I came to Providence from the Dominican Republic when I was nine years old. I've only been back once, when I was fifteen for about two weeks.
I applied to twelve colleges for next year, but I've decided on Carleton. It's a challenging liberal arts college and I really like challenges. It's one of the best schools in the country. And they gave me great financial aid. When I got it I was like, "Whoa, this is for me?" Great financial aid, great school, great campus, friendly students.
I only really started thinking about college at the beginning of this year. I always knew I was going to go to college, but I'd never thought about which one until this year. So I started off a little late, but I'm a fast person, so I caught up fast. I did my search for schools, my safety schools, my leading school, my reach schools. Ended up with fourteen schools overall, I think.
Teachers at Central have supported me; they wrote me recommendations. But in terms of having confidence in myself and deciding which colleges I should apply to, I did all of that by myself. I had encouragement, but I just told my teachers where I wanted to apply. They helped me get my list of schools down to fourteen by giving me their opinions. I did all the research myself—online, books, Princeton Review. I like doing it on my own. I think people should do stuff based on their free will. For something to be fulfilling to you it has to come from inside you, not from anyone else. That's how I feel.
I think that my determination was something I was born with. Ever since I was little I've kind of been that person that didn't need a push. I never needed people telling me to do my homework. Maybe I got that from my mom, she's a hard working person. My mom, she went to a four-year college, New England Public. Then she was an elementary school teacher.
Central has changed a lot, just in terms of attitude and learning environment. My freshman year it seemed more like a place where people just came to hang out and have fun. Nobody really cared about their work, everyone was doing badly. Except for the freshmen in my class, we did our work. But most of the upperclassmen when I started, they didn't really think about academics. Now my senior class, I think we're more like a family. And we're a little bit more liberal than they were. We've decided to learn, and the behavior is good. I don't think I've seen a fight this year. In the first week of my freshman year I think I saw two fights.
Being a serious student, I never had any problems from the other kids. I don't know everything, and I never act like I do. Maybe they'd think I was a smart-ass or something. I'm always working. And whenever we have a discussion in class, I always go against what everyone else is saying. I always have to express my own opinion.
This year at Central I've learned more than I did in my previous three years combined. I've learned more about life, education, the world. I know a lot about philosophy, literature. I like reading a lot of political books, mostly conservative political books because I'm not a liberal. And I also love books about religion. If I could change anything about Central, I'd change the classes. I'd put in more advanced classes, theology classes, philosophy courses. Right now I have to learn and read about it on my own time. I think I'm going to double-major in mathematics and philosophy. Philosophy gives life more meaning, a better understanding of things.
Central has a lot of teachers who are very passionate. They really get on their students' backs—they're great teachers. A lot people say that the students aren't challenged, but I don't think a lot of them want to be challenged. If a student is complaining about one little five-page paper, then they just aren't challenging themselves. Before you complain about the teachers not challenging us enough, look at the students who don't want to be challenged. That's how I feel.
Alex Pearson>>
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