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Finding the Experience that Fits You with Rachel

Okay, so now we’re heading over to ASU’s Polytechnic Campus to meet up with Rachel Shantz. She’s a junior majoring in air traffic management, and she’s gonna spend a few minutes talking about the many different campuses ASU offers its students. This is really cool. Rachel, please take it away.

Thanks, Alex. We’re here at the Polytechnic Campus, and the Polytechnic Campus was the perfect choice for me for a lot of reasons, the first of which being that it offers my very niche program in air traffic management. ASU is one of only a few institutions that offers an air traffic control program that is pre-approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

When I was in high school, my brother attended the Polytechnic Campus as a software engineering major, so I was already very familiar with the campus. And I was mostly drawn to the size. My graduating high school class only had about 90 students in it, so I was already really used to knowing all of my classmates, having relationships with my teachers. And I personally feel that I learn much better in that environment. So I’m really grateful that ASU has the Polytechnic Campus as an option because you really get that small college type of environment while still maintaining all of the benefits of coming to an institution as large as ASU.

ASU has four main campuses located in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area, and they’re primarily organized by area of study. Our Tempe Campus, which is our largest campus, offers a range of programs from engineering, business, art and design, global futures, education, and much, much more. At the Downtown Phoenix Campus, you’ll find our nursing program, the majority of our health programs, public service, law, global management, and one of the top journalism schools in the country. The West Campus includes our criminal justice programs, our interdisciplinary arts and sciences, and some business, health, and education programs. The Polytechnic Campus is comprised of engineering degrees, including our four aviation programs. The Polytechnic Campus also includes some additional business, integrative arts and sciences, and education programs.

ASU also offers a wide variety of learning opportunities outside of the four main campuses in the greater Phoenix area, including ASU@Lake Havasu, ASU Local, which is located in downtown Los Angeles, and we offer a wide variety of programs on ASU Online. ASU has also partnered with many community colleges, which means that you can transfer your credits to a four-year ASU degree program without issue. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Polytechnic Campus is truly where I belong, and I firmly believe that with all of the options and opportunities available to you at Arizona State, you can find where you belong, too. Back to you, Alex.

Rachel, that was fantastic. First of all, thank you for being the future of keeping our sky safe and sound with air travel, and what a great walk through of all the campuses. ASU has options for anyone’s taste. That was great. Cheers, Rachel.

Oh, this is gonna be a lot of fun. We’re now heading to the Generator Labs. Here, we’re gonna meet up with Zion, a senior majoring in computer science, who’s gonna talk about what an innovative mindset is all about here at Arizona State. Zion, you’re on.

Thanks, Alex. I grew up on the west side of the big island of Hawaii on a coffee farm to a Native Hawaiian-Chinese family. So as you can imagine, computer science was a stretch for me. I decided to attend ASU in my senior year of high school because of a great counselor I had, Miss Kekaulike. She introduced me to the idea of pursuing education in more than just my classes, and ASU was the perfect fit with its startup and research culture.

So I joined ASU and started my degree in computer science. When I got here, I was hungry to join a startup or a club. I was introduced to a hacking club, the pwndevils. Don’t worry, the good kind of hacking. I had no knowledge of cybersecurity at the time and was honestly frightened by some of the complex concepts. To learn more about my major, I started competing in these 48-hour events called CTFs, cybersecurity competitions where we hack into sanctioned machines as fast as we can. I was highly devoted to these competitions and found myself competing in them every single weekend.

Soon I saw my grades taking off because I had acquired potentially years of experience in computer science in only a few months. I saw myself rising to the top of my class because of a super interesting extracurricular club I had joined. This is really where my innovative mindset started forming. As I started getting better at these competitions, I started getting invited to finals competitions with my team all over the world. These experiences really start changing the way you start thinking about problems and open up an entirely new way of approaching things.

Now, as the president of pwndevils, I try to make sure that these experiences can be replicated for the next generation of ASU hackers. Soon, I found myself asking, if I can do all these hacking things, how can I fix them so bad guys can’t? I then found myself in a research lab where I could take all these things I had learned as a competitive world-class hacker and apply them to research to fix the real world. My lab inspired me to do great things and it parallels the experiences that many other students have here at ASU in research labs.

It’s always intriguing to hear about the different things people are doing in their labs, like volcanic analysis with AI-driven drones, or modeling black holes, or exploring education through virtual reality simulations. All very interesting topics. I was able to access this hidden and complex field all through the experiences that ASU had made available to me, which completely opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Alex, back to you.

