What was supposed to be a quick weekend trip to Wilmington turned into something much more for upcoming CFCC graduate Ashley Sanchez. She took a leap of faith when she decided on a whim to move halfway across the country to Wilmington and attend CFCC. We sat down with Ashley and asked her to share her unique experience at CFCC, her plans after graduation, her advice to future Sea Devils, and more!
WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM?
I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I moved to Wilmington in 2019.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ENROLL AT CFCC? WHY DID IT MAKE SENSE FOR YOU?
I fell in love with Wilmington after coming here for a One Tree Hill Convention in 2017. During that weekend, I toured the downtown campus because scenes from the show were filmed here. I was hooked. The campus was beautiful, and everyone was so kind and friendly. Immediately after flying home, I told my mom I wanted to move here and attend CFCC. Two years later, me and my boyfriend, our three dogs, and cat packed our bags and moved halfway across the country.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CFCC?
When I started school here, COVID hit, and my classes moved online. I would still come to campus to study and do homework because the facilities are excellent. It was less distracting to go here than stay at home. I would go to the third floor of Union Station and the library. I found it to be very productive and relaxing, and it made me feel more connected to the college. The online classes ended up working for me, so I continued taking them, and I was able to complete my entire Associate in Arts degree online.
DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CLASS?
My Race and Ethnic Relations class with Robyn Brown was my favorite. Ms. Brown was amazing. She is one of the friendliest instructors I’ve ever had. Even though we only communicated through email, Ms. Brown was so helpful. She would get back to me quickly, and her feedback was fantastic.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATING FROM CFCC?
I was in the Sea-Path program here, so I will be attending UNCW beginning this summer. I plan to major in creative writing and minor in music. I also plan to take pre-veterinarian courses while there. After UNCW, I hope to go to veterinarian school at Texas A&M. My passion is animals. I would pick up any stray animal I see and take it home with me if I could.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING STUDYING AT CFCC OR TAKING COURSES ONLINE?
Stay organized. Most of the time, online classes are at your own pace, so set your schedule and stay consistent with it. It’s easy to forget projects and due dates, especially when taking more than one online class. Write everything down. I write everything down on my iPad. Finally, always keep in touch with your instructors. Online makes it a bit harder to do that. If they have office hours, take advantage of those.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
Though I took all my courses online, the professors I had for my classes were accommodating and made me feel like I could succeed in my future. The counseling staff, especially those from Coastal Horizon, made me feel less nervous about getting help for my mental health. I truly enjoyed my time as a CFCC student.
Original source can be found here.
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