Making the right college choice

In all honesty, I knew that Chapman University would be the school for me after attending my first Founders' Day, in the sixth grade. Not only is the campus in beautiful southern California, a mere ten minutes from Disneyland and twenty from the beach, but it's nestled in the historic and small community of Orange. The small student-to-teacher ratio, campus life, and the campus itself made Chapman that more appealing; not to mention the Psychology department is amazing. Every professor that I came into contact with before attending Chapman was extremely insightful, and to my surprise, they remembered my name when the new semester came around. With each new week comes the opportunity to broaden my horizons, with admission free lectures, black and white movie marathons, and numerous on-campus clubs. I am not only receiving a prestigious education but I am being prompted to become a worldlier person, as well as familiarize myself with the past, the classics and different religions. Chapman is pushing me in directions that I would have never have wonder down. When the times come that I have been pushed too far, I always have my own personal community to return, the Disciples on Campus Crew.

Disciples on Campus, DOC as we like to call ourselves, also played a major role in my coming to Chapman. Knowing that I would have an amazing community to lend a caring hand or celebrate the wonders of college with me, helped tremendously with the "college" transition. DOC aids in keeping me grounded, with weekly worship services, cookie Tuesdays, and the constant love and support that I receive from Nancy [Brink] and Cisa [Payuyo]. I look forward to our spontaneous ice cream socials and holiday themed parties, along with the DOC retreats, the five minute "How are things going?" meetings and the community service projects throughout the semester.

With everything that Chapman offers, it is almost impossible to experience it all, but I am seriously trying to. Every class, from Swimming Activities to Law 101, challenges me in some way; each lecture from "The Great Hypnotist" to "Renee and I" has opened my eyes to the world around me; sharing a bathroom with two other roommates has taught me more than you possibly know, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sharing a room with two other roommates has been a challenge, but no one said that college would be easy. Over my three-month stay I have become addicted to the cafeteria's delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, Brisk ice tea, Pandora, and my Blackberry. I recently became a sorority woman, something that I thought I would never do, but I am grateful for the choice that I have made. The women of Gamma Phi Beta are intelligent, classy and always around no matter where I go. They have welcomed me into their sacred family, and I am honored to call them my sisters.<

Even though I have officially become an "adult", I can still be found calling my mom during the week to say hi or to ask for things that I need because I am a poor college student (thanks mom!). Chapman has given me more than I could even imagine, and I still have three-and-a-half years left.