Decision lifts weight

YPRESS MEMBER LOGIN

PRINT THIS PAGE
EMAIL TO A FRIEND
RELATED STORIES
MOST COMMENTED
ARCHIVE
MOST EMAILED
RSS FEEDS

MEET THE AUTHOR

NAME — Danielle Wolowec
AGE — 18

DECISION LIFTS WEIGHT

Danielle Wolowec 18

February 24, 2008

By Danielle Wolowec, 18

After observing a journalism class at Indiana Wesleyan University and encountering the ins and outs of its college journalism program, I knew this was the school for me.

The professors were warm, welcoming and already seemed concerned about me; other campuses I visited were more impersonal.

But how did I even come to visit IWY? I’m like most eager high school seniors – impatient for independence away from my parents. As a result, I wanted a college that was large and away from home.

However, such schools often come with a hefty price to pay in cash or morals. When I visited Indiana Wesleyan, I was surprised with the “big college” feel that it gave me despite only having 2,382 students living on campus. When I walked through the new student center, which looks and feels more like a downtown mall, I felt like this was a college where I could grow.

But I had to convince my parents that I should go there, too. My dad, always the pragmatist, knew that if I left Indianapolis for college, paying for housing and food would make the costs go way up. Of course, this created some rather heated family discussions. To my relief, my parents’ concerns were dissolved when I qualified for an academic scholarship which virtually covers all my room and board.

An Indiana Wesleyan admissions counselor gave me a great piece of collegiate advice. He said jobs are often overlooked by incoming freshmen, whose first worry instead is to fit in. The counselor pointed out numerous opportunities for on-campus employment that ranged from serving drinks as a coffee shop barista to working on the student newspaper.

As soon as he mentioned the word “newspaper,” he had my attention, given my work with Y-Press and experience as a managing editor with the youth news bureau.

I soon learned that The Sojourn, IWU’s student newspaper, had paid staff positions available, and I’m hoping to be editor of its arts and entertainment section in the fall.

Having many of my most important college decisions behind me is a great relief.

Now, instead of worrying about picking a college and finding a job, I can spend my last semester and summer enjoying what I must leave behind.

Those decisions didn’t take away my nervousness or excitement about leaving for college in the fall. But it helps to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way.

I’ve talked to upperclassmen, and they had the jitters too and flourished. Besides, I know that God will get me to college and through it.

Finally, to any high school juniors out there: Don’t spend most of your time worrying over college. Make the most of what you have right now.

Editor’s note: Danielle is a home-schooled student.

The Sims and The Sims 2: University
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 How would you like to buy a house, create a new college, and control your own family? What if you could do all of this while playing a video game in the popular Sims’ series? You could even play it with your devoted little brother: me!
Some students feel called to faith-based colleges
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 F or some students, the decision of which college to attend is based on more than just academics and extracurricular activities; it's centered on faith. Y-Press interviewed students from Indiana Bible College, Brigham Young University and Taylor University. All had attended a public high school; they discussed their experiences at a religious college and the differences between it and a secular sc
They're giving higher ed the old college try
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 With more than 40 colleges and universities in Indiana alone, simply deciding where to apply to college can be challenging. Visiting campuses, attending interviews, filling out forms and writing a decent essay can be even more daunting. Add to that a search for scholarships and financial aid, and many students decide the admissions process is more trouble than it's worth. Y-Press spoke with seven
College costs challenge students to be resourceful
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 C ollege is a dream that many people have for themselves and for their children. But how does that dream translate into reality? With the rising costs of higher education, the college application process can cause many sleepless nights for students and their families. Peter Carey, a North Central High School graduate, thought he was lucky -- his parents had started a trust fund for him when he was
COLLEGES: START WORKING NOW
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 For many of us, planning for college can be a frightening thought. Each choice we make seems to add another sharp turn on the road to our future. However, we always wonder if we are headed in the right direction. Take Barbara and Walter, two fictitious high school juniors. Barbara wants to be a registered nurse but isn't sure if her grades are high enough for the college of her choice. Walter
Miss a deadline and you can miss out on college choice
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 In the hit movie "Legally Blonde," Elle Woods, a preppy, blond sorority girl, gets accepted to the prestigious Harvard Law School because she submits a quirky video starring herself -- adorned in a bikini. Applying for college wasn't nearly so simple for Ryan Gates, a senior at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School.
10 commandments for college applications
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 Thinking about applying to college? Here are 10 commandments from one high school senior.
Selecting a college
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18
Practicing democracy gives kids more input
	By Danielle Wolowec, 18 Many teenagers are indifferent to the First Amendment. In a nationwide study of 100,000 high school students released early this year by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, about three-quarters of those surveyed said they either don't know how they feel about their First Amendment rights or they just take them for granted.