Zion, that was awesome. Great job. These hackathons you’re getting to compete in through ASU look amazing. I wanna come to one of these events one day. Thank you again for sharing your story. Cheers, Zion.

Okay everyone, let’s head over to the student center and meet senior Evan. Evan is an accounting major in the Dayton school of business. Asbury is preparing students for an ever-changing global economy, and Asbury’s Dayton School of business is one of the ways students are preparing for this future. In the business school, professors are focused on teaching students to be the best for the world, not of the world. Let’s check out Evan’s story. Evan, please take it away.

– Thanks Alex. Hey, y’all. When college searching, I wanted a place where I’d be challenged and thrive, with both my education and experiences. College is not just about education, but the moments that cultivate our future. I chose Asbury University because of the people here who truly want to invest in my life. And I know that as an accounting major in the business school, I’ll be prepared to work as an expert financial advisor while positively impacting the lives of those I work with. For the last three years, I gained real world leadership skills by serving on the cabinet recently as president, for Asbury’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter, a national career preparation organization for college students. Professors here encourage us to become the best we can be for the world, by teaching biblical principles of stewardship and ethics. They even throw us dinners to celebrate our hard work. Alumni support is also critical to the Dayton school of business’ success. Asbury alumni and friends gifted our gorgeous campus with a new $26 million collaborative learning center. Soon, we’ll share this cutting edge new space with our classmates in the school of sciences. The CLC will bring together future entrepreneurs and scientists, healthcare professionals, and marketing experts to learn from and with each other. Thus collaboration will help make it possible to combine the sciences with business and get real world experience, such as bringing new discoveries to the market. The professors and mentors at Asbury prepared me for future success by providing great networking connections in my career field and practical opportunities to build my resume. Most importantly, I am both prepared and motivated to serve others, provide creative solutions to today’s pressing problems and add value to the market. Now I have two internships and Asbury’s MBA program lined up after I graduate. The Dayton school of business places all the tools necessary for our journey in front of us. All we have to do is grab them and dream. Throwing it back to you, Alex.

– Evan, nice dance moves. Thank you. Your passion for sharing how Asbury is preparing you to provide creative solutions to today’s problems, and adding value to the marketplace is so inspiring. We look forward to cheering you on as you complete that MBA. Cheers Evan.

Okay, everyone, let’s start things off here at Baylor’s campus and meet Trey. He just graduated with his bachelor’s in health science studies and a minor in biology and business administration, and he’s gonna highlight some of his favorite Baylor traditions and tell us about the spirit and battle cry of the Baylor Bears. Okay, Trey, it’s all yours. Please take it away.

Thanks for the introduction, Alex. Hey there, everyone. I’m here to talk to you about a few of the traditions that make Baylor University truly one of a kind. A little known fact about our school is that it was founded in February of 1845, which is a little over a year before Texas was made the 28th state in the US. This means that Baylor University has had almost two centuries to develop a rich history of traditions that many generations of Bears have been able to celebrate. One of the oldest and most well-known of these traditions is our annual homecoming celebration. The Baylor family first started celebrating homecoming in 1909, making our university the first in the nation to do so. Ever since then, Baylor students have participated in homecoming events such as Mass Meeting, in which our freshmen students learn about our university’s traditions, Pigskin, which is an amazing musical style showcase, our pep rally celebration, in which there is an enormous bonfire, and, of course, our homecoming football game. One of my favorites was being able to watch the annual Baylor homecoming parade, which is the oldest, and one of the biggest in the nation. The energy around campus during homecoming time is so great, it’s electrifying. The holiday season is another fun-filled time here on Baylor’s campus. Every year, the Baylor family gathers on Fountain Mall in the center of campus to have a special Thanksgiving dinner together in celebration of fellowship, community, and all that God has blessed us with. Not too long after this is when our Christmas on 5th celebration takes place. During this time, our entire campus is decked out in Christmas trees and lights, games and activities, and even a live nativity scene. The fan favorite event of the night, however, is our Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which happens out on the quad. In my opinion, there is no better way to kick off the Christmas season. If you ask the typical Baylor student what their favorite springtime tradition is, chances are, they’ll tell you that it’s Diadeloso, which means “day of the bear” in Spanish. On Dia Del Oso, Baylor gives its students a much-needed day off right before springtime finals. For the entire day, our campus is filled with events and activities such as inflatable obstacle courses, food trucks, concerts, and even some petting zoos out on Fountain Mall. I’ll never forget, my freshman year during Dia, they had goat yoga, and even swimming with otters. Throughout the year, every Baylor student has the opportunity to enjoy a free Dr Pepper float every Tuesday in the Student Union Building at an event known as Dr Pepper Hour. Dr Pepper Hour is not only a great time to catch up with your friends in between classes, but also, a good time to get to know your professors, who just might be enjoying a Dr Pepper float, as well. To be a true Baylor fan, every Bear must know how to perform our most unique tradition of all, the Sic ’em. Every Baylor Bear knows that the Sic ’em is our battle cry at games, a greeting, or even just a phrase you use to celebrate. Without a doubt, by the time you graduate, “Sic ’em, Bears” just might be a part of your everyday vocabulary. From the moment you first set foot on campus to whenever you walk across the graduation stage, Baylor University completely immerses you in a truly unique college experience you won’t find anywhere else. But that’s enough for me. Now back to you, Alex.

