A typical pattern occurs in community colleges where students must enroll in developmental coursework before beginning college-level classes. As a result, these students often struggle and face a lack of academic success. To better understand the experience of first-year college students enrolled in developmental courses at community colleges, this discussion examines the impact of enrollment in developmental courses and the long-term effect this enrollment has on the student's perception of self and their persistence and college success. Practical implications and recommendations for future research are also included.