Wake Forest University Top Questions

Having gone to college I have made friends with people who I would never have associated with. With these friends I have gone to places and done things that were new to me. Since going to college I have gone ice skating, have had fun studying, and learned more about carbons than the average person will ever know about. One of the main reasons college has been valuable is because it has helped to boost my self esteem; I am liking who I am. After being in college a few years I have realized that I am made of strong stuff. I never thought that I would be able to get an A in an Organic Chemistry class or that I can go to school and work without letting my grades slip. I have learned that there is almost nothing I can not do; the only thing that can stop me is lazyness. With each class I take, I am one step closer to fufilling my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I like who I am, I am a stronger person, and my dreams are coming true; life can't get any better than that.

I got an excellent education at Wake Forest. My Civil Wars class, for instance, went beyond the “what” of political crises and instead focused on the “why” and “how.” I also got much out of my work with Amnesty International. As co-president, I organized an awareness event on the LRA, Hunger Banquet, Domestic Violence event, and myriad other campagns. Last spring I studied abroad in London, which gave me the chance to take courses different from what I was used to. Taking historical tours around London, going to museums and theatre weekly, and researching the colonialism in Uganda as independent research broadened by intellectual horizons, especially since I was in the relevent context. London taught me how to glean more from what I read in books, and see in artwork and on stage. I became more culturally aware by being a tourist in London, Italy and Greece, where I traveled for spring break. Understanding the difficulty of language and cultural barriers gave me a new appreciation for the struggles of immigrants in the US. While ultimately I left Wake Forest for personal reasons, I gained much academically from the two years I was there.

I have learned that I know more than what I was taught in high school. I know that I am able to live on my own, earn my own keep, earn a 4.0 GPA and to look to myself for my own future. In high school, you are taught that there is a certain way to do things to be successful and taking a year between high school and going to a university is not on the list. It wasn't on mine either; but for financial reasons I could not prevent, I had to go to a community college and work full-time for a year. I learned at college that there are many ways to do something; many ways to get what you want. So, I applied to go to a university in England--the University of Winchester--and I was accepted. I am attending this school for three years to earn my degree in Education Studies and Psychology. I hope to inspire other students to accept their own path in life, not to be told that they can't do something and to always think for themselves and to learn all that they can in life.

In addition to the obvious argument that my college degree will afford me greater employment opportunities, an equally compelling consideration is how my college experience is shaping me personally. As a student at Wake Forest, I am becoming a more well rounded person. It is shaping my communication skills, making me more methodical and organized, and exposing me to a whole new world of learning. Moreover, it has given me the ability to see the right path and work for peace and prosperity. Our university motto, “Pro Humanitate” teaches each of us the importance of caring for one’s fellow man and the world in which we live. “For Humanity” fosters an atmosphere of thinking and action, inspiring us to organize service projects worldwide. This attitude gives us a healthy, positive value system and through interaction with those we serve, a deeper understanding of human nature. I feel confident that my college education will not only allow me to successfully contribute economically to the world in which I live, but also allow me make the world in which I live a better place for others. For that reason, my college education may be the most valuable investment I ever make.

In the past year I have learned many things through my college experience. I have taken classes where the professors truely taught me lessons I will remember my who life. However, there are certain aspects I haven't been able to enjoy about college. Living at home and attending community college limits what college has been described to me since I was little. This scholarship will help me reach the next step, to graduate from my community college and transfer to further my major development and to truely experience college and ever aspect of it.

My last college experience has been working on my PhD. This will allow me to further my career in the educational field as a school psychologist. I have had to postpone the completion of my degree due to financial and medical difficulties. Having my degree so close to completion is very difficult. I am the first generation in my father's family (and one of the first in my mother's family) to attend a four year college, much less complete a doctorate. In addition to pride we would feel, as it will be a family accomplishment, completion of this degree will allow me to complete life goals as a result of the financial salary compensation. I would like to adopt one or two children. Currently, as a single adult with school loans, this will not possible. All in all, my college experience has given me opportunities that have not been available to my parents and will continue to provide positive influences not only on myself, but to others that may be able to be adopted into our family. Thank you for the opportunity.

When I was looking for a college, I knew I wanted to attend a small university that would not only challenge me academically, but also provide diverse arenas for an active and involved social life. Wake Forest has exceeded my wildest expectations. Academically, my classes are not just educational. In many cases, they are inspirational. My professors are always engaging and seem genuinely interested in me as an individual. And Wake Forest makes it easy for its students to experience a multi-faceted life outside of the classroom. My extra-curricular experiences range from philanthropic to athletic, to artistic, to just plain social fun! My very rewarding involvement in the Brian Piccolo Foundation, participation in team tennis, Demon Divas - an a cappella singing group, and membership in Delta Zeta sorority only begin to touch the surface of my involvement on campus. Wake Forest offers me a rich learning environment, encouraging not only academic excellence but also strong personal growth. I am proud of the person I am becoming as a student of Wake Forest University and grateful for the opportunities it has provided me. I will forever be a proud Demon Deacon!

Change is a process not many people believe a person is capable of after a certain age, but I can certainly attest that attending Wake Forest has led me to become a more independent, considerate, and informed individual than I was upon graduation from high school. During my time thus far, I have experienced a wide variety of activities and cultural influences that I might not have experienced at a smaller college, and have developed meaningful relationships with my classmates and professors, which I feel might not have been as easily done at a larger university. My time at Wake Forest has helped me fine tune my academic, job, and social skills. It has also helped me analyze who I am and develop the skills I need to be the person I wish to become. While it is academicaly challenging, and sometimes stressful, it is worth it for all the knowledge I have gained.

I have gotten more direction as to where I want to go with my life after college. I have also gained valuable insight into myself through both my classes and the college atmosphere.

I have received great satisfaction from my college experience. As a member of Greek life, I receive all of the benefits of the social scene at Wake Forest. However, being an extremely academic-driven school, I have also learned to balance my studies with my extracurriculars. I believe that this skill of balancing different aspects of my life will really help me in future situations, especially once I enter the working world.