University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

I have only been a college student for at least a semester, at Pasadena City College, and I have learned that being productive is one of the key elements for one to be succesful in life - not just in college but life in general. My very own experience as a college student has opened my eyes to this fact. This was because of me underestimating the freedom that comes to being a college student. I began to not value my time as to what I used to do in high school, because of the thought I can do my work during my class intervals; that is because I used to have a non-hectic schedule in college compared to what I have in high school. I was proven wrong when I realized that my work loads are starting to pile up. Now, I look at this experience as a lesson that I will never forget even after graduating, because it has taught me a lot pertaining to time management. If not with being a college student, I will not have the ability to understand that I have to do my priorities first, and then do the least important things after.

Google the words college student and you will see pictures of students in their teens smiling with their arms around one another. Google the words working mom and you will see pictures of smiling moms in business suits with happy children. Everyone is so happy on Google. Here lies my biggest life lesson as an almost thirty working-mom-college-student. You might not always smile. Earning a degree is the second biggest accomplishment only to be outshined by my two wonderful, sometimes noisy, especially when I want to study, children. It has been a long and tough ride being a mother and attending school. Trying to find the balance between studying and spending quality time with them is one of the hardest feats. I have learned that in spite of the temptation to cry hysterically and withdraw from school I am giving my two beautiful girls a better life. That in itself is worth every second of every moment of frustration and sleepless nights. All those smiling pictures leaves me to wonder, are they really college students and working moms or just paid models? Or possibly, are they gritting their teeth so hard it looks like they are smiling?

My college experience has opened my eyes to different cultures, opportunities, and ways of life. I have learned a lot about who I am and who I want to be. I came to college as a freshman majoring in pharmaceutical studies. Through my experiences at college, I have changed my major to history and museum studies. I plan to work in a museum environment upon graduation. Since I arrived at college, I have discovered who I really am; not just who others expect me to be. This experience has been life changing.

Someone once said to me, "Value that opportunity to study in school, where the whole range of human knowledge is before you. When you are out of school, you probably won't get that chance again." College has forced me to consider who I am and who I want to be. I study hard in my classes and try to learn as much as I can, because I need those skills for my future career. More than just that, I need those skills so that someday I can do my part to make the world a better place. Another effect of college is perhaps best expressed by my dad. I went home for the first time during Christmas break. After my return to campus in January, my dad said in an email, "You are ... more mature. This is what we observed from you while you were home." Being in college, I am no longer under the wings of my parents or the familiarity of my hometown. Being on my own, I have to make my own choices and think for myself. I am still trying to distill the different ideas I encounter and create who I want to be.

It's difficult to choose what I've gotten out of my college experience so far. In fact, I've sat here for the last 30 minutes staring blankly at the screen trying to figure out one specific thing, but I rather think that would be impossible. What I do know is that the opportunities I've had to travel the United States and the world, meet countless people, interact one on one with professionals who are at the top of their respective fields, would never have happened if I didn't attend college. I have learned to embrace each chance that comes my way to learn/experience something new, as well as to take matters into my own hands and shape my own future!

I have learned so much about the real world while going to the university of Michigan. i have learned alot about politics, and getting along with people. I've learned about diversity and the different struggles that people have to go through. And every football saturday i learned a lot about unity through good times and through bad.

With one semester of college I have learned a lot about what it takes to be an adult. When you leave high school and enter college it is similar to living in the real world. Your education is no longer free; you have to find a source of income, whether it be scholarships or a job, to get an education. Along with having to make sure that you have clean clothes, well fed and complete your homework. The most important concept I have gotten out of college is what it means to be on my own. This type of experience is good because later when I graduate with a degree there really will not be anyone to hold my hand. I will have to use skills that I have learned through college and life experiences to make sure bills are paid and food is on the table. In other words learning this type of responsibility has opened my eyes to the "real" world.

Really college has been a great step from high school. The benefits are that instead of attending classes from 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. the classes are chosen by the student and are not usually held every single day. However, at this point in time students usually have reached the age of legal adulthood, and so students are expected to take on the responsibilities of being an adult. Therefore the workload increases and it has become harder which means the expectations have risen. I realized that I got away with procrastination in high school, but in college that will come back to haunt me for I have gotten to the point of almost not being able to turn in a important assignment. I do realize, though, that in college students must be able to take a personal responsibility in their education. We all attend college to pursue what we love to do, and in order to maintain a job from our majors we must be able to use the lessons we learn as new adults in college in order to survive in the "real world".

Starting college has become my biggest accomplishment! I grew up in foster care, and my real family has no education past high school if that, statistcally i was forseen to be noone and do a lot of... well nothing with my life. Attending college has been most valuable to me because i proved to myself that i can do anything i set my mind to and i kicked those stats in the face!

At the University of Michigan, I have not just gained skills in the Information Sciences or computer programming, or garnered lasting relationships with both faculty and fellow students, but have grown personally. With my many leadership positions as President of the Informatics Student Organization, various research projects in fields such as meteorology, sociology and technology I have grown as a leader, more confident when presenting myself and more confident when leading others. I have also grown to appreciate my own personal heritage when I was given the opportunity to study abroad for a semester at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. That trip also allowed me to travel to the nearby countries of Egypt and Jordan, and learn about and appreciate their history, culture and peoples. One of the greatest things I have gotten out of my college experience was a newfound passion for entrepreneurship. I recently took a class in “Smartphone Programming” and led a team in developing an iPhone app for verbally impaired individuals, called “Spubble”. It has been downloaded over 75 times in two weeks, in countries across the globe. As a result of this experience, my team and I plan to start our own company.