Pensacola Christian College

Date: May 28 2008
Major: Communications (This Major's Salary over time)
I was a PCC floor leader for over two years and I got to see both sides of the system. Unfortunately, neither is particularly beautiful. As a student, I knew how to play the game and excel. I studied hard and did well grade wise in my classes. However, as a writing major, I was frustrated by the lack of creativity allowed in any class. While I understand the need for standards, I wanted to be able to form opinions on my own and express my ideas through the medium I had chosen. This privilege was flatly denied. In addition, most of the writing teachers were not qualified to teach and had little or no real world experience in their field.

By my junior year, I realized that it all really was a big game I was rapidly becoming tired of playing it. Thankfully, my friends were there to hold me back when I felt like taking the plunge and getting expelled. Friends are one of the only things that will help you get through PCC. Small groups of like minded individuals that help you keep your sanity in the insanity that is PCC. As a Christian school, this experience will seriously try you faith and beliefs. I struggled and am still struggling with a lot of issues that result from PCCs hard line stance.

As a floorleader, I definitely got to peek around the other side of the curtain. I spent a lot of time surrounded by “spiritual leaders who I knew were total hypocrites and snobs. Most of my jobs concerned chasing people down and writing them up or chaperoning a student that was in the process of getting expelled. When I refused to write someone up, I was told that it was my job, and not up for me to decide. Sadly, the most encouraging thing I could say to these crying or teary girls was that “it wasnt the end of the world and “youre probably going to a better place. And, for the most part it was true. These were girls who were getting kicked out for sheer ignorance or stupidity. While I loved the girls on my floor, by my senior year I was rapidly burning out from exhaustion and playing the game.

Can I honestly say that I love PCC? No. I learned a lot about life and myself during the four years I spent there, but I have no warm memories about the institution. What I can say is that beneath the faade that is PCC are people that have come into my life and changed it for better and worse. In the year since, Ive moved on, kept the positives and laid the negatives behind me. And, when people ask where I went to school, I simply say “a small, private school in Florida and leave it at that.