University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

My college experience has shown me what the real world is all about. I came from a high school that, quite frankly, babied me every step of the way, so arriving at college and learning the unforgiving ways of the real world, as well as several handy tricks on how to survive and thrive in it, has proven to be invaluable towards my growth as an adult in society.

As a college freshman, I now understand what college life is really all about. As my 1st semester comes to a close, I came to realize how much I acquired from attending. Meeting individuals who eventually became my friends was the 1st part of my college experience. Also, getting the help I needed such as going to office hours and receiving resume-building advice were other ways I got from my experience. Furthermore, having the determination and will power to receive excellent grades was what kept me focus when distractions such as parties came my way. One last lesson I learned from my experience was how much fun I had by joining various clubs on campus that captured my interests. These clubs brought many wonderful opportunities that I have ever imagined. Having a college education is greatly valuable for me. Going in with an undeclared major, I hope that this higher education will provide me with help to figure out what I want to pursue after graduation. Also, a college education will lay the tools that I need to succeed and be better prepared for what the ‘real world’ holds.

The University of Illinois has offered me more opportunities inside and outside of the classroom in order to succeed than I could imagine. At first, I was nervous to attend such a large university (over 40,000 students). However, this past year and a half has been the best time of my life. I've never worked harder in my life (I'm double majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Spanish), but the friends I've made here (all with varying majors) make every stressful moment worth it. Also, although U of I wasn't my first school choice , it was the best choice I made because it provides the best education at the best price. As a pre-med student, I acknowledge that I'm doomed to be knee-deep in debt. The in-state tuition helps immensely. Plus, the University has a phenomenal faculty. Once a child in and out of hospitals, I decided early on my goal to be in the medical field. This school has world-class, published science faculty with infinite undergraduate research opportunities. These professors know me by name and give me the reassurance that I can't get a better education elsewhere.

My first semester college experience has exceeded the expectations I held for my freshman year. I am currently attending the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and it has quickly become my new home. I believe that a phenomenal college experience begins with the people you meet and the relationships and friendships that you build. Attending a school with over 30,000 students roaming the campus adds variety and personality to the campus environment. With this number of students I was able to find a group of friends that share the same values and beliefs that I do. This large school also allows for its students to become fully active and involved with hundreds of student organizations, intramural sports, and programs to choose from. In addition to volunteering, I became a member of a sorority which has allowed for me to meet my best friends and make the huge campus feel like home.

Attending Delaware Technical and Community College for advertising design has been one of the most rewarding choices I have made. Like most schools, It has provided me with the technical abilities, professional contacts, and education that I would expect. However, the atmosphere of learning has proven to be far better than I ever could have expected. I became part of a collective of students who fell in love with our career paths and would spend countless nights awake , long after our projects were A-quality, just so we could make them perfect. Any doubts I harbored about my potential career path during high school were destroyed during my education at Delaware Tech. By being in the midst of teachers and students who were all passionately devoted to the same career I have been mentally prepared to dive head first into the future.

I've gotten everything I could ever need from the University of Illinois. An Asian American student from a low income family, hoping to pursue her passions in East Asian literature and cultures and international law, I expected nothing less. I learned valuable skills about time management and discipline which helped me ace my first semester. With hard work, I've been utilizing the school's resources such as internship and study abroad opportunities in Japan and got to talk to different law professionals about their fields. My professors who are experts of their field are kind and are always willing to impart me with wisdom as well as support me in my research. I've joined different clubs such as Taw Kwon Do and the Asian American Student Housing Organization executive board in order to try something new and help spread awareness about the Asian American community. I love how the school is always bustling with ambitious students, many active in clubs and sports. With a student body of 40,000 students, I've never felt out of place. My dormmates in my living learning community have become my family together we have fun! "I" am proud to belong!

I have a worthwhile career.

I have grown to new heights and gained a wealth of knowledge.

