1. Why did you choose University of the Cumberlands?

UC offered a few things for me. First, it has a prestigious academic reputation. With over 90 percent of UC graduates that want to go graduate or professional school, I knew that I would be prepared to be competitive with any other student across the nation.

But UC also offered what I call, “the best of both worlds”. I was going to turn 18 a few weeks before my first semester began and I was ready to be free and independent. UC provided the distance from home so I could be. However, I was not so naïve that I wouldn’t need to be within arm’s reach of my family. So, like many other Appalachian students, UC is far enough way from home to be my own person, but it is also close enough that if and when I need to go home, I can at my own leisure.

2. What is there to do on weekends?

There is another take the “best of both worlds” idea. Make no qualms about it, Williamsburg is a small town. However, we are only an hour from Knoxville, TN and about an hour and a half from Lexington, KY. Both these cities have plenty to do in them from big name malls to movie theatres. Anything that a big city should have, Knoxville and Lexington offers.

But you can always find things on campus. There are a plethora of groups and activities on campus to ensure that you always have something to do. Of course, you can’t forget the future friends you will make here. There’s no doubt about it, you will always be surrounded by people in which you enjoy their company.

3. What is the food like?

It isn’t as good as Golden Corral and it sure isn’t as good as my grandmother’s home cooking. It is cafeteria food. But, once that is taken into perspective, the food is rather excellent. You can put our food up to most colleges you might be considering and I am pretty sure our cafeteria would win out over most of them.

4. What are the residence halls like?

Resident life is…quiet. This is not a party school, which means you can sleep with you want and study in your room. There is no problem in finding a quiet get away from the hustle and bustle that is college.

It is always a bonus to have cable, a phone line, and internet connection in every room. The rooms are also relatively spacious. I have visited a few colleges in my day and heard stories from other prospective students about colleges they have visited and the vast majority of them tell me that UC has some of the biggest dorm rooms available.

5. Do you feel safe on campus?

Absolutely. If you are a from a small town like I am, you know places like Williamsburg, KY, you know exactly how places like this are. UC’s campus is no exception. It is like we are our little town in our own way. If you are from a bigger city where safety is a commodity and not the norm, I think you will be pleasantly surprised here at UC.

6. What recommendations do you have for incoming students?

Be ready to work. Like one of my professors here tells us all the time, you’re in college now, not high school. Don’t take for granted that the same amount of work you put in high school courses will be enough to maintain the same grades here. This is the case for any college worth half of tuition; it is the only way to make you truly competitive in an ever changing and stressful work market.

Also, be ready to have fun. This is the time that you will make your life-long friends. This is the time of the your life when you are going to experience the most independence with the least amount of responsibility. Enjoy it. Be ready and open for new experiences and people, because is often time the last chance for most people to take advantage of it. You are a college student, word hard and play hard.

7. Is it hard to balance academics with extracurricular activities?

That depends on the person. You really have to know yourself well, about how much you can handle without your grades suffering. As for myself, I am involved in everything that I can. This keeps me busy, keeps my mind strong, and is constantly preparing me for the future. Just always remember, extracurricular activities look good on a job or graduate school application, but not if they are beside C’s and D’s. Never sacrifice your grades for extracurriculars but also don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things.

8. Where do you see yourself after University of the Cumberlands?

For me, it is off to law school. I am not going to lie, a large part of why I want to be lawyer is the money. It is the American dream to do even better than your parent. But I also want to be a civil servant. I want to do what I can do help whatever community I am apart of in the future. I see myself possibly doing anything from prosecuting drug pushers and getting them off the streets, to defending people’s constitutional rights, all the way to possibility to holding public office and changing the government and society to benefit the people.

I it is clear, however, that irregardless of what avenue of life I choose to pursue, UC has given me the tools to succeed and succeeding is what I plan to do. I hope you allow UC to give you the tools it has given me and I hope that you use them well.