<p>Hello everyone! I'll get straight to the facts. I just graduated high school last June. I decided to take a year off to backpack Europe. My Mother, who did not approve of this decision, was very upset and forced me to sign up for some online classes so it "won't be a complete waste of time!" I did so, mostly, so she would not drop dead of a heart attack. I backpacked Europe, and some of you know what it's like. There was quite a few nights of sleeping in trains stations, dock yards, etc. Needless the say the few chances I got internet access, was stealing it from the outer walls of hotels. Needless to say I received two W's and an F. Thanks Mom.</p>
<p>This semester I'm coming back to Los Angeles, I already signed up for classes at our local community college (Santa Monica College.) I have my hearts set on transferring to the USC School of Professional Writing. If I do grandly at community college (4.0's...deans list....editor of newspaper, which is already lined up....etc) and take all my required classes, Turn in an amazing portfolio of work, (which the School of Professional Writing requires, and which I know I can do, since writing is my gift.) and I get 3 letters of recommendation from authoritative figures (published writers I plan on interning for) will this help the fact that my first semester was such a bust because of my traveling?</p>
<p>On a side note: I knew I would not go straight to college after high school, so I never took my SAT's. I've heard people say I still need to, and I've heard people say I do not since I am transferring. While I'm on this side note, how deeply will they consider my high school years. My first two high school years I was a C-/D student, last two high school years, I was an honors students, with about 15 extracurricular, President of 3 clubs, and Editor-in-Chief of high school newspaper, and took APs.</p>
<p>On a second side note: When discussing my predicament with a friend. He says spending an extra year at community college, and taking more then the required courses, will help get them to look past my first semester debacle. </p>
<p>Lastly, although I am not a minority (unless Croatian is a minority these days,) I come from lower-class first generation American immigrants, with no education. However, my older sister and brother both graduated from USC, however, they aren't the kind of people who have connections, or the funds for a library branch.</p>
<p>I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my wandering nomadic heart, for helping me in this matter, which has plagued my mind, since I begun to plan my return to the Estados Unidos.</p>