University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

The biggest advice I would give myself would be to become more independent. It was hard for me to adjust with such drastic changes during my first semester. I realized that I was responsible for making my own schedule and do well in them. Of course, counseling helped me a lot, but I wasn't sure if Biology was the right major for me. Secondly, I would advice myself to start studying outside the class. In high school, I rarley found a need to study after school, but i still ended up doing well in most of my classes. During my first semester, I carried on with my high school style of studying. Soon, I realized that I was going to fail all my classes if I don't change my study habits. Third, I would advice myself to think critically and not just memorize class notes. College is more about applying learned material to real life situation. I found it hard to think critically in the beginning of college.

If I could talk to my high school self, I would tell myself not to worry as much as I did. The transition was not as bad as I originally thought. There was even a class that was made exactly for that purpose; to help freshmen transition into college life. I would also warn myself that my world is about to be opened to many different types of individuals that I had never seen before. My high school world was a small dot compared to the ever expanding diameter of my college world. I would warn myself that there will be individuals whom I will not get along with and there are individuals whom I will not agree with. The last thing I would tell myself is that my world is about to become vastly enlarged in a very miniscule amount of time and to be prepared. Oh, and to not eat so many instant noodles.

My advice to myself as a highschool senior would be to jump into everything with an open mind. There are new experiences, new people to meet, and so much to learn in your classes, and I think the most important thing is to look for opportunities to learn and push yourself to be active in your community. I think college is all about expanding your skills and broadening your horizons, and the best way to prepare for that is to start when you're still in highschool. I came into college timid and unsure, and, although I'm pushing myself now to become more active in my community, I wish I was able to go back in time to tell myself as a highschool senior to loosen up and keep an open mind going into anything. There's no telling what you can learn and what opportunities will arise if you give things your all and keep an open mind.

I would tell myself to complete college the first time right out of high school. I have realized it's harder to get back into school once your have been out of it for a while. While your in high school find your passion and go with it. Learning is a huge building block and everyday I am learning more and more knowledge that is just getting me started for a great career path. Achieve everything your could ever dream of.

Wow, I think that is a very good question. If I could go back and tell myself one thing it would be to prepare myself more. People always tell you to do this or do that but you never really listen but now I say to myself I should have listened. Now I am telling my younger sister who is a senior in high school to prepare herself for college. Take extra classes, get a part time job and save for unexpected expenses apply for scholarships and be serious about your education. If I would have prepared myself by doing those things would be different for me but I know everything happens for a reason and all I can do and strive and do my best by moving forward.

If I could speak with my high school self, I would tell myself to stop for a minute and think of what I'm truely passionate about. In high school, I was very involved in my sport, especially since I was being recruited by schools I was applying to. Due to this, I feel I disregarded other things I knew I was talented at. I choose my college, attended it, entered with a major I thought I would enjoy, then realized I was not happy. I've always been an artist and as I became unhappy with my major, I started drawing more. I saw how happy art made me and wondered why I didn't pursue art when I have the talent for it. That's when I took a leap of faith and switched majors, to studio-art major. I do wish I took the time to realize this is my passion when I was in high school, because I would have applied to different colleges with stronger art programs. So, I would tell my high school self to follow what you are really passionate about, because that will have the impact on the rest of your life.

"Norma all you have to do in order to succeed is to believe in yourself. All the hard studying will all soon pay off the hard work you've done at the end." All that I've experienced in school was a big slap in the face. I've suffered like every single student around the world. I've been raised by wonderful parents who always wanted me to become a successful daughter who in the future won't have to depend to much on them or get yelled out by there manager or boss. Now that I'm the first one in the family to make it to college I tend to finish first in the family. The things I've learned in college was such a wonderful experience because right here I've learned to depend on myself and not to much on my parents. I've learned to get out of my comfortable zone and speak up. I remember when I was scared to go alone at college but now that I know how it feels I'd say to my senior self "Don't procastinate life would change for you not for worse but good."

