Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

So far I have learned how to study. I had to learn how to "college study" which is a lot harder than "high school study". I have learned how to meet people and to get along with others. I came from a small town which did not have a lot of minority students. Texas A & M is so different. I have gotten to know different types of people from many different countries. I have had a blast. People from different backgrounds are really fun to get to know. I have participated in intramural sports and have met a lot of like minded individuals through these teams. I have learned to be proud of my school. Going to a large school and witnessing the level of athletic abiltiy at Texas A & M is amazing. I have also become aware of the charitable work which is needed in the city and the county. Our school has a day in the spring called the "Big Event" where almost all of the students come together to give thier time for the improvement of the city and county. My freshman class has over 9,000 students. That is a lot of kids!

The time here in college has proven to be an eye opening experience. I have made life long friends and learned so much. I have grown as a person and am now truely living. I can't wait to get out and be able to put my skills to use and help people enjoy life and live.

My college experience thus far has been one of discovery of self. Only a couple of classes really challenged me in high school. I studied pretty hard for those classes but the rest were pretty easy. I guess I became lazy and used to not putting in much effort. When I came to college I experienced the shock of my life: I was not one of the smartest kids here! I found that I had to study ten times more than I ever studied in high school. This experience has humbled me a great deal. I am tackling my second semester head-on; I actually began studying on the first day of the semester. This semester I have pledged that I will study every day. I learned the hard way that it really is a good idea to review notes taken in class immediately after class or that same evening, instead of waiting until a few days before the exam. The first semester of college taught me humility and I now know that I cannot afford to be cocky about studying or other goals I have.

As a nontraditional student, being acceppted into Texas A&M is a huge accomplishment and I'm proud to be an Aggie. I have worked very hard in my college journey pursing the potential best in myself. I am receiving a well rounded education both academically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. I have learned the value of service and committment as tools to achieve greatness. I am very thank ful for those along the way that have contributed to my success. I have fought long and hard to be where I am today. I have never given up and I plan to utilize the remaining five semesters to become all that I can. Each semester brings a new opportunity to learn and absorb more knowledge so that I can take that knowledge and experience into our future classrooms. The value in attending college is about achievement, experience, knowledge, dedication, hard work, commitment to academics all to learn and grow so that I may invest myself and my resources into the future classrooms of America in order to inspire students to also pursue their college dreams while equipping them with the tools to be successful.

I got into college not expecting what i was about to enter. After 3 years in college, i have gotten a lot from this experience. First, i believe i have really found my career that I would love to work in. I have grown a lot mentally. I went to study abroad in Spain for four months and that experience help me appreciate my country and our schools. Therefore, this experience has been such of a valuable that i will never forget.

Out of my college experience, I have learned to become more independent and how to make decisions for myself, instead of going with what my friends are doing. I have a twin sister, and in high school we were inseparable, but now we attend different universities. It was difficult at first, but it made me become stronger and more aware that I can function on my own and make my own decisions and friends. I didn't have to rely on someone else. It has been valuable to attend college because the education you get is not only in the classroom, but outside as well. You learn how to cope without being with your parents and someone to fall back on. All you have to fall back on is yourself for every decision, from whether to study or to hang out with friends to whether you should stay friends with people from high school or branch out to make new bonds and relationships. College has allowed me to become free from my previous insecurities and learn how to be my own person.

When I began my college education, I was a shy sixteen year old high schooler who had never been to public school. As time went on, I found that in a manner similar to the process of shaping a diamond out of roughly hewn rock, college is a process of shaping, molding, and training young students into competent members of society.Due to this process, College has been invaluable to me, transforming me daily, into the person I am becoming. Each lesson I learn, person I meet, or challenge I face creates a facet of my education, shaping me from a “diamond in the rough” to a well-equipped individual ready to take on the world. In Sociology and Psychology I gained a clearer understanding of how people work. Meeting people from different backgrounds has helped me to see life from different perspectives than my own. I have learned the value of time management, breaking big tasks into smaller ones, planning ahead, and getting a good night’s sleep. When I finally receive my diploma, I will no longer be a diamond in the rough, but a finished product, thanks to the many facets of the education I have received.

