Valentine Lyashenko

I chose it because it was close enough to home. I heard a lot of good things about it as a reputable college. Those factors were really important. It was good to see something new within the city that I didn't know back then until I started going to City College. The reputation that it had was a big factor as well, and the fact that CCNY offered financial help, which I really needed at that time. The whole idea of having more control over my life and my schedule and feeling like an adult was really special. Getting to know people from my own department that I was a part of was special too. I was friends with most of the people there. It was beyond the program itself that did so much for me as a person. The things that I'm thankful for to this day that changed me as a person were all the experiences combined with the Theater Department and the athletic experiences. I wouldn't be where I am and who I am today without it. I participated in track and field and cross-country. It helped me through some hard times that I was dealing with at the time. That aspect of my college experience really shaped me as a person and helped me with discipline and taught me to appreciate hard work. I became a coach at CCNY for nearly two years. It was invaluable for me. To this day I reflect on that. It leaves me hopeful and positive knowing that there are a lot of good people who share information that is relevant, factual, and useful.