Tell us about why you chose Ball State University.

I chose Ball State University because the overall atmosphere is very nice. It’s a big campus, but it feels more like a community, and it is easy to make a group of friends.

What were you the most nervous about in coming to Ball State? How did you navigate those concerns?

Coming from a smaller, private school, I was most nervous about the amount of people and the size of the campus. Just being in the moment helped me get through it. Once you navigate through things, it starts to feel small in a community sense.

What are the qualities and experiences you brought with you to Ball State that have helped you succeed in college?

I’ve been pretty well off academically here at Ball State. When I was in middle school, my grades weren’t very good. In high school, I had this “underdog mentality” that helped me become the salutatorian of my class. My work ethic and problem-solving skills have helped me succeed so far.

What has been the most difficult part of the college experience for you?

While I feel like my work ethic is pretty good, I think time management has been my biggest challenge. Making time to study and do homework instead of waiting until the last few hours to do it has been the biggest adjustment.

Tell us about your proudest moment/s at Ball State University.

During the Fall, I received an internship offer from a company that I met during an Accounting Club meeting. This Spring, I’ll be working at DOZ (Dauby, O’Connor & Zaleski, LLC) during the busy season. That has been my proudest moment so far as a Ball State University student.

Looking back, what is something you know now that you wish you had known during your first few weeks at Ball State as an incoming student?

I assumed that because Ball State University is a bigger college than I was expecting, that making friends would be incredibly easy. Looking back, I would like to have been a little more outgoing and proactive in pursuing friendships.

What is one piece of advice you would share with first-generation students preparing to attend Ball State University, or in their first year at Ball State?

My advice would be that while taking academics seriously is very important, there will also be a lot of free time to do outgoing things and pursue your interests, such as joining clubs.