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Santi Wong
Fordham University
NSHSS Council Member and National Scholar Award Recipient
The last five months of my life have provided an evolutionary experience for me. Unlike a common misconception, college does not have to be a nightmare for freshmen. The most important thing to remember is to be more open to new experiences. College is not all about what goes on inside the classroom but also what happens outside of the classroom.
A few of my biggest fears about college were not being able to get along with my roommate, not being able to handle the college work load, and not being able to find a close niche friends. What really ended up happening in college was that I became great friends with my roommates, I pulled a 4.0 first semester, and I opened myself up to new "learning journeys."
I am currently attending Fordham University and there so many perks to going to a school that's close to New York City. Being only a 20-minute car ride away from NYC has its benefits. For example, I was able to see Broadway shows for less than $20, to see the opera for less than $15, to watch live stand-up comedy for less than $5, to explore the plethora of cuisine that the Big Apple has to offer, to visit all the famous museums, and to feel the energy from the heart of New York where there's a culturally diverse atmosphere. The most memorable event so far has been going on MTV's TRL. With a stroke of luck, I was able to meet Akon, Chilli from TLC, Chad Michael Murray, and the whole cast of Laguna Beach Season 3. In addition, I went to see the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting. Seeing the Christmas Tree light up on TV every year isn't the same as experiencing the spirit of the holidays become instilled in your heart on 50th Street in NYC. If I told you everything that New York City had to offer me in these past months, I would be in front of my computer for the next 365 days.
All in all, college is a new chapter in your autobiography. Like any book you would find in a library, it has pages and pages of words that are part of a big story. Whether your story is going to be an adventurous one or a fearful one, it is up to you to decide. Taking full advantage of your college's resources and atmosphere can bring you one step closer into writing a more meaningful autobiography.