Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Brian J. Oh is currently a Master of Arts candidate at Loyola Marymount University studying Urban Education with a focus in Education Policy & Administration. He comes from the Los Angeles region, where he attended Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) public schools from K-12. From there, his passion in education started, where he found many injustices in the bureaucratic systems of the public school district. He was fortunate to have attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies, concentrated in Statistics with a secondary in Government. Right afterwards, he came back to the Los Angeles region to serve in Teach For America as a high school mathematics teacher. Currently, he is building a startup called Hope Academy, where it builds on online tutorials and content to bridge the inequity in education when it comes to academic resources. He plans to attend Teachers College, Columbia University this summer for his Master of Arts in Education Policy.What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage?I appreciate the strong roots that my Asian Heritage has when it comes to familial support. I feel that most of my hard work and aspirations are due to the love and belief systems from my mother, father, and older brother. I believe that I want to give back to society the same kind of love that I have been blessed with — to show that the world can be a better place.How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?I celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by giving back to my community whenever possible. By constantly advocating in the classroom and in the communities that I come from, I feel that my voice and actions help represent those that come from disenfranchised and low-income communities. I continue to inform others around my cultural roots and belief systems in order to build closer relationships and collaborations in my communities.What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month?I hope that people gain an appreciation of the diversity that exists in the Asian/Pacific American communities, and to continue to build strong relationships with neighbors around us. By building stronger and more supportive communities, we, as a nation, can ground all actions and decisions from all levels around empathy. Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Dr. Christina Ly graduated with a Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences and a minor in Epidemiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health in Austin, Texas, where she is also currently a postdoctoral research fellow. During her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Ly is currently collaborating on research, presentations, and publications with the Texas Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS) on Youth and Young Adults. Her work with the Texas TCORS includes coordinating the collection of point- of – sale tobacco retailer, marketing, and promotion data as part of a rapid response surveillance system to monitor and respond to changes in tobacco marketing and trends in youth and young adult tobacco use, specifically regarding alternative tobacco products. Dr. Ly’s research interests include various issues relevant to youth and young adult health (tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, and physical activity), including school- based prevention and health promotion programs. She has collaborated on grant-funded research at The University of Texas at Austin in the Health Promotion Research Center to prevent high-risk drinking among college students and was an interim instructor of the Alcohol and Drug Education Program (ADEP). She has presented at national and international conferences on her collaborative work in childhood obesity prevention, child health legislative policy, young adult high risk drinking prevention, and youth and young adult tobacco research. Dr. Ly graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Biology and from Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Public Health with a M.P.H. in Social and Behavioral Health. In her free time she enjoys traveling, running, hiking, playing tennis, cooking, volunteer tutoring, and spending good quality time with friends and family.What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage? I am Chinese-Cambodian American, and my parents both lived and met in Vietnam, so what I appreciate the most about my own personal Asian/Pacific American Heritage is just the melting pot of different cultures that I grew up in. Teochew, Khmer, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English are common languages spoken within my household. An example of a typical weeknight growing up would be me doing U.S. History homework to the sounds of Cambodian soap operas, classic Chinese Teresa Teng songs, and my mother beating garlic and chili to make homemade Vietnamese nước chấm. I celebrate three different New Years: Gregorian, Lunar, and Cambodian, and I love wearing the traditional qi pao or Khmer silk sarongs. Also don’t get me started on the food. I love to eat, and I might be slightly biased but Asian food is simply the best in the world! So from the languages and music to the traditional clothing and food –I value celebrating, respecting, and cherishing each distinctly different facet of my Asian American heritage. How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, there’s even more so an awareness, appreciation, and pride in what there is to celebrate about Asian/Pacific American culture. I live in Austin, Texas, and we have a ‘CelebrASIA’ event at the Asian American Resource Center that showcases the food, music, dancing, art, and stories of local Asian community organizations and Austinites. I enjoy participating in these types of events throughout the month, and I also like to travel to and experience different Asian/Pacific American cultures when I can. Last May I was able to visit Hawaii and bounce around the islands while immersing myself