I got in a tough series of classes and I haven’t had much time to consider work on my personal statement (thank God I’d written something nice already that my counselor could go over with me instead of something really shoddy) or… really… sleep for that matter.</p>

4

<p>Hey I think your goal is realistic. Your public speaking skills suck? Register for a oral communications class! Too poor? Well let’s hope you get money in the future, but hey once you become a lawyer you’d be swimming in money anyways.</p>

<p>Just try to get good grades in school, apply for scholarships (easy as long as your gpa is above 3.0) </p>

<p>And the 90 quarter transferable units…you have to complete them the semester before you transfer. that means you don’t have to have 90 units right now. but you must have 90 after a year (assuming you’re transferring by fall 11)</p>

<p>You know, probably it would have been a good idea several years ago to take random classes and discover what you like even if it took you years. But right now, I can say that its gonna be harder 2-3 years from now, so if you know what you want, go get it right now!</p>

5

<p>All I can say is…tough it out. Yea CCC life sucks, but just knowing that you’re going to someplace better should give you the strength to do what you gotta do. You gotta stop thinking so negatively about yourself and your abilities. When people criticize you on those kinds of things, don’t go “yea he’s right.” Prove him wrong. Adversity should bring out the best in you, because really, the only you have to go is up to whatever your aspirations take you.
Acting like life isn’t going to get any better isn’t going to do you any good. If you only think like that, you’re going to look back on your life many years from now and wonder where you’d if you had just dreamed bigger and put your heart and soul into whatever you did. There will be absolutely nothing to regret if take life as optimistically as you can. Make the best of whatever life gives or throws your way.</p>

6

<p>When I first started CC I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted to do. I do admit, at times I feel there is no life at CC. No campus spirit, people just doing their own thing, etc.</p>

<p>If you don’t know what you are doing at the moment, perhaps try picking some classes from the IGETC or CSU breadth. That way you know you won’t be wasting your money on classes and this way they are both required for school and transferable.</p>

<p>There’s no problem spending a few extra years at CC to figure out what you like or don’t like. In fact it’s obviously better to be figuring out what you want at a CC rather than a UC/CSU. But you have to remember; sooner or later you’ll have to decide on a goal and you can’t stay there forever. Keep researching on possible schools you want to go to and the programs they have.</p>

<p>At times I used to feel left out because I was stuck in CC while all my friends were already off to UCs. But everyone is different and not everyone will figure out what they truly want right after they graduate after high school. There is no set of time that people have to do be finished in school within 4 years.</p>

<p>If you are interested in law, just take classes that are related to it. Take political science, history, speech or philosophy. So what if you suck at public speaking? We all have things to work on. My whole entire life I’ve been shy as hell. As I matured and took more speech classes, I became much better at it. I believe you can too. Do you think you need to work on your public speaking? Remember, people are more concerned about themselves so you don’t have to be nervous. The moment I started getting all A’s in school and feeling better about myself was the time I started to become less critical of myself, understanding myself more and just believing that I can do it. I’m sure you are just like me. Someone who entered CC, no motivation, confused what to do, wasn’t aware of my own abilities and just felt like I couldn’t “do it”. So just continue to pick classes related to the goal you have right now and get good grades. Within time you’ll figure out more things about yourself. Goodluck!</p>

7

<p>Here is some advice from someone who has been at CCC for longer than expected :-)… just start your IGETC and start getting all of those classes out of the way, and im sure you will decide a major once you have taken classes and really found out what your interests are. just make sure you focus on your IGETC so you dont spend extra years at a place you didnt want to be at in the first place ^_^</p>

8

<p>I don’t want to assume too much about you from a single post on the internet, but from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you have a lot of growing up to do.</p>

<p>Many people have no idea what they want to do, including people around you at De Anza. Perhaps your own indecision might be a little less demotivating if you keep that reality in mind. While you’re trying to figure out what you’d like to do, do what everybody else is doing: kick ass in your classes so that down the road, you’ll be prepared to make a move in the direction you choose.</p>

<p>Regarding your desire to be a House Rep: people will tell you “follow your dreams” and “don’t give up hope” and other kind banalities, but the fact of the matter is it’ll probably never happen. You aren’t wealthy, you’re easily swayed and demotivated by external criticism, and you don’t seem to even be able to articulate any pointed reason why you want to join congress, nevermind the notion that a JD is the best route (?). The sooner you realize that it ain’t gonna happen, the sooner you can redirect your hopes toward more realistic endeavors.</p>

<p>Myth: You can do whatever you want if you only want it badly enough.
Harsh Reality: Some things are impossible for you no matter how badly you want them. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and keep moving.</p>

9

<p>Bah, you have more chances trying than you do not trying at all.</p>

<p>There is no “House representative Science” major, polisci is not required to be a rep, or hold any other form of office (shoot, most politicians I can think of have law degrees - that may have started with polisci, it may have started with … marine biology! Who knows!)</p>

<p>I’m an engineering major and someday may go try to run for some government positions if I feel like it (right now I’d love to go tackle mayor or a city counsel position here and try to clean house XD)</p>

10

<p>That’s where the problem lies. As my History professor said nowadays there are professional Congressman. Essentially, you must come from a select family/breed to even run. It’s common to see Senators holding public office for 50+ years or dying in office. His argument was based on how certain public offices should have term limits.</p>

<p>As he said: “Public offices were meant to be served. That is go to Washington, serve your time, and then go back to your old occupation.” Kinda like what the Romans did.</p>