That’s awesome, Trey! Thank you for showing us how important traditions are to the Baylor experience, and congrats on your graduation. I know you’re looking forward to returning to campus for a homecoming as a Baylor alum. Thanks again, Trey. Good luck on all your future endeavors. Take care.

Alex. Between classes, athletics and working on campus, our next student Kirby stays plenty busy. He’s a religion major and a member of the track team. As you will hear, Kirby wasn’t sure he could afford a private university, but through a variety of scholarships and Carson-Newman’s work study program, Kirby has seen his dream of being a university graduate coming true.

 

– Thanks Alex. Hey, y’all when searching for colleges, I wanted to find a school that reflected my Christian faith had an athletic program with which I could be involved, And most importantly, was affordable. I prayed that God would lead me to the university that could help me reach all three factors that I found important in my college search process. After I was accepted to Carson-Newman, the amount of scholarships available to me was a clear sign that this is where I was meant to be. With scholarships as a track athlete, and in the honors program, I’ve been able to meet a lot of different people and be involved in a lot of different kinds of activities. You may think it difficult to balance practices and competitions with the large academic workload that Honor’s demands, but here at Carson-Newman, the Carson-Newman Academic Advising Team has helped me with strategies to manage my time more efficiently. Carson-Newman also offers work study positions. I had the opportunity to work in the Admissions Department, where I was able to give campus tours to students and their families. The work-study positions are designed to be highly flexible in order to work around your busy academic schedule. They help you get involved on campus, meet new people, and most importantly, help pay for college, all at the same time, These scholarships help make college a reality for me, and they can for you too. Carson-Newman strives to offer an affordable Christ-centered education to everyone. Carson-Newsman has a variety of scholarships, including sports, honors, merit, art, music, forensics, and even community service. In fact, over 96% of our students receive some form of financial aid. No matter your major or interest, Carson-Newman has a scholarship for everyone. I know that Carson-Newman cares about my future and they are giving me the opportunity to succeed. What’s up next, Alex?

 

– Did you all hear what Kirby just said? More than 96% of Carson-Newman students receive some form of financial aid. That is amazing! That’s just one more example of the staff at Carson-Newman working to make a university education accessible to just about anyone. Thanks again for taking the time with us, Kirby. That was amazing.

Okay. Everyone let’s meet Alex. He’s not only a member of Carson-Newman’s men’s soccer team, but this junior is majoring in finance and economics. Alex is going to talk to us about the incredible opportunities he’s had to get a hands-on experience in the business program. And he’s going to share a unique program that gives students valuable investment experience. Okay, Alex, it’s all yours.

 

– Hey everyone. I’m a junior here at Carson-Newman and on the men’s soccer team. When I began my college search, I primarily based my decision off where I could play. But after being here for a few years, I’ve realized that there’s so many more opportunities than just soccer. Since being at Carson-Newman for the past two years, I’ve been able to connect with many teammates, professors, and peers that have helped me grow educationally and professionally. With Carson-Newman being a smaller Christian school, it allows our professors and advisors to take a more personalized approach to helping us reach our full potential, both inside and outside of the classroom. Our business program has a state-of-the-art building and faculty with real-world experience to help students succeed. Our McLean Investment Center allows students to work with a student managed investment fund. We work with professors to manage the fund and gain valuable investing experience. This personal approach has helped me keep my education and grades on track, but it has also allowed me to grow and take advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom, such as work and internship options. As a matter of fact, my recent internship with Northwestern Mutual will really contribute to my goal of becoming a financial advisor. And Carson Newman has a great MBA program, which I planned to enter after I finish my undergraduate degree. Be assured that whatever major you choose you can count on being prepared for the real world and enjoying your experience along the way. After being here at Carson-Newman, I can tell you there’s no place that I’d rather be. Carson-Newman has provided me with opportunities that I could not have imagined having as a college student. Okay. Back to you, Alex.

