California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

My college experience has taught me that world is a bigger place than I had ever imagined. I recieved my undergraduate degree in 2008 and went into the world with a new purpose and hunger for life. My degree in Recreation and Tourism Managment opened new doors and experiences for me. It took me Guantanamo Bay with the US Navy, to Los Angeles and eventually to Florida where I now work for Hilton Grand Vacations. It is now 2010 and I am returning to school because of the joy that came with my undergraduate degree. I am persuing my Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Management at UCF and i truely cannot wait to see what unfolds before me.

College has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment since I began two years ago. Being one of the only members in my entire family to attend college has motivated me greatly to become something in life, and be all that I can be as the saying goes. After I attain my Bachelors in Business Management, I plan on helping out my parents who have tried so hard to give me the life they could never have, and the things I have always wanted. Although they struggled a lot financially, my parents have always supported me in every aspect that a parent can support a child. College is valuable to me because aside from the fact that I will graduate and go on to make a better life for myself, deep down inside I know I would be giving my parents the one thing they wanted most from me. And that is to have a better life then they had, and in turn provide a better life for my children when I become a parent, so they could do the same when they have children. Because family is important in life, and I believe that family is love forever.

Even though my college experience has just begun my preconceptions and my reality of it were quite different. I thought that a college experience was supposed to be about meeting tons of new people, participating in a lot of clubs and being in a new educational environment. I thought it was supposed to have the perks of high school with more independence. However after my first year of college, I found that my experience made me really think about long-term goals for myself that had to do with not only my education, but with life decisions as well. My college experience ultimately taught me how to be an adult. Even though most could say that college is supposed to or expected to mature a person, to experience the feeling of truly making decisions on my own and having career goals, among many other things was extremely rewarding. Unfortunately poor financial problems caused my college attendance status to change, and at that point I realized that experiencing college is valuable because it is a privilege where making the most of your time there can only benefit you and just like that it can be taken away.

As I entered college, all I wanted was to see the world. So, i entered CSULB as an international studies major relying on the school's options and people to help me figure out my path. I got more than I bargained for. The college has many different courses to choose from. So, you can explore many options and pick the one you like. The people are friendly and extremely diverse. So, you get to learn in a open environment. The staff are dedicated to helping you, and most are already successful in the field of the subject they teach. Therefore, you obtain knowledge directly from people with life experience doing what you want to do. This school has been a privilege to go to and an important decision because without the things listed above, I would still be lost in this world with no direction or decision. Pablo Picasso once said... "My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso." I believe that with CSULB's help... I can be the Picasso of my field.

What I have gotten out of my college experience so far from attending Sullivan University is that it is very important to study and ask questions. The teachers here are really helpful in that they give real-life experiences as their examples for the lesson they are trying to teach. I feel that by going to college I have learned how to communicate to another employee or customer. I have also learned a lot about how to handle conflicts when they come my way if there is ever to be an employee conflict with myself I know that it is best to always try to talk to them one on one in a rational way that they will not feel offended. To further my explanation about how I feel that I have learned that communication can be useful in feeling confident while developing relationships by asking questions about work. It has been valuable to attend because I feel that what I have learned will greatly advance my opportunities to develop, grow, and mature as a young adult in the Business field.

I've gotten the best experience that anyone about my age could ask for, a taste of what it's like to be an adult and have responsibility of you own. To be my own man and go all about, to have the college life that everyone always talked about. I love the fact that I get to take any and so many courses that corresponds with my major or just for fun. It's so statisfying that i'm just enjoying my life and going through college and learning so many things along the fact. Wisdom is priceless.

Not only has college expanded my academic knowledge and prepared me for my career, my college experience has given me the opportunity to discover my individuality. The knowledge that I have gained from my various courses has helped me develop my goals and discover who I want to be as a person. Sociology introduced me to the diversity within our culture, and from that I decided to be an accepting individual, who understands the complex factors of how and why our society is the way it is. My critical thinking course taught me to search for the deeper meaning in people’s decisions, which cultivated my desire to understand a person’s motivations and relate to his situation, rather than be judgmental. Because of the information that I was introduced to throughout my first year, I was able to make personality changes that I believe will benefit my career, as well as my personal life. Without attending college, I do not think that I would have developed into the person I am today. College has fueled my maturity as well as enriched my education, and gaining both of these attributes constitutes my definition of a valuable college experience.

I have met some really amazing people and Professors. It has been valuable to attend because of all the opportunities I have been given; example - Masters program !

When i started college i wasnt really thrilled but now that i have attended for some time i realize that its the best enviroment in education. it is where you create your schedule and take the classes you want unlike high school and all previous years. i was the last person to say i wanted to go to college but now i have a different life and cannot have that attitude. i have a 2 and a half year old daughter and i have had to grow up quite fast and make all the right decisions. not for me but for my daughter.

My college career has opened me up to so many new experiences. I was able to meet new people while experiencing an entirely different school schedule and life. I learned how to manage my time between class, homework, work, and sorority while living on my own and becoming more independent. For me, college has been more than just an amazing educational opportunity; it has allowed me to grow from all sides and become more independent. I have grown up in so many different ways and to me, that's what college is all about. It's about learning not only what you need for your future job, but learning how to balance your priorities, become independent, and learn the tools youll need for your intended career.