Southern Methodist University Top Questions

I have gotten alot out of my college experience. I have enjoyed the last 2 years because of the people, education and just the overall atmosphere of the university. It is a great place to be and learn, and I have benefitted from it. This university will prepare me for my future, and it will continue to the next two years. It has been valuable because I have made alot of connections that will help me throughout my life and career. The people are what makes this campus so great, and I am so lucky to be apart of it.

I have gotten to debate at a collegiate level while I have been in college while triple majoring in political science, public policy and economics. I have been active with volunteer organizations and gotten to know my professors well. SMU has allowed me to live in Dallas and experience life in the middle of a large city, while still retaining the feel of a high level collegiate institution. Unfotunately, I will not be able to attend after this semester without finding around $10,000 in scholarships. Hopefully, this one will be able to give me a helping hand.

What I have gotten out of my college experience so far has been self discipline. I was never one to wake up early and be motivated to do anything. Working second shift, made that easy for me. However, working for family wasn't the most enjoyable or fullfilling experience. I never had to worry about pushing myself, and didn't have any real responsibilities. Going through college has opened my eyes to a whole other world and made me become a responsible young adult. This is my third attempt at college, and by far have the best results. I guess I had to grow up a little more before I took it real serious and I have. And I believe college has pushed me far beyond anything I could have done on my own.

I have learned engineering aspects that have helped me to understand the world around me. I have learned to defend myself and stay fit through an exciting martial arts program. I have made a dozen friends who are closer to me than I would ever have imagined. I have gone through and can understand the collegiate world. I have learned how to study for the first time in my life. I have worked harder than ever and been successful.

Cliche as it sounds, i have gotten a better understanding of who I am and what I stand for. I have been able to academically experiement and really discover a major that challenges my thought process and mentally stimulates me. In heated classroom debates, I have learned that its not about being wrong or right, but about being able to defend my views and arguments. I have learned just as much inside the classroom as I have outside. Coming a from a small private highschool I was exposed to the many cultural perspectives that college and awoken me to- its incredible to the see the world from so many different angles!

Going to college was one of the most frightening and difficult things I ever had to do. I was afraid to leave my perfect little bubble and was worried about making friends, missing my family and keeping my grades up during what was supposed to be the "best time of my life" as coined by hollywood. Nevertheless, I braced myself to face the challenges of college life and reminded myself that my college experience would be what I made it. I began school in August and ended up loving it. I met interestingly wonderful people from all around the world and was fascinated to see how passionate my professors were about their field of study. It made me realize that although I may not love the subject I'm studying, it is important to appreciate its importance to the function of our society. College has made me a much stronger and independent person and I can't wait to return in the fall to see what new and wonderful adventures await.

Returning to college made me remember how much I enjoy learning and participating in class. I enjoy being a student and especially love interacting and having discussions with my professors. I appreciate that I learn from them and that I have opinions and ideas that are welcome. I spent the last several looking after my daughters and always trying to find better jobs to make sure that I could afford to continue to take care of my bills and my rent; I was always aware of wanting to avoid people I knew from high school because I had done nothing with my life and everyone else was educated and confident. Although I was laid off recently I feel proud saying that I am attending school now and even prouder that I feel that I actually belong in the college community. I have gotten my confidence and my curiosity back and I am using them to be the student I have always wanted to be.

What I have gained from my college experience has been the opportunity for a second chance at academic success and a second chance on life. When I graduated high school in 1992, I had a 4.0 GPA and was awarded a full ride scholarship to Culver-Stockton University, which I unfortunately turned down. I ended up making a series of bad decisions from there that ultimately changed the course of my life for the worse. I got into drugs, had children out of wedlock and had to take care of those children by myself, and still do, chose dead end jobs, and alienated myself from my entire family, who never forgave me for squandering the opportunities I earned earlier in life. Now I am back in school and earning those opportunities back for not only myself, but now for my children as well. I intend to become a psychologist, so I can help others right their wrongs as well as help them to avoid the pitfalls I experienced so they can go on to lead productive, successful lives.

I have receieved a learning experience of being free from my parents and the experience of self-reliance. This college experience is one that is rewarding while most difficult, it deals with adjustments and changes, and it is the way you conform to these adjustments and changes which establishes how your experience will go. Going to college for me has been rewarding not only education wise, but in life lessons as well. And these are the lessons i will carry with me throughout life.

A great learning enviornment and very interesting teachers. I love my advisor.