Exploring Laura: Reflecting the Past and Looking into the Future

Laura Newell, Editor-in-Chief

Laura_Newell@csumb.edu

May 8, 2008

As I look back on my experience at CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB),

I think of my loving boyfriend, wonderful friends, and an amazing

experience. While writing a reflective essay on my experience at

CSUMB, I discovered that I have grown and matured into a woman

and professional.

Starting out as a 17 year old freshman in 2004, I was nervous and

scared to leave the comfort and security of my home. But now, as I

prepare for graduation at the age of 21, I am eager and ready to move

to a big new city full of excitement. Could I have really come that far

in just four years?

I know that I have so much more to learn about life, but I now feel

as though I have become the woman that I always strived to be; and I

do not want to change my personality and characteristics drastically as

I age and move into a career.

It made me wonder, after college are we all grown up?

With every new experience that one comes across, a new learning

experience is also initiated. While this helps one to become better

educated about their job, does it also make someone become a

different person?

After a cousin of mine started a job and moved to a town where

nobody knew her name, she found new challenges and excitement in

her love life. Her strong personality and critical decisions allowed her

to do away with negative men in her life and find someone who really

made her happy and respected the person that she is.

While her knowledge continued to expand as a professional from

the degree she received years ago, the strong woman she grew into

throughout her college years influenced her decisions and helped her

weed out negative influences.

While no one can predict the future, we can all hope that our matured

personalities and further life experiences will help us guide the way

through our always changing lives.

I started my column with the intention of bringing light to issues that

I faced as a college-age woman and to try and find answers to this little

thing called life. While this is my last column that I will be sharing

with CSUMB, I will always continue to wonder and explore issues that

I come across in my life.

I encourage the students and community of Monterey to look deeply

into their lives and find the questions and concerns that challenge their

minds. Then, with an open mind and eager heart, explore challenges

and solve the mysteries of life.

Maybe we all need life’s wonders and a loving group of friends

to sort through the negative issues that we will come across, and

maybe, just maybe, our open minds will let us become the people we

truly desire to be, deep within our heart, whether we are all grown

up or not.