Okay, now it’s time to hear from Zuzanna. She is from Poland, a senior business management major, who will also graduate next year with their MBA in DelVal’s four plus one program. And she’s gonna show us a different perspective on what community means here at DelVal, Zuzanna.
Hi everyone! Four years ago I was given an amazing opportunity to pursue a bachelor degree in one of the American universities. Coming to the United States from Poland, and country this far away, it was a big deal. And I can tell you how glad I am it turned out to be DelVal.
Freshman year is a big adjustment, no matter how far you come, whether it’d be 30 minutes from the house or the other side of the world like me. The homesickness is the feeling that pretty much everyone gets. But DelVal, the inclusiveness of community helps you get rid of this pretty fast. There’s cool events, clubs, sororities, and campus life itself, gives you so many opportunities to get involved that you get this sense of belonging. And there’s always something to do.
My most memorable event would be attending football games with my friends. I loved how everyone gathered together to support our team and is also a must to mention my favorite school event, which is A Day. Is a three-day event that brings our campus and surrounding community together. There was a lot of vendors, live music and entertainment and great food trucks. I can’t stress enough how this tiny community, helped me look at DelVal as my new home. Especially in living on campus gives you opportunity to meet so many friends and create lifelong friendships.
Personally speaking, if not for DelVal, I wouldn’t have met such an incredible people that they became a family to me now. You meet people here from all around the world with different backgrounds and interests and the school is small. So, after a while you have a feeling that you know everyone. The most important position I held, was a resident assistant job. Probably because it allow me to give back to the community, the one’s that helped me when I feel homesick. Working as an RA, showed me how everyone on the staff is very dedicated and work hard towards a common goal, supporting students for their college experience, including all the ups and downs. So, if you’re not very outgoing person, don’t worry that is what us, residents assistants are here for. We organize fun events that will allow you to meet people and create friendships.
If you come to DelVal, I can assure you, you’re not gonna be alone. You’re gonna be an Aggie. And that is amazing. If you’re looking for the school with more, than just an academic experience, DelVal is the right choice for you. And there is no better place to call home away from home than DelVal. Alex, back to you.
Great story Zuzanna. It is easy to see why you feel so welcome here at DelVal. That is really a feeling we have had from all of our student reporters today. And I have felt that exact same way from being here on campus. It’s really special. Thanks for sharing that Zuzanna.
Going to college can give a student a chance to tap into their identities in ways they weren’t able to in high school. Columbia wants students to explore who they are. It’s a vital part of personal and creative growth, and the path to being able to discover all the sides to your story. I’ll let Kat, a junior majoring in music technology tell you about it.
– Thanks for the intro, Alex. Hi y’all, while looking for colleges during high school, I wanted to find a place that had an emphasis on inclusivity, both within the student body and faculty. And at Columbia College Chicago, diversity is definitely no stranger. All student identities are embraced regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Coming to Columbia was a bit like whiplash for me. I came from an all girls predominantly white Catholic high school in Richmond, Virginia. I often felt like the standout. I felt socially and physically alienated from lots of student events and extracurriculars. This really affected my education as well as myself as a human being. I didn’t feel competent growing in this environment whatsoever. Now I no longer feel like the only minority when surrounded by the melting pot of backgrounds that are apparent here at Columbia. Being able to see other people who are biracial, who are queer, who are also Muslim, it is so refreshing. I never feel like I’m going to receive judgment from anybody here. Since enrolling, I’ve been thriving. I feel educationally reinforced by both my peers and my professors. As a queer biracial woman, it is a relief to see these other students that look just like me. Not only has it heightened the quality of my college experience, but it’s allowed me to feel that I no longer have to shy away from participation in the classroom. In fact, my experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community are embraced and valued by my professors. I’m often encouraged to incorporate my realities as a queer woman into the work I create. And despite wanting to work in a field that is predominantly male, I do have professors in my academic department who are also Asian women. They’ve become monumental mentors for me and I’ve taught me how to be confident even when I’m the only queer woman in the room. Columbia’s efforts more inclusivity are also seen through various clubs on campus, such as the Asian Student Organization, Black Student Union, Columbia Pride, and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association to name a few. All of these clubs provide a safe, open space for our students to connect over their shared identities. They’re also curated events for the entire student body in order to further educate our students as well as promote a deeper campus wide diversity. At Columbia I don’t have to censor myself. I can be as artistic as I want, as expressive as I want, and as gay as I want. Now, that’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
– Thank you, Kat. It’s amazing to hear how students can thrive when they’re able to live as their authentic selves in a supportive community. This tells me so much about what Columbia does for students. Thanks again. Okay, so how does Columbia bring all this creative energy together? It’s called Manifest, and it’s an annual showcase of graduating students work that activates the entire campus with a feeling of celebration that is unmatched, and it’s entirely student run.
