15 Minutes with Ariel Shuey, Bluffton University student

Where's your hometown, what's your major at Bluffton and what year are you?

I was born in Toledo, but now live in Fremont. I attended Fremont Ross High School. I am currently two credit hours short of being a junior and am majoring in communication with a concentration in public relations.

Who was the first person you met in Bluffton?

Linda Cupples in the Bluffton admissions office.

What was your first job and how much did you make?

My first job was babysitting. I was official and had a business card. I charged $4 an hour and then an additional two per each extra child; however, some couples paid me a flat fee above what I charged.

What was the best movie you ever saw?

The best movie I ever saw is hard to say. I would have to say the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, because the battle scenes are amazing and it is very true to the book.

How about the worst?

The worst movie I ever saw was Borat, because it is so unbelievably stupid.

How many detentions did you get in high school?

Three, all at the same time. I went down to the band room during the last period of the day and since the teacher wasn't there, I just left without a school employee knowing. Since I didn't lie about it, they changed the punishment from an in-school suspension to three detentions.

What have been your favorite TV shows through your life?

I didn't watch TV until elementary school and then my favorite shows were Arthur and Hey Arnold. My middle school shows were Gilmore Girls and Boy Meets World. I didn't really watch much TV in high school but now my favorite show is Glee.

How would you describe your political views?

They vary depending on the election. I'm more concerned about the presidential election than state and local elections. However, I tend to vote on the conservative side, although I would never vote for Sarah Palin.

How many times have you ever been pulled over?

One time and that was for rolling a stop sign. I was so nervous that I accidentally handed the police officer my AAA card instead of the insurance card. He only gave me a warning though.

Who is the most famous/important person you have ever met?

State representative Jeff Wagner is a family friend, so he is probably the most important person I have met.

What is your favorite part about Bluffton?

The people are really cool. I know it sounds lame and clich'e, but I really like how accepting and welcoming everyone is.

You're a transfer student. What was the hardest part about making the change?

Nothing was hard really. The worst part about it was being stuck with the freshmen during orientation weekend. I already knew the stuff they were talking about so it was frustrating to still have to go to all the freshman seminars.

What has been your favorite college class?

Media and Culture with Zach Walton has been my favorite class. He makes the material interesting and demands a lot from us, but I enjoy the challenge. For the first time, I feel like I am getting my money's worth of education out of a class.