Central Washington University Top Questions

After compiling a huge mental list of all the knowledge I’ve acquired in my college classes, all the wisdom I’ve gained while trying to work and be a full time student, and all the ideas I’ve been privileged to hear and be a part of, I finally narrowed the last few years down to one word. Photosynthesis. Yes, you read that correctly—the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into food—that’s exactly why my college experience has been so dear to me. Please, let me explain. I see myself as an individual leaf on this tree of humanity that we are all clinging to, supported by the insight and wisdom of those before us. Just as the sun provides a catalyst for photosynthesis to occur, my education is allowing me to flourish and give back to my fellow human beings. When I step up to the podium next year and receive my diploma the sun will still be shining, and this life giving process will continue, because I’m learning how to learn.

By going to college, just in my first semester I feel more excited about life and ready to get deeper into my major in psychology. I look at my course list and know that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to do in life, and each day confirms it. I'm more purpose-driven, goal-oriented, and inspired by what I'm learning in college. I hope to continue my education in graduate school so that I may be able to use my knowledge and excitement about my career to its fullest. Even with the odds stacked against me for completing a graduate-level degree without debt, I can continue to work towards my goal with vigor knowing that all my hard work will be worth it in my career.

My college experience has been vast. I've been to 8 institutions of higher education, and will be graduating from CWU Lynnwood at the end of spring quarter. This is a huge accomplishment for me. I will be 47 years old when I walk across that stage on June 10, 2011. My college experience has taught me to stick with something to it's end. Even though it has taken me 25 years to graduate, I am going to graduate. And I plan on attending CWU Kent in the fall of 2011 to pursue my masters in Law and Justice. I have had two children during my college years and they will both be in attendance on that day in June to see me walk across that stage. My college experience has also motivated my children to get their education while they are still young, as my 18 year old is attending Shoreline Community College, and my 14 year old is working diligently on his grades so that he can get into a good college. My college experience has taught me how to be responsible member of society and for that I am grateful .

My college experience has proven to me that anything I dream of becoming is possible. In the past year and a half have learned to manage my time and be more organized. I also feel that it was destiny that I became a student at Community College of Aurora. And that God specifically placed me there. I have grown into a more responsible and committed. The support and dedication of the falculty and staff have guided me along the way. With every semester ending I am growing that much closer to finishing my degree. I never felt that I could accomplish what I have so far. Today I am confident that my time spent at CCA is laying the foundation to many more successes in my future.

My college experience has really taught me what it is truly like to live on your own. I use to be completely dependent on my parents and now I have as much freedom as I want. Having the choice to go to school or not, stay up late or get up on time, has really showed me who I am. I've grown as a person in making more serious decisions since being away at college. Attending a school outside of my hometown has taught me there are more opportunities out there that I would have never even known existed. I value every minute being here, not only for the education but the diversity of people I have been able to meet.

My college experience has been very rewarding both academically and personally. I have grown in my two years of attending college thanks to my peers, my teachers, and the support staff at the school. I learned a number of valuable life lessons from both my peers and teachers. Namely I have learned that academic performance are not as important as the actual learning. I learned that getting a B in a course was not the end of the world, and that by diversifying my activites to include non-academics such as student government, intramural sports, and most recently political involvement outside of school. This helped me realize that the importance of school not only lies in the GPA but also in the expereince itself. I have spend this past school year doing a great number of new and exciting activities that I never would have done if not for the lesson I gained from one of my most memorable teachers. College has been the most valuable experience I have had thus far in my life.

I never truly understood why it was so important to attend college. In high school I didn't fret over college applications or begin to think about what I wanted to major or minor in. I thought anyone could get a job and make a living after high school without a college degree, and so I had no real higher goals for myself. After graduating from a community college, my family members congratulated me for pursuing a higher education and deciding to continue on at Central Washington University, and I realized that I was among the few in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree. I received words of wisdom that this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in being able to receive the loving support from my parents to better myself. I finally realized that this is the moment in my life where I am free to explore exactly what I want, which is English, and I have so many people behind me for support. College has given me not only higher academic learning and advanced career opportunities, it has been the stepping stones towards shaping my character. I owe my future to my college experience.

I have gained independence while in college. I have always wanted to feel independent and know I could take care of myself and going to college has done just that. Realizing it's my life I am investing for the future is why I am attending college and why I value it. The future has a lot to offer and I believe with a higher education I will be able to achieve anything. And it all depends on me to make it a reality.

I have received independent living from just one week of my college experience. I have overcome my fear of parting from family and fending for myself for weeks to months. During my time in college, I learned how to manage my grades, finances, and my social status. College has been a valuable change because it has empowered me to become my own.

I have learned a lot from my first quarter at college. Most importantly I have learned a lot about myself. I am still unsure about what I will major in or what career path I will pursue, but I have come to know that I want to do something to help other people. This may be in the form of a medical career, one related to sociology, or possibly non-profit work. But I have heard that in order to successfully help others first you must learn about yourself. I have taken this statement to heart. Because of this I think it is important that in everything you do you learn some lesson about yourself. From attending college I have learned how I adjust to new situations and meeting new people. I have been challenged academically, emotionally, and socially. But I have grown from all of these challenges. I know I will continue to encounter new challenges as I continue my education; the more I am able to learn from these challenges the better. This will all increase my ability to learn about myself, which will ultimately lead to the ability I will have to help others.