– Thank you for joining us for this tour of Columbia College, Chicago. If you’re a creative looking for a school committed to helping you develop your most authentic voice and preparing you for real world success, I hope you will continue to keep us in mind. Good luck with your college search. I look forward to seeing you on campus.
If your post-grad aspirations include the city of Chicago, think of your time to Columbia as a four year headstart. Sabrina, a sophomore acting major is here to tell us all about it. Take it away.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi everyone. I came to Columbia for a few reasons. I’m vision impaired and missing a part of my brain, so things come a little bit harder to me. Also, traditional learning isn’t my thing. I’ve always learned best through music and performance. At a young age, I knew I wanted to act in ballroom dance competitively. Columbia gives me the ability to do both of these things in a city that I’ve loved since I was very little. When choosing a college, I knew I needed to be in a city because I can’t drive. Chicago gives me the ability to walk everywhere, take Ubers if I need to and have unlimited rides on public transportation, thanks my student U-Pass. This environment has really helped me mature and become more independent. I can get where I need to go without feeling trapped or having to rely on others. I can wake up, get coffee at Starbucks because there’s one on every corner. Go to class, have a quick bite to eat and then I’m at the dance studio by late afternoon. If you’ve ever watched “Dancing with the Stars”, you know that in order to be a great ballroom dancer, you have to be a great actor. At 17 years old I didn’t know if I wanted to be an actor, professional ballroom dancer or both. I still don’t, and that’s okay. Columbia gives me the ability to do both of these things. There are plenty of schools in other big cities, but those schools didn’t allow me the flexibility to pursue all of my passions. My dance studio is minutes away from my apartment, so I can practice and take lessons in between classes, homework, and exploring the city. I’m always discovering something new living in the heart of Downtown Chicago. Everything I need is right outside my door. My classes are next to local shops, office buildings, restaurants, museums, theaters, and concert venues, not to mention Michigan Avenue, Ram Park, Navy Pier, and Water Tower Place. I’m not trapped in a little school bubble. It really feels like I’m stepping out into the real world every time I leave my apartment. Where I grew up, everyone looks like me, but I never felt like I belonged. Columbia has given me the gift of meeting people with similar and different interests. Just walking around the city, aka my campus, not everyone looks like, and I love that. Columbia has made me much more of a well-rounded human being. Even though Columbia doesn’t have a traditional campus. I’m in the real world surrounded by families and working professionals. I know that life after college is going to be that much easier, and Columbia is helping me bridge the gap into adulthood. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to study in Chicago. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sabrina. I’m a little jealous that you could go to college in such a vibrant city, that was incredible
Okay. Everyone. We’re headed to the Diversity and Equity Center where we’ll meet Jaeda, a senior, pursuing a degree in Business with a specialization in Leadership and Management. She’s the first in her family to go to college, and is taking full advantage of this opportunity. Jaeda will share how she’s utilizing the skills she’s learned in her program while still a student, and making a huge impact across campus. Here’s Jaeda.