College is not as difficult as perceived, but that does not imply that it is simple either. One thing for sure is that it takes a lot more work to receive higher grades. Anyone can pass a course, but not everyone can receive an A in every course. During my high school years I was an honors student and I honestly did not have to try as hard to receive good grades, but I could have tried harder. I was an A and B student, but I could have been an A+ student in high honors or magnet. The advice I would give myself is to enroll in AP courses and try even harder in school as well as study for long hours. I know for a fact that doing this would have paid off. College would be a lot easier for me and I believe my gpa would also be higher as a result because I would be used to studying for longer hours and devoting more time to learning and my education. There is not a limit to studying or to how much a person can learn. All it takes is time, devotion, and motivation.

With the wisdom that I have gotten from this first year at college, I often wish I could go back and have a conversation with my "high school" self. That conversation might have altered the decisions I made about college and life overall. My high school years were not very memorable to me. In high school, it felt as though I was just going through the motions. I did the same tedious things every day but was a good student. I was extremely ready for college. If I could sit down with myself a year ago, I would remind myself to enjoy this time of not having to work; enjoy this time of going to school for free; enjoy being youthful. As a senior, I was always imagining how great college life would be; when in fact, it's a struggle everyday. I would tell myself to go to the small school that was offering scholarship money and to not accept the acceptance from the state school which would leave me in debt for years to come. It is fine to think and dream about the future, but do not rush into it because you can never go back.

Take your time you don't have to do all four years at once. Work full time and go to school part time. You can get help with grants and scholarships. These are a few things that I have recently learned. It is definitely better to do it when your mind is young and responsibilities are few. DON'T wait, it just gets harder to concentrate and stay focused. When you are young you have the energy and ability to do more physically and mentally. When you get to be in your fourties it gets more difficult. Your body can't endure as much stress with age. Do it while you are young and energetic.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself advice on my career choice as well as information about college. I wish as a senior I would have known to take advantage of community college classes. These classes are cheaper and can count for general education requirements. Compared to the thousands of dollars I spent at a four year university taking my gen. eds I could have taken more classes, for a cheaper price at a community college. I also would emphasis the fact that I should major in something I enjoy. The amount of time and money you put into your college experience should be on something you like, not somehting you think will look good. There is no other time in your life besides college to focus on something you are really interested in whether its photography or medicine etc. It is important to devote your time to something that you are willing to learn more about-and in doing so it will make the transition easier.

I would give my high school self very simple advice: Do not slack off. Just because it is your last year in high school does not mean you should take it lightly! When I came to college, I thought that collge wouldn't be that hard. I had taken Advanced Placement (AP) classes and done well in them so I didn't think that college would be much different. I was wrong. My first semester I had so much reading for my classes. I didn't know how to handle it. I was used to coming home from school, taking a nap, having dinner, and then doing two hours of homework before my favorite show came on telelvison. In college, there isn't time for that. In college you really do need to manage your time wisely and take advantage of every free minute you have. It took me a full semester to get back into the swing of things and my GPA suffered because of it. If I could give my high school self one piece of advice, it would be to never stop working hard. It's harder to get out of that senioritis slump than you think!

Attending the University of Maryland has given me a degree of perspective and resolve that I would not have been able to attain in any other enviroment. By being placed in an environment that has both freedom and intellectual opportunities, I have been able to take direction of my own learning and shape my growth, working towards my ideal of a productive member of society. Because I have a complete control over my choices, and so many options to choose from, I no longer have to feel like I am working for someone or something other than myself. In effect, my studies have become a goal rather than a means, and I enjoy greater satisfaction from my endeavors than ever before.

The amount of life experience and lessons that I have had in college are almost too numerous to count. I've learned to become a more organized student, a better reseacher, a better public speaker, a better writer, a better thinker, and much more. The experiences are not limited to academics, however. Through extracurricular activities such as the Model United Nations, my knowledge of other nations has grown, and I have become more aware of global politics and their impacts on daily life here in the United States. College has been, and still continues to give me incredible and invaluable wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom that I can apply into my everyday life.

