I came from a rather sheltered section of Long Island, New York. Coming to RIT opened my eyes to a lot of different cultures considering we have students from all over the world! I'm not a religious person, but there are groups you can be a part of, and there's a chapel that accepts all religious sectors that you can attend. I find that the school is very accepting of all students no matter their gender, sex, race, ethnic or cultural backgrounds, or religion. There are kids that can be grouped between the popular masses depending on their majors: the engineers, the business students, the science and mathematics students, and the arts and photographic arts students. I was in the Naval ROTC program, even though it's held over at the University of Rochester, and I was a Fine Art Photography major at the same time during my freshman year. I felt that I couldn't fit in with either of the two groups of people because I was being judged because of my "artsy" major for someone who wanted to be in the military, and I was typically stereotyped as being a "hardcore conservative" among the photo students, and neither of the allegations were true. You can feel out of place, but then again that happens everywhere. You do see students befriending people who are of the same cultural background, but I find that is also a comfort zone for students who aren't from the United States, and it might help them transition to being in a new environment alongside someone who is experiencing the exact same thing. I know from personal experience that different types of students interact. I just helped a friend dye her hair blue a few weeks ago, yet I am one of the most conservatively dressed people I know. I live in a house with two people who are in the military but I also hang out with self-proclaimed socialists and hippies. Although I am not of religious beliefs, my best friend attends church every Sunday and we don't judge one another. RIT has really been a place where I can fit in, with everyone, by being myself. It has been that simple. The four tables of students in the dining hall I see include a table full of girls and boys from the hockey teams. They are all wearing some sort of RIT hockey pride, where it's a sweatshirt, or pair of pants with the tiger paws down the side. They are eating rather healthy food and sharing lots of laughs. I also see a table full of boys with somewhere unkempt hair and rather interesting facial hair. There are beards, and moustaches I have never seen the likes of, although they are not my personal typical crowd I find myself in, they are very enthusiastic about the latest advance in a new nintendo game that was just released. I see another table full of deaf students. They sign at what feels like 100 mph to me, but I can't turn away because they have the most natural and best reactions to one anothers' stories that I have ever seen. The last table I see is full of photography students. They are sharing their latest projects with one another and nodding at each others' criticisms, accepting the friendly banter along with the constructive advice. Most RIT students I meet are from New York. That happens with most states, the biggest population is usually born or living in that current state. I have seen all different financial backgrounds. I have seen students not pay a dime whether they are on scholarship for an ROTC reason, or because they have a great passion and not enough money to attend the school. A friend of mine worked three jobs as best as he could, with a full course load of 18 credits, while his mother worked two jobs back home across the country, so that he could graduate with the finest degree from the school he loved. There are political groups on campus. Whether you support them or not is your choice, but I feel that everyone should remain respectful. There is a socialist group, but there are also the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine cadets on campus that feel offended by their banners and messages at times. Being called "killers" is not something that is taken lightly. There can be harsh words spoken and I'm sure from both sides. I do not mean in any way to offend any socialist whatsoever. I know from experience the beliefs that can be judged from either side, but at least RIT accepts and stands by the freedom of speech. I find that the school is hard to judge politically. It is easy to pick out those who share their opinions openly and freely, but I have learned to stop judging books by their covers. Although I participated in ROTC, I was and still am an independent. And being a photography major doesn't make you a democrat. You have to march to the beat of your own drum, whether you're on the left, right, or middle, that is your decision. You don't have to share your beliefs with everyone you meet. I have found my place in the middle, and that's where I choose to stay. Students share what they plan to earn, or hope to earn, one day. I like to listen to students with plans, who are taking their futures seriously and want to discuss the possibilities of success (financially) that they can and will achieve someday.