<p>His argument is not perfect but I do agree with it on some parts.</p>

<p>As far as needing campaign money to win an election, I would check out Freakonomics. Levitt clearly disproves that notion.</p>

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<p>He gives examples of “Howard Dean, Steve Forbes, Michael Huffington, and especially Thomas Golisano, who over the course of three gubernatorial elections in New York spent $93 million of his own money and won 4%, 8%, and 14%, respectively of the vote”.</p>

<p>It’s a great book. Really influenced me into becoming an Economics major. I believe it is on Google Books. The particular study I mentioned is on PP 9-12.</p>

11

<p>I’ve posted this info before but if you want the best JC Pre-Law degree and have a car you want to switch to Foothill College to do their Law and Society (Pre-Law) AA Degree. ALL of the classes are UC transferable and the academic classes that the CSUs, UCs, and LAC’s want from a lower division student. Foothill also has excellent Comm classes and you would want to do that and Leadership Development with a year in ASFC if want to get into politics or the school of your choice, granted you do well. This is the best Freshman-Sophomore block sequence towards the Law and Society (Pre-Law) AA:</p>

<p>2 Poli Sci </p>

<p>POLI 1 Political Science: Introduction to American Government & Politics (5 Units)
POLI 2 Comparative Government & Politics (4 Units)</p>

<p>2 Sociology</p>

<p>SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology (5 Units)
SOC 15 Law & Society (4 Units)</p>

<p>2 Business Law (only need I for degree but having II adds value and brownie points)</p>

<p>BUSI 18 Business Law I (5 Units)
BUSI 19 Business Law II (4 Units)</p>

<p>2 Philosophy (ideally but all you need is Phil 2 but would do Phil 1 and/or Phil 8 Ethics too)</p>

<p>PHIL 2 Introduction to Social & Political Philosophy (4 Units)</p>

<p>Not needed for the degree but recommended prior to transfer
ECON 1A Principles of Macroeconomics (5 Units)
or ECON 1B Principles of Microeconomics (5 Units)</p>

12

<p>Dude… I spent 7 year at CC (started in 10th grade) and basically dicked around for the first 4, then had to bust my ass to get a 3.0 and now I’m going to UCI (just for a quarter, I’m going to UCSD next year.) </p>

<p>Just keep your head up. Two years at CC is nothing.</p>

13

<p>I think you’re gonna need the Wonder Twins if you want to become a “House of representative”</p>

14

<p>Screw being a politician. I want to be behind the scenes pulling the strings.</p>

<p>…and yes CC life does suck. This is my third and final year at one, and I’ve been nothing but miserable. </p>

<p>And yes it is possible for you to be a Rep. You will just have to work your way up. Anyone in San Jose with a brown face and Hispanic last name could get elected around here (yes I’m hispanic as well).</p>

15

<p>The only major difference between a CC and a CSU or UC is there is no dorm housing. The minor difference is only the sophomore’s and not seniors can complain about silly incoming freshman. All the rest is just tragic irony of people at either type of institution who are bored but expect to be entertained without putting any effort into it</p>

16

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<p>LOL… I love idealistic morons. For some reason it’s exciting to me when the real world crushes your bizarre, totally irrational hopes and dreams. I -really- enjoy it. Does that make me a bad person? ;x Heh.</p>

17

<p>mmhmm. Yep. For a guy that takes brags about taking 21 units a semester. Grown up, reasonable, and level headed. I’m actually surprised you don’t go around bragging about this and calling everyone else an idiot XD</p>

18

<p>What makes you think I don’t? ;x</p>

<p>brb, running for US Senate</p>

19

<p>GTarrant: In my San Jose there are people in the city council with virtually no education. These people got elected because of their brown faces and last names, and now some of them are running for higher office. I’m sure the OP is far more intelligent than the majority of people.</p>

<p>Edit: Are you one of those intellectually incapacitated people who are claiming democracy is over because of the “calamity” that was Citizens United vs. FEC?</p>

20

<p>Hi Christian,</p>

<p>I’m also from the bay area. I’m going to quickly address your post in [mostly] reverse order.</p>

<p>Regarding Citizens United vs. FEC: I’m not sure how that came up exactly, but one might suppose that since it did, you probably hold a stronger opinion on the matter than I do.</p>

<p>As far as the San Jose City Council goes, I was intrigued by your suggestion so I actually just spend about 15-20 minutes looking at each of the non-white council members. Every one of them has at least a bachelors, and of those with only 4 year degrees, there was a record of public service prior to being elected to city council. Two have a masters, one of which was a college professor. Another has a pretty impressive track record in the SJ business world, mostly involving start-ups.</p>

<p>Did you mean a different San Jose, maybe? If so, please let me know so I can look at the correct San Jose. I just assumed you were talking about San Jose, California, but I realize in retrospect that there are a number of cities named San Jose throughout the US, and since my findings don’t at all mesh with your pointed suggestion about non-white city council members, you must have been talking about one of those other cities, right? My bad.</p>

<p>Regarding the poor, confused and unmotivated OP: People can sit around here and tell him “you can do it, man, if only you try hard enough!” and “you have to want it, dude! go for it!” and whatnot, and frankly, that’s cool. Knock yourselves out. It’s really motivational, and that’s what dude needs, right? I’m simply pointing out that it’s not true, that he’ll never be a House Rep – like, ever, never ever – and that it might be more worthwhile to take his head out of the clouds and be practical about his future. </p>

<p>All the very best,</p>

<p>T</p>