Arapahoe Community College Top Questions

I had been a talented visual artist ever since I was a child, but was shy and insecure. Unfortunately, I internalized something my mother said repeatedly: ?You?ll have to do work you don?t want to do. You can?t just study art.? Although my gpa was 3.5+, my family never encouraged me to apply for scholarships or even for excellent colleges. Discouraged, I did not begin college applications until the summer after my senior year. I would love to go back and urge my younger self to trust her natural abilities. I would say this to her: ?Erika, you must listen only to the helpful, encouraging voices, internal and external. College exists for you to explore your talents and passions. You are unusually fortunate in knowing what you want to do, and so are obligated by your nature to do it. Art has always fed your soul and always will. Maintain your focus at college and you will begin to touch other?s souls with your work. Take matters into your own hands now and apply to all the best colleges that offer what you truly want to explore. Apply for scholarships, because you are scholarship material.?

Although I did not attend college right after high school, I think it is important to do so. It is easy to get a taste of making money and think college is not necessary right away, but the truth is, many students that delay college don't end up returning at all. Going to college right after high school allows a person the opportunity to move in the direction of their goals earlier than if they delay their education. In this day and age, college is necessary for any future success and it is vitally important to get a good education in order to be competitive in the job market. Attending a community college is a smart financial move. Since most of the credits taken in a community college transfer to a 4 year university, it is nice to have the option of paying a lower rate of tuition for the first two years and then transfering for the remaining two years. The professors at most community colleges are experienced professionals and went into teaching because they love it which makes the experience interesting, fufilling and fun!

When I was your age, I thought college was only about getting a degree to make more money. It is so much more. It is a new phase, moving you forward in life. College is about growth, both intellectual, and personal. It?s about stepping out of your comfort zone, experiencing new challenges, and realizing your strengths. College is the time in your life where you have the opportunity to find out about yourself, and what you are made of. This is your chance to experience new venues, and become a well-rounded individual. I know it?s clich?, but I?m going to say it anyway, ?You are young, and have your whole life ahead of you?. Use this time to experience, and learn all you can while you don?t have all of the grown up responsibilities. If you don?t, you may wish that you had. The worst thing you can do is live life with regrets. Stay focused. The party life may be enticing, and hanging out with friends is a good outlet, but keep it to a minimum, and make good choices. Be true to yourself, and always keep the promises you make to yourself.

I would tell myself to let go of all of the stress. Although college is a big deal, and something that has the potential to change your life forever, stressing out over every little detail isn't going to help anything. I would tell myself to have fun, enjoy meeting all the new people, take in all of your surroundings, absorb every little bit of information that is thrown at you. Most of all I would tell myself to not take this opportunity for granted. Not everyone is privaledged enough to go to college and learn about what they truly love, so take advantage of everything that, not only college has to offer, but your surroundings and peers. This is your chance to either make it or break it, so do what your heart tells you to do.

While I have been thrilled with my education thus far, I wish that I had had more guidance in high school looking at colleges. If I could somehow magically return to my senior year in high school, I would certainly approach the college application process differently. For one, I would have looked at schools nationwide, rather than just in states that were close to friend and family. Secondly, I would have spent more time on-campus at prospective schools?eating in the dining hall, spending the night in a dorm with a current student, or sitting in on a class. I think that is a great, first-hand way to see if the school is right for you. Thirdly, I would have thought more about what I wanted to major in before applying to schools. If you decide on a major last minute, it is hard to cram in all of your major requirements in the last fewsemesters of school. Lastly, if I could give one more piece of advice to my former self, I would tell myself to study foreign language. I regret dropping Spanish in college. (Another good piece of advice: you can?t do it all! )

Boldly, I wish to say that the things I have learned within 3 years of college cannot be expressed in 200 words. There is so much I wish I had known! In it's briefest, here are the things I wish I was more experienced with before I began school: ~Sometimes you have to take off a year before starting college. ~I wish I had managed my student loan debt in one-thousand better ways that were all within reach. ~Friends are everything. ~Utilize your parents and extended family. ~Volunteer hours refine you into someone you would have never imagined. ~Danger rears its many ugly faces in all facets of your college experience. ~I would not give anything for the experience I have had so far. ~I want to make these next four years the most valuable years I have ever spent. I know I am in charge of whether they are good years or years I won't want to revisit. Delving into these topics would take months, but on the field it took me three years... My brother is one year away from college himself and every day I wish I could be the one to help him.

First of all I would definately tell myself "Do Not Wait". When we have been in school practically our whole lives and once we are out all we want to do is have fun, have a "break". Well there are no breaks when we are young adults, there are responsibilities and bills that have to be paid as adults. Be young but be responsibile and get your education. When you are older and have kids it is so much harder to accomplish goals. Don't get me wrong they can be done but at a greater expense. I am now 42 and I am trying to finish my education and if I would have done it right away after school life would be so much easier and happier. So take my advise you can have fun and get your education all at the same time, babies, families, and life will still happen it will just happen smoother...

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would say that the skills and study practices I learned in high school are a vital part of college life.

You look backwandering what you would have done, asking yourself questions and wandering why you didn't do the things you needed to. You see all the things you have accomplished that you worked so hard to achieve. When I was a senior in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had no passion, no enthusiasm, and no idea how to even find out what it was I wanted to do. It was frustrating and because it was difficult for me I put it off. The advice I would have given myself is to go out and do the things that interest you the most. Go find the passion you have to change the world in the way that you want it to be changed. Volunteer in the jobs you are interested in. This willmake the transition easier. You willhave a purpose. Go to different colleges and see where you would fit the best. Be prepared to pay bills and be responsible. Don't take life for granted. Do what is necessary to get the grades. Study hard and it will pay off. Let your family know how much you love them.