University of North Carolina at Asheville Top Questions

I would tell myself to always stay true to yourself and who you are. There are morals and standards that I live by and I'm not going to compromise them for anyone, not even for myself. College comes with a new life; you're constantly surrounded by drugs, sex, and alcohol. However, I came to college knowing who I was and what my limits were. I would never touch drugs because I find them to be useless to my life. I've decided to be celibate until marriage because I believe that waiting will ultimately show true love. I don't drink because I actually want to remember my college experiences. I would also tell myself to never forget your friends and family. They were there for you before college and they will stick with you long after. Tallk to them often, so that they know you're okay, and let them know that you're always thinking about them. And, above all, have some fun! College just isn't about books and papers. It's about learning things about yourself, and the world, that you never would've experienced otherwise.

Stay outgoing! I know you think it's going to be easy making new friends in a new state where you don't know anyone, and to a certain degree it is. But you absolutely have to keep in mind that other people are in the same boat as you are, and sometimes you have to play the outgoing type if you want to have friends. The people at school aren't out to get you, and most are actually really nice, so go out there and have a great time! But for as much good times as you have, you're in school for a reason: to graduate! You cannot forget that school is the reason you're in North Carolina, and as such, you have to study and do well (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you refused in high school). College is waaay harder than high school, but it's also more fun, so make it all that it can be!

Not onyl have I gain new friends along the way, but I also have learned new stuff that high school didn't taught me well. Being in college has made me more responsible and also it has taught me how to prioritize and manage my time. When I first came in to the college I was very lazy and procrastinated all the time, but now that I know that college is not a joke I take care of my prioroties first.

I have learned a lot about the sociological path the United States is headed towards. I do not want to be stuck in a downward social movement. I feel that I need to go to School so I can be sure I will have a succesfull future. I want to move up the social ladder. We need more educated people in the United States to make sure we do not get taken over, and we can protect our freedom. I hate what the things going on in other countries, like Sudan, so if we are all educated we can stop things like this long before they happen. maybe just maybe if more people are educated we can make a difference in the world. Maybe even in places like Sudan. Education, air, food and water are the things we need to survive,

I've realized the importance of real-world experience. More empahsis is put on my work ethic, diversity training, campus-oriented behaviors, and relationships/networking than GPA and ability to write long research papers. I love that I am encouraged to push harder, and do more, but also realized that college is supposed to be fun.

Every time i leave a classroom at UNCA my head is filled with much more knowledge than it had going in. I have learned to become passionate about the topics that i really care about and have had teachers along the way push me into believing that i can acheive anything that i put my mind to. Along with learning so much more about myself, college has given me the oppertunity to meet so many new friends and with these new friends come new ideas. My eyes have been openened to other peoples views and thoughts and I have learned that experiencing what other people believe can give you a whole new prespective on life.

Hello my name is Taylor Cramer, I am 22 years old and live in Sebastopol California. I have been attending Santa Rosa Junior College since fall of 2006, and will be transfering to Sonoma State University this fall to earn my B.A. I have found attending college to be a very valuable experience in personel developement. Being exposed to so many different types of people, cultures, ethnicity's and age groups. Having this type of exposure has really helped prepare me to understand and deal with real world situations. For me attending college has been a very valuable experience for one of many reasons, one of those being that I am the first in my family to go to college. Another is that I have emersed myself in every moment of my college experience. And knowing that the time I spend attending college are going to be unlike any other that I will ever experience in my life has driven me to do the best I can, and enjoy every moment of it. No matter what trials face me along the way, I have chosen to have a better life by earning an education.

I have gotten not only great friendships, but my eyes have really been opened. I get to see people who really do not care what goes on around them, or if others look at them. Here, you can be whoever you want to be and not be judged. This is very valuable because it has made me less shocked by people I see that I would consider "abnormal."

I am barely two years into my college "experience" but I can already see how this has turned into alot more than just a simple excursion. Going to a movie is an "experience" but what I have, here, has been a growing process. When I began, I thought that I was just going to school to get credits, to get my BFA and teaching licensure and then to get into the real world. However being here made me realize the importance of the steps along the way. I began talking to professors and finding out their backgrounds. I questioned, for myself, where I wanted to end up. The day I realized that all of my best professors seemed to know everything about every subject was the day that I decided that I never want to stop learning. I just want to know everything. So whether I end up somewhere down the road teaching Elementary School Art , or whether I become that really old Humanities professor who knows everything, I know that I will be happy in it and do it well because I have chosen to soak up every opportunity that has come my way. This is who I am.

Don't be afraid. Do not feel pressured into making a decision, such as your college major, that could affect the rest of your life. You're 18, you have plenty of time to make that decision. Keep your focus on learning, and go to school in order to learn, not to fashion what you learn over a preconceived notion of what you want to do with your life. You may surprise yourself in discovering what you actually love isn't quite what you think you are simply good at. College is the time to find yourself and to find those that best fit your personality, have fun with it!