 

– Alex, thanks for sharing your experience as a business student here at Carson-Newman and all the exciting opportunities you have received here. Oh, and good luck getting your MBA. Thanks again.

From operation in as much where hundreds of students, faculty, and staff volunteer to help others, to Carson-Newman’s own Appalachian outreach program, which provides basic needs to families in the region, serving others is part of the DNA of Carson-Newman University. With that in mind, let’s meet Rita, a psychology and political science double major whose dream has always been to get a college degree. Rita has done so much at Carson-Newman, even starting an organization seeking to empower immigrant students like herself. Next, Rita will tell us a bit about the life of a student, and the opportunity she has had to engage in things that are important to her. Rita. Please take it away.

 

– Thank you for that introduction, Alex, when choosing your college, the resources, academic rigor, and financial aid are essential. As an immigrant, education has always been something important to me, despite the barriers to achieving a higher education. When transferring from my local community college, private universities intimidated me due to the size, costs, and opportunity. But here at Carson-Newman, I am able to graduate debt free, form relationships with my professors, and utilize the resources I need. Upon entering Carson-Newman, I was able to partake in the first cohort of equal transfer education scholars. This allowed me to pursue my Bachelor’s in Psychology and Political Science. It was here that I followed my passions for advocacy, mental health, and accessibility to a higher education. With the 14 to one student faculty ratio, not only have my professors supported me, but have pushed me to apply for internships, register for rigorous courses and seek a higher degree in my field of study. With over 40 student organizations on campus, students are able to invest and engage in opportunities that could help them grow intellectually, spiritually, culturally, and socially. The Eagle production company allows students to plan events and partake in the yearly college street festival. Student Government Association empowers students to advocate for others. I co-founded PODER, which stands for Pursuing Our Dreams. Embracing Our Roots. We seek to empower immigrant students while bringing cultural awareness. Carson-Newman has not only empowered me to be a local leader in my community, but it has prepared me academically in more ways than I could’ve ever envisioned. As a university with the mission to reflect the heart of Christ, we encourage our graduates to be servant leaders and make a difference wherever they go. Talons up, back to you, Alex.

 

– Wow, Rita really is a leader and I’m certain she will be having an impact on the lives of others wherever she ends up after graduation. Congratulations, Rita and Talons Up.

Okay, let’s get to it. We’re going to head over to Cherokee Lake. That’s just a few miles from Carson-Newman’s campus, where we’re going to meet Lee Rose. Because Carson-Newman is nestled in between Cherokee and Douglas lakes, a new outdoor adventure seems to be around every corner. With breathtaking scenery, stunning views, and lots of opportunities to explore nature, Carson-Newman students, like Lee Rose, can experience God’s creation at its finest. Lee Rose, you are on.

 

– Thanks Alex. Hello everyone. Growing up, I spent most of my free time outdoors, and I knew I wanted to attend university where I could channel my love for taking adventures. At Carson-Newman, we are minutes away from here, beautiful Cherokee lake, a favorite spot for students to relax and refresh. The two beautiful lakes are known for their clear blue water, majestic views of our east Tennessee mountains, and several different species of fish, drawing fishermen from all across the country, like me. That’s right. I’m a member of the Eagle Anglers Fishing Team where we are ranked fourth in the nation. And we have the unique opportunity to travel all across the country, competing in collegiate level tournaments while at the same time, drawing attention to Carson-Newman as a Christian university. In addition, we are just a short drive from the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area, home to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, with endless entertainment, rides, and even a waterpark. Dollywood is a theme park with true Southern charm. And it’s surrounded by the breathtaking views of the great Smoky Mountains. And if you’re looking for city life, downtown Knoxville is just a few miles down the road. Knoxville is home to the Knoxville Zoo, several different museums, and my favorite spot, Market Square. Since the 1860s, Market Square has been one of the most popular places in their region to shop, work, and eat. As a Carson-Newman student, my calendar is pretty full, but I always try to take the time to adore the location and all of the fun it brings. And to top it off, my Carson-Newman experience has enabled me to grow as an individual, strengthen my Christian faith, and reach my full potential. Sending it to you, Alex.

 

– From Dollywood to downtown Knoxville, I can tell there are some amazing places in and around Carson-Newman University, just waiting for students to explore. Thanks so much, Lee Rose. And if you’re cooking up some of that fish for dinner tonight, let me know because I definitely want a taste And good luck to all the Eagle Anglers this coming year. Take Care.

