Florida State University Top Questions

Before going to college I used to think that I was going just for academic reasons, so that I could have a better future with more opportunities later in life. After being away for only one year I have gained so much more than I could've asked for. I have grown as a person and I can finally understand why people say you change in college. When starting college I had already picked my major and I love it. However, FSU offers a variety of other majors and minors, some of which have started to interest me. Learning about different career opportunities, majors and jobs have helped me set more goals for myself and to aspire more things in life. I have also become involved in a cultural groups, which has helped me learn more about my culture and meet people with my heritage. Finally, I feel like I have also grown in my faith. I have become very involved with the Catholic group and have met many people who I'm sure I'll be friends with even after college. Without these experiences, I'm sure I wouldn't have grown as much as I have so far.

The most valuable experience that I have gotten out of my college experience is confidence-confidence in many different aspects of my life. First, I have gained confidence in my ability to simply live and be an adult. I was extremely nervous about moving out of my mother's house and living on my own. Having to get out of bad by myself, having to cook and clean for myself, having to handle important paper work by myself were things that seemed impossible to me. But, I now feel that I can take care of business alone and quite well. Secondly, I feel that I have gained confidence in my able to perform. As I music major, I began swimming in a large pond, but I was a small fish. I was intimidated, and began to think I wasn't as talented as my peers. It occurred to me that I'll never make it if I continue to sulk in my misery(and they were older than me, of course they are going to have more experience than me). I put myself out there, and gained so much more confidence than I ever imagined I could.

As cheesy or cliched as it might sound, the most valuable thing I have gotten out of my college experience thus far, is self discovery. I have started to actually discover who I am as a person in this world. I used to be a Biology Major on the pre-med track, thinking that science was okay in high school and being a doctor would make me the most money. People would ask me what I wanted to do with pre-med and I never really knew the answer to it because I didn't know what I would do. I just wanted to make money. I soon found out that not only was it tougher than I had imagined, but that I also had absolutely no interest in the field. It took me a while to realize that I should actually be going after what I love, no matter the success it brings. Despite, being unsupported by my family, I have since changed my major to Media Productions and Creative Writing, in hopes of being a writer for NBC and then someday my dream job of being on "Saturday Night Live".

So far out of college I have gotten a number of great friendships, a good on-campus job, and some great experience and advice from a few professors. I have become more independent. I've also been lucky to attend some once in a lifetime opportunities meeting and working with various famous and professional people. My experience has been valuable because without college I would not be able to do what I want to do in life. It has made me a more responsible and better person.

I attend FSU, which is eight hours away from where my family lives. I have never been away from them for as long as I have been while attending college. I am starting to learn how to be independent, which will help me later on in my life and especially with my career. I have never really been independent until I started college last fall, and now I am learning how to live without my family always being under the same roof and learning how to deal with money, people and school problems myself. I am able to see the growth I have made even in only one semester.

When I first started FSU, I had this picuresque dream of my college life. I thought I would be invincible, probably partying and somehow attaining a perfect GPA. I thought that I would be the first doctor in my family full of nurses. When classes started I quickly realized that this semester was going to be a trying one. I was addicted to studying, to the point where I wouldn't eat just to finish studying. I never went out, and while my friends would be coming home at three AM from having a good time, I was up as well studying. Through out all this studying I realized things were only going to get worse, this was only my freshman year. After the whirlwind of a semester, I realized the heartbreak and the things I had to let go of. Medicine wasn't my passion, it was something I felt obligated to do. I got involved in clubs at my school such as the College Democrats and the Womens caucus. That's when I realized this is what I'm meant to do. I changed my major to Political Science, in hopes for a successful Spring semester. Never Quit.

Mainly what I have gotten out of my college experience, is that I have been challenged. I enjoy working toward completing my college education. More than anything I want to finish college, and use my degree to encourage others to do the same. I have been able to take my college experence and help my children reconize the power of determination. College isn't easy for some, especially those returning after almost 15 years, if I lead by example they will follow.

In my college experience i have started to get an amazing education, not only though school but learning to stand on my own two feet. I have soon come to realize that rent, bills, and food really do add up. I go to work and school full time so i can pay for all of it sot hat one day i won't have to work at a pay-by-the-hour job. I have learned to sacrifice things that aren't as important, to achieve what i came here for. Ambulances are expensive taxi cab's, and true friends will sit around the house with you shivering in the cold, just to be together. This life may be hard, but i wouldn't trade it for the world. Florida State has been the most valuable experience thus far in my life.

The best experience that I have gotten out of my college experience is being involved in so many diverse organizations. Growing up I attended a private Jewish school and was surrounded solely by Jewish people. With a beautifully diverse campus, I became a part of an amazing sisterhood, great honor societies and associations, and got to work as a Teachers Assitant and meet many students who have the same motivation for their academics as I do. It has been an amazing experience to work with different professors and teacher freshman students at such a young age. If it wasnt for me attending Florida State, I would have never been able to get this diverse educations I have always been dreaming of.

I have learned that there is more to life then from where i was living in my hometown of Ft. Myers FL. I went to a school of 500 and i was scared to come to FSU but i have made amazing friends who will be life long friends. I have become invloved with my community through organizations that my school has offered. I have finally become my own person, not the person my parents were trying to make me be. Going away to college at FSU made me grow up and become a true adult. I have taken responsability of my life and actions and i can not wait to graduate and start my career as a nurse. I have also grown closer in my relationship with the Lord because of my attendence at FSU.