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GaGa Team III
 Mackenzie O’Connell
Hi! My name is Mackenzie O’Connell and my time here at UNH has been the best experience of my life! It’s hard to believe that it’s almost over. I have made a lot of new and different friends while I have been here and I appreciate everyone for their unique point of view that I have not seen before. My approach to college has been different than other people I have met because I have chosen to finish my degree in 3 years instead of the typical 4. I’ve worked really hard but had an amazing time all at once! College is great because you can make it your own, just like I have. You can be here for three, four or even five years if that’s where your life takes you! There are so many opportunities to take advantage of, and I’m happy I took advantage of all of the ones that came my way!
 Jennifer Ryan
My name is Jennifer Ryan and I have been a student at the University of New Hampshire for the past 4 years. It is a bit surreal to realize that I am about to graduate and move onto the next phase of my life. However, I do not regret a moment that I have spent at the University of New Hampshire. The experiences I have had and the people I have met will affect me forever, wherever I end up. I am a business major and have had the chance to be a part of various clubs and organizations as well as a member of a sorority on campus. Of course, college is about academics and the pursuit of higher education, but it is also about the experience. I did not have someone to give me advice on this aspect of college life considering I was the first of my immediate family to go to college. If this is the situation you find yourself in it’s ok. Just understand that the experience is just as important as the education. I would hate for you to miss out on what I call some of the best years of my life.
 Lauren Daigle
Senior year in high school, all I wanted to do was get out. I was so determined to get out of that environment which I dreaded every day, I actually ended up graduating a semester early. That gave me enough time in between high school and college to feel like a real “break” from school. UNH was my first choice. Freshman year was a big of a struggle, since I didn’t live in the freshman dorms, I didn’t meet as many people as I’d like. Sophomore year I joined several student clubs to meet people, and as a senior now, I am president of both the College Republicans and the pro-life club, Students for Life. I’ve had some of the best experiences at college by being involved with student organizations. I’ve met like minded friends and learned a lot more about the “real world” by being in a leadership position on campus. These are real lessons in life that no class can ever teach you. Because of my involvement in these clubs, I’ve been offered three full time jobs when I graduate in May '07. If I didn’t go to college, I would never have had these amazing opportunities!
 Keith LeVan
Graduation fall ‘07
“Coming from the Boston area I always pictured myself attending a school in the city. Thankfully, Sean MacDonnell and the UNH football program lured me up to this state with an athletic scholarship. So my single mother and I decided rather quickly that New Hampshire would be my home for the next four years. Something that at first didn’t exactly thrill me. Four years older and hopefully wiser, I could not be happier with my decision. The University has so much to offer socially, athletically, and most importantly of course, academically. My time here at UNH has allowed me to open doors I never thought possible. I can’t think of one thing I would change if I could – other than maybe a National Championship or two.”
 Anna Jurta
Hi, my name is Anna and I am completing my last year here at UNH. Oh how I would love to rewind four years; I still have not gotten enough of the college experience. I may have grown up in a town where high school graduation was the highest standard, but that did not discourage me from applying for college. I would be the last of five to attend, no questions asked. Paying for college is not impossible; I am paying my way through right now. Money has always been an issue in my family, but financial aid, grants, scholarships, and attending an in-state school have enabled me to fulfill my greatest aspirations. Every penny has been worth it. If you never step out of your comfort zone, then how do you expect to experience new and exciting things? Many aspects of college have helped me grow into a well-rounded young woman. If there is just one thing you take from your college experience, it would have to be the friendships you establish; the friends I have met here are the friends I am going to grow old with and reminisce the days we went to college and the memories we made together.
 Sam Freni
Hi my name is Samantha Freni, and I’m graduating this May. I’m majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. When applying to colleges, I thought I’d choose business as a major, because it seemed pretty broad and applicable to different jobs. I chose UNH over a specialized business school because if I ended up disliking the business program, I knew UNH had so many other majors to offer. I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college, and my family never stops expressing how proud they are. My experience throughout these last four years is something no one can buy, get anywhere else, or begin to explain. Take a chance, create you’re own path, see where college can take you.
 Kristen Leone
Hi my name is Kristen Leone and I will be graduating from UNH in May. I am a business administration major with a concentration in marketing, and a minor in psychology. I decided to enroll directly into the university’s business program as a freshman because I felt like it was a good starting point in college. It was comforting for me to know that if the business school did not end up suiting my needs, I had the option to change majors. It’s important to understand that college studies are flexible, and it is okay to change your major or area of study. After taking an intro to psychology course my sophomore year, I was torn between staying with the business program or changing my major to psychology. Luckily, you are not left alone to make major decisions - there are advisors available to all students who guide you throughout your four years in college. My advisor was always there for me when I needed her, she gave me all the support and information I needed. I decided to stay with business as my major once I became aware of the option to have a second area of study called a minor. This is where I decided to concentrate on psychology. What I love about a minor is that it does not have to relate to the subject you are studying for your major; it can be an area of interest that you are passionate about and enjoy exploring. College is not necessarily deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life; I am graduating in May and I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. College is about continuing your education and learning about something that fascinates you. By going to college I will have so many possibilities to choose from and I am excited to start exploring possible careers.
