University of Central Florida Top Questions

I learned to value education and the differences in our world. Most of all I now look for the education in every experience.

I've been attending college for almost 1 full semester now, and it really has been quite a journey. On day one, I was extremely nervous, shy, and scared. Since then, however, I've grown comfortable in this new setting, made tons of friends, and had a very successful first semester. Not only is college valuable to attend because you're almost guaranteed a better-paying job, but it helps you gradually make your way into adulthood. Sure, at times it's intimidating; moving away from your parents, buying groceries on your own...and best of all, not having a curfew! But really, with these small little changes I have seen myself mature in more ways than I can imagine. If one semester of college can do this, I can only imagine the years to come. I am proud of myself for pursuing my education and beginning my road to success.

University of Central Florida has one of the best Hospitality programs in the country. Rosen College of Hospitality has truly instilled team building principles that are a great benefit in the work force. Also, part of the program includes internships in various hotels/restaurants. The students are able to capture the principles learned in the classroom and incorporate them into their work life. Working full time and attending school also taught me great time management skills. Rosen is a separate campus from the main UCF campus so the school provided a separate home away from home mentality. Rosen is a close knit family that allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the travel and tourism industry.

I have gotten pertinent information that will help me get my licensure and certification to perform any position in my chosed profession and classification. Since I have been unable to get a job in the last two years in my chosen profession because I don't have a license or certification returning to school to get these credentials is crucial to my future in employment since I am my only source of income. The online experience is different because it has me doing class discussions that I would not ordinarily partake in if in a regular classroom situation.

My college experience thus far has vastly contributed to molding me into the matured, smarter and more responsible woman I’ve become. Going off to college, for me, meant venturing into unchartered territories without set schedules, without my mother reminding me to keep up with my chores and schoolwork, and having to take on all of my own financial obligations. Although the transition wasn’t easy, it has been the most unforgettable and rewarding experience. College is one big test, pushing your limits in every aspect. I’ve become more responsible and reliable with managing my time and money. Everything from assignment due dates, bills, and work revolve around the clock. I’ve developed and excelled academically. I’m now certain of my aspiration to attend law school. Throughout my time at UCF I've met amazing people that will forever be apart of my life. I’ve made life long friends and created strong many bonds with the sisters in my sorority. Going to college has significantly impacted and advanced my mental and emotional development. I’ve changed for the better, and it’s an experience I’d never go back on, for it has exceeded all my expectations!

The things I have gotten out of my college experience are respect for myself and others and knowledge to contribute to our society in a positive way. Although college took me a very long time to complete due to personal issues in my life I completed what I set out to do. I gained respect for all of the professors that worked with me and applaud them for their encouragement and support to help me be the best I could be. I am proud of my accomplishments and graduating with a 3.87 GPA. My education has been valuable to me because it has helped me earn a job in a place I love. I go to work every day and know that at the end of the day I have done my very best to teach those around me. I feel it helps me to be a good person. The more I share the things I know it helps me to respect myself as a person and the others around me.

The most significant experience I have gained from attending UCF has been my overall personal growth. I've always been a hard working, independent, intellegent student so the academic areas of college were expected. I grew up in a rural town in the northeast, sheltered from many of life's struggles. Since my family could not financially support my college experience, I was challenged to persevere on my on will. I have managed working and attending school while maintaing a high academic standard. Overall, I have surpassed my peers in real world experience and maturity to be an indpendent young adult. I suffered depression for many years and almost ended my life. Through counseling provided by my school, however, I was able to find my self worth and value my existence. I am currently pursuing my Master's degree and continuing to grow as a person. My college experience at UCF has enabled me to interact with people from various backgrounds and learn to accept myself for my differences; everyone is different. I am an average girl who comes from an average American family. My goal is to break the mold by beliving in myself and become something.

The most important thing that i have gotten out of my college experience is friends. I have met a lot of new people and gained a lot of new friends in just a short time. By meeting new people i have gained allies on which i can depend on in the future. Ten years from now one of the people i met in college could be a senator or the president. Nobody knows what the people they meet will accomplish that is why it is important to make as many friends in this life as you possible can. Another thing i have gained from going to college is a sharp image of what the real world is like. When a student makes the shift from high school to college they go through a certin phase of uncertinty. This is what i have gained from my college experience.

I have been able to apply the skills that I learned in college in my work environment and also my personal life. It helped me to be a more independent thinker and I enjoy continuous learning. My career requires that I have a bachelors degree and I would not have been able to have that without attending UCF. Towards the end of my degree, personal circumstances required that I drop down to part-time as I had to work ful time, but the college worked with me and made it possible fo me to fit the classes into my life and I am the first person in my family to graduate from college.

My college experience has exposed me to so much diversity in many areas. It helped me develop my opinions on issues I've never given much thought to. Being around so many people who are your age really makes you feel like your apart of something great.