I have made so many new friends and had the opportunity to participate in Aggie traditions and be myself around people. I have some of the most knowledgeable and supportive professors and I know that I will be able to secure valuable contact and internships through the people I have met.

While attending Texas A&M University, I have found both a family and an outstanding work ethic. This university is challenging, and it daily pushes me to achieve new frontiers in learning. I have met countless new people who have taught me to experience the world through new viewpoints. I have learned how to excel in difficult courses and to find new means of reaching my goals. This university has inspired me to overcome any obstacles in my way in order to fulfill my ambitions. In the future, I wish to become a medical physician, and I believe that Texas A&M University has more than prepared me to achieve that goal. Long after I have graduated from this university, i will continue to remember the inspiring people it has allowed me to meet and the lessons it has taught me in perseverance and acceptance that I would not have been able to learn anywhere else. For these reasons, Texas A&M University has been a valuable institution to attend.

I am the first person to attend college in my family and hope to be a role model to my younger brother and two sisters. I want to show them that we can go to college. I honestly have had a hard time financially and trying to pay for school. The great thing about my college is its a community school and not incredibly expensive. They even set a paayment plan for me so i can slowly pay for school. The staff here is awesome they helped get me financial aid and showed me where to apply for loans. Attending CSI has been valuable to me in the fact that I can be that role model for my family and show them that college is an option for them too. My college experience has helped me become more responsible and dedicated. It has also opened many doors to other possibilities.

My college experience has offered me the opportunity to explore career choices, mature as an individual, grow as a young man, and develop a social conscience. I have grown from being a scared 18 year old away from home to a self-sufficient adult who is capable of making decisions based on evaluating the consequences and looking at the future effects of those decisions. I have gained priceless insight into the things that are important to me in my life, and I have discovered those values and standards that I will always hold myself up to. I have learned that being an adult also means that I must look beyond the needs and desires of just myself and look also at the needs of those around me as well as my community. While my college experience has certainly allowed me to focus on my future career, it has also allowed me the opportunity to experience the diversity of cultures in my world, learn tolerance of people who differ from me, and to make lifelong friendships with people who will continue to be both my support and champions throughout my life - as I will to them.

Rusty was a handsome, two year old sheperd mix when he was given to me as my Christmas present. Now, seven years later, I am more than 200 miles away from him, at Texas A&M University. Though I miss him and my two other dogs dearly, being at this university has been the greatest experience of my life. I have learned that in order to achieve my goal of becoming a veterinarian, I will have to work diligently and purposefully. I have always had the compassion and desire necessary to care for animals, but I have learned that I also need discipline and determination. Only with outstanding academics, community service, and work experience will I meet the expectations of the institution. Realizing the difficulty of my dream in high school, I chose to Texas A&M University to challenge and help me achieve excellence. Each class I take is a step closer and closer to my future, and being able to take them here at A&M has given me the confidence to continue pursuing my education despite any obstacle that may try to hinder me.

So far, I have gotten to meet many new people of different backgrounds and gainedmore knowledge. My college experience has been wonderful because I know that it will pay off when I finish my education. It has been valuable to attend because I know that I am capable of going through the necessary years of schooling to receive the degree that I am willing to put in so much effort for and work so hard for. I am a hard worker and I strive for success. I have potential and I am determined to use my knowledge and experience to benefit others and myself. I take my education very seriously because I know that it will take me far in life. I am taking advantage of the education that I can get because I know that by doing so, I will have a bright future with endless opportunities and many doors will open up for me after I finish my education.

Throughout my experience at A&M, I have formed so many new friendships that will last for the rest of my life. I have also learned an incredible amount of information that will help me when I move on to Graduate School. Attending TAMU has increased by ability to listen and understand, connect with people, help out others and it has also improved my self-seteem. I think being here at Texas A&M has helped me mature and be a better person overall. I have always heard that college is and will be the best experience of your life. I truly agree and I'm not even finished with it yet.