So a part of Carson-Newman’s appeal is that it has a place for everyone. Recent Carson-Newman graduate, Faith, is a perfect example of how a liberal arts education can help a student discover what they want to do with their life. Faith graduated with a degree in psychology and she plans to become a child psychologist after completing her Master’s of Counseling degree here at Carson-Newman. Faith was also an active member in the Bonner Scholars Program where she volunteered to help others in the community. So let’s hear from Faith and learn more about her experience here at Carson-Newman university.

 

– Thanks Alex. When I was searching for a college to attend, my goal was to find a school that will help me to fulfill my dream of being a child psychologist. I was always that friend who gave advice, listened, and was there to help with anything my friends or family needed. A close family friend suggested that I visit Carson-Newman University. As soon as I walked onto campus, I absolutely loved it. One of the benefits of receiving a degree from a liberal arts institution is that you get to take classes in multiple different subject areas. And the curriculum helps you to apply the knowledge you are learning in a class in real-world settings. Carson-Newman’s Christian educators are passionate about helping students reach their full potential as educated citizens and worldwide servant leaders. The concept of becoming a servant leader was instilled in me by being a part of the Bonner Scholars program at Carson-Newman. The Bonner Program is a four year scholarship program that supports a strong team of students working to bring about positive community change through service, research, and action. Our motto is “become the change”, meaning we seek to embody the changes we want to see in the world. One way that I chose to become the change at Carson-Newman was by becoming an Orientation Leader and Eagle Guide during my senior year. I wanted to connect and interact with freshmen students and their families. I now get to focus on helping prospective students full time, as I have recently accepted a position as an admissions representative C-N. I will get to continue my passion of helping others while at the same time, working on earning my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Before coming to Carson-Newman, I didn’t know how it was going to grow or make new connections. That’s why being here has taught me the value of Liberal Arts. By getting out of my comfort zone. I’ve become a better me. Back to you, Alex.

 

– Thanks, Faith. It sounds like you made the best of your time here and congratulations on your new job helping to recruit other students to your Alma Mater. That was great.

Now let’s head over to SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, to meet up with Pooja. She’s majoring in technological entrepreneurship and management with a minor in statistics and a certificate in cross-sector leadership. Once again, these students are so impressive. And she’s gonna talk to us about what the ASU entrepreneurial mindset is all about here. Pooja, take it away.

A big, warm hi and welcome to everybody watching. A little bit about me. So, born and raised in Chennai India, I came to Phoenix all by myself the day after I turned 18, flying over 15,000 kilometers for 24 hours with nothing but two suitcases, two carry-ons, and quoting Coldplay, “A head full of dreams.”

I was admitted to ASU as a scholar of the Next Generation Service Corps, which is a four-year leadership and scholarship program which trains its members in cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, and human-centered problem solving to create tangible solutions to complex societal problems. Outside of ASU, I’m an advisory council member for Ashoka U, which is the world’s largest higher education social innovation convener with a global community of 500 Changemaker Campuses. Fun fact, ASU is one of the Changemaker Campuses, and I both attended and presented at the Ashoka U Exchange Conference in the past, representing ASU. All this might seem like a lot, but the hustle is what I live for, and it’s integral in the making of an entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial mindset.

Speaking of the entrepreneurial mindset, at ASU we define it as letting your curiosity take flight, securing connections, and creating value. And it is by no means limited to only those who wanna start a business. In fact, at ASU, we go above and beyond to incorporate the entrepreneurial mindset in everything we do as Sun Devils. It has definitely been one of the most important tools I’ve learned, for everything I’ve been able to achieve and accomplish is because of the entrepreneurial mindset. I’ve been a member of several startup founding teams and founded my own EdTech startup called Purpose Setter to help high school students make clear and purpose-driven career decisions for which we won several awards and funding.

My personal motto has always been passionately ambitious, continuously learning, and constantly problem-solving, and from the minute I set foot at ASU, I knew I belonged here. ASU is different from other universities in that we are measured by whom we include and not whom we exclude, and it is for this reason that I chose ASU. I’ve learned and grown so much here at ASU, made so many friends, met with top-notch faculty and staff, and been a part of many wonderful opportunities. And I’ll forever be a proud Sun Devil. Alex, that’s what entrepreneurial mindset is all about at ASU. Back to you.

Pooja, that was incredible. Great work. What you’re accomplishing here at ASU is phenomenal. You’re gonna change the world, Pooja.