I have gained a better sense of how the world works and it has helped me see who I am and who I want to be as well as how I am going to get there. It has been valuable to attend because of the knowledge I have gained and how it has helped me shape my life.

It opens up your mind to the many different thinking that other people may have and help discover your true identity. There is not a better place where so many young minds are brought together from all over the world and made to work together and share their ideas. In the beginning, the path ahead of me was all indecision. However, in college I got to get in touch with all the different options and found that material science and engineering is where I belong. In this major, I am brought to much of the studious group. I discovered that they not only had the ability to memorize their textbooks, but most also have artistic, musical or athletic talents. This encourages me to also invest time on these abilities and become more well-rounded as a person. I got to get involved in a martial arts sports club, and volunteered at a performance arts center. These are some things I had never considered to attempt in the years of high school. Now I am so glad to be involved in these activities and they have become an inseparable part of me.

Blinn is a great college for undergraduates. It has the highest transfer rate in the state of Texas. and is also one of the most affordable in the state. This is a good option for students coming into college unsure of what they want to study. It's a smaller campus, which makes for a better transition from high school to college. Though Blinn is a 2 year college it does offer many different associates degrees, such as nursing, dental assistant, physical therapist assistant, etc. I have personaly made many friends on campus with not only the students but the faculty as well. The faculty at Blinn are very professional and understanding. I have yet to come across a teacher that did not fulfill my educational needs.

To this point with only one semester of college attended I have had many valuable experiences. In college I have learned much more about managing my time and the importance of attending classes and giving proper attention to lectures. Being away at a large univesity I have become more independant and self reliant. Living in close quarters with roomates and other guys on my floor has created strong friendships that will be valued for a lifetime. Also, in joining a fraternity I have created even more strong friendships that will be useful and valued for the rest of my life. The experience of going away to a big public university in extremely valuable and I am happy that I have been given the opportunity to experience it.

The biggest thing I have gotten out of college has been self-actualization. Living by myself and not having my mother or father to support me was a very simple transition. When I first arrived i thought that I would become homesick, however I had made so many friends with the same goals as I and have had no one to depend on, but myself. My parents were never on my back about schoolwork and it has paid off in the end. I don't need to be told to do my homework. I know it needs to be done, or else I will cheat myself out of my education, which I cannot afford. I want to become successful and I always put my best foot forward. As I succeed, I feel better about myself because I did it by myself. I know who I am after 18 years of searching. I am a man who wants to do good for himself so that I may convert this energy into benefiting the world someday.

I have met many people from other countries and cultures. I have gained significant knowledge in languages and different persptectives both here and abroad. I know that graduating from University of Illinois will lead me to fabulous career oppertunities.

My college is a continual experience of growth and improvement. From college I have a better understanding of how the world works, and what it means to be an adult. There is a lot of reflection time and personal choices. The choices made can affect you long term and you learn that independence and self acceptance and betterment are essential to making good decsions and a good life for yourself. College has been valuable to me, not only because I'm recieving a great education, but because the oppotunities it has given me. These opportunities range from meeting someone of a different socio-economic or cultural background, and learning about the world around you outside of your perception of it. College has made me more well rounded, more open, a better thinker, and much more brave in the social, professional, and academic world. I think I would be a completely different person if I did not have this eye opening experience, which has already taught me so much. It truly is a self improvement time period, and probably one of best things I will do in my life, because its providing me with assets I could've never attained otherwise.

My college experience has enabled me the opportunity to explore a new field of study, beginning with the most basic elements and moving up toward more advanced concepts. In addition to allowing me to learn the nuts and bolts of an entirely new area, one which I knew nothing about a mere year and a half ago, attending college has shown me that I can continually broaden my horizons. I am reminded on a daily basis that I can not only learn new things but also excel in new areas. I have also learned that my ability to succeed in my classes and to reach my ultimate academic goals is dependent entirely upon me and my own willingness to work hard and to prioritize. Although my ultimate success depends on me and my work ethic, there is always help and support available. However, it is again up to me to seek out that help and support, to connect with my professors and to seek their guidance. College experience is a precursor to life experience, showing me that, ultimately, my success in life is dependent on my willingness to set goals, to work hard and to seek help when necessary.

