Christopher Newport University Top Questions

In reviewing the scholarship rules, I see you must have attended school for a Bachelor's degree in 2008, 2009, or 2010. While this is not the case for me, I must share the following: Although was not attending CNU for my Bachelor's degree in the aforementioned years, I was at CNU, and I am still at CNU. Upon completion of my Bachelor's degree in 2007, I immediately went on staff with CNU's President's Leadership Program, where I currently serve as Coordinator. I believe this reflects the value of my CNU experience through my passion and committment to continue to serve this incredible institution that I am beyond pround to call "mine." CNU promotes and initiates relevant change. This is powerful, and I long to be a part of this institution that is committed to equip students to inspire and initiate such relevant change. I am now seeking my master's degree so that I will not only be able to serve CNU in developing students, but also in teaching them the leadership content that so impacted me. I seek this $5,000 as I seek to continue relevant change. Thank you for considering me.

I have gotten out of my college experience, more learning about myself. In college they say you will become who you are while this is the first time you are actually on your own. That is so true as I have found my friends and were i belong here and it is perfect place for me. I have gotten a great support system as we are all going through different experiences here it is so nice to have a group of people here for you.

As I look back on my last years of high school, I feel ashamed and reminiscent. Maybe I hurt my parents? feelings when I said I couldn?t wait to move out. Maybe I undervalued the significance of time when I wished for it to speed up to graduation. Now, I find myself missing home and all the love found within those walls. The time I wished for is finally here? and it?s not everything I imagined. I have learned responsibility as well as the quality of hard work. College has not only educated me in its lectures and books, but it has given me the feeling of gentle appreciation for those that I once took for granted.

I have learned how to take care of myself and to be independent. I have always had my parents to take care of me and being in college you don't have that. It has been a change that took some getting used to but it has been a good change.

My college experience so far has been interesting and insightful to me. It has been a time for me plunge into the depths of humanity, and to adapt to swim lest sink. I say this because I have always been more of an introvert with very few close friends. Coming to college I found myself surrounded by people constantly, with no room to call entirely my own to escape to. Luckily I managed to find friends. An excellent group of friends to keep me from wilting away at the lack of alone. From them I have hopefully been able to improve my social abilities and my understanding of people. With them I have been through many interesting adventures; from my first anime convention to late night lightsaber battles, from tarot to snuggie dance parties, from Thursday tea times to children's card games; I have encountered many times to treasure.

Don't stress too much about going off to college and being able to make friends. Everyone else is looking to find people too, so it's easy! College work is harder than high school, so dont slack off; you'll regret it later. But be social! Get out and do fun things, experience all that college has to offer! Stock up on all the necessities you might need for living especially tissues and toilet paper, they go faster than you think! Pack enough to get by, but dont bring everything from home just because you "might need it" one day. If you really end up needing it, your parents can mail it to you. Stay in touch with old friends, but really get to know your new ones, you might find they're your best friends in twenty years. It takes a while to get used to dining hall food if you're used to home cooked meals. They try their best to make healthy dishes, but cooking for 400 people makes it harder. Take advantage of the gym! It's there for you to use and if you push yourself, its enjoyable and keeps off that freshman fifteen!

If I had to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now I would warn myself about all of the irritating, inconsiderate people that you I may have to live with. Then I would warn myself about all of the different peer pressures of college and to beware of all the parties, drinkers and smokers on campus. Then I would tell myself that you have to make sure you may your time well because if you don't, your work will never get done. And last but not least enjoy the freedoms you have in college but do not take advantage of them, because the consequences could put your future plans on hold or it could even cause those goals to not be met. Make wise decisions and choose your friends wisely.

Dear Ryan, I am in the second semester of my first year of college and a year ago at this time you just finished applying to colleges. Soon you will start to realize that living in a dorm next year will be extremely different from living at home and you might become anxious or nervous; but you have no reason to worry. When you come to school in August of course you?ll be nervous and excited, but you are going to be fine. You make friends fast because you go with the flow and are open to this new experience. College classes aren?t extremely hard or intimidating like in movies and the freshmen fifteen doesn?t happen to everyone. So this is what I want to tell you, what I want to tell myself a year ago, be excited and don?t worry at all that you won?t make friends or that you?ll have awful roommates. Sometimes living here is frustrating, but overall you?re going to make great friendships and great memories for your first year. Have fun and keep your head up when you get down, you?re going to love it. Love, Ryan

In high school I was incredibly involved, and in many ways I stil am today, but in high school, I believed that was the most important thing, do as much in you can in four years, pack your resume as tightly as you can, just so you can look good for college. Now, however, I've come to realize that there is far more to being involved in your school than just the credit you get for it. If I were able to go back in time, I'd tell myself that it's okay to be involved, but you can also get to know others in the process. Take the time to seek out fellow club members and develop relationships and connections. As a college student I still enjoy filling my schedule with various activities, but what I've come to enjoy even more, is the friends I've made in the process. It's amazing how easy it can be to get to know others, epecially those who have similar intersts to you, when you take the chance to reach out and be a friend.

Looking back on my senior year I would point out two things that would have made my last year of high school more enjoyable and to make the jump to college easier. First would be to breathe, applying to colleges, taking challenging classes, and the realization that you will soon be moving on to a new chapter in your life takes a lot out of you. Take some time away from the stress and spend time with friends, read a book, or just sit somewhere for a bit. The time away will give you a new view on things and you will feel refreshed. The second thing I would tell myself would be to take your senior year seriously; slacking off and getting ?senioritis? only makes it worse. If your grades drop dramatically your admission to colleges could be revoked. A combination of taking a breather and taking it serious will help you to not only keep from going crazy, but will also teach you how to handle your first year in college. From experience, it takes a combination of time with friends and seriousness about your studies to be a successful college student.