Benedictine University Top Questions

My first college experience was at a 2 year school: Snow College in Ephraim Utah. I LOVED that school so much. Not only did I get a great education, but I learned how to live on my own and be independent. I learned how to study and be a good college student. I learned how to communicate with teachers, roommates, friends, co-workers, and employers. I saw first hand what it's like to live on my own. I became proficient in many life skills such as: cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and paying bills. I also have made many life long friends.

it has transformed me into a positive human being...

Now that I have been at Benedictine for over a year, I realize that I have learned so much more than what is taught in the classrooms. The first thing I learned is that life is not easy, and if you want something you need to work as hard as you can to achieve it. The second thing I learned is that the world is so much bigger than my neighborhood. People at Benedictine come from all over the world, and in some ways I have learned so much more from talking to individual people than I could ever learn in class. I work in a bakery in a supermarket, and there are so many people who have worked there for over thirty years that constantly remind me I need to stay in school, get my education, and do something amazing with what I learned. Working there for my whole life is not an option, and that is why going to college has been valuable to me so far. Going to work is a constant reminder that I cannot and will not work there my whole life. I have so much more to offer the world.

The summer of my high school graduation was very different from any other summer in my life. Normally, I would have been excited about taking a trip to Puerto Rico to visit my grandparents. But this summer was different. After taking off my graduation cap, I immediately started packing for my trip to Florida. And there were no plans for Disney World this time. I was preparing for college. And I was the first in my family to do so. Now, six years later, I'm planning to re-attend. I can't say the falling economy has been kind to me. Even with an A.S., I've found it difficult to find a job no matter where I go. Frustrating it may be, I can only imagine how I would have felt if I only had my high school diploma. It's tough for everyone right now. And the only way to stay on top is to further my education. It's easy to wait for things to get better. But my education has opened up so many doors for me in the past. College taught me that it's better to take action than to wait.

I have enjoyed my first two years of college at Orange Coast College , and I am very excited for what lies ahead in my life as I continue on my pursuit for my degree. I have a lot of support my family in my life, as well as my education, and we are all excited about me being the first one in the family to earn a degree from a university. I have been brought up in a loving, Christian home, and I have been a member of St. Paul ’s Lutheran Church in Garden Grove my entire life. My family, friends, and my faith in God, have always been the most important things in my life, and that has always enabled me to be the best person I can be. I believe with hard work, determination, values and morals, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Being a student-athlete at OCC university has its challenges, but I know I will succeed and how important it is. I would not change anything in my life I have done thus far, and will continue to strive to achieve all my goals and work hard at that.

Attending Gulf Coast Community College has taught me the valuable principles of leadership, fellowship, scholarship and service. To get the most out of my education I became a a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was elected Vice-President of my chapter in Fall of 2010. I also became a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success and a representative on the Student Activities Board. Encouraged by both of my clubs, I now volunteer for The Miracle League as a buddy. Obtaining an education is a priority but it does not stop there. Involving myself in student government and volunteering to help out my community are priorities of mine as well. I have been accepted by Florida State University in Panama City and will begin taking classes in January 2011. My intention is to run for Student Body President and for President of the National Society for Leadership and Success.

College years are best years of your life. From my college experience, I gained the knowledge, the understanding of the world and different cultures, and the kind of education that will make people what they deem to be well-rounded and literate. Once my teacher explained that the important in life is to gain knowledge not for the sake of degree but for enjoyment. From a positive college mindset, I was able to perform well in my classes and gained some knowledge out of all my classes. Attending college is really valuable because the college graduates have far better opportunities in future. In addition, college life teaches us to be responsible, dedicated, and goal-oriented which are the qualities needed for your future. Not many are fortunate enough to attend a college. I am really happy for my parents who are supporting me for my further education.

From my college experience, I have learned social responsibility, professionalism, and the importance of collaboration and cooperation. I learned to be socially responsible when I was given the opportunity to tutor members of the maintenance staff at the university in English as a Second Language. A few of my fellow Spanish majors and I have been tutoring these eager learners every Friday since the end of April 2010. I am studying to be a Spanish teacher, but now I would like to become certified to teach ESL as well. I have learned professionalism from many of my professors, but mostly from those who teach my education classes. These dedicated veteran teachers have taught in schools where the students are most in need of great teachers. They teach professionalism by example and they share their knowledge, enthusiasm, and experience with us in the hope that we will go out and make a difference. Collaboration and cooperation are life skills that are as necessary as being able to figure out something for yourself. My professors have encouraged us to work together and share ideas because we will not and cannot always work alone. These lessons have made college valuable for me.

I have met wonderful administrators who show concern and provide assistance at all levels.

I truly belive that my most valuable experience in college has been becomeing more mature. When many people come from highschool they still have this attitude about that school is still just giggles and fun, they slowly learn that college is very different and then they finally realaize that it is surly changing them as it did me. I myself never really cared about highschool and I never made it to my senior year and I ended up getting my GED so I was lucky to attend a college and make a good GPA for myself to make it to my current college. To think I'm currtly at a private universty and taking a real major for my self makes me so proud and to be the first in my family to earn a degree is all the more I really need to attend college.