in the local music, dancing, and food. This May, I’ll be traveling to Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia; and, while these are travels not in the U.S., to me it’s still a way for me to appreciate and celebrate the origins of our Asian culture. What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month? Respect. Open-mindedness. For individuals to step out of their comfort zones and to experience something that they never have before. This goes for everyone. I might have grown up in such a mix of different Asian cultures, but I do remember being blown away the first time I watched a traditional Filipino tinikling dance or tried Korean tteok. With each new experience, there comes this respect, appreciation, and acceptance that continues to grow and brings us all together. And, not to get too political, I feel as if we all need this now, more than ever. That, and science. We all need science. Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Ngoc-Tran Vu identifies as a 1.5-generation Vietnamese American transnational and multimedia artist, organizer, and healer. She was born in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam and grew up in Boston. Tran received her MA in Arts and Politics at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and her BA in Ethnic Studies and Visual Arts at Brown University as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Tran works across borders and is based in Boston where she is the Program Director of Association of Independents in Radio (AIR).What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage?Asian Pacific American people and communities are so multifaceted and full of resiliency. Our narrative are full of survivals, hardships, and successes to reach and/or to sustain ourselves in the United States in hopes of a better future for our families and loved ones.How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?I am celebrating APA Heritage Month by fundraising for Asian American activists and organizers in Boston! I would love it if you can support the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), a dynamic nonprofit organization that I am a part of in empowering APA communities through the arts, education, and activism.What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month?I hope more people will gain a deeper understanding and solidarity with Asian Pacific Americans as well as all communities in the greater work of preserving our interconnected stories and humanities. Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print Alumni Perspective: Aarón Villarreal on “Being an Inaugural Scholar” Being a Gates Millennium Scholar has afforded me numerous opportunities. I am currently completing my third year of doctoral studies, and am concurrently writing my dissertation. GMS has positively impacted my educational endeavors in numerous ways. First, they have assisted me financially and academically. Through the scholarship, I have not only obtained my Bachelor’s degree, but have also obtained my Master’s, and am about a year away from completing my doctorate. I know that without the unlimited services and resources provided by GMS, my successes academically would have been restricted. As a scholar, I frequently reflect on the University of Phoenix’s School of Advanced Studies Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model (SPL). This innovative approach to learning assists me in developing as a Scholar—a leader who enriches the world, starting with my community. Additionally, the learning is coupled with contributions focusing on supporting lifelong learning (scholarship), social and workplace contribution (practice), and the ability to exert positive influence (leadership) in my academic, professional, and personal life. This past Spring Break, I was one of about 60 scholars who participated in the Alternative Spring Break in Portland, Oregon (see pictures above and below). This experience was empowering and uplifting; it was something that I needed to get me through the dissertation stage. It felt great convening with other scholars and the experience challenged me in a multitude of ways. It was great giving of my time to give to others that are in need. As stated by Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Through GMS, I have been able to explore other cities, and participate in the attendance at various conferences, such as the Institute of Teaching and Mentoring. The goal of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential. I can certainly affirm that I am near the intended goal set forth by GMS. I will soon obtain my doctorate and will put forth theory into practice. I am a testament of the wonders GMS has provided. #IAmAGatesScholar Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print As the Senior Relationship Manager for the Alumni program I often get questions about graduate school. I get these questions from brand new alumni, as well as alumni who have worked for a few years, have been on deferment and are now considering going back to school, both funded and non-funded areas. I hope to answer some of these questions in my next few blog posts. When I applied to graduate school it was after much deliberation with my mentors but very little understanding of the process. The process itself can be very confusing and so I wanted one of my first posts to the community to be about this process. I will be sure to write a separate post just in the graduate program inquiry form and the Gates portion of that process, but I wanted to give some helpful tips on where to start and what to do. First, where are you in the process? Are you a recent grad and have you gained work experience in the field you’re interested in studying? Have you decided in the specific field? What made you choose this field instead of something similar? Have you looked into schools or programs? Have you spoken to advisors, faculty members or admissions people in those fields? After you’ve decided on what you want to do (which is often the hardest part) the next