Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Top Questions

Hello, my name is Erica Ames, I graduated from the University of Maryland in 1999. I have returned to college after ten years to pursue a nursing degree because I love helping people, and my older sister has MS. I would like to use my degree to help my sister and others with disabilities. Furthermore, what I have learned from my college experince in the past and present is number one diversity. When I say diversity I mean learning about other students cultures, which is very interesting. Learning how to manage my time, meaning planning study time; that is very important to me. It is very important to schedule study time, so that I can continue to be a B-A student. I enjoy learning about the anatomy and science classes in general. I pray this award is awarded to me become really want to become a nurse. I have helped the MS Society of Md., raise thousands of dollars toward research for this terrible disease and I will continue too! Therefore, college life is a wonderful learning experience.

Out of this college experience I've learned that no matter how you took your education in your previous years (High school and before), whether you were a C student ,B student or an A student, College is the opportunity for you to start fresh and to start new. I say this because I was always a B student but wanted to be better and I saw many students waste their talents and opportunity to shine. Never be content with average when you know you can be above average! Do it for you, noone else & be confident in yourself! You begin really part of your future in College and you will realize what your full potential can be. It becomes essential to do well and to stay true to what you want. Don't become distracted by nonsense and people wasting their education just to have a good party! (I'm starting to sound like my parents but it's very true) Tell yourself, "I didn't come here to play around, I came here to get down to business!" Stay true to this and it will take you places you never thought you could be. Be open to "Better"!

I am the first in my immediate family to go to college. My college career, is still not yet complete, but has been very rewarding. I have grown as a person and learned to be more mature. I now attend Fairleigh Dickinson University which is a small campus. I love being able to walk around, see professors, and have them know exactly who I am, and be willing to go over that assignment that I may not fully understand a little more. I have gotten so much out of Fairleigh a semester in that I am eager to see how much more I will be able to learn and grow before I graduate. Upon graduation I intend on working with mentally handicaped children, and I am confident in knowing that my current school will fully prepare me for that.

In order to make friends, you have to be a friend. The people you meet in college will be lifelong friends, but you have to put yourself out there. The way to meet people is to open up to them and make yourself available as a friend. When you?re far away from home, make a new home. The only way to feel welcomed and at home in a big University, is to make your niche. Get involved in an organization you are passionate about. There is safety in numbers. Never leave a friend behind, and never go somewhere at night alone; ensure your safety at all times. Go to class, and study. Do not waste the opportunity you have to make the best for yourself and prepare for a future that can be lucrative and successful. The ultimate piece of advice that I learned with growing older is to live every day like it is your last. I made it through college, and after having minor medical problems all throughout, I was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor and had brain cancer. Every student should embrace life to the fullest they possibly can.

I would give myself a few wise words of advice. First, and most importantly is to live my last year of high school to the fullest, to take lots of pictures, and instead of stressing about the future, to live in the present because you can never experience High School again. Secondly, I would tell myself that what ever decision I make for the future, is not set in stone. Going to college is not an ending, but it is more like another chapter in the novel of your life and you need to finish one chapter before you can begin another. Thirdly, I would advise myself to save a little more money as a High School Senior, since things are handed to you more easily on an academic level in high school, and it is hard to make the transition to college. Lastly, I would tell myself to make sure I spent time with my Family. Personally, I am the oldest, so leaving for college was a very hard transition for my family to make, as well as myself. I would tell myself to appreciate and value the time I had left at home with them.

I would tell myself first not to worry so much about the social aspect of high school, because your real friends, the ones you will have for life you will make in college. Instead of worrying about being "cool", focus more on studies and gaining scholarships, because life as a college student is tough financially. Also pay close attention in classes, because the things you learn in high school really do carry over to college and it is important to make the right decisions while you are young. When you arrive at college, be excited it's the best time of your life! Make sure you work a lot in the summer to give yourself enough spending money. Your dorm room becomes not only your bedroom, but your kitchen, living room and anything else you can think of, so keep it clean! Finally, enjoy.

Don't be afraid to get out of your room and get to know people. They aren't as scary as you think and can help you in the long run. Join more clubs, be more active on campus. You'll be happier for it because you'll be busy planning things, which you love to do, instead of sitting alone in your room. Plus, you won't be kicking yourself later on for not having more clubs and experience to put on future school applications! You may be upset you didn't get the school you really wanted, but this is going to give the oppuritunity to try out more things and meet some cool people. Take the chance to really see the world from a different point of view, and apply for more internships. It will help you out in the long run. And do not invite two girls who live in Park Ave to join your group of online friends. It will only end in tears, trust me!

I would tell myself to get over the bad habit of procrastinating. It can really get out of hand in college, and it really does nothing but harm you to put off assignments. Also, I would tell myself to get out more and get more involved in what my school has to offer. Basically break out of the shell that you've been living in for the past four years and be who you want to be.

I would tell myself to be ready to open up to new people and a new environment. Being in college isn't just about learning new things but finding out who you are and meeting new people. The environment is completely different from high school and allows for more independence from family and people you've known your entire life. It's time to put yourself out there and try new things, join new clubs/activities, and really be involved. No more procrastinating or slacking off in class; it's a new time to start fresh and do well. Be aware of what you're learning in school and your surroundings. Know that what you learn in high school is like the basics and there's good reason to know a majority of it. College pushes you just a little bit more into the real world, and it's a chance to take responsibility of your own life. After high school, it's time to take things more seriously and know that this is not just about having to go to school but also about your future.

The best advice I could offer would be yourself. Take your time and meet everyone on campus. First, you should lay concrete groundwork with your grades the first semester or two then start getting involved in clubs and social organizaton. It need hurts to plan a layout for your college career. And always do what you want to do in college; its your experience no one elses.