I have been in the university for only one semester. However, what I have gotten out of this semester is immeasurable. Being away from home has taught me to be independent and responsible. Looking back, Independence was my weakest skill. Everything that I did was under my parents' helps. I had to ask them for every decision that I made. Now, in college I do my own laundry and I make my own decision. No one is consistently reminding me what to do; I understand that I am the one who is responsible for my life- not others. Secondly, I have met my good friends. We had shared our lives in the first semester and I believe that we will continue sharing our lives after college, no matter where we live. Besides, I have learned the valuable skills that it takes to succeed in any career. My writing skills and public speaking skills became more developed after my first college writing course. In other words, without the experience in college, I would not learn new things and make new friends. If I have not attended college, I believe that my future life will not be a complete and successful one.

So far, I have received valuable experience from college. I am a part of the Air Force ROTC program and this has helped me become better able to communicate and have more of a professional attitude. I have found friends from many states and countries as well as majors and economic situations. I have found more about what I am interested in and have learned that this is part of growing up; that I now have responsibility. I have learned how to handle myself in a way that makes me proud, that I have a thirst for knowledge; and how to challenge myself more. I have found what I want to do with my life, and what I believe in; service to my country and a belief in the goodness of people. I see a place where I fit in, and where it is as big yet as small as I make it. I have ultimately found friends, a job, an education, and an eye opening experience where I have grown as a person and as a professional already, and I still have three years left.

For my time spent in college so far, I value the sense of growth I have developed. For the first time in my life, I am living on my own and making decisions without the watchful eye of my parents and judging situations based on my knowledge. I cannot say everything has gone as smoothly as I would have liked, but I prefer learning this way. I know I am still young, but the opportunity to prove myself capable of handling situations like where to live, how to pursue my major, future career options, what to do with my free time, etc. really allows me to evaluate my poise see where I measure up in comparison to my older siblings and my parents.

As a returning adult, I hesitated to take the time from my career to come back to school full-time, but it has been a rewarding experience that has allowed me to stretch my comfort zone and do things like acting, writing award-winning research papers, interviewing and researching interesting people, and leading student groups. As the leader of as veterans student group, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with campus leaders in developing programs for veteran students who have served in combat and in humanitarian efforts around the world. I have definitely expanded my horizons by studying foreign cultures and literatures, as well as through taking classes in the science and math departments that I thought I would dread but found to be really interesting and informative. I have also found some inspiring teachers and mentors who have helped me to think about my future career options and direction. Aside from academics, however, I have had the opportunity to meet some great people who are all intelligent, accomplished, and driven individuals -- these are friendships I will maintain for a lifetime. Having a strong network of fellow alumni will also be helpful in my future career ambitions.

Someone once told me that the word job stood for "just over broke" and that having a career is much better when trying to establish a stable and comfortable lifestyle. Going to college is the first step in starting a career. Many students didn't truly earn their High School diploma. They cheated and got in good with teachers in order to make it to the next level but how can you make it to the next level with no foundation? August 25th I moved into a new chapter in my life, college at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. This was a big transistion that I had to get use to. I'm in my last week of my first semester and through this experience I have realize that I have to earn the right to be here. I have to stay up and study. I have to remove myself from my comfort zone and endure every obstacle that comes my way. It has been vaulable to attend because I know that it will secure me and my family's future. I will graduate college and show my little brother that it's possible and make my mother proud.

My college experience has taught me that college is not all about living on your own and being able to party, as most high school students think. To make it through college you have to be commited to what you are doing and have a lot of self discipline. In college the students are not going to be on your back about turing an assignment in. It will be your responsibility to get your work done and turned in on time. Also you have to have discipline because if you don't you will want to party all the time and you won't get any of your school work done.

