Okay. Now we’re gonna meet Alvaro, but his friends call him Gonzo, and he’s over Central’s top notch, college of business. A former us Marine, Gonzo, is a recent graduate of Central’s nationally ranked Accounting program, and is currently working as an accountant. He also earned a degree in Finance while at Central. Gonzo is gonna tell us about the role CWU played in his success. Gonzo, you’re up.
– Thanks, Alex. Growing up, I didn’t think college was a possibility. I wasn’t the best student, but unfortunately tragedy hit. And I decided to make some life changes, and commit to a new life path. A day after high school, I proudly joined the US Marine Corps. I wanted to continue studying business, so I visited Central, and knew right away was right for me. Not to mention this is Al mater, US Marine Corp, General James, Mattis. I was drawn to the college of business for two reasons. It’s rank one of the best in the nation, and is AACSB accredited, which is a big deal. Less than 5% of business schools worldwide are granted this accreditation, which adds extra value to my degree. I learned relevant and challenging curriculum taught by the best professors in the field who have industry experience, and know what companies expect from graduates. My journey felt personal. I could walk into the Dean suite, or any one of professors’ offices just to chat. They welcome conversations without appointments. I leaned on the Advising Center to keep me on track with the several majors and minors I was earning. I also benefited from the campus’ Veteran Center who made sure I was able to sign up for courses early, and hosted networking and social events that connected me to other veterans. I value my time at Central because they set me up for a successful, and rewarding career in Business. Now I always try to help out others to create some positive ripple effects in the lives of my peers and my coworkers. I’ve learned that anything is possible. You just need to make a plan ,and execute it. Back to you Alex.
– Gonzo, what a journey had up to this point in life. Congratulations on your success, and keep it up. Thank you for sharing how your time here at CWU helped you reach your goals. Your devotion to helping others is inspiring. And thank you for your service.
All right, everyone let’s bounce over to the East Tennessee State University’s bookstore and meet up with the one and only, Jaylen Malik Grimes. He received his undergraduate degree here at ETSU and now he’s getting his master’s in educational leadership. Jaylen can’t wait to tell you about the student life and all the opportunities for getting involved right here at ETSU. Jaylen, please take it away.
– Hello everybody. Having a healthy student life experience is a very pertinent piece to your journey through undergrad. Joining clubs, organizations, attending events and networking provide a foundation for student success. During your first encounter you’ll meet orientation leaders. Orientation leaders are here to get you excited about East Tennessee State University. They also introduce you to programs such as Quest and Preview. These are programs here and available for our students to get you a jumpstart to college. You get to meet friends, mentors, faculty and staff to build your community and support system. You have ample opportunities to get involved in whatever your heart desires because we offer hundreds of clubs and organizations. And if there’s an idea of an organization or club that you wanna bring to our campus, the university supports it. You’ll be able to volunteer, join intermurals, go to the campus rec, do an outdoor adventure or join Greek life. There’s just so much out there. During my time at ETSU I became a Quest, Preview and orientation leader. I also play rugby. As an athlete I learned that sometimes you must go backwards to go forwards. I got the privilege of learning skills such as time management, dealing with finances and conflict resolution through my teammates. Through Quest and Preview I got to understand the importance of community, navigating the university And someone believing in me to complete undergrad. As an orientation leader I got to apply what I had learned from Quest and Preview. I got to become a mentor and help students build their community. Your community is huge during undergrad. When you’re down, they pick you up. When you’re up, they keep you grounded. Without them I don’t know where I would be now. Those three organizations shaped me as a young man and gave me skills to take on any profession and gave me purpose on ETSUs campus. They taught me who I was internally as a leader. I was allowed to be the community for somebody else, to be their friend, to be their ally, to be there. College has been the best four years of my life. I always say, “Time flies when you change your lives. Even if it’s your own.” So get involved. Don’t let it be a regret that you didn’t explore your interests. Three key words for success, at East Tennessee University are opportunity, community and involvement. They want to assist you, guide you to open doors and prepare you for what’s next. There are many ways for you to gain experience, learn new skills and become a well-rounded person ready to conquer the world. It just takes you taking that first step into shaping your new environment. Hope to see you on campus. Thanks Alex.
– Jaylen, great job. It’s so fun to hear what all the clubs and organizations students can get involved with here on campus. It sounds like no matter what your interests are ETSU has you covered. Thanks again, Jaylen.
All right, everyone. Now we’re heading over to the University School located right in the center of campus. This is a K through 12 school where education majors receive real life hands-on learning experience at a top ranked school. Carly Brewington, a senior majoring in special education is waiting for us here. She’s gonna talk to us about her experience as an education student at ETSU. Carly, please take it away.
