Nick: Lots of opportunities for new students

Staring up at the Wabash building for the very first time, I felt intimidated and for me that was odd. I thought after three years at a community college that I had things figured out. Entering Roosevelt University this year as a transfer student, my mindset was that the entire experience was going to be déjà vu.

I was wrong.

The level of school pride and enthusiasm blew me away. During orientation my fellow peers were engaged, all eager to start a new experience together. I was a bit hesitant at first, thinking the orientation process and environment was going to be a repeat of my first year at junior college. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how new everything seemed to me.

I never imagined that during my college days I would be living in a skyscraper downtown. My perception upon entering the building was that students would be scattered throughout the enormous facility, with little interaction. On the contrary, it was not depersonalized at all - everyone was welcoming and friendly.

I realized that in a tight-knit community like the one we have at Roosevelt, in order to thrive you must play a role in that community. 

Get involved and find your niche here, it could change your life.

In high school I was the typical “bad” student. I was an unmotivated, lazy and unproductive teenager with an axe to grind against academics. Constantly in the Dean’s office or getting detentions, misbehaving and becoming a class clown lead me down the wrong path. Getting heavily involved in my college experience through a student organization changed all that.

When I stumbled into my student newspaper at College of DuPage, it was truly a life-changing experience. I made close friends, met the most interesting people and was inspired to follow my dream.

It is my hope that while working on the Torch, I will be able to forge similar friendships and be influenced by my peers. I am eager to start this year off and be as involved as possible. I plan to emerge myself in the campus community and make my time here completely worthwhile.

Join me.