– Thanks Alex. When searching colleges, Central stuck out to me because it’s not too far, and it’s not too close from home. I love small classes, and intimate learning environments. I’m a first generation student, so I wasn’t sure what steps to take to apply, or if I could even afford a college. I came here more so on faith, and a desire to start a new legacy from your family. Central is committed to creating quality learning experiences that take you beyond the classroom. For me, that means I didn’t just learn about Business, Leadership and Management. I lived it. Central’s Diversity and Equity Center, has opened so many doors for me. Through my work with the DEC I’ve gained, acknowledged, and hands on experience about how to create an entire program from the ground up, including marketing, and building relationships. The program launch I’m most proud of is Thrive, which empowers and supports women of color. Students in this program find people who can relate to them, fight for them and celebrate them. We’re trying to build a new legacy for women of color on this campus. This experience has been incredibly validating, and empowering. I’ve learned to love myself, to use my voice, and express my needs unapologetically. I’m thankful for my DEC supervisors, that helped me prioritize my vision, gave me the confidence to carry out my work, and sparked incredible opportunities that I didn’t know were possible. They’ve helped me prepare for what’s next in my life, and I plan to use training, to promote community wellness initiatives, and make improvements to public health spaces. I’m really looking forward to starting my career, and I’m so grateful that Central has helped me get to this point. That’s my story. What’s next, Alex?
– Thank you, Jaeda. What an inspiration. Your commitment to creating a community on CWU’s campus, where all people are connected, respected, and valued is commendable. The world definitely needs more people like you Jaeda. Thanks for sharing your story. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you. Take care.
Okay, now let’s head over to a really special part of campus. Sarah Hamilton is getting her master’s in public health with a concentration in community health and she is the perfect person to tell us about the absolutely incredible health sciences here at ETSU. Sarah, please take it away.
– Hey Alex. Hi everyone. Thanks for having me. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the medical field and ETSU is an incredible destination for students to pursue careers in healthcare professions. Now I’m working on my master’s in public health and I’ll begin my time at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine this coming summer. We have so many other programs available. There are rehabilitative sciences, the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy and we also have the largest college of nursing in the state. Students from these different areas have amazing opportunities for learning together which prepares you for an actual patient care setting where doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more all work together. My most inspirational experience at ETSU was during my time with the Language and Culture Resource Center. I worked in this office as one of my scholarships for four years. I had the opportunity to practice being a Spanish interpreter. Part of this experience was spent volunteering with the remote access medical clinic. The first time that I volunteered there I had no idea what to expect. My morning started at 4 a.m. and I was partnered with a mother and son about an hour later. Now this family had just moved to the US , they spoke maybe 10 words of English and her son desperately needed his tooth pulled. And having my background working with ETSU and having that study abroad experience provided me the skillset to convey his needs to the healthcare providers. And it was one of those harmonious moments where both of my passions for Spanish and for medical care really overlaps. I am so glad I decided to come to ETSU. It really allowed me to discover my passion for traveling, for interpreting, and of course pursuing a career in medicine. So thank you for letting me share my story, Alex. Back to you.
– Sarah, thank you. That was fantastic. Hearing your story, how you always wanted to work in the medical field and how the education and experiences here are setting you up for your dream job is inspiring. Thank you for sharing that with us all. Thanks again. Cheers, Sarah.
Okay, everyone let’s head over to Ball Hall and meet Caitlin. She’s a senior getting her bachelor of fine arts here at ETSU And she’s gonna talk to us about the incredible art programs here at the university along with a cool story of a local mural project She was commissioned to design and paint right here in Johnson City. Okay Caitlin, it’s all yours.
– Hi everyone. When I was in high school, I always knew I wanted to go to college, but not sure where to go. Once I visited ETSU, I knew this was the place for me. From the beautiful campus to the sense of home in a small town. I knew I wanted to enroll in an art program that supported me in a various mediums such as painting, drawing, or even graphic design.
The ETSU art department provided me with the freedom and flexibility to explore a wide variety of art. This helped me choose my various passions within their art program. I chose ETSU because I did not want to just color inside the lines. I wanted to be able to paint, draw, illustrate and create my own. During my junior year, I fell in love with graphic design. Not only was I passionate about this, but my interest grew as I took more and more classes.