My college experience has been valuable because of the interaction I have had with others. I learned so much from all my classes and through my internship. I was able to meet with different people and professors that wanted us to think 'outside the box'. After undergrad I was able to get a job from a company in Chicago and I packed my bags and moved! I had never been there before. I believe that so much of the young adult I became was due to the experiences I shared with my classmates and professors at UCF. Undergraduate school the first year was confusing and tiresome. I went from a high school of 350 to a school of 40,000 students. The transition was hard at first, but then it became easy. I had taken smaller classes and tried to avoid the stadium sized classes as much as possible. This enable me to really talk to my professors and to my classmates. I met professors who encouraged us to travel, to ask questions, and to investigate for ourselves. This was the most valuable experience because now as a grad student; I approach my classes in this matter.

From my college experience I have recieved the ability to explore beyond what the government standards allow us to learn. In elementary, middle, and high school, we were given standards in which the teachers had to abide by. We were only allowed to be taught what the government wanted us to learn. In college, I have experienced a more in depth learning experience. For example, I have been able to explore more than just the basis of history. As a child, I was taught about the conquest that Christopher Columbus had over North America. I was taught that this man did something great and he deserved to be celebrated. I was never taught that this man had manipulated and killed thousands of native North American Indians, untill I went to college. College has given me an insight to a new world. It has given me a new mindset on what schools teach and given me a desire to continue to search for more answers.

My college expirience has been the door to discovering a huge pool of wonderful opportunities and directions my life can take. I have met some of the greatest teachers and mentors of my life in college. I hope continue on to a University and continue to expand my horizons. There are so many things I want to do with my life and I know that college is the way to go in order to achieve my goals. Even though my life has been difficult growing up in a poverty-stricken, single parent household, I am going to do whatever it takes to continue my education and insure that my future is as bright as possible.

What is really great about my campus is that there are 33,000 people attending. This has taught me how important it is to establish a stable group, like a community, made up of friends and fellow classmates. Sometimes attending a big university can be overwheliming, but by sticking with my "community" I have learned that I don't have to be a small fish in a huge pond. Its kind of how life is. There are millions of people out there, but the important thing is to learn from each other, and be as stable and happy as you can be.

My college experience has allowed me to explore my interests freely and on my own and learn how to be more independent when it comes to everyday things.

Ancient philosopher, Plato, once said, "The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life." This concept undoubtedly captures the essence and purpose of my college career. The fundamental reason I chose to attend the University of Central Florida was their dedication to providing opportunities for students to succeed, in a wide range of fields and subjects. Further, UCF has provided me with the opportunities and the exposure to a multitude of knowledge, ideas, resources, and experts that I am confident will have a positive impact on my future. First, UCF has enabled me to gain higher level knowledge and skills that will open the door to numerous career paths and opportunities. Also, the knowledge and skills essential to my success are being enstilled in me, through the instruction of the most credible experts in their respective fields. Within my grasp, lies the opportunity to better enrich my mind, and I fully intend on pursuing it. In my time here at UCF, I will develop into a successful, respected, and secure member of society. I hope that in the future, I can inspire and impact someone's life in the way that UCF has impacted me.

Deciding to go back to school was the best decision i've made in my adult life. While it has been extremely challeging mentally and emotionally, being apart of a student body has filled a void I didn't know existed until I attended my first class in Fall 2009. -Prior to my enrollment, hospitality industry has been my full-time job for almost ten years; However it's been a roller coaster ride as far as wages earned over that time period. I strongly believe the inconsistancy in pay rate has a direct correlation with the fact that I do not have a college degree or trade certification. My goal is to have an associate's degree by 2013 and to further my education from there. An associate's degree will allow me work for a consistant wage or salary, while I continue my education. The saying that "knowledge is power" had yet to resignate with me until this year as my knowledge has increased from previous years. The excitement behind learning is an unspoken, compelling force in my life. I'm eager for knowledge, and today, the opportunites to educate one's self are limitless.

The most valuable thing I have learned throughout my college experience is who I am. I was able to learn about different cultures and views through my classes and the people I came into contact with. This caused me to question my beliefs and values and figure out what I value most out of life. My classes encouraged me to think critically and for myself. I proved to myself that I can overcome any obstacle in my way and succeed. Now that I am almost done with my senior year in college, I can proudly say that I have developed the skills, core values, and great experiences that will help me become a successful member of society. Without my college education, I do not think I would be as strong of a person as I am today.

College experience is something that is anticipated and conceptualized by almost everyone. My expectation of college was probably different from that of other students due to being an international student. First of all it is a great honour to be able to study abroad in a praised nation as the US. This is an extremely valuable opportunity which I believe will brighten my future and open perspective doors in the world of careers. My college experience so far has been intellectually, culturally and socially enlightening. Due to the advantage of studying in a campus dedicated for international students, I met a group of diverse students from all around the world and I was introduced to various cultures that I've never known before. For me this was not only new, but it also fascinated me and changed me to be more opened minded. I found it enticing how people of different beliefs and ideas can unite in one classroom to share their views and broaden their horizons. In my part, I realized my potential in providing others with knowledge about my own country, which most students didn't even know existed. I'm happy to be able to study here.

The most valuable thing I gained from my college experience is the way I view life. Without going into an unnecessary life story, I will simply say that sometimes it takes change and time to fully develop a person. I had plenty of time and the experience of college created the final needed change to set me in myself to be on my way in life. Through knowledge gained and experiences of diversity, I changed. I discovered a new way of looking at myself, others and basically everything. It has given me a great appreciation for differences and a strong desire to research life in all of its elements.