Valerie Wray
Everyone remembers being a freshman and figuring out the ropes. Valerie is a freshman at Indiana University of Pennsylvania majoring in art with a music minor. I chatted with her the other night to get some insights about her first semester at IUP.
Valerie was in the marching band in the fall and is participating in the clarinet choir this spring. She thinks that IUP is a great place for music and exploring your sound. Valerie wanted to do both art and music when picking schools. She thought about an art school, but IUP gave her the opportunity to do both.
Her art classes at IUP are making her think in different ways than past classes, and she feels that she learns something new with every class. General education classes are sometimes a bother, because Valerie would rather be drawing. However, she manages all of her creative and regular classes well for the load she takes on.
For incoming freshman, Valerie suggests that new students should have an idea of what classes they want to take, to be able to jump into the groove easier. Adjustment was a challenge at first, but Valerie is starting to find her place. When it comes to dorm life, “Be courteous to the people who live below you,” are Valerie’s words of wisdom.