Veronica
There I am, surrounded by friends who I feel I've know for a lifetime, even thought it's only been a couple months. We are laughing about They don't care about being popular or winning athlete of the year. Everything that seemed to be so important in high school is just a distant memory, more like a waste of time. As a senior, I worried about being absolutely perfect and trying to prove myself, not only to surrounding peers and teachers, but to myself. I needed to be the best. College is not about being the best. It's about surviving. If only I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stop attempting perfection. It cannot be reached. I learned that there is a difference between being your best and being the best. Ultimately being your best is all that matters and being the perfect reflection of yourself is so much more benefitial than being the perfect person. That is the advice I would give to my high school self, as I relfect on my first year of college.
Lauren
Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to be careful who I trust.There are so many peope to meet and so many new friends to make. You will want to make friends with everyone, but be careful. You need to be more aware and notice people who talk about themselves constantly. They will not make you happy and drive you crazy. Surround yourself with people who are genuine and care. Also know to leave a relationship if you guys fight all the time. Relationships are supposed to make you happy and if they dont, lose the guy. Also, do not focus on what other people think, only yourself. That is what will make you happy. I would tell myself to focus on myself and not just on making friends. Feeling insecure about friends is easy, but if they are not there for you, they are not true friends. Focus on your school work, that is why you are at school after all. Keep the prize in mind and know that nobody else will get that god GPA for you. You are responsible and make good decisions. Continue to do that for yourself.
briana
i will tell myself to work hard and to look for as many scholarships as possible. i will tell myself to listen and pay attention more in class. i would study more and ask for help when i need it. i would make sure i won't end up in the type of situation that i'm in now.
Lily
Although I have only completed my first semester of college I have learned so much. The transition was definitely a challenge to me because I did not know what to expect. I wish I could talk to myself as a high school senior. If I could, I would tell my high school self to relax. That everything would be okay even though it is extremely overwhelming at first, it is for all the other freshmen too. I would advise myself to be more outgoing and open up to people. Remind myself that I should be confident in who I have become because there are people out there who will like me for who I am. I would promise myself that being homesick only lasts a little while. Also, that it is worth it to go to every class. Most of the professors have their students’ best interests in mind and are very willing to offer extra help. I would assure myself that all my hard work would pay off.
Anne
If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college, the main piece of advice I would give myself is to be confident. As a freshman I doubted myself a lot. I did not think that I could be one of the “smart kids.” This belief and self doubt prevented me from seeking out some opportunities that I wish I had taken. For instance, I had the opportunity to enter the Honors Program but declined because I thought that I would not be able to handle the work load. I realize now that I missed a great opportunity. It certainly would have been an extra adjustment to college if I was a member of the honors program, but I believe that it would have been a great learning experience. I wish that I had a larger degree of self efficacy upon entering college and challenged myself by accepting the invitation to the honor program. I would tell my high school self not to put a limit on what I can achieve and to be confident in my abilities.
Myra
To never let anyone make you think something different. Your own thoughts is what counts and just give your self more time to over think. Your decison is never wrong.
Dakota
Dakota, before you start college, apply for as many scholarships as you can, and most importantly make sure you apply for financial aide. When you start school, make sure you try to make as many friends as possible and join a club or two, this way you can ensure a support system and have help before you even need it. These are just a couple tips you should know about college life and making the transition.
Nicole
Nicole, pay attention! You've never had to pay for your education however coming fall every decision you make is going to cost you money! If you decided you're too tired for homework that's money coming from your pocket. You may not think that learning algebra is going to help your future, but it will make your college life easier. Keep your head in the game! Listen to the words you teacher's are telling you, they mean something. They will help you next year. Do your homework...everyday! It's called discipline and you will need it next year. Don't let your occasional laziness keep you down. Your capable of so much if you merely believe in yourself.
Brittany
I would definitely tell myself to be more confident in who I am. I can be very nervous when meeting new people and I am constantly afraid that they will not accept me for who I am. During my first year, I soon realized that if I just be myself I will find the people that are worth becoming friends with because they will be the ones who I can be myself around.
I also would tell myself that I should never try to be someone that I am not. Even if it is just the little characteristics about myself that I change, I am not being trut to myself. Luckily, my roommate and I were a perfect match and this helped me to realize how silly it is to be embarrassed about who you are. I can't change who I am and in order to succeed in life I need to accept myself for all my assets and my faults. No one is perfect and by accepting this fact and knowing who I am, I was able to learn where my time and energy was best spent to improve my social and academic skills.
Kate
Just breathe, rest well, excercise daily and never ever feel like the end of something is enough. Continue to push youself to reach new heights every day. There is so much to be learned and so much to experience, never stop moving. Learn to say yes to things you wouldn't typically say yes to, but know when to say no and trust your gut. Keep your head up, your eyes open, and your mind free to embrace the unexpected because you never know what it might lead to. The future holds amazing opportunities that are all paving the path that defies your existence. Make it special, make it great, make it you.
