Graduating from high school was a major accomplishment in my life. I was in the top seven percent of my class, as well as a four-year varsity swimmer, varsity swim captain, a district champion for my 200 freestyle and a one-year varsity lacrosse player. I was a member of several clubs and organizations, serving as the National Honor Society president, a chairperson on the American Cancer Society committee and senior class officer. Now I am leaving for college, turning away from the small microcosm of my tiny coastal hometown, approaching new challenges at the University of Central Florida.
Selecting a college was the most difficult decision in my young life. After touring nearly ten different universities, I was accepted to every school I applied to. The first was the historic University of Florida. With its strong athletic prowess and academic integrity, the University of Florida is unquestionably a powerhouse. The next was the prestigious Rollins College. Located in the quaint town of Winter Park, Rollins College offered the benefits of attending a private university: small classes, focused students and individual attention from your professors. In the end, I decided to decline my offers of admission from both of those prominent institutions for the one I believed topped them all; I was going to be a UCF Knight.
The University of Central Florida offers all the academics and athletics that come with a major university. I would also receive specialized attention, similar to attending a private school through The Burnett Honors College. I will truly have the best of both worlds. I believe that by attending the University of Central Florida I will be better prepared for the aggressive job market that awaits all of us hopeful graduates. Because of its central location, UCF offers so much to its growing student population. The bustling metropolis of Orlando has limitless opportunities for me and my fellow Knights. Hospitals, law firms, businesses, hotels and, of course, the “Happiest Place on Earth” all offer internships. Following that sector of our lives, Kavaliro’s Orlando location will guide me through the highly sought after positions my peers and I are seeking. “UCF Stands For Opportunity,” and from my perspective, it certainly does.
-Michael C. Ingram