I have gotten the best education. Time to learn more about my ability and myself. Being in the Nursing program at South Texas College, has been the best opportunity given to me. Being in college is a great experince especially when it comes to focusing on my future. I have made great friends and i have the honor in having great teachers. I've gotten a new point of view about college, since i started working for my college also, as a Student Information Clerk. I get to do college tours to new up coming students and i get to see how excited the new students are about college. I also get to let them know how Valuable Education is. I would never take school for granted.. I love my college!!

During my first semester of college I have learned so much, really I have fallen in love with learning. There is so much there. My professors and classes have been amazing, and I am looking forward to the rest of my education. Honestly, the most valuable thing about college is that it enables me to reach my dream. Everyone has a goal or a dream they are trying to make a reality. College has been helping me do just that: make my dream my reality. I am going to school to become a nurse. It has been my life-long dream to become a pediatrics nurse and work in third-world countries where healthcare is not as prevalent. My passion is the AIDS orphans in Africa or the street children in India. I don't know exactly where or how yet, but I am ready for anything. And until then, college is equipping me to become that.

This far in college I found out that I have the ability to succeed in education with the help of the high standards I have set for myself. I also realized that going to school full-time and working part-time is a major struggle but I can keep going if I push myself. It is valuable for me to attend college because it is the only way I will get to be what I want to be and where I want to be. My education is the first step in pursuing my dream of traveling by creating a suitable lifestyle to do so. In the future when I am in a great profession, hopefully in healthcare, I will realize just how hard I tired in college and the financial struggles I had to go through to get there. From the beginning I knew I would not let my mom's finances stop me from going to school and I still have that same movitation in order to continue. It is important that I attend and graduate from college to show myself how my hard work will pay off in the end.

I learned that in order to be successful you need to be willing to learn. Keeping an open mind and learning to listen to professionals within my field have made me a better teacher. Attending the University of Illinois gave me a sense of accomplishment and I can carry that over to my classroom and teach my students the importance of trying hard, and never giving up.

College has not only changed me but everyone around me as well. Some changes are good, others not so good. But without attending college, I would never have been able to have the opportunity to change as much as I have or to expand my knowledge and horizons as much. I've also learned how to be independent and do things on my own. This newfound independence, a shock at first, has shaped who I'm starting to become. I make my own choices and learn from my mistakes. While school and learning is a big part of college, and the University of Illinois is an excellent institution in those areas, there's more to life than just classes. Even classes teach you more than just about their specific subjects. They teach you about life. You can decide whether or not to attend them. You can interact with people in class and learn about the world around you. Professors bring their own experiences into the classroom and use them as a teaching tool. Going to college has helped me view and interpret the world around me better than I ever previously been able to.

Life is like a roller coaster. It sends you on a series of unexpected jolts and turns. My experience at the University of Illinois thus far has taught me to prepare for the unexpected. I have had the importance of time managament, self-motivation, and setting an alarm engrained into my mind. At my school, you are not pampered. You are expected to get yourself moving and to stand on your own two feet. This lesson in independence will come in handy when its students are vaulted from the school after graduation because it will help them land running. The fountain of knowledge available is spectacular as well. Not only are there extraordinary professors and a gigantic library system, the school also brings in speakers who are experts in their subjects for their students to learn from. Finally, an extremely important part of any school is housing. Within the dorms at my school, there are living-learning communities that can connect you to others who share common interests. I am in one of these LLCs ,called "Global Crossroads", and have found it extremely valuable in understanding other cultures, as well as in preparation for entering a multi-cultural business world.

True learning in college does not come from the difficult classes. Rather, classes are just a small part of the huge learning experience one gets from going away to college. One learns to create their own schedule and manage their own time and money wisely. Up until college, many students have been spoon-fed by their parents. There's nothing wrong with this, as I was among the helpless freshmen that couldn't take care of himself when first leaving home. These skills carry on into the rest of our lives. Time management is especially important in the workplace, when multiple deadlines are set for multiple projects, and all need to be done. Money management is important to make sure you are able to pay rent and feed your family, and leave enough for entertainment. Also, when you are on your own for the first time, you truly begin to value your parents and the sacrifices they made for you. Personally, I was never very grateful of my parents until I moved to college and started cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, and managing my own money, on top of taking classes. Your parents love you. Don't ever forget that.

