Christopher Newport University Top Questions

I have learned how to be more open to people and much more independent. College gives people such a unique experince that it's so important for people to attend. Not only are you getting an education, but it helps people develop socially and emotionally. This is the perfect time for mistakes and figuring out who you are without major consequences, like in the "real" world.

My University Attending Christopher Newport was one of the best choices I have ever made. At first I was super homesick but then my hall mates, my RA and the school itself made me feel more welcomed each and every day. Being in college has helped me become a better student academically and personally. I learned to manage my time so that I could get my work done on time, be active around campus and have my own personal free time. In high school, it was much easier to get everything done because your teachers where on you all the time and you had a routine going. In college, it’s different because you have all this time in your hands but it’s up to you to make the best out of it. Attending this school has been very valuable to me because it’s taking me to the right path for a better and successful future. Christopher Newport has my major and a pre-medical program that will guide me to apply to medical school in a few years. I hope to get more out of this university by time I graduate.

College has been the most influential experience of my life. Experience is the most powerful device for learning, and that's exactly what I've gotten here. Through our liberal learning program I have learned about art, French, business law, and much more. As a theater major, I wasn't expecting to have such a diverse spectrum of classes but every class has proved to be greatly influential in my life. I now have an incredible understanding and respect for people who choose other paths in life. I have been able to make connections between theater and every other class, and apply those connections to my acting in order to improve and understand the complexity of human nature. My experience has also been filled with more friends than I could have possibly imagined, from a plethora of different backgrounds. Understanding other people's experiences has allowed me to indulge in the essence of life itself. Life as an actor involves delving deep into the human psyche and my college experience has profoundly helped me to seek answers and acquire knowledge that will help me become the person I strive to be. Through college, I've been given true vitality.

College is a time and place when things are happening all around you. I have been exposed to more life experiences that I will cherish, as well as remember for the rest of my life. College is hard to describe because there is a depth to it. There are so many levels of different people and things that someone gets exposed to it's unbelievable. After high school, I could have never imagined becoming the person that have today. I did not see myself loving the university I attend, joining a fraternity, quitting varsity football, joining club rugby, becoming best friends with multiple college professors, working as a waiter in a restaurant, working as a campus security, or even buying a fix-me-up-truck. I have my college experience to thank for the fact that I can go anywhere and everywhere knowing that I can talk to anyone about nearly anything while showing both my intellectual prowess and my confidence in any social situation. I am a self-sustaining, hard-working, party-enjoying student that will be successful in whatever career I pursue when I graduate. I can thank my 18-year-old self for choosing this place.

Many people choose college as a way to flee from their parents and enter into a world of frat parties, late nights and plenty of coffee. I saw much past that when I began my first semester at CNU. I saw it as a way to become extremely active on campus, do as much as I can both in and outside of the classroom and to learn not only about other people, religions and backgrounds but about myself. Basically, I wanted to put as much on my plate as possible without jeopardize my grades. I started working at the school coffee shop 5 days a week, joined a sorority, was a part of young life, applied and recieved the position of a residents assistant for the 2010-2011 school year and still was able to balance school work. With that being said, time management became my new best friend. This was one of the most valuble concepts I have taken away from my college experience. This is also something that will not stop once I leave college. I will always want to push myself to take on new things and with that being said, balancing them is just as important.

I realized that I am a much stronger person than I could have ever imagined! This school has opened my eyes to what I am capable of, especially after I attended NYU last summer between semesters. I am hoping to attend NYU for graduate school next Fall with this scholarship money.