Andrea
I would tell myself to follow my heart and pick the school that I feel at home. Which ever school feels like somewhere i would want to be for my next 4 years.
Jordan
Embrace the Unexpected
College is a time meant for establishing values and laying the foundation for a better life. Would it not be better if it was my own life instead of somebody else’s? While advice from friends and family is helpful in navigating the murky waters that are collegiate life, it should not be taken as literal instructions in how to attend college. Marching to a campus with misconceptions based on opinions from those who have sailed through college before will only result in catastrophe. The student’s plans will crumble into ruins, leaving him brokenhearted and disheveled. Moreover, remaining uptight would not allow for any growth. Instead an outline should be designed so that maximum flexibility can be obtained. Unexpected events are the blessings of college. Decisions made on a whim can result in wondrous opportunities (However, they can also devastate lives so be careful). That is why one must look at college as if it was a block of clay. Once a shape has been molded, it can always be adjusted to meet newly discovered needs. I am hoping that once my time at Assumption expires I will have sculpted a "Jordan" instead of a "David."
Tina
If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself in many ways. First I would mainly tell myself to focus on my gpa . If I had known my gpa was so improtant back then I wouldn't of paid so much attention on my social life. Secondly is to take more college credits courses. When I was in high school I took so much time taking pharmacy technician dual enrollment courses . Which took time away from my other courses. If I had known that college consume a lot of time , I would of taken the college credits in high school. Lastly I would tell myself to pick a very good college . thank you so much for a chance to win this scholarship.
Zebb
Hey Zebb,
I know what youre thinking bud, I used to think the same things quite some time ago, and I just want to set some of your anxiety at ease.
The first thing you need to know is this: no, college is not a paper writing prison run by slave driving professors. Believe it or not, some of the the stories you heard about college in high school are just as fake as some of the stories you heard about high school when you were in middle school. That doesn't mean the workload isn't there, but you certainly don't need to stress about your upcoming assignments. Trust me on this - I've done them already.
Also, I know you're worries about heading off to a city for college. Coming from a small town in Maine, I don't balme you, but it isn't actually too bad. It's certainly safe to walk around a bit and enjoy yourself.
One last thing before I've got to go, Zebb. You'll fit in just fine, so relax.
Sincerely,
You
P.S. - Conrats on graduating. I'm proud of you.
Grace
If I had the opportunity to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would try to reassure myself that I am capable of what is needed of me. I am able to make friends and the academic aspect is different, but totally doable. Staying organized and keeping track of due dates is extremely important! I would try and help past me see that I had been preparing a long time for college, and would be fine when I needed to get to work. I would also tell me that everyone on campus (including the professors) are very helpful and there a huge number of resources I can go to for help.
Also, the change as far as living situation is hard, but the time away from family will bring you closer together when you are home. Gaining more independence is worth dealing with some small homesickness in the beginning (plus video chat exists for a reason!). Overall, stay organized and be confident in yourself.
Danielle
Pick the college for yourself and pickthe school you feel most comfortable. Go to a college because you want to and not because someone else will want you to. It is your life, only you can make your decisions.
kelsey
I would tell myself that high school isn't everything. When you are in high school you think it is your world; every drama is a defining situation that builds who you are and how people perceive you. I would like to advise myself that that is far from the truth. College is where you truly find yourself and you get to start over. This is especially important for all those who get bullied to hear because there is bigger and better things outside of high school. I would also tell myself to not take life so seriously. Yes, it is good to try your hardest in high school, but being involved is equally as important as grades. I wish that I had tried harder in sports so that I could have played in college and build those team bonding relationships that I see alot of my current classmates enjoying. There are always new chapters in life and college is one of them. It is not as scary as some portray, but is filled with freedom, hard life lessons, life-long friendships, and a curriculum you can both appreciate and enjoy.
Sonny
To definitely take the time to learn about a college and what it offers. They have many clubs and organizations that helps students to succeed, get involved, and make their time here less overwhelming. Never hesitate to ask for help, take initiative.
Kelly
The transition is not as hard as it looks and it is not as scary as you thought it would be. There is no reason as to why you can't at least try to attend, no matter how nervous you are. I guarantee you will like it more than you think you will. It is also much easier to transition into school right after high school when you are still use to having homework and studying than trying to get back into the swing of things later on down the road. Also, you will not be able to find a very good and successful job nowadays without a degree.
Adam
The advice that i would give myself is that i would tell myself to apply to scolarships and try to get as many as i could so that it wouldnt be so hard to get through school and after school with all the bills. I would also urge myself to save some money and start paying off the loans while i was in school instead of waiting untill i finished school.