step is developing plan for getting there. What is your action plan? Some of your action plan will be decided for you. Depending on the type of program, you may need to start studying for standardized test. Whether that is the GREs, SOPHAS, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT or another, you want to give yourself plenty of time to not only take the test, but potentially retake the test if your not satisfied with your score. If your applications are due in January 2017, you should AT LEAST been studying by January 2016 and many advisors recommend taking the test some time in that spring, planning ahead for a retake that summer, if necessary. Some schools average scores while some take the highest score. Find out what your top choice prefers. Often, applications require personal statements and recommendations. I will go into more detail about these in another post, but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked for a recommendation and had to say no. With my schedule, I can’t write you a decent recommendation with only a week notice. The most common mistakes I see mostly revolve around poor planning. Give your recommender at least a month and help them help you. More on this here: http://www.gmsalumni.org/p/bl/ar/blogaid=22. Overall, the graduate school process is stressful. Help GMS help you. As you apply for your graduate schools, if you are trying to get GMS funding, you should be submitting your graduate program inquiry form at the same time. This is a form that allows us to evaluate whether the core curriculum of your program truly fits into one of our seven funded fields. We reach each of these individually, so please narrow down your search and submit no more than (preferably) 5 programs. And last thing I will leave you with: picking a graduate program is all about best fit. When I applied to school I got into a graduate program that was s 2nd in the nation for education at that time. Although it was a great program, it was clear across the country. The program that I was looking for was specifically Higher Education Administration and Counseling Student Personnel. The program I chose was top 5 and top 10 in both and provided a better financial package. I couldn’t have been happier with my decision because it was what was best for me. Looking forward to talking and discussing those very important topic with you all. If you’d like to follow my blog, please click the heart on the top left to favorite the blog on the www.gmsalumni.org online community and be sure to follow me! If you’d like to be part of our blog team, let us know also! #GMSLOVE Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print Why College Is Worth It Many high school students think of college as the ticket to a bigger salary, and statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show a strong relationship between a college degree and earnings. But higher potential earnings are only the beginning of the benefits. Surveys show that people with a college education enjoy a higher quality of life and have increased personal and professional mobility. A college education lets you choose a field that truly interests you and earn a living doing something you love. Doing what you’re good at and what you love will provide you with contentment that money can’t buy. Gain Skills to Last a Lifetime College also teaches you how to think critically, an ability that’s worth its weight in gold. Mastering this art means having the ability to examine things from every angle before arriving at a conclusion. You’ll be trained to analyze any problems you encounter and decide the best ways to resolve them—a skill that will pay off for the rest of your life. Smart conclusions lead to smart decisions, whether you’re figuring out which car to buy, wrestling with a personal problem or weighing the pros and cons of a job opportunity. At the same time, the improved written and oral communication skills you gain in college will help you express yourself effectively and make a good impression anywhere, in any situation. Be a Better Person Other benefits of a college education affect your heart and soul as well as your intellect and wallet. Being part of a college community can help you develop your code of ethics, strengthen your tolerance and sharpen your sense of responsibility. Also, the more knowledgeable you become the more confident and comfortable you’ll feel in any situation and with any group of people. These characteristics are incredibly important in today’s global society. A Wide-Angle Lens on the World College gives you the “big picture” of the world, and your point of view will no longer be bound by the limits of your experience. You’ll explore multiple areas and you’ll become well-rounded—not just the “science-wiz” or “bookworm” you may be now. And of course, with all this newfound wisdom, you’ll gain self-confidence, enabling you to tackle virtually any situation or problem you confront with a can-do attitude. Put it all together: You owe it to yourself to get a college education in any field, at any college into which you are accepted. Posts navigation Newer posts
Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Brian J. Oh is currently a Master of Arts candidate at Loyola Marymount University studying Urban Education with a focus in Education Policy & Administration. He comes from the Los Angeles region, where he attended Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) public schools from K-12. From there, his passion in education started, where he found many injustices in the bureaucratic systems of the public school district. He was fortunate to have attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies, concentrated in Statistics with a secondary in Government. Right afterwards, he came back to the Los Angeles region to serve in Teach For America as a high school mathematics teacher. Currently, he is building a startup called Hope Academy, where it builds on online tutorials and content to bridge the inequity in education when it comes to academic