Arizona State University-Downtown Phoenix Top Questions

Greetings; I am you. No more questions, now, only ears: Following high school, I visualized that college would only be deemed unnecessary if I could work for myself in the ideal world. At age 19, I was the owner and founder of South Carolina's first modern cyber cafe. After successfully franchising selling my business, I find myself back to square one; jobless with little education. Little did I realize that despite my valiant efforts and unique experiences from owning my own corporate entity, college was still, to my amazement, valued higher than any experience in this wonderful world. Listen, young one, to my words ? college is never as stressful as it may appear in the eyes of a ?younger me?. If you are to succeed in an immediate college degree, your life will statically remain secure for the ages to come, whether you have the knowledge to work for yourself or whatever path your will entails. Just remember, my mirrored friend, that you will succeed no matter what choices lie ahead. With my words, you will surpass succession with college. Only then will this reflected image smirk back with confidence, knowing I--?we?, are secure.

I didn?t partake in a single college tour before beginning the application process. That, however, did not stop me from applying to schools I thought I wanted to attend. Upon letters of acceptance, I made my final decision based on my family?s suggestions. I accepted the invitation to attend Arizona State University- a large, warm-weathered school that offers reduced class sizes on a separate campus. Unfortunately, it?s only my second semester and I already realize how much my opinion differs from that of my family. I would much rather enjoy living on a large campus with extracurricular activities and a broad social atmosphere. Although warm weather is an advantage, I also miss being in a state with all four seasons. All in all, if I could go back to high school, I would tell myself to think independently from my family, while keeping my financial budget in mind. I should have found out which type of atmosphere suited me. Most importantly, I should have visited colleges in and out of state, sat in on classes with other students, and eaten meals in the community to ultimately figure out the setting in which I was most comfortable.

If I could go back in time and give high school senior me some advice about college life and the transition between high school and university, I would first and foremost tell myself to relax! There is absolutely, positively no reason whatsoever to be so stressed out. Not having a roommate will not doom you to a friendless college existence. Don?t think too much about the cafeteria food, odds are there is no cafeteria worker purposefully putting hairs in your food as some misguided form of revenge. When you walk into the wrong classroom, which you will- twice, laugh it off, odds are the people in there have done the same thing at least once in their college life. Take the work in stride, as much as the teachers threaten and scare you, failing is not a possibility because, contrary to how it seems, your professor wants to see you succeed. Perhaps the most important piece of advice I would give myself is this: live everyday to it?s fullest, open your eyes and take everything in because it goes by fast and you?ll want to remember this for the rest of your life.

I would tell myself that it really does pay off in the end to do your work, and listen to your teacher about developing good study habits before going to college. I also have learned that patience is a virtue, and that rushing in college gives you a D not a B. I would tell myself that life wasn't easy, and to take an easy on my family. After all they are going to be the most support you have in your life expcially in college where things get rough.

If I could go back in time, I would have told myself to really appreciate being in school. I recently moved to an area where no one really goes to college. I am truley blessed to have had this opportunity. In this economy, it is very important for a young adult to sign up for school. I would have also told myself to relax. I often times overload myself into all sorts of events. I have a job, volunteering, and school on my plate. The more stressed, the less I was actually thinking about the true problem at hand. Another thing I have learned is to keep up a relationship with your teacher. Never be too shy to ask or answer a question and always let your teacher know if something tragic has happened in your life to impede on your learning experience. For me, I have to deal with the stresses of having a boyfriend of five years join the military. I let some teachers know in case I do not want to talk about certain issues like the war.

The advice I would give my high school self would be to stop stressing out about college applications and enjoy your senior year. If you do not get into your first choice it is not the end of the world and you just have to take advantage of the other great opportunities waiting for you in the future.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to learn how to study and take notes. Thats pretty much the basis of college life. Having these two skills come in handy when one wants to succeed in college. Not only do you need to learn how to study and take notes, but you also have to have good time managment. When your organized you find time to get all of your work done while still being able to have a great social life (and if you don't socialize your college experience will be extremely stressful because its nice to just relax and have fun with friends after a hard days work of racking your brain with studying)

The advice I'd give to myself as a high school senior is to get procrastination out of my system as soon as possible. Due to my procrastination, I struggled a little bit with college life because it was so fast paced and deadlines came up before I knew. Also, doing things at the last minute didn't seem to end with a good grade like they did in my high school career. I believe if I would've fixed my procrastination before I left high school, I'd be sailing on easy street or at least nearby. Procrastination has been my one and only hinderance to my education. Well, I'd also tell my former self to learn how to study which is something that I didn't readily pick up in high school since I never studied nor really ever needed to. College really changed that mentality. After a semester of college, I'd tell myself to quit procrastinating and to invest in a studying strategies guide and learn it well.

I would tell myself to get as many facts as possible about the school. I would get information on the library,health services.transportation and career services. You have to be the one to take this into your own hands. Don't be stupid and with blinders on when starting out. I would also tell myself that it is going to be hard without having your parents help you with all your need. You have to be more independent than you were in high school. Getting help from your college counselor is helpful along with your peers in college. I have grown so much from college. I think know I have learned alot. I think I wouldnt been ready last year. I would tell myself to take one step at a time and to be patient and get all the facts you need. This is the best advice I can give myself.

After receiving mixed advice throughout high school and now experiencing college I would go back and tell myself to give greater respect to the teachers who pushed me to achieve so much more. For those I listened too and those I did not. Their experiences in college probably were quite different then my own but the teachers in my years of high school cared for my education and future. Knowing this I would have achieved so much more if I took all their advice much more seriously.