Arizona Christian University Top Questions

As a high school senior, I maintain a 3.5 G.P.A. while playing sports throughout the year and doing concurrent enrollment at Rose State College. I applied to go to college at Oklahoma State University during the summer and was accepted late August. When I graduate in May 2014, I will be starting off in my second semester as a freshman at Oklahoma State University with 18 credit hours. If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school self to spend about 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my time searching for more scholarships. I would also tell my high school self to work harder in the college classes, instead of making a B in English Comp 1 & College Algebra! The transition was easy because I was mentally prepared but I would tell myself not to let my age hinder me from working as hard as the older people in the college classes. Basically, to not let the excuse of me being a high school senior hinder me from making an A in my college classes.

Dear me, Finishing up high school will be fun-filled times with friends and family, so be sure to enjoy that. It marks the beginning of growing up but it won't be immediate changes. College classes begin just like high school only they go twice as fast. Each semester, just look at your own degree planner before meeting with advisors to have an idea of what classes you want. You know you want to go into Physical Therapy so push towards that because unlike most people, this dream isn't going to change. Look for financial aid anywhere you can, some people can get paid to go to college (you are not some of those people). Make as many connections as you can, meet people with a solid handshake and look them in the eyes. If they say to get in touch with them, do it within 24 hours. Push through the tough classes and don't think that just because friends and roommates slack off and sleep through classes you can too. That's not how you work and it will come back to haunt you. Focus on your goal the whole way through.

I would tell myself to retake the ACT and score in the 30's. I scored a 26 but i believe that ifi would have scored higher i would be better off now. I would tell myself not to stress so much about the future and to just be happy. I have many regrets about my college career especially financially but all in all i am doing what i love. I think i chose the right path and i hope to be able to continue to go down this path. So if i could tell my high school self a couple things it would be those. And also to buy a bigger fan because it gets hot in Phoenix.

I graduated early in 2012 as a high school junior. If I can rewind time to my junior year in high school I would tell myself not to graduate early. I would explain that by graduating I would lose all my scholarship opportunities I had previously enrolled in. Without scholarship opportunities I had no resources to fund my future schooling limiting my choices. If I can just speak to myself for five minutes I would save my parents and myself stress over the future cost of education. By graduating early I lost eligibility to many financial opportunities I was not aware of. Furthermore, I would remind myself that not to worry of what it is expected of me but to follow the career path I love. To make the transition smoother I would tell myself not to be so shy and to make friendships in college. Most importantly I would advise myself that college is about making new friendships and making studying fun. Lastly, I would remind myself to appreciate sleep more because all nighter studying are the norm to study adequately!

Dear Self, Many new things will occur for you in the next few months. Transitioning from high school to college is not as fun or easy as society portrays it. College is hard - it is not high school. You will have to really work to get good grades. But, if you put your mind to it, you can do it! The first thing you need to plan to do is be organized. This is a major part of getting good grades. Write down when assignments are due, and do not procrastinate. Go to class, take notes, and establish good sleeping habits. These are very important for your success in college. College will be a time of stress and craziness. But, don't forget to have fun while you study and put forth an effort in your classes. Don't be overcome by all that stress. Enjoy your college years, because these will be the best times of your life! Have fun, relax, and study, study, study! Sincerely, Me

Don't worry about not being able to make friends. There are a wide variety of people. The odds of not finding a friend is slim. Study hard, but still have fun. Do your homework first and your fun time second. Listen during class and never be afraid to ask questions. And most importantly, have fun. You only go to college once.

I would tell the young Andre' to welcome and invite challenge and criticism. I would tell him to do this because at 18, when you graduate high school, he believes he knows everything and in reality, doens't know anything. Be humble, seek counsel from older men who have experienced and walked in a similiar path and direction he has or is going. Also, be teachable eager and ready to learn and grow. In addition, use good judgement and wisdom because decisions he makes now will directly effect his future. Finally, be patient and thankful.

Think of what you love most and what you would pay to do for the rest of your life. No need to think too extravagantly, simplicity is key. Work to your strengths and seek to maximize those. Don't let your preconceptions of money and power let you lose sight of what is important. In fact, here is the recipe for all that is important in life: faith and family. Outside of these, all else pales in comparison. Success and happiness aren't the end goals, to know and serve God is. With this in mind, seek to place yourself where you are able to do this best. Surround yourself with people who will support you in that endeavor, and do not lose sleep over the one's who don't. Lastly, enjoy all that college has to offer. Challenge yourself, but stay within yourself. Get excited about outrageous ideas and share them with others. Set goals and crush them.

Appreciate the process. The stress of applying to college and trying to figure out how to pay for college; the nervousness surrounding your first week at school, meeting people, syllabus-shock--it all gets to you. However, in-between pulling all-nighters, working to pay for school, and nights of only getting 3 hours of sleep, college is the best experience I've ever had. You will make friends for life here; you will learn excellent skills for life here; you will grow and you will change more than you know and it will all be fantastic. So enjoy it. Be responsible and wise with your time--take good care of yourself--and use every opportunity to learn and enjoy everything you can from this short experience. Appreciate the people that surround you; learn from them, encourage them and allow them to encourage you. Don't take your classes or professors for granted--be humble enough to learn from them and find joy in learning new things and applying them in real life. College doesn't last forever, but soak it up and allow it to be springboard to launch you into life once you graduate.

Dear 16-year-old Self, I know you have big dreams and aspirations. I see your heart for the nations of the world and the poor. These are good dreams, and will become a part of who you will be in the future, yes. I know you don't want to go to college. But think about the sheer privilege and example you will set for those in nations where education is not available. Becoming learned is not about the letter or the degree. It is about the skills you will take to bless other people in the world. If there is one thing you possess uniquely because of your upbringing, it is this: Americans are not the center of the universe, but they do look at the world through a lens of optimistic entreprenuership. This is a skill you can only learn from those who have gone before you. Humble yourself, and open your heart to learning. God will make a way for you to attend, but it will be worth it. With Love, Your 22-year old Self