Palmer Trinity School

VISIONAERIES 26 THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE By Ben Hoke and Monica Sanchez Sandy Nader '07 - Stanford University Annie Jensen '08 - New York University What unique opportunities have you had after two years at Stanford regarding academics, community service, job opportunities, travel, etc.? Being out West is a unique opportunity in and of itself for anyone who has spent nearly her entire life in Miami, as I have. For me, everything is new there. I took a three-day job in San Francisco last year writing for an educational publication and I experienced what it's like to commute into a big city (it's about a 45-minute train ride from Stanford). Next year, I am going to Berlin for spring quarter in my perennial effort to become fluent in German. Most surprising, however, are all the opportunities I've had to become involved in environmental projects around campus. The people there seem to really care about nature and the future of our planet. I think that's because living out West puts you right in the middle of nature—even when you're in downtown San Francisco, you still can't forget the mountains and the bay. What opportunities have you had your freshman year at school regarding academics, community service, job opportunities, and travel? As cliché as it sounds, the opportunities living in New York and attending NYU really seem endless. It was a little overwhelming at first, but then exciting. Regarding academics, NYU offers a great program called Speaking Freely. The program provides free language classes at convenient times without the pressure of credits or GPA. Regarding community service, I spent time visiting with an elderly woman through a program called The Caring Community. We mostly went to museums and plays and it was a fun way to explore the city. Regarding job opportunities, NYU has a great online database to find work. I interned with a local real estate agent. It was a lot of work, and a strange time to be learning about the real estate market but it was an amazing experience. Regarding travel, NYU has a great study abroad program and I will be spending my fall semester in Florence, Italy. Now that you finished your second year, is it what you envisioned? I don't think I could have envisioned what it would really be like going to Stanford. I had no idea what to expect; I went in planning on taking it one day at a time. Yet one thing really surprised me at Stanford—I really didn't expect the teachers to be so involved in my work and to care so much about my academic future. For such a big school, I've had professors who have actually tried to convince me to major in their fields. Originally, when I imagined what it would be like to go to a bigger school, I envisioned those Discovery Channel videos of salmon swimming upstream. I thought I would be lost in the crowd. Do you have any advice for current PTS students? Be adventurous when applying to schools! If I hadn't taken a chance on Stanford, I would have missed out on all the wonderful experiences I've had over the past two years. At the same time, remember that what college you go to doesn't mean everything—if you end up going somewhere that you didn't expect, it might even be better for you in the long run. Do you have any advice for current PTS seniors? I would advise current PTS seniors to be honest with themselves. I owe a lot to luck and chance that I ended up at a great school for me. Schools usually know the types of students who will do well in their environment. As much as they want to accept everyone, they can't and their choices aren't personal. Being honest with them and yourself is the easiest way to avoid disappointment. I didn't get into my "first choice" but today I couldn't be happier. What are your goals for yourself this coming year? This coming year I hope to become proficient in Italian, get a job in the current economy, and do well in school.

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