Simply put, college is the best thing that has ever happened to me (I intend to use this phrase with the upmost emphasis) when one is to consider where I have come from. Coming from a gang infested neighborhood where one is expected to indulge and be influenced by negative and suggestive exemplifactions everywhere, one would have most likely expected me to fall short of any positive opportunity. Fortunately that has not been the case at all. Being the self -motivated individual that I am and still becoming, I have ignored all obstacle that would deter me from experiencing the many joys of college. Here at the U of I I have gotten the chance to be surrounded by individuals with goals and passions similar and different from my own, and this has been extraordinarily valuable to me . Merely being around individual with a drive to be positive, intelligent, and successful has motivated me to volunteer, study hard, make friends all for the goal of becoming a better person. College is the piece of the puzzle that my neighborhood lacked, and because of my experience here thus far, I am and will forever be truly thankful.

My college experience had created an independent spirit that I would not have achieved if I had not gone. I was on my own for the first time and it forced me to live outside of my comfort zone and make my own decisions. It opened my eyes to people from very different backgrounds while introducing me to a higher level of academia. The learning process that I achieved coupled with the social maturity made my time within college an invaluable learning experience. Campus life was an opening of the world as an adult but in a safe and comfortable setting. It was when I fully experienced that my fate lied in my own hands and I was responsible for the direction of my life.

Growing up I hated school. I remember being in elementary school and saying I wanted to drop out. In high school I wanted to get it over with and graduate. In community college it was whatever for me. I would take 2 classes and not care about the work I did or if I passed. I hated school with a passion and I never saw myself even going to a 4 year university. All that changed when I took my first psychology class. After that my brain was open to absorbing all the knowledge I could. If I was able to get college funded, then I was going to learn all I could. I no longer slacked off. I strived for my A in every class. My heart would break when I got a B, but it just made me strive much harder for my A. When I saw my Grade Point Average go up, it made me happy and I got excited. The increase in my GPA made the hard work enjoyable. Now I am in love with school and I will do everything I can to achieve my goals in life.

My college experience, although it has been difficult, has been rewarding. I am not only learning valuable information to further my education but I am slowly learning how to become more independent. As I am only currently in my first semester of school, I am now stressing more than ever about how to scrape up the money for next semester. I have learned that college takes a lot more that just attending class in this economy, it takes responsibility, hard work and discipline. I feel like I, myself value my education more because I have had to pay for it from my own pocket. I desperately wish that I could go back to high school, listen to my advisors and prepare more for my college education properly. There is nothing like that experience of stress and hard work that comes from college that makes someone more independent and successful.

My main aspiration in life is simple, really. I want to make the world a better place for as many young people as I can. I dream of working in a school, either as a school counselor or a school social worker. Though my broader interests are in the realm of self-esteem and personal goal-setting, I have a special interest in the issues and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teenagers. In light of the recent media coverage of suicides caused by LGBT bullying, it has become clear to me that a middle school or high school setting is where I will be able to do the most good and make the biggest impact. I plan to complete my undergraduate coursework in Psychology and LGBT Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and then continue my education by applying to Masters Programs in school social work. It is my hope that this degree will help me to find a career in a middle school or high school where I can be a source of support and guidance for all young people, specifically LGBT youth.

My college experience has just started and I could not be happier with where I think it's headed. I love the students and faculty I have made friends with. The people I have gotten to know within the theatre program have already helped me stay on track and have encourgaed me to keep working on broadening my knowledge of the theatre and my acting skills. The people I have met in non-related theatre classes have also been a huge influence on me. I have learned many things from them that I wouldn't have even thought of if I hadn't interacted with them in class. In my cultural diversity class, I have grown to understand more about the social issues that are happening in our country and in the world. I think this is so important , especially because I hope to use my acting skills and all of the other knowledge I have learned to make this world a better place and change things for the better.