From my college experience so far I have learned to balance many different aspects of life that I have never had to experience before. I have to now balance difficult classes, my involvement in my sorority, my friends, church life, family, and of course exercise on a much more constricted schedule than ever before. I have also learned to be more independent and not rely on others to get things done as well as studying hard to make excellent grades.

My college experience so far has not only stimulated my intellectual growth but has encouraged social growth as well. The classes are intellectually challenging and interesting, with professors who are experts in their fields of study and outside resources that help those who're having difficulty. The campus atmosphere is open, friendly and inviting with a huge sense of community. I have no only learned practical information in classes but have also expanded my comfort level and have made life long lasting friendships. My college experience is adequately preparing me for graduate school and life after.

It is hard to say what I’ve learned when so many new skills and lessons have entered my life as a result of Texas A&M. Starting off with the coursework, I have to be honest and say that it is ridiculously hard for me. High school was a joke; college is the real deal. I have learned so much more than I did throughout all of my previous high school science classes. Lesson learned. I found that my new church was just as helpful, thought-provoking, and satisfying as my previous church, with twice the energy, which I certainly was not expecting. Lesson learned. I found that I could adjust surprisingly quickly to the many new surroundings in College station, and I found that I loved it. Lesson learned. After a while, it became apparent that I needed to make my goals more specific. It is a valuable life lesson to always be able to set goals and fulfill them. This is one of the things that I can really value from my experience, although this skill is not yet fully acquired. It’s a lesson in progress.

This university has helped me to have a flexible schedule, besides that there is good communication with teachers which helped me to get good grades.

For the last five months or so that I've attended Texas A&M, I feel like I've learned something each and every day. I have not only experienced newness in the classroom and around campus, but have also encountered an entirely new self. The night before I moved in here, the last night in my warm, familiar bed at home, I was so scared I could hardly think straight. Now just over a semester later, the Aggies have taught me to be strong. The future used to be a huge, frightening darkness looming in front of me, but now I understand that I will be well-prepared to take on whatever comes along in my life, not only because of the great education I am receiving, but because I now have the confidence to know I can do anything.

The short answer is: it has been an incredible learning experience for me. I completed my first two years of college at the University of North Texas which has a much more liberal atmosphere; it's mostly music and theater majors. Texas A&M is very conservative and largely hard science based. The fact that I have been exposed to so many different view points is priceless to me. I feel that I am now better equipped to look at all sides of whatever situation may come my way. This is a very important ability for me to attain because I plan on being a non-profit family counselor, a career where I will come in contact with people of all ideologies and backgrounds. Also, just in general I feel that everyone should have some level of understanding of cultures and perspectives that they are not terribly familiar with. If everyone stuck to this simple rule of societal knowledge, then society would have a lot less problems.

My college experience so far has been wonderful! I'm currently attending Kaplan College in Phoenix Arizona to become a veterinary technician. The best part about their program is that it's an excelerated two year Associates Degree program that will get you in and out into the field. That is one of the reasons I chose Kaplan College. Another reason is that they are one of the only schools in Pheonix that have an accredited veterinary technician program. They also have state of the art veterinary equipment and staff that is knowledgable in the field. The program director is a Veterinarian who has worked in the field for many years and all of the instructors have worked as veterinary technicians. Another reason I chose Kaplan is because their class sizes are small which means you get more one on one time with the instructors. Oh and did I mention that they offer a full reimbursment for your Certified Veterinary Technician exam at the end of the program if you pass it the first time? This school is amazing! I just can't say enough great things about them!

My college experience is everthing I imagined it would be. I am working hard in class to keep up with the challenging academics. I am also having fun attending football games, participating in intramural sports, and attending campus activities. Even the food is good! Although, I do miss my mom's cooking at times. In today's economy, kids my age should realize that college is a necessity to compete in the job market. It is probably the best investment you can make for your future. My parents told me that going to college is like a job, "get your work done first and then you can play." I have found that to be great advice. College will prepare you for your future if you put the work in to reach your goals. My experience at Texas A&M has been great, so far, and I fully expect to finish my education here. I know that I will be prepared to put that education to work when I graduate.

