I Was Not Expected to Go to College--Until That Weekend

Kimberly Koffi

I have often reflected on how the impact of a single meaningful encounter can have such enormous consequences, for the good. Andy Andrews says, "Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world." (From the book The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters, 2009).

That's why I do what I do now. As a college consultant at Amber Lights Educational Consulting, I hope to make a difference like the actions of a single butterfly, one encounter at a time.

The single biggest reason that I went to college following high school was due to adult mentors that brought me to their college, gave me a tour, and let me sit in on a class with them. I remember sitting in that class and thinking, "I can do this." One weekend made all the difference! Three years later, I was going to the same college that I visited, the only one that I visited.

I was the youngest of 5 kids being raised by a single mom and we did not have money to go to college. I think my mom breathed a sigh of relief when we all got through high school! None of my family members finished a 4-year college degree, including my 4 siblings. I never met with my high school counselor--my family and my school did not expect me to go to college. Neither did I--until that weekend. Someone else saw beyond my circumstances when I could not. I had no idea how to apply to college, financial aid, or to even look at options that might have made my path easier. But somehow, I stumbled my way through. The trajectory of my life changed.

What about you? Is there an event, activity, or person that made an impact on your decision about college? Let's hear it! #college #education #mentor #collegeplanning #collegecounseling