I am very glad that I waited to attend college until after I had worked for 12 years. I feel that I will be better able to apply what I am learning when I have graduated and excel in my chosen field of Graphic Design. SInce I have started to attend school again, I have found a new passion for my art. I am excited to be learning new job skills and have already pursued learning about my chosen job field by doing freelance Graphic Design for different firms. I feel that applying the fundementals I am learning in college with real life experience will give me a greater edge in the future and a fuller understanding of my chosen profession.

I feel very fortunate to be attending University of Illinois. I feel the education I am receiving will prepre me for my future in the business world. The professors and TAs have been extreemely helpful as well as all the special programs they bring in for business students. I have also gotten involved in the Greek system on campus. I have pledged a fraternity and have been asked to be the Philanthropy Chairman. I am looking forward to dong a lot within the fraternity. Another activity that is very much a part of me is baseball. At U of Ilinois, I have been able to get involved in club baseball. Through my classes, Greek life and baseball, I have met some great people that I know will be life long friends. I feel very excited to be attending such a great, strong university.

Throughout my whole high school experience, I have always challenged myself beyond belief, academically, culturally, financially. I was sent off on my own two feet from a very young age, so I had to learn how to survive and realize what I would have to do to be successful. I was absolutely convinced my senior year that I need to leave the city and go away to school to get a full college experience. Once I arrived on University of Illinois' campus, I knew after a few hours this was just not a place for me to grow and expand my experiences. Attending this school has truly showed me that I need to go back to my wonderful hometown Chicago. There, I know I can grow in all aspects of my life. Living in a college town is a very secluded area for my body and my soul. I need to be able to explore and educate myself. Yes, many people believe that everything I am saying can be achieve in a college town, and for some it may be, but for me, attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been an eye-opening experience to my soul.

I have made tons of friends. I tried out for several singing groups after finding out about them at Quad Day. I've found tht I've been abel to help other students academically.

How you deal with college life, to me, really shows who you really are. Though there are many distractions, such as parties, you should be able to balance them out with your school work and with your work schedule. Whether you make the most of your college experience, or ruin it completely, is something that everyone will find out when they go to college. That is what makes attending college a very valuable experience.

So far, my college experience has taught me respondsibility. I have learned to become more independent because I do not have my parents around to assist me at every moment. I am living on my own, making my own money, and experiencing things daily that are different than high school. I have also gained a sense of self because I have had to meet new people and become acclimated with such a large campus. I value my experiences because they have allowed me to obtain skills that I can use later in life.

I looked forward to attending my university because of the numerous research opportunities it offers. But I would have never thought I would get to know my professors as well as I have currently. My College of Applied Health Sciences is relatively small college compared to the other colleges on the university campus but because of this, my professors have been able to provide more attention to their smaller pools of students. As a result, my professors have provided me with valuable opinions on my future plans as well as new research projects related to my interests. They have also provided support while helping me to understand challenging concepts. On the other hand, my university campus is large, which offers me the chance to interact with students from many other colleges and to participate in various extracurricular activities such as student organizations. Because of the balance between my college and my university campus, I believe I have discovered experiences and resources that have prepared me to compete successively in my future career.

I feel that I have gotten a lot out of my college experience so far. I have had the opprotunity to work with and be around people from many different cultures and backgrounds. This has helped me to further understand other people, and to be able to look past the obvious differences and see the actual person. This has also helped me to be able to fully embrace the beauty of other cultures. Attending a bigger university has also allowed me to really grow as a person. Since Illinois is such a large institution, there is no one around to watch your every move. It makes no one any difference if you go to class, do your homework, study, join a club, or decide to go out on a week night. You and you alone are responsible for your actions. As a result of this, I have learned how important it is to take responsibility for my own actions (good and bad). I have learned how to prioritize and manage my time effectively. Most importantly I have realized that I am the one who decides what my future will be.

