March 2007
If the Shoe Fits....
If the Shoe Fits....
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Last night while on the phone with my good friend from Vermont, the conversation shifted to choosing whether or not to remain in state when going to college. Both my friend and I made the decision to go to school out-of-state. Her choice was South Carolina and my choice of course New York. The two of us have encountered entirely different outcomes from our respective out-of-state choices, however between the two of us we concluded one thing-to each his own, and for each person there is a right college no matter what state it falls in.
When I began researching colleges/universities in which I could potentially pursue my higher education, I looked into all the places of which on the surface seemed ideal: large, out-of-state, well known names, and most often expensive. However, amongst the dozens of “ideal” college/university applications I completed, there were a few applications that I completed that did not match these characteristics. Canisius on the surface did not match any of my “ideal” characteristics, however upon receiving a fee waived application in the mail, I chose to apply. As I began visiting colleges/universities the ideal characteristics that had become engraved in my head, broke down and I realized there was so much more to future than a school with a “big reputation”.
When I began researching colleges/universities in which I could potentially pursue my higher education, I looked into all the places of which on the surface seemed ideal: large, out-of-state, well known names, and most often expensive. However, amongst the dozens of “ideal” college/university applications I completed, there were a few applications that I completed that did not match these characteristics. Canisius on the surface did not match any of my “ideal” characteristics, however upon receiving a fee waived application in the mail, I chose to apply. As I began visiting colleges/universities the ideal characteristics that had become engraved in my head, broke down and I realized there was so much more to future than a school with a “big reputation”.
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Myself and all my future roommates. |
When my embedded personas broke down, I truly began to look at Canisius in a different light. To be honest, it wasn’t until I was back in Vermont after my overnight at Canisius and I spoke with my parents about the trip that I began to realize that Canisius might in fact be the right place for me. Though it did not appear to be perfect to me, it somehow had a spark: a beautiful campus, a city location, an intimate class size, a unique tunnel system, students who appeared interested in their education and teachers who were on a first name basis with their students. The characteristics that I realized were present within the Canisius College campus as well as the outstanding academics offered, helped me not only to decide to enroll, but also encouraged me to see the entire decision process in a new way.
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The cuddle up: two of my future roomies!!!
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As a current student at Canisius I could honestly not be happier with the decision that I have made as to where to spend the next four years of my education. I encourage other students yearning to find the perfect place to receive a higher education to make an honest attempt to look beyond what they perceive as perhaps “perfect characteristics” and see what each college has to offer, look beyond the view books, and reputations; there is so much more.
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Myself and the future roommates at Beauty and The Beast in Illion, NY on a weekend excursion. |
Barbara's February 2007 journal
Barbara's December 2006 journal
Barbara's October 2006 journal
Barbara's September 2006 journal