Of course the intellectual advantages is huge, and I feel I have learned so much just in one semester. Living on my own has also made me grow as a person on several aspects. I am clearly more mature now than before I started school, and I am more able to take care of myself. It also help you appricate your mom and dad so much more. Before I left for college I could not wait to get out of the house. However, when you go home for the weekend you actually understand how good it is to be home with mom and dad again. Also, you make life long friendships with both persons in your dorm, classes, or in any organizations you decide to join.

Originally from the Midwest, my family moved to Texas two years ago, and then unexpectedly moved back right after I moved into A&M. Texas A&M is not only the place where I am currently studying to become an engineer, but also the place where I met my second family. The graciousness and open hearts of every single person I have met here have been astounding and invaluable. In just one semester at Texas A&M I have grow more, experienced more, and developed a greater appreciation for others than I ever thought possible. When I started my college journey, my aspirations were simply to obtain an engineering degree after four years and hopefully secure a stable career. Now I have a true purpose, a focus. I don’t want to learn and create selfishly, but rather help others selflessly. Texas A&M has given me so much, and now I just wish I could give even a fraction of that back to others. Having a degree might land one a job, but showing others the generosity that I have experienced here at A&M is what makes me proud to call myself an Aggie.

Texas A&M not only provided me with an education, but also the two most valuable assets I hav acquired in life. In the classroom, I developed the skills, and desire, to continue a lifelong pursuit of learning. A&M’s faculty provided fundamental information, but expected me to seek the information necessary to completely understand a subject matter via my own initiative. By meeting this expectation, I learned how to research, and teach, myself. This lifelong ability to learn is the greatest gift any instructor could provide a student. However, the greatest overall asset that was product of my time at A&M came outside of the classroom. I joined the Corps of Cadets with the intention to develop the leadership and teamwork skills needed to be successful in any environment. Simultaneously, yet unpredicted, I developed lifelong friendships that have withstood tests of time, distance, and extreme circumstances. These friends form a support system that has been invaluable, and necessary, during innumerable circumstances. Though many other institutions could have provided me with a similar education, only Texas A&M could have allowed me to forge the skills and support system needed for long life of success and happiness.

Thus far, my experience at Texas A&M University has been fantastic. I've made great friends that I know I will keep in touch with and have gotten connected on campus through great organizations and found a church home nearby. My education has been worth the time and money college has cost. I have especially enjoyed my classes that are relevant to my major, as well as the smaller class sizes. Overall, my college experience has been all that I hoped it would be and I hope to make the most of my last three semesters here in Aggieland.

My college experience at Texas A&M has rewarded me with comraderie, challenges and leadership opportunities. Through being a member of the Corps of Cadets, I have obtained more opportunites to acheive things I had not thought possible. I have an innate drive and discipline, and even my brief time in the corps has provided the opportunity to hone my organizational skills and practice strength, mentally and physically, in my daily life.

Being finally given the chance to live as a completely independent person, I have grown more in the last six months in college at Texas A&M University more than I have in my entire life. I have learned things about myself, such as a more open personality, and I have improved on them so that I can succeed later on in life. Partly by choice and by force, my work ethic has greatly improved and I know that with each semester, I will continue to grow as a person and become closer and closer to reaching my career goals. College is not only about the degree though. College is a time to branch out and develop, and ultimately have fun. I have built relationships here that I know will be close to my heart for the rest of my life and I believe that without a college experience, that is something that is very hard to do. I would not trade in my time here at A&M for anything because I know that the experiences that I have gained in my time here have helped shape a future that I will embrace and succeed in.

Through my college experience I have become more mature. I have learned valuable skills both inside and outside of the classroom. To name a few: time management, people skills, C++ programming, higher mathematics, engineering ethics, self discipline, and money management. All of these, and more, are very much applicable to my field. These skills will allow me access to a steady engineering job, support a family in the future, and enjoy a comfortable life.

