Anderson University-Anderson, SC Top Questions

In high school everyone by their senior year is just doing whatever they can to get by in classes in order to graduate. I was one of those seniors that did not want to do anything three months before graduation, but that may have been oone of my set backs. I would tell myself to focus more on grades, eventhough my GPA was a 3.6, I still wish that I had focused on grades so that I would be able to apply for more scholarships. Another thing that I would advise my high school self to do is to do more culinary competitions because not only were they good experiences and chances to win scholarships, but they were the perfect opportunity to meet different chefs and different people that I could network with later on in life.

Take a breath. There are going to be many changes happening at a rapid pace and it's so easy to get lost in the shuffle. This road will be long, and at times, difficult but the benefits will surpass your greatest expectations. The individuals you meet along the way will change your life if you let them, impermeably and forever. There will be friends who inspire you and professors who will mentor you as you complete this journey. Absorb every bit of knowledge that you can. The lessons learned here will shape the person you're to become. Never lose sight of your end goal and don't compromise yourself for any reason. It's important to maintain your priorities and dedicate yourself to each and every assignment. There will be times when you'll feel overwhelmed, but keep going. Some day, you'll be grateful that you did. These four years are the beginning of the rest of your life - make the most of them.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to attend Anderson University. I attended the College of Charleston for the first semester of my freshman year due to the close proximity of MUSC, where I plan to study occupational therapy. While I am studying Kinesiology now and still plan to attend MUSC, my original plan did not pan out. Half way through last semester my father had a heart attack. This was the start of an awful chain of family emergencies. Although College of Charleston would have provided me with valuable shadowing opportunities at MUSC, I chose to move closer to home. I transferred to Anderson University after Christmas break, and am thrilled with that decision. While my financial aid package at Anderson University was initially wonderful, I no longer qualify for many aid opportunities since am a transfer student. With all of the hospital bills, I am now solely responsible for paying my way through college. While I have learned a lot about independence and responsibility over the past semester, I would advise my high school senior self to attend Anderson University.

If I could go back in time to a high school senior, first thing I would tell myself is that college isn’t something to take advantage of. Study hard and do great no matter how hard it is. My first year in college, I took four courses a semester. I was lucky to have received the Life scholarship when I graduated high school. I had a full ride. I passed everything with A’s and B’s. I was studying every night and wouldn’t do anything but focus on school. My second semester wasn’t as great. I got a big head and thought oh, I am in college now I don’t have to do anything. Boy was I wrong. I stopped studying and was doing badly in my classes. Before I knew it I had lost my full ride. I was devastated. I had disappointed myself and my family. I wasn’t going to let losing my scholarship get me down. I had to start paying out of pocket so I had to cut down to one or two classes a semester. I transferred to a university and I am more motivated than ever to graduate.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would not tell myself to save every penny, or to listen to my own instincts over the advice of people that did not really know what I wanted out of life or what I needed to achieve those goals and desires. Although good advice, that is not what I would say. I would tell myself to do everything the exact same way. Every action and every choice that somebody makes is what gets them to where they are. Those choices, even the bad ones, are what help you to learn from your experiences and shape the person that you will become. I know that I made a lot of mistakes, especially financial ones, but had I not, I would not be who I am today. My favorite prayer is by St. Francis of Assissi: Lord, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I know that I can not change my past, and I have serenity in that knowledge.

I know this year seems stressful and scary but you will make it through and you will walk across that stage. While it is important to cherish the friends you have now and the things you are involved in they will not define you forever. When you go to college you will make new friends and get involved in new clubs and have new jobs and all of these things are what will really shape you. College is a chace to be a new you. If you could only see how much you will grow and change for the better you would not even believe it. You will be provided with so many more oppurtunities than you have been high school and you should definatly take advantage of every one of them you can. You have not become the best you yet, you will grow and become so much better if you work hard and take advantage of every chance you are given to do so. Take advantage of the help people offer you, you can learn so much from others. Most importantly enjoy the people you have in your life while you still have them.

There would be a lot of advice that I would give myself about college life. It is important to understand that college has to be taken seriously. In college, it is unlikely that you will be allowed to slide by missed assignments without it hurting your grade. It is important to be on time and present in your classes. Missing a day can cause you to fall behind the class. As a student, you have to pay attention in class and be on top of your work. Homework will take up much of your time, and you will need to set aside time for your studies. It is also essential to get involved in clubs or groups. This is a large part of your college experience. You will make a ton of new friends in college and being involved will help you gain new ones. It will also help you gain communication skills and other skills that you will need in the real world. It is essential to remember that college classes need to be taken seriously, but it is also important to remember that college is the time of your life, and you should enjoy your time there.

If I could get the opportunity to go back in time to talk to my senior high school self, I would definitely have much to talk about. However, two main concerns that have made my college career very hard would be the center of my conversation. The first of those concerns would be finances. During my senior year in high school, I tended to spend a great deal of money on clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other things not important. Although I saved money for college, I could have really saved more by not spending foolishly. The last of the concerns I have are my study habits. In high school, I rarely needed to study hard, but I still maintain a 4.0 my sophomore year. I was able to graduate my junior year, but I felt like I was not ready, so I decided to stay and take dual credits at a local technical college. Although I had college experience, when I actually came to college it hit me hard. I am still learning better ways to study. In conclusion, I would also tell myself to get my NCAA paperwork done correctly so that I could be playing basketball now.

Knowing what I know now about my college life and future, I would go back in time and tell my high school self many things. I believe I would start off with friendship. I would tell myself not to worry about fighting for high school friendships because you won't be in contact with them when you finally get to college. Then, I would stress the importance of taking more AP and college credits because that will mean less hours for you to take which will help you a lot because your parents are going to refuse to pay for your school since you won't go to the college of their choice. Lastly, I would say to my high school self: You are going to be terrified and there are going to be days that you feel like giving up on life. Well, don't. Don't give up. Keep that determination and succeed because you are very capable of being successful. Conquer college without the help of your parents. When they leave you at the doorsteps of your dorm, don't look back. Head up, smile on. Keep following God's path girl. He's proud.

College is a period of growth like no other. Your physical, mental, and spiritual health will be tested. This is not meant to be a discouraging remark; growth is a wonderful thing. In college, you encounter situations and trials that you would have never thought possible. In high school, you are given a small essay to compose; in college, a twenty-five page term paper is fifty percent of your final course average. In high school, you live at home; in college, you will most likely live in a dormitory with people you just met. In high school, there are a handful of clubs; in college, there are more than you can count. All of these things should not be thought of as daunting, for that is not why they are there. They exist to mold and shape you into an adult capable of taking on life headfirst. As your years in college continue, you sense God forming you into the person He wants you to be, and you welcome that feeling with open arms. So, if I were to give my high school self advice about college, I would simply say prepare to enjoy the time of your life.