Old Dominion University Top Questions

As a lifelong learner, I have attended several different colleges. I am currently enrolled in the RN to BSN program at ODU. This is a "portfolio" program. I feel that I have gained an increased ability to write formal papers. Writing papers is time cosuming and requires much research. I would like to become a hospital administrator. Therefore, I feel that this experience will afford me the ability write and obtain grants for medical institutions I may work at in the future.

I have gotten a lot out of my college education so far. I have discovered what I want to do in life. Before, I attended college I had some ideas of what I thought I wanted to do, but I was not passionate about any of them. During my first semester of college, I took the basic English composition class. It was during this class that I realized my passion was reading and writing. During my second semester class, I had to take a Biology class. The teacher of this class was the best teacher I ever had. She made me discover that I wanted to be an English professor. Another thing that I have gotten out of my college experience is the ability to make friends quickly. Before, I attended college, I was very shy and did not feel confident enough to go up to people and talk to them. College has turned me into a completely different person. I no longer feel scared to talk to people. Now, I actually enjoy meeting new people and learning about their life. College has been extremely valuable to me because it has shaped me into the person I am today.

I have gleaned so much wisdom from the various professors I have had. I bonded first with my Literature teacher; I liked her from the start. She taught me to second guess meanings, challange the way I view topics. I was so linear in my thinking, I began to expand my horizons. College was a chance for me to be someone else. There were so many lables in high school, but at college, I made more friends then I have ever had. The fresh start has given me confidence to be the person I was created to be.

If I had to choose one thing that I have gotten out of my college experience at Old Dominion University it would my ability to be more open and confident around people I am not familiar with. Shyness and self-consciousness has always been something that I've dealt with in from a child up to highschool. Often my teachers in school would tell my parents that I was a very bright and smart student but their one concern was that I was too quiet and rarely shared my views during classroom discussion. My original excuse was that I chose to be quiet and that I could "turn on " my openess anytime that I decided. I soon realized that I was just lying to myself and began trying to make improvements. Though I somewhat improved my shyness, I didnt see major progress untill this year when arrived at ODU. In just my first few months of attendance ODU has forced to be more social in order to get ahead, allowing me to break out of my shyness and become more open. So now I dont "turn on" my openess because it is never off.

In high school, I was an aimlessly wandering student who was just having fun, relatively unaware of my academic potential. When college rolled around, it was as if I started a new chapter in my life, titled “Reality and Maturity finally kicked in”. I enrolled at Saddleback Community College and, for the first time in my academic career, I became self-motivated and inspired to learn. I encountered a thought provoking counselor and a couple of gifted professors who inspired me to reflect on my future and solidify my goal to attend Marshall School of Business at that University of Southern California. My college education has taught me to fine tune my academic and study skills while becoming a critical thinker and effective problem solver. I’ve also learned how to more effectively work in groups, embrace individual differences, and to use the available faculty, resources, and support services to thrive in the academic arena. But, most importantly, my college experience has helped me to realize the absolute need and value of continuing my education through to at least the bachelor degree level.

Yes. It is preparing me for grad school and beyond.

Through my experience at Old Dominion University, I have gained confidence in myself and others. I have joined organizations on campus which has made me more comfortable around people and more open to others. Fellow students have helped me to become more tolerant and understanding of other people's beliefs and ideals. In my courses I have gained confidence in my academic abilities and learned new study habits which have helped boost my grades. Faculty members at Old Dominion University have been very helpful in guiding me to a career that suits my ideals and personality. With a major in engineering, I can design equipment for the military and for the betterment of this country and it's people.

Starting my college experience at Old Dominion University has finally made my long awaited dream of going to school a reality. For many years I have worked hard to get where I am today -- a full-time student. Due to financial difficulties, I enlisted in the Navy right after high school for the educational opportunities that were promised. Six years later, that promise was delivered to me a week after I was honorably discharged when I step foot on campus fully transitioned from servicemember to student. All my life it has been impressed into my mind how important education is and the achievable goals and attainable rewards that are waiting to be discovered. Without education, there is no room for growth there is only a state of maintaining. To fully advance in life, we need to be able to pull out of that state of maintaining and push foward. I am absolutely ecstatic that I am finally pushing forward with education to achieve and attain my ultimate dream of becoming a physician's assistant!

My college experience has been a wonderful time to explor my interests and strive for my goals. Because of the need for self discipline in ensuring one completes school work and homework on time by ones self, I have learned how to prioritize. I have learned what my interests are and how to reach and create stepping stones for my goals. By creating those stepping stones it has allowed me to reach some of my goals sooner and get closer to others than I ever thought imaginable at this point in my educational career.

Although I haven't started yet I'm looking forward to continuing my education so that when I start my family my kids have the opportunity that I had. A warm home with two loving parents. Education was the most important which is what I hope to install in my kids.