Chapter 26
Milestones for Both
“Semester 4”
January 2014
During winter break I had time to brainstorm new ideas for
chapters, eat plenty of food, and anxiously await the business school admission.
When I began to brainstorm new ideas for chapters in my book
I found that all of the chapters only voiced my opinion. So, in my search for
new opinions I decided to interview a senior, dental hygiene major.
The interview gave me some new insight and also reiterated
some of the ideas that I have already learned/written. During the interview I learned that the
interviewee would be the first member of her family to graduate college. So to
say that this is just another college graduate would be a huge understatement,
but a milestone that the interviewee will forever cherish.
Here are some of the questions that I asked during the
interview:
1.
If you could go back, what would you have
changed?
“I
would have been involved in more UNC clubs or activities”
2.
What has been the most difficult thing for you
to overcome while in college?
“Accepting
the fact that I cannot make perfect grades as I did in high school. The course
load I took at UNC my freshman year included many sciences and was a lot more
challenging than I had expected. I thought the first C I received was going to
kill me, but I quickly learned that sometimes a B or a C is the best I can do
and that is fine.”
3.
What advice would you offer about making the
decision about your degree or career?
“Shadow
your job of interest, take classes in that subject, visit offices, talk to
employees, and get as much information about your career of interest to see if
it is something you would enjoy.”
4.
How did or do you deal with homesickness?
“Phones
calls and visits home are the best cure when feeling homesick; Letters in the
mail and surprise packages aren’t too bad either”
5.
Why party or why not? Or how did you deal with
the social aspect of college?
“Whatever
you feel comfortable doing; Partying is what you make it, there are many
aspects to it; If it’s something you are interested in, then go to a few
parties with your friends and see if you enjoy it; If you can still manage your
school work while relaxing on the weekends and going to a couple parties, but
staying out of trouble then I see no problem; The problem arises when grades
begin to slip and students are getting into trouble.”
6.
What has been the best thing about your college
experience at UNC or what will you remember the most?
“The
friendships I have made in college are some of the best I have ever had; I will
miss living with my roommates and hanging out with all of my UNC friends the
most; Whether it is tailgating for a football game, going out to eat, studying
in the library together, or watching a basketball game, those experiences bring
memories and friendships that last a lifetime.”
After rereading the answers from the interviewee, it became
apparent that there were very few regrets, and college is all about living in
the moment. From freshman year to senior year one must take college as an
opportunity like no other. No matter if you are a first generation college
student or not make the most of your college experience, each and every day.
During my life I have had the opportunity to reach a few
milestones such as: driving a car for the first time alone, being accepted into
my dream college, graduating high school, beginning college, and on January 15,
2014 a new milestone was reached.
I can still remember the day after deciding to attend UNC.
(March 2012)
After school I went to visit my mom in her classroom and for some
reason I got on the computer and began to research the Kenan Flagler Business
School. When I applied to UNC I didn’t realize that the undergraduate business program
was so prestigious. At the time the website said that the program was the 5th
best business school in the nation. The more I explored the more I fell in
love. The programs, the classes, the faculty all caught my eye. Then I saw the
admission requirements: Average GPA- 3.56, 50% acceptance rate. The
requirements scared me for a moment, but I knew it was going to be reachable,
yet challenging.
For almost two years, I stared at “Be accepted into
Kenan-Flagler Business School” on my goal list.
The day of January 15th, was such a long day. The
business school had informed us that the admission decision would be available
on the 15th, but never specified a time. So, I waited, along with
the hundreds of the other students.
Finally at 4:18 PM, “We are delighted to offer you admission...”
was all I needed to send me into a whirlwind of excitement. As soon as I heard
I called my parents, friends, relatives, past teachers, and maybe even people that
didn’t care. I had reached a milestone. Through the two years of hard work I
relied on my faith in Jesus Christ, and the support from my friends and family.
No longer will I have stare at an empty check box on my goal
list, but a nice, milestone bearing check mark.
