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Sunday Oct 06, 2024
Thursday, 25 July 2013 00:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Established in 1867 and named after the only Missourian to become a President of US, Truman State is ranked as the No: 1 Public University in the Midwest for fifteen consecutive years; ranked No: 1 among the top 50 values for public colleges and universities; is one of only 26 Public Liberal Arts and Sciences Universities in the nation. SUSA, since ‘01, is passionately committed to promote the world’s best higher education to Lankan youth and making perfect matches between its candidates and its partnering schools across US. Here is Vindya’s recount of her entry into the Truman State University:
Busy cities, with traffic jams, sky scrapers, and people running around streets are what we picture of USA from Sri Lanka. That’s what I had on my mind too, until I arrived in Kirksville Missouri in 2012 spring. Truman State University is located in Kirksville, which is a small college town. I could not first believe that there were places like Kirksville in US, there is so much of green out there. It was definitely a break from noisy, busy and crowded cities.
What I like most about Kirksville is, it has very less distractions, and it gives me plenty of time to get busy with college work. Kirksville is also a very safe place to live, with mostly college students around you. Truman has been a great experience for me. It is truly a university that provides a very strong and good education for an affordable price. Most classes are tough but it builds your subject knowledge well.
Professors at college are very approachable; they are always ready to help you in class and in their office hours. You can talk to them about anything even your personal matters. Throughout the semester we have assignments, quizzes, group projects and so on, you are always in touch with the books which is easy when it comes to the final examinations.
College experience is very different from high school experience; every day we meet new friends from very diverse backgrounds from all over the world. I learnt a lot about different cultures through my diverse group of friends. Also at Truman, throughout the year we have functions and celebrations of different cultural and ethnic groups, which is fun and educational.
Students at Truman have great ways to get involved in college activities through a variety of different organisations. For an example I was able to join an honour society which is related to my major (Mathematics), where I meet other Mathematics students and exchange our ideas, also I am in an honour fraternity where I meet a lot of other students from different majors, where we plan out different events together such as service events.
Then I am also in the Truman Society of dance and arts where I get to take a break from all my studies and learn some dance routines and do a performance at the end of every semester. Through these involvements I have found new friends who I can call family.
Truman is not only giving me the best educational experience in terms of academics, it is also teaching me how to live as an independent person who could stand up strong by myself. Coming into an unknown place, leaving behind your family, friends and place you call home is not that easy. It takes a little time to get adjusted to live alone, meet new friends and face challenges by yourself. I get to do everything by myself, which was previously done by parents, from washing clothes to cooking, even grocery shopping and I really like that experience.
I feel when students come abroad for a study program they gain a lot of knowledge about how to live their lives independently, which is very important when you go out into the world as an adult. Through these years I have slowly built up myself, sometimes my parents can’t believe how their little girl has become so strong and how independently I take right decisions, looking at matters from an adult’s perspective. I am enjoying every moment of my stay in USA, at the same time I am learning lessons of life.
I am looking forward to the next semester, to get back to college, because every semester is different and exciting with different classes and different events from organisations that I am involved in. When I graduate, there will be no doubt that I will be ready to face the world as a responsible adult.
