From Tragedy to Triumph

Franklin My name is Patricia Franklin and I am a graduating senior at California State University, Dominguez Hills. I am receiving my bachelor of arts in Communications with a focus in Journalism this May and plan to further my education with a Master’s in Public Administration. Although I am headed to the next chapter in my life, I take pride in being a Toro and appreciate all of the wisdom, guidance and support I have received from the Communications Department.

I began my college journey in 2010 by attending Long Beach City College. I knew I wanted to attend college and was confident that at some point I wanted to pursue my master’s degree. I just didn’t know what route to take or where to begin. My grandmother encouraged me to look into journalism since I had a passion for poetry. Education is something that I am passionate about and have grown to love.

It was at LBCC where I had my first encounter with CSUDH. There was a university recruitment fair and, although I had only completed my first semester at my community college, I knew that I had to attend a university to pursue my dream degree. I approached the CSUDH table and the people there were friendly, warm, patient and open to answering any of my questions. It was that very moment when I realized I wanted to attend CSUDH. The way I was treated and spoken to made me feel like I mattered, I was important and they wanted to invest their time in me.

Several semesters later, I applied to the university and was accepted. The first time I stepped foot on the CSUDH campus was June 24, 2015. I was five months pregnant with my daughter and headed towards my last year at LBCC. I made a premature appointment with an academic advisor just to get my feet wet with my major and see what CSUDH had to offer.

I met with CAH Academic Advisor Chanel Shorter, who changed my life personally, educationally and spiritually. When we first met, she was sweet, warm and encouraged me to “wear as many cap and gowns as possible.” She and I spoke about the communications program and how it would suit my love for writing. I was torn between choosing the public relations or journalism options but Chanel insisted that I pursue journalism since I wanted to challenge my writing skills.

I was on cloud nine that day and even remembered feeling enamored with the campus and having high hopes for the future. I went home and immediately went on the student portal to look for classes. Although I was in my senior year at LBCC, I wanted to start taking classes at CSUDH.

A few hours after leaving campus, I received a tragic phone call that my sister was found murdered earlier that day in an alley. The same day I was stepping into my educational dream was the same day I felt someone took it away.

Though I can’t begin to describe how heavily my sister’s passing weighed on me, I was determined to finish what I started. But dealing with my sister’s murder and the subsequent court case also meant that I needed time to grieve, so I put my CSUDH application on hold and had to think long and hard about what was best for me as a new mother.

There’s something about tragedy that pushes you to your limits, so I decided I wasn’t ready to give up yet, I only had five more classes to receive my associates and my desire to graduate pushed me to finish.

The day after I started my online classes that fall at LBCC, my daughter Melanie Rose-Marie was born prematurely due to all the stress and grief. Somehow, I managed to keep going.

In June 2016, I graduated from LBCC with my associates in social sciences. I beamed with happiness knowing that I was taking the first steps to pursuing my baccalaureate degree.

I reapplied to CSUDH and was accepted once again. This time around I was felt prepared to take on my communications classes.

As a COM student, I grew close with my peers and decided to take the initiative in certain subjects. I maintained a professional relationship with my professors and I kept myself open to helping any of my colleagues in need. I enjoyed uplifting people, challenging myself academically and going beyond my own expectations. I also made the commitment to myself that being a mother, wife, worker and student would not stop me from pursuing my educational goals.

Last year, I was once again faced with tragedy. I lost my grandmother and two great-aunts whom were all mother figures to me. I call them my “concrete support” system. All three of these women had a hand in molding, shaping, and guiding me through my educational goals.

The hardest part was that my grandmother suffered from a heart attack and I remember going back and forth to the hospital every chance I could. After several surgeries and different medical routes, we decided to let her go.

It was fall semester and I was taking 15 units, which included Com 490, the writing-intensive senior seminar class where I had to conduct a research study and write a 30-page thesis.

During this difficult time, I was blessed to have the support and encouragement of three communications professors, Dr. Brant Burkey, Dr. Karina Kim and Professor Jennifer Peters. If it wasn’t for these professors who understood what I was going through, who kept their door open and had empathy for me I don’t think I would have survived that semester.

Not only did I conquer the semester and never missed an assignment, I also reached my academic goal of receiving all A’s.

It takes courage, commitment, discipline, support and certain professors to get students like myself through the trenches of life. At least, that’s how I made it through.

Looking back on my own academic journey, I take pride in being a Toro but I also take particular pride in being a Communications student. It was an honor to be a part of such a devoted, supportive and encouraging department that not only wants their students to fly in their academics but to soar in life and, with their help, I’m now ready to rise up to any challenge ahead.