I have only been in college for a semester, and I am already feeling how my college experience has affected me. I have learned to take care of myself ranging from keeping track of my finances to doing my dishes and laundry when needed. Most of all from my college experience, I have recieved the knowledge that I am making the choices in my life and that they come with consequences. My parents are not there to bail me out or tell me what to do. Everything is up to me now and college has shown me how to deal with this concept. College gives me both an education to improve the quality of my future as well as teaching me how to live on my own. College is one of the most valuable experiences that any person can go through.

Upon entry to Texas A&M, my naivety was truly out-standing, growing up I was one of the so called “Millennials” All I knew was technology and I believed the world was mine, and when it came to school if a teacher ever DARED to give me anything below an eighty, I would literally lose my mind, until they came to their senses and gave me the grade I felt I deserved. It took three weeks, however in aggieland for me to realize that my old methods of dealing with things wouldn’t cut it here. I finally realized that everything won’t be handed to me, I have to earn it. Though, it was somewhat of an rude awakening, it was a much needed one. Texas A&M as helped open my eyes to prepare me for the real world, and that to me is the more valuable than A’s.

College is one of the most important steps in life that a student can take. It paves the path for the rest of one’s life. My college experience has helped me gain many new things. Of those things, I have learned to view life from a different perspective, my social skills have improved, and I have gained a sense of accomplishment. Attending college has been one of the most valuable aspects in my learning experience. First, I have learned to view life from a different perspective. I now see life from the view of an independent person. I no longer rely on my parents to force me to go to school; I go on my own free will. Second, my social skills have greatly improved since attending college. Since starting school, I have had to meet a lot of new people and make new friends. This experience has allowed me to talk with people of different ethnic groups and have conversations about new things. Finally, this college experience has helped me gain a sense of accomplishment. I am the first person to attend college in my family. I have already achieved something unforgettable!

Even though I have only completed one semester of college, I have already begun to see what I am going to get out of this incredible opportunity and experience. I know that once I graduate, I will have a greater chance of finding a job simply because I am a college graduate and especially because I'm a Texas A&M graduate. I am taking classes that I never could have in high school, and I look forward to taking classes that are major specific because I will finally be taking classes that apply to what I want to do with the rest of my life. College also presents so many opportunities outside of class, such as living on your own, branching out to make new friends, and studying abroad. I know that in the next four years I will be challenged in my personal, mental, and spiritual life, and I look forward to the growth that I will gain from all of those challenges. There are so many things that college students can do simply because they are in that time of their life, and I look forward to discovering what those things are that I will do.

These first two years at Texas A&M University have been very pleasant and rewarding. I have had awesome experiences from living in on-campus dorms to attending exciting sporting events. As an architecture student, I have also enjoyed taking the many interesting classes I need to graduate. The atmosphere on campus is very upbeat and the school spirit and tradition make living here very easy and fun. I have had the opportunity to join two school organizations in which I have made many new, lifelong friends. I am proud to say that I attend Texas A&M University and I look forward to the upcoming years I will spend here working hard and making memories.

So far college has been a very challenging but successful experience. I have learned alot about what it means to be truly independent and how to encourage myself to fufill my dreams and expectations. I am also very glad that i chose to attend Texas A&M University because it has truly made my experience ten times better. The teachers are helpful and friendly and the students are active in school activites and have alot of spirit. Also A&M has one of the best enginnering colleges in the nation and by attending A&M I know I have an increased chance of getting a job right out of college.

In high school, I was one of those students who did not have to study much to make sufficient grades. As I was coming into my first semester of college, I had been given the advice many times that I would have to practice diligent study habits but had not given the idea much consideration. Needless to say, I found out very quickly in that first semester that I would have to change those habits; consequently, my grades were not poor, but they were not where I wanted them to be. I have thrown off those bad studying ways and now have myself a more efficient, studious manner. That first semester taught me that in life, things will not go in a favorable way most of the time, so to succeed you must adapt; if you want to do something, you are the only one who can be the source of that action. I plan to carry that mindset with me not only through my college career but through the rest of my life.