The education that i have, and am currently receiving in college is invaluable. As a public health major, i am constantly taking courses related to the current state of health in America, as well as internationally. The knowledge we gain is so powerful that it moves ones to action. It has made me an civics activist, and has empowered me to use my knowledge to ensure the safety of all in my community, and ultimately extending that further throughout the world.

Although I've only been at this school for less than a semester, so far I have been exposed to people I wouldn't usually be around back home and it has caused me to have a more open-minded perspective on life. It has been very valuable to attend this school because I know I am getting a great education that will enrich my life and make my future brighter.

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For me the college experience has not only been about learning a new trade or skill, but also learning about myself. I have learned about my style of learning and studying, as well as how I do living away from my parents with relatice strangers (roommates). Through discussions in different classes I have been forced to really determine my feelings on certain subjects and in many solidify my beliefs (political, religious, and social). I have met and become very good friends with people that I ordinarily would not talk to or interact with. I have learned how important it is to look at an issue or conflict from all sides before making a decision. I'm not sure what I would be doing now if I did not go to college, I'm not sure what my future would look like; but it would not be as bright as it is now. With each class I take, with each day closer to graduation I get, the more excited and hopeful I become for my future. College has opened doors for me that I couldn't have dreamed of before. Given the choice, I would do it all again.

"If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?" -TS Eliot I always pushed myself to find my limit. Where was the edge, and what would I do when I got there? In college I found my answer. It didn't come the way I imagined; in a final dramatic snap. Instead, it came quietly with a simple realization. While trying to learn the chemical structures of the amino acids I noticed something I had long been ignoring. I wasn't enjoying myself. The game wasn't fun anymore. I knew I could push harder, I could still go on; but doing so would be pointless. This wasn't learning, it was torture for the purpose of inflating my self-image. It wasn't until I stopped trying to find the limit that I began to enjoy learning again. When new challenges arose I found satisfaction not in the struggle, but in the reward of the new knowledge I found through overcoming adversity. College showed me there was more to life than proving myself. The only way to truly learn is to ignore the self, and embrace the joy of each new discovery.

I have only attended the University of Maryland for one semester, but it has already given me a great deal of understanding for the life I lead. Before I went to college, I had the idea that all my worries would vanish...That things would get better. Things didnt get better. During my first semester in college I can honestly say that it has been the most stressful period in my life so far. On my desk there is a note that says " I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work". And I have a newfound appreciation for my efforts that I put into everything I do. I see the struggle my mother goes through just to keep the things necessary to have stability without a college degree. As any mother would, she sacrifices so her children will have what they need. I wish to not have to sacrifice for my children. I see that life is hard without a higher education. The vaule of my first semester surrounds the stresses that helped me grow into a dedicated woman that will strive to find a needle in a hay-stack.

To say that I have received simply an education here at the University of Maryland would be an understatement. Coming from a small town where everyone is essentially the same, it's a gratifying change to be part of a school that is filled with so much diversity. I have learned an immeasurable amount simply from being immersed into a melting pot of cultures, beliefs, and affiliations. I have been exposed to a variety of people and views other than my own which ultimately have help me to become a better student. It has been valuable to attend college not only because of the opportunities I am being provided with due to the education aspect, but because I have grown, and will continue to grow, as a student and ultimately as a person.

My college experience has allowed me to grow a lot as a person, as well as academically. Coming to a big school, I had to learn what I was most passionate about as soon as possible, so I could start getting involved in everything that I wanted to be involved in quickly. Maryland has allowed me to explore new aspects of myself, such as my love of volunteering, and I've been able to go on a service trip abroad, and I plan on going on a few more before I graduate. Thinking about my experience now is difficult, because I am still a student, but I know that when I reflect a few years from now, I will see all the ways that Maryland has changed my life. I am more determined to put myself out there, despite the number of people around me; I am comfident, and driven, and will work towards any goal; I am able to better find resources that I need, and am more willing to utilize them. Maryland has had nothing but a positive impact on my life, and I can be sure that I would not be the same without it.

