JMU charm make it best decision

Breeze perspectives

Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions a person makes. High school seniors constantly bombard themselves with questions like, "What school has the major I want?" or, "What school is rated best?" Other factors also enter the equation, such as tuition costs, distance from home and whether or not the student actually was accepted at the schools he or she is considering.

So what makes JMU different? To be honest, I didn’t know at first if it was where I belonged. April 1 to May 1 of their high school senior year is the time students have to select a school to attend from those into which they have been accepted. I used every bit of that month to decide. I was fortunate enough to be accepted at some very selective universities, but I found myself asking, "Is it reason enough to attend a school based on its level of selectivity?" With that thought in mind, I went to visit the schools to which I was accepted.

When I began my visits, I practically had decided on UVa. However, I traveled the three and a half hours up I-81 from my small town in southwestern Virginia and visited JMU anyway. The moment I arrived on campus I was amazed at the beauty of this gorgeous location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

We have our share of mountains at home, but nothing comparable to those surrounding Harrisonburg. I took the tour around campus and was astonished at how splendid the architectural designs were and how wonderful the campus itself looked.

But it wasn’t just the appearance of JMU that attracted me — it was the people. At JMU, people hold the door for you when you’re walking into a building. The casual passerby looks you in the eye, smiles and says, "Hello." People here naturally are accepting of one another and that creates the ideal environment for both intellectual and social growth.

I’ve looked at other schools. I’ve been on other campuses. The degree of oneness and acceptance at JMU simply cannot be found anywhere else. The Princeton Review ranks JMU eleventh out of 357 colleges in the Quality of Life category. This should come as no surprise to JMU students. JMU prepares students for life after college, while at the same time offering them an accepting and fun-loving environment.

Nevertheless, I am a skeptical person, and when I arrived at JMU two weeks ago I still didn’t know if I had made the right decision. I kept asking myself, "How will I know?" But one afternoon, I looked out the window of Festival and saw the most picturesque sunset of my life. The giant orange disc slowly setting behind the vast range of mountains blew me away. And then it hit me. I don’t need proof or evidence to know I made the right decision; I just know. I know because it feels right. I’ve made my decision, and I’m not looking back. Let the good times roll.

Patrick Calahan is an undeclared freshman.