Luther College Top Questions

As a religion major, I have been asked where I have found God on campus. I answered by pointing to the building where I have classes as well as our chapel and community worshipping facilities. What I meant by my response was that at Luther I received an education in the classroom and in a real setting where what I learned could also be experienced. I have recieved a multi-faceted opportunity to develop myself and what I value. I not only recieved educational experiences through experience and knowledge, but also through subjects of interest and supplemental subjects to better equip me to face the challenges of my day. The eco-crisis, the social degradation, and the political and economic ignorance plaguing my generation has proven to be a formidable force facing our present day context. The transformation experience I have encountered at Luther has helped to open my eyes to these issues and to ways I might be able to address them. Through my exposure at Luther, I have been better equipped to make connections and establish valuable relationships with the communities I will be actively involved in as a pastoral leader of a future congregation. College transformed me.

Since attending Luther College I have discovered the person I really am. Coming to this school as the only person from my town in North Dakota presented the challenge of making friends from scratch. After a semester of attending Luther I have realized my strengths in creating relationships with people and making friends. The transition from high school to college was easy for me once I discovered that people here encourage me to be myself and that I would be accepted by anyone I branched out to. Out of this experience I am more comfortable in my skin. It's interesting how being surrounded by a good atmosphere where everybody is similar in character has made it easier for me to define myself as an individual. Though the pricetag for a Luther education is a hefty one, I believe that the personal and academic strides I am making towards becoming a stronger person make it worth staying here for. I can't wait to experience what second semester has in store for me.

What I have recieved from my college experience so far are many things. I am now entering a world with other people who have the same interest as me. That I am no longer in high school where everyone was just there for themselves. Here at Luther, everyone including the Professor's want to see you succeed in everything that you do. Makes me feel like I entered into a second family when I left my real family back home in California. The support I recieve from anyone here on campus really gives me the mentality that there are people still out in the world that want to see you succeed. There's not a day that goes by that I don't appreciate the continuos support I recieve from all my friends, proffesors, and advisors here on campus. Without them, I don't think I would be able to continue going to college. For me the support is a huge part of my college life. My family home gives me continuos support but the family I have created here on campus, gives me the extra push i need to keep going through the rest of this academic chool year.

When I first decided to go to a community college, it was the last thing I wanted to do. I started as a music major because I didn’t think I was any good at anything else, even though I knew the only thing to do with music was teach, and that was the one thing I swore I would never do. I studied music for two years, and hated every minute of it because I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. Because of the degree requirements, I found myself taking an anthropology course, specifically Forensic Anthropology. It was the most fascinating class I had taken as a music major, and finally I found something other than music that I enjoyed. I am now a Radiologic Technology major, and I have loved every second of it. The most valuable thing I have learned as a college student is that it is always good to try something new, because you just may discover something about yourself that you never would have learned otherwise. It’s more than just learning from a book, it’s learning about who you are and what your purpose is.

In my college experience so far, I have discovered that I can choose to be any person I want! From ethical and challenging discussions in class to hard work and competition in NCAA Division III athletics, I have been given the opportunity to make my own decisions. Being exposed to new people and viewpoints has taught me what things make me happy and what type of people I want to surround myself with for the rest of my life. I have been rewarded for my strong work ethic and more importatntly have been chanllenged by others who do too! College has provided me a safe platform to grow. Without the opportunities to continue to compete in athletics, research the latest breakthroughs in technology, and take part in local internships, I would not be exposed to what life can offer for me. I am encouraged to try new things and find where my place will be in this world.

My college experience has opened my eyes and mind to the bigger world we live in. It has made a change to a young adult and exposing me to new experiences in life that you never know living in the security of your parents home. The knowledge that you gain prepares you for a future career in life that is so valuable in todays world. The time spent starts out to be endless but goes by way too fast as I look back and see I am almost half way through my college years already.

Contemporary society seems to be advocating that one needs to obtain a college degree in order obtain a successful career, thus the message that I recieved in high school was that the purpose of college was to get a good job. While I do agree with this statement, I have found that my college experience has been so much more than just a means establish a career. Throughout my college career I have grown not only in my academics but also as a person. I have taken courses that have challenged me both academically and have challenged the ways that I view the world. Throughout my studies in history, sociology, and relgion I have been forced to examine my own thoughts and beliefs on society and my own personal faith; an experience that has proved to be invaluable. Also the relationships that I have built with my professors and other faculty has been extremely beneficial. I feel comfortable asking advice whether it be academic, career, or personal, to professors and faculty other than my advisor. Finally, I am extremely greatful for the friendships that I have built during college because I know these friendships will last a lifetime.

College has been a process of growing as a student and as an individual for me. I have gained knowledge both in the classroom and outside the classroom. In my courses, I have memorized theorems, learned about the fundamental mechanisms of life, studied how society interacts, and filled my mind with many new ideas. Of equal importance, outside my classes I have learned about people and about myself. Attending college at Luther has exposed me to different cultures and different ways of thinking. Coming from a rural farming community in Iowa, I had no exposure to diversity, either racial or religious, before graduating. Attending college has allowed me to grow as a person and exposed me to many new and interesting people. Exposure breeds tolerance and understanding, something that is important to develop in our country. I have also been able to learn more about myself as I gain independence and look towards the future. College is an important step to becoming an adult. The academic experience of college is important, but of equal if not greater importance is the growth a student experiences as they discover themselves. College takes young adults and turns out the bright leaders of tomorrow.

Beginning my college career I did not have any idea what to expect. I was the first in my family to attend college and I knew in order to succeed in the real world I would need a college education from a strong institution such as Luther College. In my short college experience I have gained knowledge and confidence from my classes given by devoted and caring professors that will benefit me greatly after graduation. I have met people who will become my life long friends, as well as making connections that will be very valuable to me when I begin my journey once my education is complete. In today’s world education after high school is immensely important and I knew that if I didn’t attend a four-year college I would regret my decision. Succeeding nowadays means getting a higher education unless one is willing to accept working for minimum wage at an entry-level position with no real career opportunity. The experience I am gaining at Luther College is immeasurable. Attending this four-year Liberal Arts College has been the best decision of my life. I know because of my choice my future is bright.

Although I have not even completed my first year in college, I have already gotten so much out of my time at Luther College, and not just academically although that is part of it. In my first several months as a college student, I have learned to adjust to free time and freedom as a whole. I am the only one responsible for me and the whole world is in front of me. Luther has provided with me many tools to grow and mature. I have two job through the work study program and this has taught me to manage time as well as accept and fulfill several responsibilities given to me. Attending college has also been valuable in my growth as an individual and has given me a clearer vision of what I want to do with the rest of my life and the person I want to become.