– Thanks, Alex. The special education program here at ETSU has given me the college experience I have always dreamed of. The Clemmer College has allowed me to dive into an education career while still completing my undergrad. To finish all my teaching requirements I’m in a teaching residency program where I will have extended hours in the classroom working with many great students, administrators and staff. I’m here at the historic University School which is situated in the heart of ETSU’s campus. Here, you will find K through 12 students engaged in a smaller, more intimate classroom environment. My classmates and my professors have made me a better person by showing me support throughout my college experience. My mentor teacher is an incredible educator who has been teaching here at the University School for 13 years. She has given me priceless knowledge that I will take with me through life. from summertime classroom preparation to meeting students and their families and now a hybrid fall semester, teaching students both in-person and online I have been able to work alongside her through it all. My mentor teacher has also entrusted me to create incredible bonds with students. This has given me a new insight to teaching that I will always cherish. More specifically. I have created a friendship with one student in particular who has taught me that it is always a good day to have a good day. This student has taught me to live on the happy side an invaluable lesson that I will take with me through life. I have been able to watch him grow and become confident in his ability to learn. It has been an incredible journey to watch. He has also shown me the true reason of why I chose this career, which is to make a difference. My extra time spent in this inclusion classroom has allowed me to pour my energy into nurturing a growing mind. My college experience has truly been an incredible journey that I would not trade for the world. From being a student athlete on the triathlon team to the incredible relationships and education I’ve received, I’m so proud that I’ll be able to call ETSU my alma mater. I hoped you enjoyed hearing my story and I hope to see you soon here in the Tennessee Hills at East Tennessee State University. Back to you Alex.
– Carly, you are a rock star and I have a feeling the kids in your student classroom would say the exact same thing about you as well. The classroom experience and mentorship you’re receiving at ETSU is simply incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us all. We appreciate it. Cheers Carly.
So now let’s head over to the carrier center at the Culp here at ETSU and meet up with Joey. He’s a junior studying digital media with a concentration in game design. He’s gonna share a little bit about what he’s learning and his current game design projects. If you are interested in gaming you are certainly gonna wanna watch this. Joey, please take it away.
– Hey guys. Hey Alex. Upon arriving here at ETSU and entering its digital media program I had no idea that I’d be taking my first step into the game design industry. Prior to my freshman year of college I had developed a love for indie games which is a passion that seemed to only grow since then. Although most of the classes that I took applied to designing 3D games, learning these core concepts helped me better understand the realm of 2D games, the kind of games that I wanted to create. After establishing these new design practices and being eager to practice my newly acquired programming skills I felt prepared for the journey I had ahead of me when I began developing my first indie game title, Chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro is a 2D adventure platform run with metroidvania elements. You take the role of a mysterious amnesiac where you have to explore an interconnected world that has fallen into darkness. The game began as a solo hobby project though after having an encouraging conversation with my game design professor I realized I wanted to work on the game full time. Initially I was hesitant about pursuing this passion project as it’s my first game and at the time it was simply an outlet for honing my newly acquired programming skills. Though my professor reassured me that every project that I’m going to do is going to be for practice. And if I’m going to put this much passion into a project I might as well make it worth it and publish the game. The same concept stands true for all aspiring artists, musicians or game developers alike. As I continue to develop the game and share its progress online it started to gain quite a bit of exposure and started to grow a small community. I had heard of success stories of solo developers launching Kickstarter campaigns to fund their indie games. And so I started working towards launching one of my own. When Chiaroscuro’s Kickstarter launched in October of 2020, the relationships and connections I had made here at ETSU were incredibly influential to its success. In the end, Chiaroscuro’s Kickstarter raised over $17,000 in just 29 days, blowing away its original goal of $15,000. Thanks to the concepts that I learned from these core classes along with the encouragement that I received from my professors along the way I felt motivated enough to see this game’s campaign through to its conclusion and to continue pursuing my passion as an indie game developer. I plan to continue developing Chiaroscuro until after I graduate where I’ll eventually release it on Steam for Windows and Mac in 2022 or 2023. Thanks for listening to my story. Back to you, Alex.
– Joey, that was so cool. The digital media program here is so fun. The game you are designing is amazing. Big congrats on that. Very, very impressive. We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. Cheers Joey.
Now, we’re gonna hear from Juliet, a junior majoring in small animal science. Juliet’s path was a little different from the students you’ve met so far. Juliet started at another school, but was frustrated that as an animal science major, she was not getting the opportunity to work directly with animals. At DelVal that happens in your first year. Here’s her story, Juliet.
