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Celebrating Community College Month: Why I Chose Rio by Emma Harlow
With graduating high school in 2020, there were a significant amount of feelings and questions swirling through my mind. I was confused, frustrated, upset, angry - in a weird way, it was like I went through the stages of grief when the pandemic started. All of those feelings manifested into questions about what to do next. There is a global pandemic occurring: what would be the best course of action for me to take? Do I go to college and sit in a dorm the entire time? Do I work full time then go from there?
Thankfully, with my family and other research directed me to Rio Salado College to combine the questions I was having. Joining Rio allowed me to build a schedule on my own during these uncertain times. I started school in Fall of 2020 as a political science major with plans to transfer to University of Arizona. I knew I needed to be a part of something at Rio to help me get out of the funk I was experiencing with the way the year was going.
So I joined Phi Theta Kappa; I was a part of the Honors in Action research project this past year with Advisor Dr. Inhye Peterson. I also am the Student Senator for Rio Salado and that further connected me to not only my community, but the other communities at the other Maricopa colleges.
I believe that most people are unsure of what they truly want to do with their time in this life until they go out and experience it. Thankfully with Rio, I had the ability to study in a variety of classes. One class, GPH113 (physical geography), actually led me to change my major as I greatly enjoyed the content. I am now a biological sciences major with an emphasis on ecology and conservation.
Rio made it simple to switch my major; the process remained the same and the help was substantial. I could not have done the multiple things I have been a part of and accomplished at Rio if it was not for the help of the advisors, financial aid department, and a million other individuals I want to list.
Without Rio Salado, I am unsure if I would have made it this far in my educational career or this far into figuring out a little bit more of what I want to be. I am thankful for the time I have had here and I look forward to the many new experiences that Rio has opened up to me.