Arizona State University-Downtown Phoenix Top Questions

Dear high school me, enjoy every second that you can during your senior year, please. Don't wish it away like you do, and just take in every moment. Your freshmen year will be somewhat chaotic, full of drama, and yet it is still one of the best years of your life. You will meet so many people from all over the world and you will be very similar to them and be very different at the same time. You got pretty lucky with your roommate, in most ways. She will do a couple things that get on your nerves, but you will probably do the same to her and not even know it. You need to look at this year as an adventure. This will be your only year in your life that you live in a dorm room so you need to soak it up while you can. Just go with the flow, and take advantage of the many opportunities that are given to you, such as getting involved. Join a club so you have something to put on your resume and so you can meet even more people. You're going to love it! Love, Lindsey

Finish college before you get to old!

The advise I would give my self is that college is something you will be excited to attend and the friends you will make is great.

Hang in there! As a returning college student (after about 25 years or so) I would encourage anyone to keep trying and pursue their dreams, not matter how long it has been since they have been in school! Being able to return to school after all these years is a huge accomplishment and I am very proud of myself, but it takes courage and perseverance to overcome the adjustments...learning how to learn all over again. I attended college as a high school student back in 1985 so that I could fulfill my credit requirements to graduate on time and I remember knowing that I wanted to continue my learning. I was not aware that I was eligible to obtain financial assistance due to my high grade point average (3.75) until a college recruiter came to my school. At that point I applied to Cornell College and was accepted so I was very excited! Ironically enough, there was a fork in my educational road and I decided to become a mother instead of pursuing college at that time. I did, however, sign up for classes through my local community college and finished my first year. Anything is possible!

It's easy to get caught up on other people's opinions on what you should major in, but don't be afraid to explore your options. Not every major is meant for everyone, take a risk on what you find interesting to you. At the end of the day you are the person who is going to pay your bills. Take advantage of the resources at school because you can never have too many questions or answers. They know what they are talking about, trust me. Although, mom and dad won't understand much of what is going on in school, keep them informed. It will help them understand what attending a university consists of, allowing a growth in your bond with them. Always remember, "Smile. The road to success may be hard, but it's always worth the struggle," unknown. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be consistent. Enjoy every moment in your journey as a first-generation student. You're not the first person in the world to graduate as a first-generation student, but you can be the first to inspire someone else to join the adventure.

Take education seriously, but still go out and have fun. Classes are harder than you think. You really need to take time to study and do your best to pay attention in your classes and take good notes. Don't let your education and grades slip through your finger tips. Really take advantage of it all and apply what you are learning to your life now and your future life. You will be amazed at what you have learned. Along with studying, make sure you take some breaks and go on adventures with the friends you meet. Make memories that will last a life time. Don't be afraid to try something crazy or new. Join a club that interests you, even if it doesn't relate to your major. Have fun and study hard, everything else will fall into place.

The advice I would give to myself is to strive and pass all my classes with an A because college life is much harder than being a high school senior.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself is to get out of my comfort zone and go make new friends. Learn to meet other people and become friends with them, but also keep the friends you have. Learning to make new friends my senior year of high school will make it easier to make friends in college. Put yourself out there and always be yourself. You don't have to become friends with every person you meet, but be nice to everyone and get to know them.

I would tell myself to make sure to get a computer so I can have an easier time doing my assignments. I would also say that I can get extra help from the library and check out books to give myself an advantage in class. Waking up and going to school in the morning when I have afternoon classes is also something that I would let myself know so there is not a chance of missing the bus and being late for classes. Not getting bent out of shape over english assignments is another thing I would let myself know that needs to be done. Other advice myself would recieve would be to get all of the projects done and out of the way in teh beginning and to avoid taking chemistry during the summer. The suummer courses should be reserved for classes like english. Last but not least, I would give the idea of getting involved in a major that uses math so I am not in a limbo and to check my course requirements at the student center website. All of this advice would be helpful and prevent any mishaps.