Hi everyone. So, when you tell people you wanna be a vet, their first question is – how long have you known you wanted to do that? And to be honest, I don’t know if there was ever a time I didn’t know. Growing up, I’d watched the crocodile hunter, catch critters outside, and come in and tell my mom, all about the wonderful creatures that share our backyard. Steve Irwin played a major part in my upbringing and his passion for wildlife was contagious. I knew I had a continuous mission in some way.
I decided on the path of veterinary medicine in hopes of one day being able to work at the Australia Zoo. I realized this was a very specific dream and that I could help wildlife in endless ways. My journey to DelVal is a little bit different than most. I transferred here after realizing that I wasn’t getting the hands-on experience with animals that I needed. I talked to some of my friends who attended the university and I made the switch.
Talking to you today, I’m a junior small animal science major. I can wholeheartedly say that coming to DelVal is one of the greatest things that I’ve ever done. In just two years, I’ve taken classes like path and disease, animal anatomy and vet med terminology that will help my application to Vet School tremendously. On top of classes, there’s a number of clubs and organizations that are helping me as well. My favorite is DelVal’s National Chapter for the American Association of Zookeepers. It’s helped me with the zoo aspect of my career and being a board member has allowed me to create connections that I’ll use in the future.
Another thing that has helped me is one of my E360 credits. Through talking with my advisor, I found an amazing company called Loop Abroad. I set up a two week trip to Australia where I’d be living and working in a small zoo alongside a zoo veterinarian. This was supposed to take place in June of 2020. So, you can imagine what happened. Yeah, it was canceled. I was absolutely devastated, but lucky for me Loop Abroad was hosting a Virtual Global Vet Semester. Without ever leaving my bedroom, I traveled all over the world to places including Thailand, Belize and Costa Rica. I was able to get up close and personal with veterinary medicine and species ranging from dogs to elephants. And I’m so grateful to Loop Abroad.
Without coming to DelVal, I would have never been able to do the things I talked about today and I wouldn’t have nearly the resume I do now. I can honestly say that DelVal has helped me on my road to becoming a wildlife warrior. That’s my story. Now, back to Alex.
Well done Juliet. You may be the first wildlife warrior we have had on the college tour. Thank you for sharing your story. That was incredible. Take care.
Okay, now it’s time to hear from Parker. Parker is a freshman majoring in biology and botany. And Parker knows all the best places to eat and discover Bucks County’s cultural treasures. Parker, please take it away.
Thanks Alex. Hi, everybody. Welcome to Doylestown. I’ve lived in the Doylestown area, since I was about 10 years old. I was originally born and raised in Hawaii, but I’ve grown to really love it here.
Our town was recently named, USA today’s number one small town in the Cultural Scene Category. And we definitely live up to that title. For example, every fall we have a two day arts fest that consumes the center of town with vendors selling artwork, painting, anything you could want, along with tons of food trucks. That is probably my all time favorite event that we have in Doylestown.
Speaking of food, we also have a plethora of restaurants to choose from of almost any variety. I can remember when I was younger, I used to go to different restaurants to see who had the best fried calamari. PS, it’s the Penn Taproom. For students who live on campus, don’t worry our local bus the Doylestown Dart, stops at DelVal to pick kids up and shuttle them into town.
Walking around Doylestown is a great way to pass some time on the weekends. And we have all kinds of different stores from thrift shops to upscale boutiques. Admire the architecture, while grabbing some coffee or boba from a local cafe, before heading down to the Mercer Museum a giant historical castle in the middle of Doylestown, one of two actually. Fonthill located just behind me was the home of Henry Mercer, a tile worker who designed his own home and the Mercer Museum to be a collection of technology and artwork used in the early 1900s, pretty cool. Across the street from the Mercer Museum is the Michener Art Museum, an old prison turned cultural hub. Students can get free passes to all of these from the Bucks County Library, which is just next door to the Art Museum.
Another hidden gem is Peace Valley, a park featuring Lake Galena, located about 15 minutes outside of Doylestown. I love to walk the trails and walk around the lake and force my friends to listen to me talk about lichens and mushrooms, which is super nerdy but it does help me study. And if Doylestown isn’t enough one day, just hop on the train and head down to Philadelphia, which is about 25 miles south. We have our very own train station located at DelVal, just a short walk away from most of the dorms. I love heading down to Philly to go to concerts or to visit friends who live down there. Besides Philadelphia, we’re less than two hours away from tons of popular day trips, such as New York City, the Poconos and the Jersey Shore.
So, although there’s tons to do in the heart of Doylestown, all of these trips are just a short car or train ride away. When you choose DelVal, you choose Doylestown along with all of its historic small town charm. Back to you, Alex.
Great cultural overview Parker. Sounds, like students have a lot of options for things to do off-campus, what a location. Cheers Parker.
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