Throughout my first year of college I have learned so much. Eat breakfast, because you may miss lunch or eat dinner, because you may miss breakfast. Study in advance and get plenty of sleep or you will definitely be falling asleep on your test. Do not stress to much over the small things. It is not worth it. Get plenty of excercise, it really does help relax your brain. When you are studying for hours on in for that huge test, make sure you take breaks that are atleast thirty minutes long. It helps you retain the information. Do not study the day of the test, because you dont retain any of that information. Most of all have the time of your life. Make the best of friends. That is what college is all about. It has been valuable to me, because this is whats kept me waking up each and every day. My roommate is my best friend, my hallmates mean everything to me, and I feel one hundred times smarter after leaving my classes. Everyone should try it out, atleast one semester. It is totally worth it. I wouldn't change a thing.

Just going through my freshman year has shown me so much that I will reemmber for the rest of my life. I've met people that have already had an effect on my life and others that I will never I kno I can ask questions and the teacher will answer to me remembering what my name is and not associating me with a number. I also decided to join a sorority which has also changed my life. I have so many sisters that would do anything for me already and has shown me what loyalty and honor means. Sports is also another large part of CNU. I am part of the Women's Varsity Tennis team and it has given me structure and taught me time managment. I've seen how positively CNU affects students. A lot of time when talking or listening to others, I always here how people love being at the school and how amazing it is to be there. Students are generally always happy. I know CNU is just starting to show me what it has to offer and I am very willing to accept whatever the school has to offer.

I have high aspirations of obtaining my Bachelor?s degree in engineering. To realize that dream, for the last 2 years I?ve been attending school full time at St. Louis Community College on an A+ program and working full time. I?ve also dedicated extra time to volunteering and community work. Neither of my parents or grandparents have a college education. They were all born in the former Yugoslavia but are now American Citizens. I want to make them all proud.

In my family, no one cared about going to college. It was never talked about, never encouraged. My parents didn't push me to apply and at age 19, I made the decision for myself to go to school. Since then, I have received two associates degrees, but also something much more important: the knowledge that my life is in my own hands, and I can shape it in any way that I want. College has opened me up, and put my life on a new track. I have met wonderful people through my college experiences that have inspired me to be better and do better for myself, and not let excuses get in the way. Without college, I don't know the person I would be now. But I know that since I've been in school, I've grown so much and had my eyes opened to what I can do with my life.

In reviewing the scholarship rules, I see you must have attended school for a Bachelor's degree in 2008, 2009, or 2010. While this is not the case for me, I must share the following: Although was not attending CNU for my Bachelor's degree in the aforementioned years, I was at CNU, and I am still at CNU. Upon completion of my Bachelor's degree in 2007, I immediately went on staff with CNU's President's Leadership Program, where I currently serve as Coordinator. I believe this reflects the value of my CNU experience through my passion and committment to continue to serve this incredible institution that I am beyond pround to call "mine." CNU promotes and initiates relevant change. This is powerful, and I long to be a part of this institution that is committed to equip students to inspire and initiate such relevant change. I am now seeking my master's degree so that I will not only be able to serve CNU in developing students, but also in teaching them the leadership content that so impacted me. I seek this $5,000 as I seek to continue relevant change. Thank you for considering me.

I have gotten out of my college experience, more learning about myself. In college they say you will become who you are while this is the first time you are actually on your own. That is so true as I have found my friends and were i belong here and it is perfect place for me. I have gotten a great support system as we are all going through different experiences here it is so nice to have a group of people here for you.

As I look back on my last years of high school, I feel ashamed and reminiscent. Maybe I hurt my parents? feelings when I said I couldn?t wait to move out. Maybe I undervalued the significance of time when I wished for it to speed up to graduation. Now, I find myself missing home and all the love found within those walls. The time I wished for is finally here? and it?s not everything I imagined. I have learned responsibility as well as the quality of hard work. College has not only educated me in its lectures and books, but it has given me the feeling of gentle appreciation for those that I once took for granted.

I have learned how to take care of myself and to be independent. I have always had my parents to take care of me and being in college you don't have that. It has been a change that took some getting used to but it has been a good change.