I would tell myself to enjoy life while your a kid. Even though that Stats test and school committments were important, don't forget that this is your last year of not paying bills and having big responsibilities, so don't take it for granted. I know you're excited to be an 'adult' but you have the rest of your life to be an adult, live each moment in the moment and remember how lucky for everything you have. Love, Taylor

I would tell myself that it is okay to be scared. I tend to overthink and have mini heart attacks when change is about to happen, but even though I welcome change with open arms, I worry about what's going to happen next. I would also tell myself to take things at a slow pace and try not to overwhlem myself with so much. But rather than just focusing on your breathing, focus on the good times amd memories that come along in a brand new journey. Like it is said, it's not just the destination that counts, but the journery as well, well something along those lines! But with this new change and growing indepence, you will soon be able to overcome your obstacles and be the success story I know you can be.

Grow up! Moving out of your parents house will not give you the independence you are seeking. I know it might not seem like it now but your parents know what they are talking about. You know how dad keeps telling you, you should follow in his footsteps and be a nurse? You hate the idea right? That is because you're so determined to be your own person that you do not realize it is what YOU want out of life. If you keep on this path you are headed down you will be a senior in college, with no more financial aid available to you because you went to an overpriced university, and you will have a degree in something you don't want because you were childish and did not listen to your parents. It is not worth it, you do not even get the "college life" you're looking for because you spend your free time working to pay for the apartment, you had to have. After four years, you end up where you are now, only without money to pay for your education and drowning in debt. Please grow up, before it's too late.

"Apply yourself! Fill out scholarships and research schools more throughly and make sure that you are content with your decision and not just trying to fill out others expectations for you."

I would probably start by telling myself to prepare for the future. You need to take a course in a college than going into the Air National Guard. I would have persued in my passion of history and become an archelogist with a BA in science. Dreaming of becoming the next Indiana Jones, I would love to take the time to explore KV5 in the Valley of the Kings in Eygpt. The tomb of KV5 is where the pharoah during Moses time made for his 100 children. I want to travel the world learning about different cultures because I am a people person now. It took a public speaking class in eight grade to open a silent closed vault of ideas. Also, I would tell myself to be more organized, study hard and not let life distract me from my goals. Trust in Jesus with everything.and not to lean on my own understanding. Taking math more seriously as well as more subjects to prepare for college life. I would have made sure that I received a driver's license earlier. Having a family life could have waited ten years so I would be more matured and ready for them.

I would tell myself the importance of saving up for college and applying for as many scholarships that you are able to, in order to not take out any loans and be in debt after graduation from college.

In college you need to be able to establish a organized system for yourself to manage your time in not only school but your life. In college you need to be able to organize yourself for classes, assignments, tests, and study time. When your going to class to be prepared for your lecture already knowledgable of the the material to be more productive in class. Managing life isnt easy the amount of sleep you get every day the time your work requires you to be flexible with school and be responsible for all the assignments that need to met at organized schedules.

The work load is less, so everything you're doing now will all be worth it. It's okay that you aren't going to a top university, you're going to have better opportunities here. You'll be happy and you're going to make friends. For the rest of the school year and summer, don't stress. Finish what is necessary for senior year and do scholarships over the summer. That aside, have fun. Money is going to be a problem, but it will be handled; it's not worth making yourself sick over. It's a lot to handle, but college has always been your destination- the one thing you've always been sure about. Just in the first semester, you'll learn so much. And I don't mean from the books. It'll all be worth it in the end, so don't doubt yourself. Go to college and don't stress over money now. Just go with the flow.

Don’t fight change, embrace it. That is the main principle I wish I knew going into college. When I started, I fought the process every step of the way and definitely made it harder on myself. I didn’t want to change my study habits even though my test grades proved something needed to change. In high school, being naturally smart allowed me to get good grades in classes without much effort. College was a different story and I wish I was mentally prepared for what was now expected out of me. Now that I am a senior in college, I finally understand that I came to college to change myself. I have dreams of being a nurse and that requires a lot of changing and growing as a person. Another small detail I would want to tell myself is Mrs. Robb is right; I need to strive for progress, not perfection. I spent too much of my time in college trying to be perfect and competing with others. Now I simply focus on the progress I have made and continue to make. It allows me to have a much brighter outlook on my journey so far.

I would make sure to tell myself that money matters and that it's nothing to take lightly or not think about. I would make sure to tell myself to get on looking for scholarships and grants because it would lead to a better relationship with my parents and cause a lot less stress for everyone.

Just because it's "high school", don't mess around and not pay attention in class and just get by with your grades. All this the things you learn in high school will contribute to what you do and learn in college. Doing the best you can in high school will benefit you in college, possibly even getting you through college faster than expected. The decisions you are making now have an everlasting impact on your future.