My college experience thus far has given me a great sense of accomplishment, an accomplishment not quite like any other. I have become more confident, personable, and indepedent. The skills I have learned have led me to volunteer and help others and be the better person. The greatest benefit of college is knowing that you are working towards the completion of a long term goal. College lets me realize that I can do anything I want and be whoever I want to be.

Out of my college experience I have gained self-respect, knowledge for my career, and knowledge of how to successfully take care of myself thoughout life. My school has prepared me for what is ahead, taught me how to be a leader for myself and others as I continue through life, and has helped me to start the path toward my career goals. It has been very valuable for me to attend school because it keeps me motivated to get to where I want to be in life. It has also helped to teach me that there is more to life then just the present, I have my entire future to think about. Cottey College has helped me start to become who I want to be in life.

Thus far in college I have learned that hardwork always pays off; people have been telling me this all my life, but now I really know. From my college experience I have learned not to over exert myself but to work my hardest because I am the only person standing in the way of my ultimate goal; my college degree. Attending the University of Maryland, College Park has been valuable because being here has helped me to build a certain confidence that I did not previously possess and to think outside of the box to do what I need to do to be successful in life. Being at the University has shown me things that I want to avoid but also things I would like to mimic but make sure I do it better so that one day people will look at me and say, "I want to be like her, but better."

I was shocked when my Broadcasting Announcing and Production professor informed that my Japanese-English accent may lower my grade. I had never imagined that my fluency in my parents’ home language negatively affected to speak my own. Yet I decided to turn my attitude completely around— I worked to improve on my pronunciation. Essentially, my professor had indicated where I needed to enhance my communication skills. Thus, I began recording myself daily reading scripts and listened to my articulation of words. As I continued to listen to my enunciation, I realized my academic goal: I wanted to study Linguistics. College education allowed me to realize that in the current world, there are people who are still uncertain of how to become competent communicators. As the Vice President of the Japanese English Language Association Club, I developed my own language learning process with other Japanese club members, who had difficulty pronouncing certain words such as "crown." I was exhilarated that my own speaking methods, from a linguistics perspective, were helpful to them. I believe a degree in linguistics is the next step in gaining the knowledge necessary to become a professional speech pathologist and make a difference for future generations.

My college experience has allowed me to begin to piece together who I am as an Individual now becoming a young adult. It has educated me on the resources, contacts, and methods available in order for me to succeed whilst in college and after graduation. I've been exposed to many new cultures and have become more open and excepting of others opinions and out looks on life. The most important thing I have attained is a sense of pride for making it thus far and being on the path to becoming the first female in my family to earn a Bachelor's degree. The University of Maryland is a great school and I'm glad to be TERP!

To this day, I have gotten a great deal of educational, career,social, and life experience from college. College has allowed me to deviate from my small town environment at home, and allowed me to broaden my perspective mentally, educationally and has allowed me to grow socially. I have more knowledge than I ever dreamed of having, and this knowledge has helped me in all aspects of my life. It will help me in the future with my career. Through extracurricular activities, college has allowed me to interact with others on a different level. Extracurricular activities and internships have allowed me to gain life experience through educational and social programs. I've gained knowledge, a greater social life, experience from extracurricular activities and internships, and a college experience I will never forget. Investing in and attending college, has to be the most awarding and valuable thing I have ever done in my life. It has provided me with the skills and tools able to take on the world as a functional and educated member of society. I will take this knowledge and experience and carry them with me for the rest of my life.

In the short time that I have been in college, I have found it very helpful. The professors are much more down to earth and honest it seems with the students. My professors seem to try and connect with us, students, to help us understand what they are asking. Thus making me want to keep going to school and going to class. I value the friendships I have made through my classes I am or have taken. Friendly students, amazing staff, and beautiful campus really makes attending college more enjoyable.

The social maturity that it has given to me. I understand more about myself, what I want and how to get there.

