FOLLOWS HER DREAM

Guest columnist: Debbie Davis graduated from COS in 1979. In 1980 she was awarded the Most Valuable Softball Award. In this column, Ms. Davis shares with other students the value of pursuing their dreams no matter how long it takes.

After being away from school for many years, I decided to return to college to follow my dreams. That was, and still is, to be able to achieve professional credibility, so that I may work with troubled teens.

Upon returning to COS, I completed the courses needed to transfer to California State University (CSU), Chico and became a CSU * SAT student. This means that CSU, Chico offers upper-division courses on both the Weed and Yreka Campuses through the CSU Satellite System. Satellite courses are broadcast live over the television. COS students are sitting in a classroom where they can be interactive with the instructors and students who are sitting in the Chico classroom. Many courses are offered like this. These courses lead the way to a wide variety of bachelor degrees.

This May, as an off-site CSU, Chico student, I will have fulfilled all the undergraduate requirements needed to receive a bachelor degree in sociology, and a minor in both psychology and family relations. Since enrolling I have be able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average, be in the top one-third of my class, and a member of two of the Nation’s national honor societies, Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi.

While attending college I have received a number of scholarships as well as financial support from such organizations as Phi Kappa Phi, the Association of American University Women (AAUW), and the P. E. O. Foundation.

In addition, I have completed an honors thesis in my sociology major. My thesis is an investigation of the number of incarcerated and homeless youth living within Siskiyou County. Last April, I was invited to present my thesis in San Francisco at the 69^th Pacific Sociological Convention.

As graduation nears, I have also been honored with a number of awards including: the Valene Smith Outstanding Behavioral Social Science Student Award; the Outstanding Student Leader Award for the College of Behavioral Social Sciences; and, the 1998 Glen Kendall Public Service Award, which is CSU, Chico Presidents’ Award to "the outstanding graduating student, whose college record indicates the most promise for public service upon completion of college study."

The Chairperson of the Sociology Department, Dr. Laurie Wermuth, along with the Vice-Provost, Dr. Byron Jackson, continue to encourage me to now apply to the best graduate programs in the United States, at such prestigious universities as the University of California (UC), Berkeley; UC, Irvine: UC, Los Angeles; the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin.

I deeply appreciate their support and plan to follow their guidance and work toward obtaining a master degree in social work and a Ph.D. in sociology, with the intention of creating and implementing new and efficacious programs into society that will give troubled youth a chance at life.

Any one, who has a dream, can make that dream come true. It takes desire, hard work, and commitment. Financial help is available, call your college and ask about such programs as work-study, grants, low-interest loans and scholarships. Take those first steps, and you will find a new world out there. You, too, can see your dreams come true.