Texas A&M has provided me with an incredible eduaction both inside and outside of the classroom. College has taught me how to manage my time and money, impove my social skills and communication, and has made a world of difference in my knowlege about how the world works. It has helped me learn that each day is a gift, and possibilities are endless. My passion is Architecture. Going to A&M has allowed me to learn all about improving quality of life as well as structural quality. After graduating in a couple of years, I plan to use all that I have learned in college to help the people in my community, and start to change the world in small ways, one life at a time.

In attending Texas A&M, I have learned that while somethings may not always go the way you would like, things will eventually work out the way you intend as long as you perservere and continue to work hard. While there may be times when I find concepts that are being covered in class too difficult to understand, I continue to try to get a grasp of the material, and with other resources provided on and off campus, I become successful at understanding the material and consequently, passing the class. This experience has made Texas A&M a school most valuable of attending in that I learned how to manage situations that I did not find quite favorable and mold into something that I could control. The transition to A&M brought about a transition in myself that was greatly needed and well worth the struggle.

When I began applying for colleges, I worried about whether or not I would like Texas A&M, since I came from such a small high school, and A&M has nearly 50,000 students enrolled. It took one week of classes, one football game, and I was hooked. For life. I know deep down that there is something special about Texas A&M. The entire school, in fact the entire town, comes alive with tradition, the sense of family, and that Fightin' Texas Aggie Spirit. My whole life I've been searching for a place where I belonged, a place that I feel in my heart is home. I believe I have found that place here at A&M. It is a school unlike any other. It offers the best academics to students willing to take on the challenge. It provides students with the opportunities and tools necessary to excel. But most of all, the generosity, kindness, and acceptance shown by the students, the Aggie Family, is what defines Texas A&M for me. I started out looking to earn a degree. What I've ended up getting is so much more than just a piece a paper.

I have realized how to manage my time between my studies, organizations, and friends. Although it can be difficult at times, I believe that with the skills I have gained in just my first semester of college will help me with my future as well. I believe that Texas A&M is shaping me into the adult that I am starting to become. I have learned many things here already, and with over three years to go, I believe I will gain a great deal of knowledge and skills that will better prepare me for my future life, which includes my career.

College has taught me so much. I learned that listening to seniors for directions isn't always the best choice. I also learned that listening to the upper class on traditions can lead to trouble. On a serious note, I have learned how to mature as an adult. I try to be on time to everything and get things done as soon as possible. I feel like college has prepared me for the "real world" and as a freshman I feel ready for the work force. It is valuable for kids, my age, to be in college because it keeps them focused. I have learned to make goals and try my hardest to reach them. It keeps me out of trouble and I have found ways to make priorities. College also teaches me to be proactive, not procrastinate and handle my business. Without college I don't think I would have such a great determination as I do today.

I have gotten a knowledge that not only encompasses the vast world of history but I have also learned so much about life and the real world. I feel like attending college has prepared me in a way that high school never could. I feel like I have learned to deal with real life, real world situations.

My college experience has allowed me to grow as an individual person and to learn a lot more about myself. I attended a small high school, so I only had one or two close friends. When I went to college, I met a large number of people that shared my interests and values. Finding these people made me feel as though I was not "weird". I made a close group of friends with whom I had many wonderful experiences and learned many things. These friends are some I will keep for the rest of my life. Of course, the classes I took were also mind opening. College was valuable to attend, because as I said, I learned a lot about myself. Through the courses I took in biomedical engineering, I also learned how to think, and different ways to approach problems. With the critical thinking skills I learned in college, I will be able to solve problems I face as an adult in a new way. With the friendships I made, I feel that I can make lasting friendships with people who share my values. College was an extremely valuable experience, both personally and professionally.

The college experience has been monumental in building me as a person and as a citizen in a community. I have learned not only valuable aspects that will help me achieve my highest goals career wise, but more importantly I will be a very unique and helpful aspect to any community I will join. People skills is one skill that is important for any job or any community and being a part of college has taught me that by the relationships I have had to form with my peers, professors, and other authorities for insructional help and to learn more. It has definitely been a unique opportunity and it has and will continue to increase my ability to not only be a good person, but to be the best citizen that I can be in any community!

