Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

I am a wife a mom and a student after graduated from a College in my country in 1994, I was thinking I need more education if I want to work in a better place with a better income, that is why I take this class, I registered in San Joaquin Valley College, Bakersfield, on May 2010 for Clinical Administration Medical Assistant and have a plan to continue for a Nursing Program after. First I am not sure if I can sit in the class room and do the homework and also the quisses, but after a first module, my grade was great, I can get a GPA 4.0 and that is make me believe that I can do what ever I want as long I am commited with it, this will be my fifth month of my school, and I am so proud of myself because I can keep my grad until now. I really find it is so hard for me and my family to keep up with this, because we are behind in some of the bills and stuff, but I believe I wil be better in future in my carrier, my life and my family.

In this day and age, one can't afford not to go to college, but one can't exactly afford to go either. Tuition is a pain in the butt, and I have no doubt many families struggle to make ends meet as it is. But I believe that pursuing a higher education is definitely the more advisable option. It's not just about the education- it's also about the experience as a whole. Passing up a higher education, one would also be foregoing all that college entails: the clubs, the activities, the people, etc. Of course, that's not to say that people can't join clubs/activities or meet new people without the aid of college... there's just not the same feeling of being part of a community.

Already, just in a month, I've had so many opportunites to learn, to meet new people, to volunteer, and to be involved with anything I could imagine. IU has so many resources available to students, and the living/learning center I live in does as well. I've had so much support about future career planning and with classes, and people ahve been so friendly. The town is great, and it provides a really nice atmosphere to live in. People are very open-minded and are very passionate about the things they're involved with. It creates a great place to learn, and you really learn anything you want - from origami, to native american languages, to martial arts, to using a loom. There are so many choices that you really do whatever you want.

My college experience at Indiana University has shown me how there is more out in the world than what I ever thought. Being exposed to international students and students from different backgrounds has really taught me about others and about myself. I look at situations with new perspectives because I have learned first hand that not everything is at it appears. I now appreaciate diversity in a whole new way and enjoy learning about other cultures and see them as great opportunities to expand my education.

My college experience has been incredibly mixed so far, as I go into the 2nd semester of my sophomore year. I took my first semester after graduation from high school off to work at a local animal hospital, seeing if I wanted to possibly head into that career field. After long hours cleaning kennels and releasing the anal glands of dogs, I decided I'd much rather pursue my passion of education in the performing arts and theatre. I attended a small college in the middle of cornfields for my first 3 semesters of college. Here, I was able to discover my spirituality and definition of friendship, things that I easily had pushed aside in high school. After my financial situation tightened, I decided to transfer to a much larger, and much cheaper, college. I thought my education would be compromised in this transition, but I was incredibly wrong. Everyday I look around me and see that I am literally working and learning with the best possible people in the field I am going into. Simply working alongside them outside of the classroom environment would never allow me to achieve what I plan to after college - becoming a professor.

Growing up I was always taught that the power of knowledge is endless. As a kid I did not take these words to heart and would slack off. Entering in middle and high school I struggled with staying true what was always instilled in me. After high school I went to community college. It was not until then that I realized that my curiosity was driven by the one thing I tried my headrest to deny, which was my undying thirst for knowledge. I had one Professor named Karen Laing and she opened my eyes to a lot of things not just educationally but culturally and many other ways. We as a class put in community service hours and she taught me the importance of giving back. Up until this point in my college career she has made the biggest influence in how I look at the world. . She taught us lthat some people are lonely and all they yearn is for some type of connection with others. So when we meet people reach out and shake their hands.This is one of the many lessons I will take with me in life, knowing that my inherited knowladge is powerful.

I have finished two years at IU and the amount that I have learned in the classroom makes me more confident to go into the work force. I have academically learned the most through business classes but also many life lessons. I am taking a major and a minor and using the athletic tutors every chance I get. I was recently awarded athletic academic all american and am a part of the honors fraternity. My parents wanted me to achieve as much as I could in swimming so they allowed me to turn down athletic scholarship offers to take the chance of walking on the number on team in the Big Ten. Now I have two Big Ten championship rings and am one second from qualifying for 2012 olympic trials. Unfortunately my dad lost his job a year ago and it has been extremely difficult on my family, especially my mom. The determination and persistance I have learned through the goal setting mentality of a student athlete has made my college experience unmatched. To be able to stay at IU and pursue my goals without putting so much on family would be such a blessing.

I have gotten a great deal of knowledge on myself. On a large campus you really find your true self and you are almost forced to find what makes you happy in the middle of all the mess. It is not easy trying to find your way among 40,000 or so of your peers, but it definitely let's you find out what you're made of. Perhaps the most valuable experiences I have gained during college have been the ones I've had socially. I've learned how to network and how to juggle friends and family with a demanding courseload. All in all I have learned a lot about myself and my talents while attending Indiana University Bloomington.

I can honestly say that I have become a better person. More motivated, more intelligent, more independent... absolutely everything. I can be confident in the fact that I will continue my education to gain a Ph.D. in Astrophysics- a rare thing for a woman to do. I feel strong- empowered- by my college experience. I can do anything!!

What I have gotten out of my college experience, and am continuing to get, is a way to make a better life for myself. College has taught me more responsibility and an education that will enhance my career. At college, especially a big college such as Indiana University, a student has to take the responsibility to complete all of his or her coursework and to attend class. Unlike high school, the professors in college will not chase after a student to complete his or her coursework. This type of responsiblity will be something I use for the rest of my life in my career. Also, my college education is so valuable to me because of my mother. Growing up, I watched as my mother struggled to pay bills because she never recieved a college education; it made me realize how valuable that education can be. My mother inspired me to make sure I made a good life for myself and to recieve the education I needed to do that. College has be valuable to attend because my education is valuable to me in a priceless way.