Hi everybody. My name is Alex Rosenblum. I'm currently attending Henry Sibley High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a prospective university student, I had no idea what university I would be attending next year. I applied to ten universities around the Midwest and visited five universities, trying to find the one I wanted to go to. I knew choosing the right university for me would be a difficult decision to make, but over time I chose to enroll in Miami for a couple of reasons and let me tell you why. Before visiting the campus, I didn't really consider moving to Ohio, because I was so focused on going to a university close to Minnesota. It was not until I saw the campus for what it really was that I made my decision to enroll at Miami. During my visit, I saw a university with people that were very friendly, the most beautiful campus I have ever seen, and school spirit that rocked the university. I attended a macroeconomics class and had dinner with some prospective students visiting the university. It was really great. The other reason why I chose to attend Miami of Ohio was because the university seemed to act as a small liberal arts university even though there are 14,000 undergraduate students. Class size and student to professor ratio are very important to me. Miami of Ohio University gives me the opportunity to get more help from teachers and tutors than a typical large university offers. After enrolling at Miami, I knew it would be a difficult decision moving away from my family and friends. Inside myself, I felt comfortable enough to move away from Minnesota because my dad, who attended Yale, inspired me to explore a university outside Minnesota. I also didn't have a problem moving away from Minnesota because I didn't want to attend the same university that my high school friends were going to and I wanted to meet new people from around the country and the world. As a new prospective student at Miami, I am looking forward to an exciting university experience including making new friends, getting involved in university activities like intramural broomball and succeeding academically. I am also looking forward to finding the perfect major that fits me and my aspirations for the future. I hope other people find what they want to do while at Miami. Go Redhawks! |
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
My Decision to Enroll at Miami
Hello Everybody
My name is Alex Rosenblum. I am currently attending Henry Sibley High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. For my first year at Miami, I am interested in joining a fraternity and other organizations such as Hillel when I get to campus. Later in my college career at Miami, I am interested in studying in the area of business as my prime major. During my four years of high school, I was in organizations such as debate, the tennis team, and Business Professionals of America. In school, I have also been taking Spanish for five years. Outside of school, I was on the local downhill ski team and Boy Scouts, which I will be getting my Eagle Award in the upcoming month. My interests are downhill skiing, playing tennis, poker, video games, golf, watching TV, and listening to music. Most of summer I am working at a local move theater but when there is time, I will probably be hanging out with my friends before going away to Miami for college. Let's go Redhawks! |
Friday, May 14, 2010
Growing Pains
The closer it gets to graduation and as the national college confirmation deadline has passed, senior year becomes a whirlwind of decisions and growing pains. Since 6th grade, when my group of friends first met and became inseparable, each of us has had each other to lean on and advise in what we thought of as the big decisions in life…what electives to take, who our other friends were, and what extra-curriculars we signed up for, some together, some not. Everyone knows that graduation means a parting of these ways and new groups of friends. For me this fork in the road has been a particular rollercoaster of emotions and opportunities and I am learning how to balance wanting to grow and be independent without leaving behind my classmates and friends.
My high school (Northwest) is about 30 minutes south of Oxford and usually has a decent sized group of students go to Miami each year. This year however is one of the largest groups and all 10 of us have spent almost all of our classes and free time together for seven years. I suppose the hardest part is that to be honest, when you’re finished with high school and feel ready to start college tomorrow, you realize that you’re ready for new people too. Granted, we’re all friends and have seen each other through the good and bad, but in high school your friends are mostly based on zip codes and class schedules. I can’t wait for college, to make friends with people because we have the same passions in life and want the same successes.
Succumbing to my need for structure and concrete outcomes, I applied Early Decision and had confirmed by the end of winter break. At our Accepted Student’s Luncheon with Dr. Hodge (in mid-April), one of my best friends and I decided that the most exciting and fun experience would be if we roomed together at Miami. Within weeks, the crossroads between high school and college caused me to have second thoughts. It seemed like everyday people were more stressed out about high school and the status quo than ever before. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted a fresh start. I want to meet new people, have challenging discourse, and be able to learn from those around me. Hearing the same conversations everyday, I just became more anxious to get onto a college campus. It was a hard choice at first, but because she understands and seems to share my desire to branch out, my then soon-to-be-roommate also understood that I would rather utilize this chance to meet and live with a new person by having a random roommate.
The past few months have almost been like watching high school from the outside and every time I find myself on Miami’s campus, it’s that much harder to go back. My high school was my second home for four years but these last days have made me realize something: This is it. This is when I have to be sure of who I am and what I want for my future. I want to grow up and be my own person. I want my passions, not my clique to define me. Of course I’ll keep contact with my old friends, but I fully intend on making plenty of new ones and I’m not really worried about the balance. I look forward to making friends that share my goals and aspirations, and meeting new people from all walks of life. Don’t get me wrong, I will always cherish old ties and the people that have been there for me, I just feel like we are slowly redefining the connections that kept us together through thick and thin. Amongst my group of friends, we’ve always understood one another’s life goals and have learned to be supportive. Who knows, maybe four years from now we’ll be closer than ever but for now, I feel the need for a fresh start and can’t wait to meet my new roommate!
