What We are Looking Forward to....

The season has changed, the semester draws to an end and the Office of Admissions prepares for a new incoming class of First Year and Transfer Students. As our busy season draws to an end (for now at least!) the Admissions staff in James Hall reflects on what they are most looking forward to:

"I am looking forward to defrosting from this winter with warm weather and blue skies." -Hannah, First Year Counselor

"I am looking forward to lazy Saturday mornings on the beach."-Jaclyn, Transfer Counselor

“I am looking forward to…. summer school!”- Marcio, Director of Admissions

“I am looking forward to having a skate-off with friends at Jellybeans!”- Linda, First Year Counselor

“I am looking forward to welcoming all of our new Seahawks to campus this summer at Orientation!”-Tom, Transfer Counselor

“I am looking forward to…after work runs on the beach!”-Shannon, First Year Counselor

“I am looking forward to the annual Greek Festival in May- Opa!”-Amanda, Transfer Counselor

“I am looking forward to fishing trips and fresh seafood at Topsail beach.”-Karla, Transfer Counselor

“I am looking forward to my end of the summer trip with my Girlfriend to San Diego!”-Donovan, First Year Counselor

“Can’t wait to paddle board in the GLORIOUS sunshine!”-Jessie, First Year Counselor

“I’m looking forward to… the sun shining with my toes in the sand and a good book in my hand!”-Hannah, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

“I am most looking forward to wrapping up a successful year with our Transfer Team and Teal Guides.  I am proud to work with a team of dedicated and passionate individuals and am anxious to welcome all of the Transfer to Teal students we have worked with over the last year to campus this coming fall.  Transfer students are awesome!” -Erica, Associate Director of Transfer Admissions

Follow Your Heart

April has always been a significant and busy month for me. It’s the last full month of classes before exams, it’s my birthday month, its Autism Awareness Month, AND it’s also been exactly four years ago that I decided my major. By the time I was a senior in high school I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after I graduated. I just felt clueless and did not feel like I had a passion for anything. I considered majoring in Photography or Early Childhood Education but I didn’t feel like I had enough passion for either of them. I was stuck for a long time.

I have a cousin who has autism and quite a few people always told me that I was really good with her at I was growing up, but I did not think much else of it. It was right before the spring break of my senior year I noticed that I kept seeing autism everywhere I looked, and I would just feel something in my heart about it. I couldn't describe it, but I just had so much passion about autism and wanted to create awareness about it to the whole world! It was then I realized that I wanted to go to school to become a special education teacher. I have seen my cousin improve and come such a long way through her schooling since her diagnosis of autism so this has inspired me to want to help other children, who have autism, in the same way. I see so much potential in children who have autism (and any other “disability” for that matter). I fully believe that students with disabilities can achieve a great deal with the right guidance. I want to be one who makes a difference in someone's life and helps to give families hope.

Now you may be wondering why I just told you all of that and how in the world it relates to you. Well…I know I’m not the only one who has felt clueless or unsure of my major and I wanted to reassure those who are currently in the same boat that I was. So if you’re still not sure “what you want to do when you grow up” then I just wanted to let you know that 1. You’re not alone. I felt like it took me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to decide what I wanted to go to school for. I was lucky my dad was always very encouraging and I’m very thankful to have a very supportive and patient father. I honestly never dreamed that I would want to be a teacher one day, let alone a special education teacher. There may be some tough days but at the end of each day I know special education is where my heart is.

 If there is one piece of advice I can give you when it comes to choosing your major then all I can say is follow your heart. It may be cliché but I say that because you won’t be happy otherwise. Don’t major in something just because your parents want you to, or your best friend is majoring in it, or for the money. Find something you are truly passionate about and go for it! As a warning: Just because you love something doesn’t mean it will be the easiest road to take. But I can guarantee you that all of your hard work will be worth it in the end. Just remember no matter what you decide to do with your life that: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…” 

Veteran Support

    Last week, a couple of members of the Transfer Admissions Team and I attended a Welcome Home ceremony held at Cape Fear Community College. The college, in conjunction with a local chapter of the Rolling Thunder Organization and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society hosted a book drive for hospitalized veterans.

Guests of honor at the ceremony were US Marine Corps veteran SSgt David Nilson and his service dog, Sonny.  Sonny is a Labrador retriever that is specially trained to detect improvised explosive devices. He recently retired and was reunited with Nilson. 

David Nilson and Sonny in Afghanistan

It has been over a year since I left the military, sometimes I think we forget that our service is greatly appreciated. It does matter to the people of our community that we gave up our time for this country, and they recognize that. It was really great to see the community of Wilmington come together in support and recognition of our veterans.

-Patty Martinez, USMC
Office of Admissions VA Work Study