Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Top Questions

I have gotten a lot out of my college ex

What I have gotten from my college experience is that it’s a new step in life that you have to make so that you can become someone in life. At first, I was pretty scared in knowing how I was going to pay for my studies since I’m almost getting married and my future husband is in the line of losing his job. Then, there was the list where they were scholarships and free money to students were available. From there, college experience changed. You can study and they provide you the facilities that you need to complete your assignments. This is valuable for me to attend college because this is what they told me in my orientation, “People outside college are looking for students that have responsibility. They are looking for students that have good attendance because that shows that we are responsible and we are good candidates for the position offered.” Besides is like my teacher said in high school, “miss a day, miss a lot.”

At 25 I recently began attending my local community college and I am loving every minute of it. My professors are amazing and they really have a passion for what they are teaching. I see a lot of students not show up to class but I have been there everyday not only because I pay for it so I should really be there but because I want to be there. With attending everyday comes a whole new value for the educational system. I have gained mass amounts of confidence and love speaking in front of the class and participating in class discussions. I have made an amazing set of friends that also make up my study group! I wake up every morning excited to go to school and it shows in my grades. 7 years after last attending school and I am earning a 4.0. The struggle to come up with money to pay for school is always looming over my shoulder since financial aid only covers a fourth of my tuition but I manage to scrape the money together because I can't see myself any other place right now than at Clark College.

I learned how to be a teacher. My undergraduate degree in agriculture education helped prepare me for my current field of special education. I went on to get my M.Ed. from SAU and am currently working on my PhD in Education: Special Education. I feel like getting my degree from SAU provided me with the skills I need to learn how to be a teacher and how to understand the needs of all students.

I have learned so many things about myself since coming to college. I have learned time-management, social skills and networking. I have increased my knowledge in my preferred field of study. The agriculutre professors are great, they have taught me that I can rely on them to help me out with any problem, school or life-related. Socially, I have found friends, both my age and older, that I can rely on in any kind of emergency. Being a college student now living on my own has forced me to learn responsible, and minor house repairs! Basically, everything that I have experienced and learned since leaving home has helped me to become the strong Christian woman that I am and that I want to be. I wouldn't change these experiences for anything.

I have gotten so much out of my college experience. I have become a much stronger and well rounded person. I have become more outgoing and have learned to live life the way it needs to be lived. I have made friends and connections with people that will last forever. College has taught me so much from the actual classes to the outside "experiences". It has made me, into "Me".

Learn how to budget your money, and only buy the things you honestly need. Also do not slack off in the second half of the summer because it will cost you playing time this year from not being prepared physically.

I would tell myself to focus more on the core classes I took in high school. I would tell myself to not be so dependent on the teachers and even my parents reminding me on assignments and to get work done that I need to do. I would also tell myself to listen more to my parent and understand that "money doesn't grow on trees". I would tell myself to plan my spending better and spend from a budget when I had my summer jobs. Above all else, I would tell my parents how much I really do love and appreciate them for all they do for my sister and me. Other than that I would tell myself, like I really did, that nothing is too hard for God and He's always by my side.

You should move off instead of going to college in your hometown for the full college experience.

The only advice that I could give to anyone seeking the right college is to be yourself and follow your heart. Go someplace where you can and will be happy. Don't go to a school just because that's where your parents want you to go - unless, of course, you will be happy there as well. Once you've decided on a college where you will be happy, jump right into the college life. Join the band, choir, any club that you are interested in. By being active on campus, you will meet more people. These groups will be your friends and study buddies. All-in-all, be you - follow your heart and do what you want to do.