April has come and is nearly gone. All students that have remained persistent at DVC to this point of the semester have shown that their determination from the beginning of the spring semester has not faltered. It may not seem like a big deal to many, but those who failed to persist in their classes can testify to the fact that finishing with a passing grade is truly an accomplishment.

Dropping classes is quite common among California Community College students and the reasons for dropping are growing in multitudes. A recent article from Katy Murphy of the Oakland Tribune stated, “The rate of California community college students reaching their goals of transferring or earning an associate degree within six years has slipped in recent years, dipping below half for the latest group tracked by the college system.”

DVC has done their best to raise the overall percentage of successful transfer within six years, posting a 61.1 percent completion rate according to the Student Success Scorecard. The same cannot be said about other local schools such as Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College who have both seen their averages below a 50 percent completion rate.

Education boards can meet as often as they wish to devise new plans to keep the students in the classes, but they ultimately must understand the psyche of a college student and the struggles that these ‘failing’ students are facing.

The determining factors of unsuccessful students stems from a number of issues, far and many. These issues include but are not limited to: financial insufficiency, health and disability problems, personal or family related issues, the lack of a support system and a lack of motivation and a plan.

I am now nearing the completion of my 10th semester as a DVC student and some of these issues have hindered my transferring process. In my first two years as a college student, the lack of a plan, sprinkled on top of the ailing health issues related to Crohn’s Disease stunted my success. I was greatly discouraged, but I knew that there were steps that could be taken to right my wrongs.

Scheduling regular counseling appointments and establishing both personal and academic mentors helped to steer the ship back on course. Developing a plan and being determined and held accountable by others took me a long way in my goal of transferring. Also, having a realization of how far I can push myself mentally and physically has helped me to manage my health each semester.

Declining transfer success can be addressed by both those running the schools and those attending the schools. Students who are in fear of failing for whatever reason must be willing to seek support and guidance. You are not alone in your struggles and hope is not lost. Through dedication, hard work, and academic and personal guidance, you can accomplish your goals. The more you assert your focus to the issues at hand, the quicker success will arrive.