My college experience so far has been interesting and insightful to me. It has been a time for me plunge into the depths of humanity, and to adapt to swim lest sink. I say this because I have always been more of an introvert with very few close friends. Coming to college I found myself surrounded by people constantly, with no room to call entirely my own to escape to. Luckily I managed to find friends. An excellent group of friends to keep me from wilting away at the lack of alone. From them I have hopefully been able to improve my social abilities and my understanding of people. With them I have been through many interesting adventures; from my first anime convention to late night lightsaber battles, from tarot to snuggie dance parties, from Thursday tea times to children's card games; I have encountered many times to treasure.

Don't stress too much about going off to college and being able to make friends. Everyone else is looking to find people too, so it's easy! College work is harder than high school, so dont slack off; you'll regret it later. But be social! Get out and do fun things, experience all that college has to offer! Stock up on all the necessities you might need for living especially tissues and toilet paper, they go faster than you think! Pack enough to get by, but dont bring everything from home just because you "might need it" one day. If you really end up needing it, your parents can mail it to you. Stay in touch with old friends, but really get to know your new ones, you might find they're your best friends in twenty years. It takes a while to get used to dining hall food if you're used to home cooked meals. They try their best to make healthy dishes, but cooking for 400 people makes it harder. Take advantage of the gym! It's there for you to use and if you push yourself, its enjoyable and keeps off that freshman fifteen!

If I had to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now I would warn myself about all of the irritating, inconsiderate people that you I may have to live with. Then I would warn myself about all of the different peer pressures of college and to beware of all the parties, drinkers and smokers on campus. Then I would tell myself that you have to make sure you may your time well because if you don't, your work will never get done. And last but not least enjoy the freedoms you have in college but do not take advantage of them, because the consequences could put your future plans on hold or it could even cause those goals to not be met. Make wise decisions and choose your friends wisely.

Dear Ryan, I am in the second semester of my first year of college and a year ago at this time you just finished applying to colleges. Soon you will start to realize that living in a dorm next year will be extremely different from living at home and you might become anxious or nervous; but you have no reason to worry. When you come to school in August of course you?ll be nervous and excited, but you are going to be fine. You make friends fast because you go with the flow and are open to this new experience. College classes aren?t extremely hard or intimidating like in movies and the freshmen fifteen doesn?t happen to everyone. So this is what I want to tell you, what I want to tell myself a year ago, be excited and don?t worry at all that you won?t make friends or that you?ll have awful roommates. Sometimes living here is frustrating, but overall you?re going to make great friendships and great memories for your first year. Have fun and keep your head up when you get down, you?re going to love it. Love, Ryan

In high school I was incredibly involved, and in many ways I stil am today, but in high school, I believed that was the most important thing, do as much in you can in four years, pack your resume as tightly as you can, just so you can look good for college. Now, however, I've come to realize that there is far more to being involved in your school than just the credit you get for it. If I were able to go back in time, I'd tell myself that it's okay to be involved, but you can also get to know others in the process. Take the time to seek out fellow club members and develop relationships and connections. As a college student I still enjoy filling my schedule with various activities, but what I've come to enjoy even more, is the friends I've made in the process. It's amazing how easy it can be to get to know others, epecially those who have similar intersts to you, when you take the chance to reach out and be a friend.

Looking back on my senior year I would point out two things that would have made my last year of high school more enjoyable and to make the jump to college easier. First would be to breathe, applying to colleges, taking challenging classes, and the realization that you will soon be moving on to a new chapter in your life takes a lot out of you. Take some time away from the stress and spend time with friends, read a book, or just sit somewhere for a bit. The time away will give you a new view on things and you will feel refreshed. The second thing I would tell myself would be to take your senior year seriously; slacking off and getting ?senioritis? only makes it worse. If your grades drop dramatically your admission to colleges could be revoked. A combination of taking a breather and taking it serious will help you to not only keep from going crazy, but will also teach you how to handle your first year in college. From experience, it takes a combination of time with friends and seriousness about your studies to be a successful college student.