As a freshman I was intimidated by the idea of digital artwork but with the help of my professors I grew the knowledge to choose this path. One of the biggest questions as a student in college, especially in art student, is how I transitioned from the classroom to my career field. My professors gave me the knowledge and support to branch out as a senior from the classroom to the real world. Because of this, I was confident in creating my very own mural for my community.
At ETSU my professors provided me with a foundation for working with future potential clients after I graduate. Although my main interest in coming to ATSU was for the amazing art program, I also fell in love with the Johnson City community and area. Johnson City has such a supportive art community that its recent mission was to promote public art throughout the town. A contest was promoted for local artists to send in ideas and designs that would be made into a mural to represent what this beautiful town has to offer.
Using the skills I had learned as a student I curated an original design that incorporated every aspect of this community That meant so much to me. After I entered the contest, I was happily surprised to find out that my design have been chosen to be on display at the mall of Johnson City. The mural includes a wide range of images depicting all of my favorite spots in town including Founders’ Park, downtown JC and my favorite the Carillon Bell Tower at ETSU.
As a high school student I left my hometown knowing I was leaving for college but what I didn’t know is that I was about to immerse myself in such a great community. Well, that’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
Caitlin, thank you for taking us through your experiences as an art student here at ETSU. Your story about how you evolved as an artist and the opportunities that have risen from your education here is phenomenal. A big congrats to all your wonderful accomplishments. Thanks again, Caitlin.
Okay, everyone. Now we’re heading down to the 50 yard line at ETSU’s football stadium to hand it off to Quay Holmes. Quay is a running back on the football team. He’s a two time all American, two time all conference and he holds the record at ETSU for the most yards in a game at 255. That is awesome. And he’s gonna talk to you all about athletics here at ETSU. Quay, you’re on.
-Thanks, Alex. Family is the first word that comes to mind when I think of ETSU athletics. We all go through many of the things in our daily schedules from early morning workouts, practices, film meetings, and staying up late to get our schoolwork done. But the support that we get from each other and in this community give us the extra boost that we need.
The resources we have here are endless. We have academic staff who helps keep us on track with our schoolwork. They provide us with tutors in any subject and they all have our best interest in mind. We have an indoor facility which includes a hundred yards worth of turf, an indoor track, two whole weight rooms and even some tennis court. My personal experiences have been amazing in my four years here. I received a ton of support from fans in the stands to students on campus, from my athletic director, Scott Carter, to our president Dr. Brian Noland.
But as for me, one of my favorite things to do is support my fellow student athletes. I’ve gotten to witness amazing basketball players help lead our team to a 2019 Southern Conference championship. Our girl’s basketball team has girls who topped the Conference in three pointers made. Our volleyball team does an amazing job year in and year out. Our softball team has beaten big time opponents like Tennessee and our track team runs circles around their competition.
As for me, one of the memories that I have that embodies what ETSU is is when we played against Furmin in 2018. We were coming off of our first road conference win against VMI so we came into this game with plenty of confidence. Unfortunately, we fell behind quickly and we fell behind fast. We were down 27 to six in the third quarter but we never gave up. We had support for each other and we had the support from the fans in the stands. Ultimately we won that game 29 to 27, and it posted one of the biggest comebacks in ETSU history. These are just some of the many memories that some of the teams that we have here at ETSU.
In my four years I’ve created so many bonds and friendships that I know will last a lifetime and that’s what ETSU is all about. If people asked me would I do it all over again my answer would always be the same and that’s absolutely. The days I learned from here and the knowledge that I’ve gained I can never trade it and get it from anywhere else. I hope you guys can see why I chose to come to ETSU and I hope you guys would choose to come here to. Godspeed and go Bucs. Back to you, Alex.
Quay, that was great. Awesome job. Thanks for sharing with us your experiences as an athlete right here at ETSU. Congrats on all your accomplishments and keep up those running yards. We’ll definitely be seeing more of this guy in the near future. Cheers Quay.
