Hello, my name is Stacey Avnes and I am proudly going to be a civilian at Norwich University starting in the fall. People here in California say that I am "weird". Yes, I admit, I am certainly not of the normal "California Girl" variety. I am not blond nor tan, neither skinny nor conventionally pretty. I am different. I have a long brown mane of curly frizz and curvy hips, as pale as they come and diagnosed allergic to the sun. I don't enjoy shopping at Urban, or spending sixty dollars on a shirt. I wear hand-me downs from my Mom, my mom's friends, my friends, and people I do not know. I don't go to "ragers" or "kickbacks", but I do help my troop host weekend Girl Scout camps for first to fifth graders, compete in backpacking competitions, and write essays in my spare time. I sing and dance in the halls when I know people are both looking and listening. I have decided I do not need to filter my mind. I say what I feel, when I feel the need to say it and I do that all the time since I never stop talking.
As I fumbled through the Collegeboard website in the summer of 2011, I came across a university called Norwich that I had never heard of and in a place I had never been to. I began to do more research and found that it had a unique learning environment. Not only was it a military college of distinguishable merit, but a civilian college as well. What really struck me as interesting was that the classes were intermixed with those who were in the Corps of Cadets and those who chose the civilian lifestyle. I applied to the college in August as to waive the application fee and was accepted in October of that year. As I applied to other colleges I put the idea of going there on the backburner in my mind. I have to be honest in saying that as I started to receive acceptances to other colleges and universities, the idea of going to Norwich was fading. Did I really want to go to a college with such a structured learning environment as opposed to the normal college experience? Did I want to live in a place for four years somewhat secluded from the city life I had been accustomed to my entire life? It wasn’t until I visited Norwich in April of 2012 that I decided I wanted to go there. The architecture of the buildings was beautiful. I had never seen colonial style done on such a remarkable scale. The students were kind and all encompassing. Within the first day I was there I made many friends and had met many more people. I attended a Ballroom dancing club meeting which was purely divine and ate at the Chow Hall which had food that I dare say was better than what I receive at home. By the time I boarded the plane to go home, I knew that is where I wanted to go.
When I arrive at Norwich, I know that I already have friends. Besides talking to people on social-networking sights, the students at Norwich are so respectful, understanding, and amiable it will not be a problem to make friends. This is something I am definitely looking forward to. I am also looking forward to joining extracurricular activities that I have never done before and learn skills that I would have never dreamed of learning. I am excited to sit next to the very people who will be serving the country in the future while I learn the principals of communications, poltical psychology or even mathematics in association with liberal arts. Most notably, I am just looking forward to just being there. For what I desire to experience will flood me in the next four years I am happily there.
Why a military college but a civilian lifestyle? read my post no one is commenting on anyones posts!!!
Posted by: Brennen Cornell | 08/29/2012 at 10:41 PM
It was the right fit for me. When I applied, I thought it was so interesting to be learning along side the people who will e saving our country. When I visited, I felt at home and knew it was the right place for me.
Posted by: Ohhmyystacey | 09/01/2012 at 10:59 AM
So you are a civilian and still have a great time? you sound like a sweetheart! Im a junior in high school and im looking at Norwich just for civilian life (nursing) and i was scared that it wouldn't be normal to do that!! I talked to KT about this and she said it was fine to go to Norwich without being a cadet! I have questions for you!
1) is it weird being a girl going to an almost all guy school?
2) was it hard to get accepted here?
Posted by: Makayla | 01/29/2013 at 03:49 PM