resources. He plans to attend Teachers College, Columbia University this summer for his Master of Arts in Education Policy.What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage?I appreciate the strong roots that my Asian Heritage has when it comes to familial support. I feel that most of my hard work and aspirations are due to the love and belief systems from my mother, father, and older brother. I believe that I want to give back to society the same kind of love that I have been blessed with — to show that the world can be a better place.How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?I celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by giving back to my community whenever possible. By constantly advocating in the classroom and in the communities that I come from, I feel that my voice and actions help represent those that come from disenfranchised and low-income communities. I continue to inform others around my cultural roots and belief systems in order to build closer relationships and collaborations in my communities.What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month?I hope that people gain an appreciation of the diversity that exists in the Asian/Pacific American communities, and to continue to build strong relationships with neighbors around us. By building stronger and more supportive communities, we, as a nation, can ground all actions and decisions from all levels around empathy.
Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Dr. Christina Ly graduated with a Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences and a minor in Epidemiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health in Austin, Texas, where she is also currently a postdoctoral research fellow. During her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Ly is currently collaborating on research, presentations, and publications with the Texas Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS) on Youth and Young Adults. Her work with the Texas TCORS includes coordinating the collection of point- of – sale tobacco retailer, marketing, and promotion data as part of a rapid response surveillance system to monitor and respond to changes in tobacco marketing and trends in youth and young adult tobacco use, specifically regarding alternative tobacco products. Dr. Ly’s research interests include various issues relevant to youth and young adult health (tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, and physical activity), including school- based prevention and health promotion programs. She has collaborated on grant-funded research at The University of Texas at Austin in the Health Promotion Research Center to prevent high-risk drinking among college students and was an interim instructor of the Alcohol and Drug Education Program (ADEP). She has presented at national and international conferences on her collaborative work in childhood obesity prevention, child health legislative policy, young adult high risk drinking prevention, and youth and young adult tobacco research. Dr. Ly graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Biology and from Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Public Health with a M.P.H. in Social and Behavioral Health. In her free time she enjoys traveling, running, hiking, playing tennis, cooking, volunteer tutoring, and spending good quality time with friends and family.What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage? I am Chinese-Cambodian American, and my parents both lived and met in Vietnam, so what I appreciate the most about my own personal Asian/Pacific American Heritage is just the melting pot of different cultures that I grew up in. Teochew, Khmer, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English are common languages spoken within my household. An example of a typical weeknight growing up would be me doing U.S. History homework to the sounds of Cambodian soap operas, classic Chinese Teresa Teng songs, and my mother beating garlic and chili to make homemade Vietnamese nước chấm. I celebrate three different New Years: Gregorian, Lunar, and Cambodian, and I love wearing the traditional qi pao or Khmer silk sarongs. Also don’t get me started on the food. I love to eat, and I might be slightly biased but Asian food is simply the best in the world! So from the languages and music to the traditional clothing and food –I value celebrating, respecting, and cherishing each distinctly different facet of my Asian American heritage. How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, there’s even more so an awareness, appreciation, and pride in what there is to celebrate about Asian/Pacific American culture. I live in Austin, Texas, and we have a ‘CelebrASIA’ event at the Asian American Resource Center that showcases the food, music, dancing, art, and stories of local Asian community organizations and Austinites. I enjoy participating in these types of events throughout the month, and I also like to travel to and experience different Asian/Pacific American cultures when I can. Last May I was able to visit Hawaii and bounce around the islands while immersing myself in the local music, dancing, and food. This May, I’ll be traveling to Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia; and, while these are travels not in the U.S., to me it’s still a way for me to appreciate and celebrate the origins of our Asian culture. What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month? Respect. Open-mindedness. For individuals to step out of their comfort zones and to experience something that they never have before. This goes for everyone. I might have grown up in such a mix of different Asian cultures, but I do remember being blown away the first time I watched a traditional Filipino tinikling dance or tried Korean tteok. With each new experience, there comes this respect, appreciation, and acceptance that continues to grow and brings us all together. And, not to get too political, I feel as if we all need this now, more than ever. That, and science. We all need science.
