Are you De Anza experienced? I had a horrible time in high school and loathed every single day of it.
I hated going to a place where I didn’t fit in and was forced to socialize in an environment of cliques and typical high school social hierarchy where nothing seemed to change. The stagnant life of a high school student never made me happy.
De Anza College is not a stagnant place. Things actually happen here.
Going here changed my life. Here it is possible to figure out who you are.
Many students come to De Anza only to rush through and transfer. Many of these same students don’t know what it is they want from their education or from life. In their haste to leave, they miss out on a great opportunity to learn, grow and figure themselves out.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to search for direction in life at a place like De Anza.
Considering all that it has to offer compared to other community colleges, De Anza College is a bargain! The level of education and extracurricular enrichment you can get is equivalent to what you can get at your first two years at many expensive universities.
When Bill Clinton says community colleges are “the most open and democratic and opportunity-filled institutions in the United States today,” he says something that is profoundly true about De Anza.
What makes De Anza special is the large number of involved and empowered students participating in their education.
There are many students and teachers at De Anza who had a huge impact on my life and the way I look at the world.
Getting involved in student politics and student activism is where my inspiration for learning came from. Because of the encouragement and support of these people, I became a dedicated student. There is no substitute for the second family that they have become to me.
The large number of clubs here is a testament to the fact that no matter what it is you want to do, teachers are willing help you and students are willing to join you.
At De Anza College, the word “community” means something.
De Anza has a rich history of students taking action to make the college a better, more enjoyable place for learning.
The mural project, numerous teach-ins, demonstrations, speak-outs, and cultural events have all been the work of students and dedicated teachers.
Concerned and determined De Anza students even helped win the well-respected Intercultural Studies department.
After three years here, I realize there is more to be learned and accomplished here than most students could imagine.
If you don’t believe that this place has anything to offer you, then you probably haven’t looked around much.
At De Anza, I have learned that your education doesn’t have to be irrelevant, meaningless and boring. It is possible to get a real education here. An education based on hands-on experience instead of boring textbooks and lectures. An education with meaning.
I have a proposition for those of you who wish to leave De Anza as quickly as possible. Relax, take your coat off and stay a while. Try to break out of your comfort zone and try new things. Seize the day! That is what this place is for.
