University of Nevada-Las Vegas Top Questions

The two main things I have gotten out of my college experience so far are gaining an interest in astronomy and getting better at music composition. I am glad I got interested in astronomy, because it actually inspired me to write better music. Every time I took out the telescope to look at something, I always had a new idea. I never imagined all of this could happen just by taking a science class! This is also why it has been valuable to attend; not only have I "expanded my horizons" with new interests, I have also met a lot of new friends. Although the new interests and hobbies are just for fun, the most valuable thing about my college experience is the people I have met. After all, college is one of the best places for networking; I never know where my friends or I are going to be in 10 or 15 years, so it may turn out that one of us can help the other in their career!

During the first few months of being in college, I've seen what it takes to actually get an education. You have to stay attent in class, while also enjoying the company of your fellow classmates. In many of my classes, we've been pushed to express our opinions, whether it be over the power of voting, or sterotypes seen in child movies, or finding a way to make learning a foreign language easier. So far, college has offered me a whole range of activities to do while I'm not in class. If you need to work our ssome stress, the gym is available to all students, free of charge. We need to strive to better ourselves and put to good use the sacrifies our parents made in order for us to go to college. We need to push ourselves to go to school, so we can expect to have a better future for ourselves and our families. If we don't better ourselves, how can we better our communities and create a strong and stable economy with a surplus of employment for everyone.

I have gotten leadership skills from my college experience so far. By having leadership skills it has helped me have more confidence in myself. Also, it has helped me a lot with meeting new people and conversating with them. It has helped me challenge myself to do better and it has taught me some great things. For example, it has helped me be able to get up in front of a class and give a speech. It has influenced my life and it has made my life better by having those skills. It has been a value to attend college because of the new enviroment I am in. Students at my school are there to have an eduacation and to have a bright future. When I was in high school, many students could careless about their eduaction. They were not there to learn, instead they were there to socialize. Attending college has been very valuable, because there everyone wants the samething, which is a great education.

At De Anza Community College, I took two classes that made me want to change my direction from just Film to Socially Conscious Film: Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing; and Political Science- Race and Ethnicity. The critical thinking class made me realize that as much as I want to believe that I act without the influence of racism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, etc., that in fact it is inevitable. These beliefs are so deeply embedded in American society that it's extremely rare for anyone to be completely devoid of these negative beliefs. The class on race examined the root of racism in the U.S. and why it's perpetuated. This made me very aware of my ethnicity’s story- something I never learned before in school. We also read a book called The Human Side of Human Beings, by Harvey Jackins. This book proposes a theory of why people perpetuate the hurt they've experienced onto others. It claims that people need to fully release their hurt through telling their story and having it be understood. These realizations culminated into a deep passion for social consciousness.

When I graduate with my degree, I will have a knowledge of criminal justice that will allow me to go into the FBI, NCIS or any government agency that a forensic science department. It has been valuable for me to attend so that I may continue my schooling and can get into the career that I have found that suits my interests.

The college experience is an awakening from the spoon fed life that most students live, to a realistic version of how life really works. Before college, life was convenient. Books and materials were always provided for the students. Teachers and faculty members cared about the well being of their students and tried to provide an admirable environment for them. If there was ever any problems or difficulties help was practically presented at the fingertips of the students. College on the other hand breaks that bond allowing students to become independent. College students must learn to be prepared at all times because if they are not, nobody is going to stop and wait for them. College shows people that if people care about something than they should be the ones that make sure that everything works out for them. Most people have enough things to worry about than to worry about what other people want. College gives people the accessibility and tools to succeed, just as life does, but they have to be the ones that are willing to look for and use them. The college experience is just a preparation of how life truly works, through hard work and perseverance.

My college experience had only been brief but so far it has shown me how much I need to prepare for the outside world. Its showed me that people are human even in an older environment, they make mistakes and sometimes makes choices that aren't the noblest. Its also taught me to be cautious of those around you, and not everyone should be trusted so easily, however opening up to others is a crucial part of ones life to succeed. The experience also taught me that partying wasn't the highlight of college, although it may be fun at times, the most important is the wealth of knowledge there is to be used and how much it really helps to have a great education. The valuable lessons that it has taught me so far are the building blocks toward an effective and inspiring member of society!

My college experience has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life. It brought to me a greater knowledge of who I am; as an artist and as a human being. It taught me what I will stand up for and what I can accomplish. I know that it is solely my own determination, work and luck that will advance me forward in my life and career in the years to come. If I want something, it is I alone who must go after it, for there is no one else who wants me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. My college may not be the best in the country, but education isn't always what is provided for you, but what you make of the education you choose to get. I believe that an undergraduate education is more about finding yourself than obtaining the most prestigious learning and now that I have found myself, I can continue on to graduate school this year to get the education I desire to pursue a more advanced career. Without my current current college experience, I would not have known that a graduate degree is my ultimate desire.

I started going full time with the help of the VA chapter 31 program. Finding this program at the time I did was a god send. I can no longer work in the line of work I have in the past, without college my wife and I would not have a future to look forward to. Because of college in 2 more years I will have a future in a line of work I can still do. On top of all of this because of the degree I will have I can make more than I could in the past. Going back to school has filled my days with hope. Going back as a 56 year old is more work than I would have ever thought. Doing so I find that there's alot more to me than what I thought there was in the past. College is the best place to start if you want to change your life for the better no what your age.

This is my second time being a college student, the first time was over 20 years ago. I think I have a unique perspective and I am surprised at the students today compared to 20 years ago. I have found this time that information is so readily available and students have such an advantage due to the internet. I think my former college experience is an advantage for me because I know what it takes to succeed with limited resources. I have helped several students succeed because I have formed study groups and encouraged them to help one another. This experience has been valuable to me because it has allowed me to apply my former college experience and use it to teach others. I have learned a lot about myself through this process and realized that I have a great deal of potential that I had doubted before. I have been empowered to succeed in a new career so that I can take care of my family and have a bright future.