I was told that the memories would be priceless, that the friends would last a lifetime, and that the investment of attending college would secure me a substantial job in the future. I can now understand that college provides an atmosphere where students can learn to stand independently, work diligently, and make decisions that affect our long term plans and the community at large. Our personalities are being shaped while our dreams are being realized, and I think having the experience of living on my own has impacted my view on the real world and the assets that I will bring to the workforce upon graduation. Qualities such as confidence, intelligence and perseverance were thrust upon me when I enrolled at the University of Maryland, which proves to me that college is a significant time period in our lives where the abundance of possibilities allows us to recognize our full potential. While college tuition may be exceedingly expensive, the price we pay cannot compare to the value of a diploma with irreplaceable experiences. I have gained more than my bank account has lost because of the journey that college has begun for me, and for this I am eternally grateful.

I've learned a new way of thinking, becoming both more academic and more open to others. I've learned more about the world and also more about myself.

When I first started my college career I was eager to discover more about the subjects that I was interested in, but through the years I found myself increasingly loving the learning process in itself. Eventually, what I got out of my college experience is the liberating feeling of the endless possibilities of acquired knowledge. The incredible feelings of being able to understand and explain complex phenomena inspired me to keep searching for answers to my endless stream of questions. Only after I allowed myself to fully immerse in the academic life, I began to fully understand the value of my college experience. It not only taught me how to think for myself, but it also cultivated a deep passion to keep exploring the world around me.

I am a transfer student from another university so my college experience has been eventful. It would be best to make sure you know what college you want to attend before you accept their offer. Then stick with that school until you graduate. College has made me a more outgoing person. It takes you from a life of depending on your parents and puts you into a world where you need to make your own way. I have met many new people and have made new friends. I have learned more about myself and what my ambitions are. I have learned my limits and learned self discipline. There is no one around to tell you what you can and cannot do so I have learned to limit and motivate myself. I have also learned a lot in the classroom and from experiences just walking around campus. College has made me a more independent person and a stronger individual. It is a valuable experience that has taught me what i need to know for my intended proffession and for life.

I haven't been at this University long, but the time I have spent here has been filled with people I would bever never met in my tiny hometown. It's a valuable experience because I'm not only getting a great education, I'm also submersed in a world of new ideas and cultures.

I have learned that there is a very interesting, and sometimes scary world outside of the little bubble I lived in throughout my high school years. I lived in a town that is considered a white, preppy, rich town. Though I liked it there, I felt that I never got a real taste of America. At the University of Maryland I was able to experience diversity and actually live within the American mosaic again, as opposed to having to just read and learn about multiculturalism in school. We learn that America is a complicated nation, and that many people move here to get a better life with more opportunity. However, I never met many of these people because of my town’s insularity. I go to a college that has a range of people from various backgrounds and cultures, just like the first place I lived when I moved to America, Queens, NY. As I begin this new chapter in my life, I am able to get back to the diverse lifestyle I am familiar with and live in a place where I can learn and experience many new things.

Out of my collge experience, I have to say that what I have really gotten is myself. Unusual as it may be, I have really come to know myself, to identify my own personal weaknesses and strengths, and to find my passions. During my earlier education experiences, I just floated by. I did the work and performed as I was directed, but in college I have really come into my own and have been able to define myself as a human being. I have become in touch with the person I am and have made plans for what type of person I would like to end up as. The college experience, both at UMD and at my community college, has been valuable because it has been an oppertunity for me to learn about myself, to find my place in the mature world, and to be exposed to new things and new people from all walks of life that I might not have if I chose to enter into the work force straight right away. I've learned so many things in my college experience about academics and about myself as I individual. I wouldn't exchange them for anything.

Upon arriving to college, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The vast difference between a small town high school of 1,000 people and a huge state university of 30,000 people was, to say the least, daunting. But as I sit here typing this today, I can honestly say that college has been the most exhilarating and transformative experience of my whole life. Being thrust in an entirely new environment than what I'm used to has afforded me the opportunity to discover so many things about myself and the world around me. I came to school in search of an education but I never realized just how varied and comprehensive my education would be. The true value of a college education lies not only in what one learns in lecture halls and textbooks but also in what you might learn from your fellow students, an extracurricular activity or just from the everyday trials and tribulations of the average college student. My college experience has taught me so much about the person I was, the person I am, and the person I can be and that is why its value has been incalculable.

