Reflecting on College

by Brooklyn Carroll

Remember when your parents, high school teachers and guidance counselors would assure to you that college would be the best four years of your life? It was hard for me to believe then, as I assumed that college would be more stressful than it would be exciting. Now as a soon-to-be graduate, it is my turn to be the adult guaranteeing to younger students how wonderful college really is. 

It seems like just yesterday my parents took a day off in the middle of the week to tour a school called Christopher Newport University with me. I have never heard of the school before, but had high expectations because it was the first campus I ever toured. Four years later, here I am witnessing our tour guides showing a new group of incoming freshman around our beautiful campus and wishing that I could do this whole experience all over again.

The past four years of my life have been more challenging, straining and thought-provoking than I could have planned for. However, the past four years have also been the most memorable and the most rewarding part of my life. I came into college with an undeclared major and relied on the liberal learning curriculum at Christopher Newport to help me find my way. And it did! I fell in love with business marketing and am so grateful to be earning my bachelors of science in business administration from CNU.

My knowledge has greatly developed from the high-level of education provided by our caring professors. Aside from schooling, I became involved in four organizations, a business fraternity and two honor societies whom all welcomed me and became part of my family here at Christopher Newport. I have met so many wonderful friends here and (to my surprise) became close with many of my professors and the friendly staff who say “good morning” or “have a nice day” to me each time I pass by. The Christopher Newport community is so supportive and close-knit, and I could not ask for a better school to call my alma mater. I am proud to say that I am a Christopher Newport Captain and soon-to-be alumna for life!