It's that time of the semester again, folks. Not quite the end of the year, but close enough that you just want to stop working, drop out, and become a stripper. It isn't technically finals week yet, but you're starting to feel that crazy bubbling up and your professors are suddenly assigning you what feels like 38,000 assignments each. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it just happens to be a really long tunnel and you're not that close to the exit yet.
It's around this time that I like to remind myself why I came to UCF in the first place and why I'm putting myself through all of this stress and effort, because, in spite of wanting to rip all of my hair out on a daily basis when I look at all of the things I have to do, I'm really lucky to go to this amazing school and I have to remember that.
1. The Huge Campus
I absolutely love the fact that our campus is like its own city. There's always something to do and something going on, and that makes me very happy. As a guy coming from a podunk town where the most exciting thing that's happened there is getting our second Chili's,
UCF was like a culture shock when I got here. Actually, Orlando itself was like a culture shock. You never see the same person twice on campus (usually), which was such a foreign concept to me because you couldn't step foot outside of your house without seeing someone you knew (and probably didn't like).
2. The Distance
Unless you grew up right here in Orlando, odds are you're a little bit from home, which is both a blessing and a curse in my opinion. I even put this in my essay in my application-- UCF is far enough that my family can't just show up on a whim, but close enough that I can still see them. I'm sure a lot of you are in the same situation (unless you're from out-of-state, and I'm so sorry about your tuition costs if that's the case).
UCF is also smack-dab in the middle of Orlando, so we're close to everything. Disney and Universal are less than an hour away, we have tons of different restaurants in the area, and downtown is about a half hour away. I don't want to name any names, but our college town is much better than some of the other college towns in Florida (FSU).
3. The Programs
I came to UCF to double-major in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing, which are both amazing programs here at UCF. In fact, the theatre program at UCF is the ranked the best in Florida, and 'Top 5 in the USA.' Of course, other majors here are also amazing, like our nursing program and our education program.
4. The Opportunities
I'm sure other schools have opportunities for their student body as well, but I feel like I'm just always hearing about UCF's clubs and events. In particular, I love the opportunites I get within the arts department. For example, I've been working with a student organization called Project Spotlight since coming here last fall, and there has been ample opportunity for me to continue acting, as well as branching out to the technical side of theater.
This semester, I have had the chance to have one of the plays I wrote be produced. It's completely student-run, and I couldn't be more excited. (If you'd like to come see it, it's Friday, April 22nd, at 8 p.m; and Sunday, April 24th, at 2 p.m. in the UCF theatre. Admission is free!) The fact that we are allowed to just branch out and do our own thing alongside theater, UCF curriculum is truly outstanding.
5. The People
Not only is it amazing that we're the second-hottest student body in the nation (which never hurts), there are so many different kinds of people here with such interesting mindsets and personalities and ideals. When you live in one place your whole life, you grow accustomed to the people coexisting around you and how they act and think. But, as stated earlier, coming to UCF was such a culture shock because there are people going to this school from all over the place and it's a chance to meet people who may have never met anyone like you before either. This school has brought me to some of my best friends in the almost two years I've been here, and I've never felt luckier.
I hope this was a gentle reminder as to why you chose to go here, and that nudge you needed to finish out this semester strong. But if this still isn't enough motivation to keep going, just remember this: It could be worse-- you could be going to USF right now.