Next, we’ll hear from a recent FAU graduate. Felipe graduated with a degree in business and had a job waiting for him, thanks to the help of the FAU career center. FAU prides itself on it’s impressive student success rates and is a top degree producer for underrepresented minorities. At FAU, these students outperform the university-wide graduation rate. Felipe, you are on.
– Hey everyone. Applying to college, I was not sure what I wanted to study. I remember stressing over picking a school that not only made me happy, but also supported my visions and goals. FAU’s investment in volume diversity was a strong factor in my decision. I’ve lived in five other countries and if there’s one thing I love, it’s being surrounded by different types of people. Being exposed to different perspectives and ideas really shaped my college experience for the better. As a business major with big dreams, I sought out advising and mentorship to help guide me towards my goals. At FAU, every student has their own success network, a group of academic, career, and financial aid advisors dedicated to making sure you have the best outcome. This supportive approach has helped students like me graduate on time and be ready for the job market. I picked classes focused on my professional goals, perfected my resume, and attended multiple career fairs, to make sure I knew about all the opportunities out there in the real world. Thanks to this, I was able to graduate with a full-time job waiting for me. To further expose myself to people and opportunities, I decided to join clubs that fit my values and aspirations. As part of the American Marketing Association, I learned so much so quickly. I attended national conferences and participated in case competitions. This club allowed me to realize that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Everyone at FAU is focused on students like me reaching their full potential, so if I can leave you with some words of advice, it would be to get to know your faculty, meet with your advisors, visit the FAU career center, join clubs, and most importantly, maximize your social and academic resources. Back to you, Alex.
– Excellent job, Felipe. Congratulations on your degree and the success you’re enjoying as a recent college grad. The advice you give of getting to know your professors and utilizing the FAU success network is spot on for students just starting their journey at FAU. Thanks again.
Let’s learn more about academics here at DelVal. Please meet Kai. Kai a freshmen studying biology and he’s gonna tell us what it’s like to be a student at DelVal and the many academic choices they have here. Kai, the floor is all yours.
Thank you, Alex. Hi everyone. Delaware Valley is definitely unlike any university I noticed when pick any place to settle for the next four years of my life. With many different opportunities offered to students, both athletically and academically. I feel DelVal is was a great place to choose if you want to be challenged in both of those categories. All my life my mother pushed me academically and my father pushed me athletically.
Growing up I learned what a student athlete truly was, because of my eyes are book connected to my parents’ teachings. In high school I adapted to having small class sizes and teachers getting to know me as a person, more than just a student. Well here at DelVal, that’s what you are to professors. Not just a student, but a person. With small class sizes and a student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1, small class size can really help a student thrive. This allows students to gain more individual hope and gain knowledge in there field of study.
For me, I always struggle with lecture-based learning, because I have a hard time keeping still and focusing during class. DelVal offers, hands-on learning, which is embedded in every curriculum. So, students like me can get a better understanding and learn what is taught. As a student at this school, you will never just be in a lecture hall, but actually out in the field in what you choose to study. For me as a bio major, I take two labs a week, one in chem and one bio, where I get hands on experience, learning techniques practiced in class. This allows my mind to understand concepts I struggle with in class and gives me a visual understanding of materials I learned.
One question I was asking myself when thinking about college is, “What am I going to be “or what will my career path be?” Well DelVal actually helped me answer that question before choosing biology as my major with over 25 undergraduate degrees ranging from sciences to business or humanities, liberal arts, there’s definitely a degree for everyone. Another unique aspect of university offers students is the ability to create, your own customizable degree programs. Delaware Valley University, pushes it’s students towards academic success, while also offering resources to help each student reach their own individual goal. These resources range from guided tutoring sessions, to E360, to study abroad programs and the list goes on and on.
If you’re a student that wishes to be challenged academically and have the ability to play sports then DelVal is a college for you. I’m Kai, a bio major and a football player. And I may see you around. Back to you Alex.
Thanks, Kai. The small classes and faculty advising, sound like a great learning environment. And it sounds like there are lots of ways to follow your passion here at DelVal. Great job. Thank you for talking to us today. Cheers.