Monday, May 1st, 2017 Facebook Twitter Email Print Ngoc-Tran Vu identifies as a 1.5-generation Vietnamese American transnational and multimedia artist, organizer, and healer. She was born in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam and grew up in Boston. Tran received her MA in Arts and Politics at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and her BA in Ethnic Studies and Visual Arts at Brown University as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Tran works across borders and is based in Boston where she is the Program Director of Association of Independents in Radio (AIR).What do you appreciate the most about your Asian/Pacific American Heritage?Asian Pacific American people and communities are so multifaceted and full of resiliency. Our narrative are full of survivals, hardships, and successes to reach and/or to sustain ourselves in the United States in hopes of a better future for our families and loved ones.How do you support/celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?I am celebrating APA Heritage Month by fundraising for Asian American activists and organizers in Boston! I would love it if you can support the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), a dynamic nonprofit organization that I am a part of in empowering APA communities through the arts, education, and activism.What do you hope people gain from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month?I hope more people will gain a deeper understanding and solidarity with Asian Pacific Americans as well as all communities in the greater work of preserving our interconnected stories and humanities.
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print Alumni Perspective: Aarón Villarreal on “Being an Inaugural Scholar” Being a Gates Millennium Scholar has afforded me numerous opportunities. I am currently completing my third year of doctoral studies, and am concurrently writing my dissertation. GMS has positively impacted my educational endeavors in numerous ways. First, they have assisted me financially and academically. Through the scholarship, I have not only obtained my Bachelor’s degree, but have also obtained my Master’s, and am about a year away from completing my doctorate. I know that without the unlimited services and resources provided by GMS, my successes academically would have been restricted. As a scholar, I frequently reflect on the University of Phoenix’s School of Advanced Studies Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model (SPL). This innovative approach to learning assists me in developing as a Scholar—a leader who enriches the world, starting with my community. Additionally, the learning is coupled with contributions focusing on supporting lifelong learning (scholarship), social and workplace contribution (practice), and the ability to exert positive influence (leadership) in my academic, professional, and personal life. This past Spring Break, I was one of about 60 scholars who participated in the Alternative Spring Break in Portland, Oregon (see pictures above and below). This experience was empowering and uplifting; it was something that I needed to get me through the dissertation stage. It felt great convening with other scholars and the experience challenged me in a multitude of ways. It was great giving of my time to give to others that are in need. As stated by Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Through GMS, I have been able to explore other cities, and participate in the attendance at various conferences, such as the Institute of Teaching and Mentoring. The goal of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential. I can certainly affirm that I am near the intended goal set forth by GMS. I will soon obtain my doctorate and will put forth theory into practice. I am a testament of the wonders GMS has provided. #IAmAGatesScholar
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print As the Senior Relationship Manager for the Alumni program I often get questions about graduate school. I get these questions from brand new alumni, as well as alumni who have worked for a few years, have been on deferment and are now considering going back to school, both funded and non-funded areas. I hope to answer some of these questions in my next few blog posts. When I applied to graduate school it was after much deliberation with my mentors but very little understanding of the process. The process itself can be very confusing and so I wanted one of my first posts to the community to be about this process. I will be sure to write a separate post just in the graduate program inquiry form and the Gates portion of that process, but I wanted to give some helpful tips on where to start and what to do. First, where are you in the process? Are you a recent grad and have you gained work experience in the field you’re interested in studying? Have you decided in the specific field? What made you choose this field instead of something similar? Have you looked into schools or programs? Have you spoken to advisors, faculty members or admissions people in those fields? After you’ve decided on what you want to do (which is