This is my first year..,and wow, I'm blown away. What you would learn academically...well, there are many classes you can take, that can cover many interests and have many amazing teachers teaching them. The catalog is, of course, much larger than High School's. But nevermind the academics. What I am truly benefitting from is the college "life". I've learned that there are all kinds of people out there...the enviroment is much more different than grade school's. People come and go and it's normal. For this, you realize the importance of developing friendships and connections. You learn that you really cannot risk being shy. Everything is too fast for you to wait to be approached. Not only do you have a responsibility in getting yourself heard, you have a general responsibility in everything. I have to approach the financial aid office if I want my aid. I have to set the counselor appointments, they won't look after me. I, in other words, am responsible for my own well being now, and no one else. The great thing about college is you learn this in a forgiving and sympathizing enviroment.

I have grown and matured greatly from my college experience so far! I am a single mother of two young children, a domestic violence survivor, and have been getting back on my feet since my ordeal with help from family and friends! Finishing school is a huge goal for myself and of course to be a great mentor/role model to my children is key as well. I couldn't be any of those without college! I am graduating as an RN in 2012 and can finally have a great career where I will never stop learning, where I can make a difference to a community, and that I can truly say that I will love! I am currently a peer tutor at my college and this experience has taught me leadership skills that I never knew I had, it has brought another side of me out that I am enjoying. Giving back to the community and helping others has always been my goal. I want to continue succeeding in school and I know a scholarship will help me more than anything!

Although I am only a freshman at college, I have already taken away valuable life lessons and dramatically reformed my perspectives on life. For instance, I acknowledge and incorporate the value that diversity has in life. Growing up in a small suburban town, I rarely encountered opinions deviant of my own conventions. Upon attending my first semester at college, I was exposed to a few hundred of the school’s forty thousand of people, collectively possessing a multitude of unique perspectives; these range from ways to solve a calculus problem and which classes to take, all the way to which deities captivate their faith and how best to make a million dollars. Why I might not always concur with my opposition, I’ve learned to honor different perspectives and take away a fundamental understanding of all sides of an issue, using this insight to better shape my outlook on the world and the diverse people that inhabit it. Ultimately, respecting the differences amongst others and using those differences to propagate new ideas cultivates a diverse intellectual within me and an even more adapted person, capable of tackling the world’s diverse problems.

Throughout my college experience I have een enrolled in three schools. First I intended to attend Old Dominion University, but quickly decided that it was not the school for me, while staying there for a summer program. I believed that a school in a different location would provide better opportunities for me. Thus, right before the start of my first semester I enrolled at CUNY Brooklyn College. This school taught me how to juggle extra curricular activities and the demanding courseload. I learned that if I set my mind to it could succeed at both. I was a memeer of the Precision Dance Team, and received a 3.78 GPA my second semester, which no doubt helped me be accepted into the University of Maryland. Through changing schools I learned to do better research when choosing paths for myself. If I had done proper research the first go around, I would have known aout the University of Maryland and the wonderful programs that it offered. It is highly ranked for my intended major, Mechanical Engineering. Because of my not looking deeper into schools, I am now behind in classes, and have to try much harder to catch up.

Yes, thus far I have.

In the beginning of the year, we had guest speakers come in an talk to us about “Don't do anything stupid” or “Make good decisions”. Although I can't say that I have ever been in a position as described by either of the speakers, I have known friends who have. On the other hand, both of them talked about getting involved in your community. I feel that this is an integral part of college. Learning should not be solely about “hitting the books”. Meeting new people should also be included in the process. Social interactions in high school are a lot different that those in college. In high school, you had friends from middle and friends you made in your classes. In college, you have to potential to interact with everybody. On your floor, you can literally walk up and down the halls and meet everyone. There is virtually no difference between freshmen students and the upperclassmen students. College is the transition between your adolescent and adult life. It's a time where you start making heavier decisions. How you spend your days in college affects greatly your years to come.

