Ashlie Lewis

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When I started my first semester of classes at Reedley College, Fall 2005, I was walking into a completely new environment. I had been homeschooled my entire elementary, middle and high school years, and passed the GED exam in October 2004. I was not used to a structured educational environment, being surrounded by groups of other students. Also, my family could not afford to pay for my college tuition, so I needed a financially viable start to a career path.

I had very little knowledge of what I wanted to do with my life. I started at Reedley believing I would get my associates degree and be finished with college. Today I am planning to pursue graduate school after I complete my bachelor's of science in Nutrition at Cal Poly.

Community college provided me the bridge to cross from going from a homeschooled student to a university student. At Reedley I gained valuable study, job social and leadership skills as I excelled in my classes, worked as a tutor, and got involved in campus clubs. I am applying these skills at Cal Poly, and know I will use them in graduate school and future jobs. California community colleges provide wonderful opportunities for students like me, who needed that affordable bridge to ease such a major transition.