often the hardest part) the next step is developing plan for getting there. What is your action plan? Some of your action plan will be decided for you. Depending on the type of program, you may need to start studying for standardized test. Whether that is the GREs, SOPHAS, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT or another, you want to give yourself plenty of time to not only take the test, but potentially retake the test if your not satisfied with your score. If your applications are due in January 2017, you should AT LEAST been studying by January 2016 and many advisors recommend taking the test some time in that spring, planning ahead for a retake that summer, if necessary. Some schools average scores while some take the highest score. Find out what your top choice prefers. Often, applications require personal statements and recommendations. I will go into more detail about these in another post, but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked for a recommendation and had to say no. With my schedule, I can’t write you a decent recommendation with only a week notice. The most common mistakes I see mostly revolve around poor planning. Give your recommender at least a month and help them help you. More on this here: http://www.gmsalumni.org/p/bl/ar/blogaid=22. Overall, the graduate school process is stressful. Help GMS help you. As you apply for your graduate schools, if you are trying to get GMS funding, you should be submitting your graduate program inquiry form at the same time. This is a form that allows us to evaluate whether the core curriculum of your program truly fits into one of our seven funded fields. We reach each of these individually, so please narrow down your search and submit no more than (preferably) 5 programs. And last thing I will leave you with: picking a graduate program is all about best fit. When I applied to school I got into a graduate program that was s 2nd in the nation for education at that time. Although it was a great program, it was clear across the country. The program that I was looking for was specifically Higher Education Administration and Counseling Student Personnel. The program I chose was top 5 and top 10 in both and provided a better financial package. I couldn’t have been happier with my decision because it was what was best for me. Looking forward to talking and discussing those very important topic with you all. If you’d like to follow my blog, please click the heart on the top left to favorite the blog on the www.gmsalumni.org online community and be sure to follow me! If you’d like to be part of our blog team, let us know also! #GMSLOVE
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 Facebook Twitter Email Print Why College Is Worth It Many high school students think of college as the ticket to a bigger salary, and statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show a strong relationship between a college degree and earnings. But higher potential earnings are only the beginning of the benefits. Surveys show that people with a college education enjoy a higher quality of life and have increased personal and professional mobility. A college education lets you choose a field that truly interests you and earn a living doing something you love. Doing what you’re good at and what you love will provide you with contentment that money can’t buy. Gain Skills to Last a Lifetime College also teaches you how to think critically, an ability that’s worth its weight in gold. Mastering this art means having the ability to examine things from every angle before arriving at a conclusion. You’ll be trained to analyze any problems you encounter and decide the best ways to resolve them—a skill that will pay off for the rest of your life. Smart conclusions lead to smart decisions, whether you’re figuring out which car to buy, wrestling with a personal problem or weighing the pros and cons of a job opportunity. At the same time, the improved written and oral communication skills you gain in college will help you express yourself effectively and make a good impression anywhere, in any situation. Be a Better Person Other benefits of a college education affect your heart and soul as well as your intellect and wallet. Being part of a college community can help you develop your code of ethics, strengthen your tolerance and sharpen your sense of responsibility. Also, the more knowledgeable you become the more confident and comfortable you’ll feel in any situation and with any group of people. These characteristics are incredibly important in today’s global society. A Wide-Angle Lens on the World College gives you the “big picture” of the world, and your point of view will no longer be bound by the limits of your experience. You’ll explore multiple areas and you’ll become well-rounded—not just the “science-wiz” or “bookworm” you may be now. And of course, with all this newfound wisdom, you’ll gain self-confidence, enabling you to tackle virtually any situation or problem you confront with a can-do attitude. Put it all together: You owe it to yourself to get a college education in any field, at any college into which you are accepted.