Notre Dame de Namur University Top Questions

I have realized that college really is not the way how they portray it in the movies. It was always a fantasy of mines that, "Wow, college really looks like that... then I cant wait!" But in reality, college experience has really been a way for me to explore the world on my own. I mean college has been really valuable to me because you learn how it is to survive on your own and to make the right choices. I mean no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. It is also from those mistakes that we make in college that we learn from them to not repeat those mistakes again, but to make it better. Also I really got to learn about my strengths and weaknesses. It is from those actions that I really got to learn about myself and I how I react toward my surroundings and people I encounter in my life. I believe college is valuable to attend because the day you cross that stage and they hand you your diploma is the day you know that, "Yes, this what I want to do with the rest of my life and this is my passion."

NDNU has given me the structure and pressure to push myself to feats I never even deemed possible. The school has allowed me to not only express my creativity but as has also opened so many doors for charity and helping the less fortunate. The small student population allows for a lot of attention and help to be given to one student at a time. However, the best aspect of the school would be the beautiful campus and lush wilderness that surrounds it.

I am a 32 year old father of three with 12 years experience in the electronics industry. My prior career was chosen for me by the military when I was 18 and although I was a good technician, it was not a passion of mine. After serving six years in the Navy I came out and worked in the civilian sector for another six years. During this time I developed a passion for vegetable gardening and dreamed of a day when my backyard's view didn't include my neighbors stucco. I started reading hobby farm magazines and soon my tiny yard was tramsformed into a food producing machine. When the dream became so big I felt I needed to act, there was nowhere to turn but college. I remember laying it out for my counselor. "I want to be a farmer". I was surprised at the reaction that followed. It was one of excitement rather than the usual "but you have a good job". After our meeting I traded that good job for two part time gigs and a full load of credits. Two semester later and college has given me a fresh start and straight A's.

Ive learned that living in a smaller university is an experience that has the both the good and the bad. Its a good experience because of the bond one makes wiht their profesors and know that they will always be there to answer your questions as well as easier acesses to tutoring than a big university. Even though my school only has a couple thousand students the on and off campus events are a great way to meet people from our schol and help build bonds wiht the people i already know. Our school encourages justice in the world and their involvement in the community proves so.

Throught out my college experience, I have grown to know that person I am (my weakness and strengths). College trains young adults for the real world. My task in college is to challenge myself by using all the resources granted. I have learned to make wise decisions that will pave my future but learn from my mistakes and move forward. I'm currently a Junior and I can remember the the first day of college; excited to be away from home (No parents, no rules ).... Freedom thats all I thought of what I didn't know was to be free a person must have the knowledge. Notre Dame de Namur University opened its door so I can learn about the past and present while encouraging me to reach out to my community to make a difference which is a powerful thing.

As a transfer student coming from a large communtiy college, I feel so blessed to be part of a smaller community in which the teachers are passionate about their jobs and spend the extra time to build a relationship and take interest in their students. The classroom sizes are very small, which allows for time in the classroom to be well spent, and students to receive an overall better education. My counselor has been excellent about helping me choose the right classes that I will benefit from, as well as ones that follow my graduation plan. I feel like I belong to the NDNU community and feel if I ever had a problem at school that I have countless teachers and administrators I would feel comfortable approaching with my problem.

So far in the last year, I've pushed myself to get my B.S. and in recent months pushed myself even harder to get my masters on top of that. I'm still working on discipline at school by attending for the full 4 hours each week.

The knowledge I have gained from college has been vast and diverse. Of course I have learned a lot about the specific course subjects I have taken, but the thing that's helped me most is learning how to deal with stress. College can be extremely stressful: assignments are constantly due, there is always assigned reading, there is always new material that needs to be fully understood. In each class I take I want to earn an A and fully understand what is being taught. With such high expectations it's easy to get stressed out. I have learned through the years that stress, anxiety and procrastination go hand in hand. I first get anxious about a test or a project because I’m unsure that I’ll be able to do a perfect job and earn an A, then I procrastinate because I am too scared to start, then I get stressed out because time is running out. To minimize stress I have learned that I need to: be organized, set personal deadlines, allocate time everyday for studying, be familiar with each teachers expectations and grading styles, and communicate to my teachers anything I am unsure or worried about.

The most important lesson I've received is becoming aware of my own ability to achieve far beyond what I had previously thought possible. I began in order to find a better job. I'm at the top of my class now and the potential is there for me to really make a difference in the world with what I'm learning and the skills I acquire. It's no longer a paycheck I'm after but seeking instead to change the world by showing others what is possible. My decision and accomplishments have inspired several others in my family to try harder and be more and expect more out of life and themselves and help them realize how much more to life there really is. I am going to be successful now without a doubt because I chose this step and committed myself to it. It has changed me into a person that sees fewer boundaries and more possibilities. I am more aware, better prepared, and less hesitant to act when I see the chance to do something worthwhile that could benefit another if only someone would do it. If noone else, then I will.

Out of my college experience , I have received a valuable education in all the classes I have attended, friendships that I will always have and a life time of memories that I will never forget. My college education is valuabe to me because it prepares me for the life after college, that is, the work life and hard challenges I will have to face. I would not trade my college experiences for anything in the world, nothing can replace memories, some happier than others, but in the end, attending college will show that good and hard works pays off. Thank you