I have learned many things from my college experience, but I would say that it is not the "book-smarts" that you attain that make college valuable, (although it helps), but rather the experiences you have and the people you meet. It is one thing learning from a book and craming with video lectures untill 2 am. before an exam, but it is really something else to do it with a group of people all sharing the same worries and helping eachother. The true values of college come about during the times of stress and anxiety, the value is in knowing that you can brave through all the work and pressure and come out a changed person for the better.

My college experience is an opportunity to bring together a lifetime of educational and work experience into a new career. I put down my art career in college to address social issues. I'm very excited at this time in my life to come full circle and find a way to make a living in the arts. Fashion design has an enormous impact on our environment and health. I am part of an evolutionary movement seeking to "green" our industries, protect our environment and animals, end unfair labor practices and implement innovative economic structures that redistribute the wealth. My work experience includes fiscal planning, administration and management. I'm a retired Alternative Health Care Practitioner, Bodyworker (specializing in PTSD), Reiki Master and Nutrition/Wellness Lifestyle Coach. I have taught realistic drawing/art therapy to homeless children in transitional shelters as well as a 750-hour therapeutic massage certification courses in San Francisco. I worked in the environmental movement and various social movements throughout my life. After being laid-off as a teacher, at the request of students, clients, and fellow practitioners, I founded Lokahi BodyWorks, Inc., a nonprofit wellness organization.

Being from a quiet suburban neighborhood I feel I have been shielded from what the rest of the world is truly like. But college has been an eye-opening experience for me, and I have been given a freedom that has never existed before. Through this freedom came great responsibility and I have been given an opportunity to develop skills and habits that will allow me to succeed on my own. People from all sorts of backgrounds and passions are brought together on this college campus and I got to see the diversity that the world has to offer. Everyone has different aspirations and I find myself constantly surrounded by peers that are on different paths than my own. And being around these people, I have found myself picking up a thing or two about their subjects of interest. Also, my professors are constantly motivating me and reminding me that my goals are possible and that I should continue to persevere to obtain those goals. Not only have I been able to grow academically, but I have learned essential skills to survive in the real world and I've made a few friends along the way.

The changes in my life have been great, I am a mother of 4 and have a husband who is in the Army and deploying . I will be taking care of every thing here on the home front with out the help of my husband., when it comes to the family as well as going to school. I am taking this challenge on to better myself and families future. Like my husbands sacrifice of leaving his family and fighting for our country over seas I am waging a type of battle of my own here by going back to school while he is gone. I want to prove to myself and show my children you can do anything as long as you put for an effort put your nose to the grindstone and never give up. This is not going to be an easy journey but one will worth it in the end.

the only thing i have gotten out of college so far is basic knowledge. in order to survive in todays job market one needs that peace of paper that says degree just so the HR will look at the resume.

By attending college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign I have learned to be independent. As soon at I touched down at the University I realized that it would be a lot different than High School. Not only is the enviornment different but the workload is different as well. . Many times people get upset when they see people succeeding but what they do not realize is that they have worked hard to get to where they are. College has also taught me to balanced out my school work and social life. College has also made me realized that education is the key to success and without it success is hard to reach. I have also realized that going to college is not about making money but about loving what you do. By attending college I have met many new friends who have encouraged me to keep going when I felt that I could not go any further and that is why I feel that college has been valuable for me. I have also learned that education is not a given and that you have to work hard to reach success.

Thus far i have gotten the skill of being able to never give up and strive until i reach my goal. The work here at this university is at a high level of learning and in order to keep up with the rest of my classmates i have to work hard and never give up when there is a new task thrown in my direction. It is ver valuable to attened this college for my personal reason because my school has a excellent social work program that i will benefit from whne i graduate.