Fun Fact: The Voice over for Bugs Bunny was allergic to carrots! :)
My high school (Northwest) is about 30 minutes south of Oxford and usually has a decent sized group of students go to Miami each year. This year however is one of the largest groups and all 10 of us have spent almost all of our classes and free time together for seven years. I suppose the hardest part is that to be honest, when you’re finished with high school and feel ready to start college tomorrow, you realize that you’re ready for new people too. Granted, we’re all friends and have seen each other through the good and bad, but in high school your friends are mostly based on zip codes and class schedules. I can’t wait for college, to make friends with people because we have the same passions in life and want the same successes.
Succumbing to my need for structure and concrete outcomes, I applied Early Decision and had confirmed by the end of winter break. At our Accepted Student’s Luncheon with Dr. Hodge (in mid-April), one of my best friends and I decided that the most exciting and fun experience would be if we roomed together at Miami. Within weeks, the crossroads between high school and college caused me to have second thoughts. It seemed like everyday people were more stressed out about high school and the status quo than ever before. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted a fresh start. I want to meet new people, have challenging discourse, and be able to learn from those around me. Hearing the same conversations everyday, I just became more anxious to get onto a college campus. It was a hard choice at first, but because she understands and seems to share my desire to branch out, my then soon-to-be-roommate also understood that I would rather utilize this chance to meet and live with a new person by having a random roommate.
The past few months have almost been like watching high school from the outside and every time I find myself on Miami’s campus, it’s that much harder to go back. My high school was my second home for four years but these last days have made me realize something: This is it. This is when I have to be sure of who I am and what I want for my future. I want to grow up and be my own person. I want my passions, not my clique to define me. Of course I’ll keep contact with my old friends, but I fully intend on making plenty of new ones and I’m not really worried about the balance. I look forward to making friends that share my goals and aspirations, and meeting new people from all walks of life. Don’t get me wrong, I will always cherish old ties and the people that have been there for me, I just feel like we are slowly redefining the connections that kept us together through thick and thin. Amongst my group of friends, we’ve always understood one another’s life goals and have learned to be supportive. Who knows, maybe four years from now we’ll be closer than ever but for now, I feel the need for a fresh start and can’t wait to meet my new roommate!
Fun Fact: The Voice over for Bugs Bunny was allergic to carrots! :)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Allo!
Hello! I'm Sarah Jeanette Haynes from Cincinnati, Ohio by way of Northwest High School. My major is microbiology and I'm considering a minor in French. In high school, I was on the Varsity Girls Cross Country Team for 4 years and absolutely loved every minute of it. I was/am also involved in Student Senate and National Honors Society and plan to be involved in Student Government and Running Club at Miami as well. My plans for the future are medical school for immunology and possibly teaching (high school or college level).
I am the type of person that requires structure in my life, meaning that I am always ten minutes early and have an irrational fear of being lost. This is balanced by my tendency to be occasionally scatter-brained, so if my posts are ever a little foggy or muddled, feel free to let me know or ask questions. I am unbelievably excited about Miami and cannot wait to be a Redhawk! 2014, here we come!
Fun Fact: Hagaan Daaz has no real meaning in any earthly language. It is simply Ice Cream in gibberish :)
I am the type of person that requires structure in my life, meaning that I am always ten minutes early and have an irrational fear of being lost. This is balanced by my tendency to be occasionally scatter-brained, so if my posts are ever a little foggy or muddled, feel free to let me know or ask questions. I am unbelievably excited about Miami and cannot wait to be a Redhawk! 2014, here we come!
Fun Fact: Hagaan Daaz has no real meaning in any earthly language. It is simply Ice Cream in gibberish :)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Welcome!
Congratulations, Class of 2014!
Welcome to the Miami University First-Year Experience Blog! This blog is coordinated by the Office of New Student Programs and the Office of Admission at Miami University (OH). And though it's coordinated by University offices, this blog features student voices.
Two members of the Class of 2014 will be blogging about their experience throughout the year - starting before Summer Orientation, and continuing through the end of the Spring semester. We invite you to bookmark this page or sign up to follow the blog so you can keep up with Sarah and Alex and read about their thoughts and experiences as they go through their first year at Miami. Feel free to post comments and questions too! If you have any questions about the blog itself, you can contact me, Buffy Stoll, Director of New Student Programs, at stolle@muohio.edu. Enjoy!
Welcome to the Miami University First-Year Experience Blog! This blog is coordinated by the Office of New Student Programs and the Office of Admission at Miami University (OH). And though it's coordinated by University offices, this blog features student voices.
Two members of the Class of 2014 will be blogging about their experience throughout the year - starting before Summer Orientation, and continuing through the end of the Spring semester. We invite you to bookmark this page or sign up to follow the blog so you can keep up with Sarah and Alex and read about their thoughts and experiences as they go through their first year at Miami. Feel free to post comments and questions too! If you have any questions about the blog itself, you can contact me, Buffy Stoll, Director of New Student Programs, at stolle@muohio.edu. Enjoy!
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