Jenna Lavery
Hi, my name is Jenna and I’m a senior at UNH. I am a Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Spanish. My UNH experience has been amazing. Like most high school grads I was nervous about going away to school. You are being forced into a new environment where you need to make new friends and take all new classes. I was surprised at how quickly I began to think of UNH as home, my new friends became family and I got to pick the things that I wanted to study! USNH has a program for everyone. Whether you want to live on campus, commute or go to a technical school. I was interested in Spanish so I studied abroad for a semester. My point is, as a college student you get to dictate what you want to do. I’m sure all of your experiences in the USNH will be just as amazing!
 Alicia Cass
Hey guys,
My name is Alicia Cass, and I am a senior at the University of New Hampshire. Its so surreal what I am about to say, but my college experience that I feel I only started yesterday is coming to an end this May when I GRADUATE. The past four years of my life spent at college have been life changing. You can never really describe to someone how much benefit you get by continuing your education and going to college, until you experience it. There is not one right way on how to go about getting a degree, everyone does it differently. For me it was starting freshman year undecided about my major, participating in a lot of school social clubs, and spending a lot of my time pledging and joining a sorority. I was one of two from my high school in Rhode Island to come to UNH, so I was the new kid. The first six months of college I experienced so many different emotions and got introduced to so many different walks of life it was overwhelming and addicting at the same time. I continued to study at UNH up until junior year 2nd semester, and that’s when I temporarily moved to New York City and did an internship on Wall Street and studied at NYU. That was yet another amazing experience that changed me for the better. I’m now back at UNH completing my senior year, and as I look back there is no way that I would change anything about my past four years. Coming into UNH having no clue what I wanted to do with my life, I am now shortly leaving this school with a degree in Business Administration, concentration in Marketing. I know it’s hard to grasp, but the importance of my diploma I am going to receive when I cross the stage on graduation is my ticket to the life I want to live. It’s a one way ticket to success. You NEED to go to college so you can live the life you want. The world is in your hands. How bad do you want to live life to the fullest? Go to college.
 Janelle Proctor
Hi, my name is Janelle Proctor, and I am completing my last semester of college! I began at the University of New Hampshire, Durham in the fall of 2003. I have participated in the UNH Dance Team, a sorority on campus, and several clubs. When I entered college I didn’t know anyone and I had no clue what I wanted to major in. My parents hadn’t gone to college, so they had a hard time giving me advice. I knew that in order to be successful in this day and age, a college degree is essential. An important thing to realize is that everyone approaches college in their own way. Whether you take a year off first, go to a 2 year school, study in a different country, commute or live in the dorms, your college experience is completely up to you. Now that you’ve graduated high school, the world is yours. Everyone is doing their own thing, you are completely independent, and it is incredible how much you learn even out of the classroom. So my advice is to take it all in, move at your own pace, and learn as much as you can about yourself. When you graduate, you will be ready and you can go and do whatever you want!
 Tom Fitzgerald
Hi, my name is Tom Fitzgerald and I am currently at senior at the University of New Hampshire. I am majoring in Business Administration, with a focus in Marketing, and a minor in Computer Information Technology. I will be the first in my immediate family to receive a college degree. When my parents were my age it wasn’t as important to have a degree to have a successful career, but times have changed. In this day and age it’s essential to have some sort of higher education to help have a successful career. I always knew that I wanted to attend college and as high school ended I knew what I wanted to study. That may not be the case for some, and that’s OK! Many people are unsure of what they want to do after high school, if you’re unsure continue your education. I’ve met and worked with many people who have stressed the importance of obtaining some sort of degree after high school. Many of those people received a degree in the complete opposite field in which they were currently working. That shows the importance of continuing education, it can open up many doors for you, giving you the chance to do so much with your life. Going to college was the best decision of my life. Not only will the skills I have learned help in whatever I decide to do post-graduation, but I’ve had the best time of my life!
 Erin McCann
My entire life I knew I was going to go to college. So the question senior year of high school was never "Are you going to college?" it was more "Where are you going to college?" I always thought of college as this mysterious place you go when you graduate high school. In reality it's the best place to go after you graduate. I grew up in Ohio but was born in Massachusetts so I knew I wanted to come back to New England for a college experience. I actually did not even know about UNH when I was applying to schools, it was over winter break that my uncle recommended that I visit the campus. At that time I was
not thrilled with the thought of going to school in NH, and frankly people in the mid-west sadly didn't even know where it was located. I have to admit, coming here from Ohio was a hard move but luckily after meeting amazing friends, getting involved, being able to spend five months in Australia, college made me realize what I want to do with the rest of my life. I couldn't have made a better decision than going to college; I can't imagine my life without it. My dad
once said "appreciate college it's the best years of your life…" I say college leads you on the road to having the best possible life.
 Christina Houle
Hi! My name is Christina Houle and I’m a senior at UNH. I am currently majoring in Business Administration and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by here. My experience in college has been amazing, and I can’t believe it is almost over. I knew coming right out of high school that I wanted to major in business because there are so many opportunities that I can pursue with a degree so broad. I have a minor in Spanish which I have always had a passion for since high school and I didn’t decide that until my sophomore year. My most memorable experience in college has been my time that I studied abroad in Australia. I spent over 5 months on the Gold Coast in Australia second semester junior year studying and traveling to places like New Zealand and Fiji. I went with my 2 best friends and it was the most amazing time of my life. Being in college has made me very independent and I will be the first of my generation in my family to graduate. Going to college has opened so many doors for me in life and I can’t wait to pursue my degree. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience the most memorable times of your life!
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New Hampshire Goes to College