Elon University Top Questions

My time in college gave me amazing friendships, enriching extracurricular and volunteering experiences, and the best four months of my life - study abroad in Italy. I had classes that pushed me to the edge of how I understand and live in the world, and really helped me grow a lot personally. I emerged with a deeper and much more nuanced understanding of the world and my place in it. Since I was in the liberal arts area, I did not graduate with a definitive skill set or career path, and it was definitely a challenge to find one. But it was honestly still valuable to me because I am educated on a ton of different subjects and issues and have been taught how to think critically and creatively. Even though those are general things, they have proven to be genuinely helpful. I'll always have Elon to thank for helping me become who I am.

I think that the most valuable thing that Elon has given me is a real awareness of the social, economic, and enviromental issues that are a huge part of the global conversation nowdays. Elon has really made me realize the absolute interconnectedness of every person, and shown me ways to channel my desire to help people into real world solutions. There's a real emphasis on serving, and having a social conscience. There are people in need everywhere, and it is my responsibility, and desire, to use my privileged position as a middle-class American to help improve the lives of those who don't have the same advantages. I have always wanted to help people, even as a child, but Elon has helped me plan a concrete way to have an effect. I am now a certified nurses' aide, and I want to study to become a physician assistant, so I can help cure the physical ills of people.

At college, I have learnt how to live peacefully and interact with a huge variety of different people with different backgrounds and ways of thinking. You really learn how to adapt, and how to take a less-than-ideal situation and make something better out of it, like the proverbial lemons and lemonade. You might not get along with your rooommate, or not get into the classes you want, but you learn to accept the things you cannot change and focus on the enjoyable, positive aspects. You learn that your wishes and desires are in fact not the main concern of the universe, and your attitude is sometimes the only thing you truely have control over. That, and your willingness to work hard, even for no percievable reward.

Elon University has been an incredible experience thus far. Being a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre student, I have had the opportunity to be coached by a New York Casting Director, attend numerous Master Classes by various Broadway composers, artists, and casting directors, and have practiced what I have learned in classes in several Main Stage productions. My knowledge of theatre, music, and dance has expanded immeasurably in addition to the intellect that the classes outside of my major have also provided. I feel that I am becoming, not only an excellent performer, but also a well rounded individual and citizen. The professors are extremely knowledgable in their subjects and convey information in an engaging and interesting fashion. I have learned how to live outside my parent's house, get along with roommates, and form friendships that will last me a lifetime. I would not change my experience thus far for anything.

In my first year of college I gained expierences that are unparalleled to anything else I have ever expierenced. I learned how to cook my own meals and mange my own money. I also learned how to have personal relationships with adults who are not my parents. I learned how to communicate with adults, and verbalize what I want and need to get out of my education. This has made it very valuable to attend colllege, because it taught me how to grow up.

I've learned that I absolutely want to go into the field of journalism through our student newscast and internships. Phoenix14News has proven to be so valuable to me and my education. It's made me realize how much I love Elon and that deciding to go to Elon was the best choice I could have made.

Hands on experience with professors who will help you if you seek them out. I have gone on a free trip to L.A. which has helped guide my career decisions so much. Each class teaches so much and you have all the tools you need.

As a current freshmen, I would have made a few adjustments in my senior year that would have been benefical to my first year of college. In my opinion, I would have organized my old class materials and brought them with me to college. i believe that old notes and tests would have been good references for the courses that I took first semester. Although, these courses were review it still would have been helpful to have these materials to look through for the more challenging chapters. I also believe that I should have taken more of a variety of classes during my senior year. For instance, writing was my forte so I tended to take up more writing classes than I did science, mainly because I fulfilled the science requirements. These extra science classes would have been a good review of the basic concepts of science that I used for my Biology and Biology Lab courses during my first semester of college. In essence, knowing what I know now, I encourage high school students to save the old high school material so that they have them to use throughout their college years.

"Millie. Don't worry too much about any of this college application stuff, it's not worth it. You have it in you to get into a good school as long as you work hard, so there's no reason to stress out over it. Now, once you get to college, remember not to forget who you are. It's easy to get caught up in the fun side of life there, but your education is the reason you matriculated. Never forget that. "Furthermore, contrary to what the media would have you believe, you don't change overnight in college. Yes, you will change drastically because you will finally have the opportunity to be exactly who you are, but it takes all four years for that to happen. It's an ongoing process and you will never be perfect. "Finally, the most important thing: be completely open to the people around you. There are many more people on this campus than in high school, and they all come from different places than you. So pay attention and learn from everyone; in fact, do that your whole life. "PS--the library can be fun if you've got a study buddy."

If I could go back to my senior year of high school, I would give my words a few words of advice that would hopefully help me transition into college life in a smoother manner. One of my first seeds of knowledge that I would tell myself would be to have more fun. I've learned from my freshman year that life only goes by once, and if you take it too seriously you'll miss important moments. As a freshman, I became so enthralled in my schoolwork, that I often forgot to take a breather and experience everything that Elon had to offer. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be to cherish the time I have with my familly. As I've learned over the past couple of years, everyday isn't guaranteed to us, but as long as we live each life to the fullest, we'll have memories to last a lifetime.