This is my third year here in Liberty University. My college experiences here has been thus far the best i could ever ask for. i did take a semester off and went to a community college by my house and it was not so good. Libertys' campus is not only safe as all college campuses should be, but it also has a great variety of activities daily in which anyone can join. I have met some amazing people, from all over the world here. i have spotted my chanceller and his wife walking around campus, something that seems very unusual in other schools. the fact that this school has so many things to do injust inside, it makes me want to never leave. i have tried to enjoy the most of it. i love all the concerts, such as coffe house, once every semester. My school is the best and everything in it. Best college experience ever.

Besides for my degree (which is always helpful to get out of any college experience) I made the best friends I have in college. I also was able to experiance the next phase of life, moving away from home, getting a job, and learning to be independant with a bit of a safety net. College allowed me to move beyond the comfort of high school and more importantly really learn to read material critically, form my own opinions and not fear rejection of those opinions. College helped me to grow academically as well as socially. A lot of people say that high school is the best years of their life, for me it was college. I learned how to grow into myself

I have only been at the University of Maryland for a year and a half, but my time there has already proven to be a priceless experience. Coming from a small, private girls high school, I was anxious about the daunting size of Maryland and having to leave my sheltered high school environment. However, my acceptance into the Honors College allows me to be surrounded by a small group of gifted and talented individuals with the same intellectual interests and curiosities as mine. Maryland has given me the opportunity to develop confidence and grow into a strong and independent young woman. I have learned how to organize my responsibilities, work hard to attain my goals and open my mind to new ideas. I also have learned how to plan my different tasks effectively and develop a goal-oriented strategy that has helped me become more efficient. At the University, I have built close and lasting friendships and have become an integral part of a community that embraces diversity, facilitates leadership and independence and addresses challenges. My time at the University of Maryland has provided me with invaluable lessons, resources and experiences that are both rewarding and lifelong.

Some people say that college is the best four years of your life. I believe that is a true statement. Through college I have been able to take classes that weren't offered in high school and I have met lifelong friends through my various classes, and the softball team I play on. College gave me a chance to be myself and find myself through taking different courses and being in different groups and orginizations that are offered to me. College also gave me a chance to be on my own and try new things that I might not have been able to do if I were to have got a job straight out of high school. By taking different courses, I have found out what types of things I am interested in and it has helped me to find what career I want to pursue in the future. I thought college would be just another high school, but it's so much more. There are so many more opportunities given to me just by attending college and I can't wait to see what else I learn and how I grow from two more years of it.

Entering the diverse college community has forced me to continually refine my beliefs. I’ve met many friendly people, but I’ve also noticed that their beliefs may be starkly different from my own. But even if those beliefs border on what I consider bigotry, a difference of opinion on whether homosexuality is natural isn’t a reason to ignore a dorm neighbor. However, I also understand that I should not shy away from explaining that I believe in equal rights for gay men and women when the topic does emerge. In college, I’m continually forced to consider new perspectives while holding fast to my essential principles. Those principles aren’t always about moral issues, but also about less controversial questions, such as the direction that biological research should take. Discussions with professors convinced me that a high throughput approach to biology -- for instance, using microarrays to observe thousands of genes at once -- is essential, but I still believe that good experimental design can cut down on the expenses and inaccuracies of acquiring large amounts of data. The new knowledge and perspectives I’ve found in college have proved extremely valuable in helping me continually better define myself.

My name is Alebiosu Olaoluwa Dami. I was born in Nigeria, a country in West Africa, and at the age of seventeen I moved to the United States to stay with my dad. Growing up in Nigeria as a kid was very tough for me, I had to struggle for my basic needs. What most people in the United States take for granted was not even an option for a birthday present in my household. I took the opportunity to immigrate and study in the United States at the age of seventeen. I have learned a lot studying at Johnson County Community College. I have worked hard in classes and this has manifested in my grade report. I have a grade point average of 3.97 from more than 50 credit hours. I feel blessed to have this opportunity to learn mathematical and technical concepts needed to solve the energy demands in the world. I am enrolled in the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa Program. The Honors program has provided me with the necessary resources needed to excel academically and prepare for a successful career. It has allowed me to participate in social events and campus-wide recognition banquets.