I am writing this letter in response to the letter "Freshmen should be wary of upcoming years ahead" written by Nathan Halter. While I agree with his title to the article, that is about all we share.

First of all, I will be the first to agree that Penn State is far from perfect. Classes can be too big, corporate sponsorship is too much at times — due of course to Pennsylvania's continued neglect to adequately support education — and many of the university policies are outdated or have a lot to be desired. We all have stories to tell, and during my four years I acquired plenty.

However, this is not the only picture I have of Penn State. I also remember professors who went out of their way to help me, TAs whom, contrary to popular belief, were helpful and understanding, and friends I made that will last a lifetime. In addition, my memories of getting involved in different activities, such as the yearbook, helped me to evolve as a person while enhancing my experience.

What is my point? Simply that like everything else in life, your years at Penn State are what you make of them. While I was a student who definitely enjoyed my leisure time, I also accepted the challenge of my education. Unlike Mr. Halter, I did not expect Penn State to make things happen, I went out and made them happen, both in my education and personal life. If I found that people around me were fake, and I did, then I surrounded myself with real people. If I felt like just a number is a class, then I went to the professor's office hours and introduced myself. In the end, if I did not like something, I either found a way around it or I dealt with it. This is one of the many important lessons I learned before entering the real world.

Due to this attitude, I look back on my four years and smile. Although I remember both good and bad times, I would never trade the experience for anything.