I have obtained an undeniable sense of accomplishment out of my college experience. I have only completed 1.5 years but I love it. The extreme community involvement and aggie pride is contagious. I have acquired perseverence like I never thought possible. I am a pre-med student and I spend most of my time working my butt off, but I haven't waivered in my steadfast want to help people in the future. The academics at A&M are oustanding, I have never been so challegened in all my life. But what goes hand in hand with the rigor of school is the success and happiness I feel when getting good grades. The professors are all very helpful and they honestly want to see you succeed. I have learned to be capable of living on my own and cofident in my thoughts and actions. I wouldn't trade my college experience for anything.

My time at Texas A&M has been so rewarding because of the school's six core values have impacted my life: excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and self service. These values can easily be seen amongst fellow students and faculty, whom all of which make contributions to my life. From demanding a high standard in the classroom to the Aggie Honor Code, A&M has taught me firsthand the excellence and integrity throughout the university that has shaped my character. I've developed a sense of leadership and loyalty through various intramural sports and youth group organizations at Brazos Fellowship Church. Respect for others and myself through self service and volunteering is one of the biggest contributions the school has made in my life as I'm heavily involved member in the MSC Hospitality organization. They are the biggest service group at Texas A&M where I have contributed greatly to the Big Event community service project. Service projects like this, making the most out of what A&M has to offer through groups and organizations, and doing my best in the classroom are many of the reasons why my college experience has been so valuable to me.

Going to college is a much more different atmosphere than highschool. It is hard to meet all 8,000 of your classmates, even if you have 4 or more years to do it. But the small if not large group of friends you make will definitely help you in the longrun. I know this and im just a freshman! Aggie life is very spirited. Football games are wild and exciting! I've never attended a football game until now and believe me when I say that it is intense!! In College, you make friends no matter where you go. When you sit by a stranger in your class, take the time to shake their hand and with a smile, introduce yourself. Aggie students are very friendly and they will help you when you are in need. Aggieland is not a place, it is an idea. An idea where students can seek longlasting friendships and exceed their academic expectations. Believe me when I say that there is no other college where you could want to attend. The Aggie spirit is the best of its kind and as a longlasting tradition we say, "thanks! and Gig'em!"

College has taught me so many things about life inside and outside the classroom. I have adjusted to learning at a faster pace and learning valuable information. I have had to learn how to balance having fun and getting serious with school work. If I only worked on school work, I would definately not get the same result from my college experience. For me college has been an opportunity to learn more about myself. I've had to learn to live on my own without my parent's support, as well as living with other people and adjusting to their habits. I've developed more confidence by having to meet new people. College has also taught me valuable skills for the future. I've had to learn to get big projects done at a deadline and to study and work hard for the results I wanted. I've learned to set goals to get things done and it feels great getting them accomplished. People are a lot more friendly and helpful than I thought they would be and it has been great networking with people.

My college experience at the Borough of Manhattan Community College has been extremely valuable to me. I have made the dean's list, was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa and was elected the vice-president of the Respiratory Therapy Student Association. In that capacity I have been tutoring my fellow students, communicating with my professors about student concerns and assisting the club president with club matters. I have also expanded my circle of friends from the handful I had before I started attending school to very many interesting and caring fellow students. I have also developed valuable friendships with my professors who have assisted me in every possible way. For the first time in my life, I feel like I am making a valuable contribution to society. As a respiratory therapist major I also feel that I am learning the skills and knowledge that will allow me to help many more people after I graduate. Though I also have a family, my wife and four-year-old daughter, that I must support and provide for, I have learned that I can with determination and hard work fulfill all of my reponsibilities and achieve any goals I set out for.

My college experience has not been just about furthering my education to prepare for the world but learning to be part of the world. I have aquired the skills of working more as a team than an individual but to also know how to work as an individual to possibly help my team when in need. Learning to be a more independent person but not to much so that I am afraid to ask for help and knowing that there is always someone there for you. My college experience has not only opened my eyes to what has been done but what there all is to do for my community and the world.