Auburn University Top Questions

If I were able to go back in time and give my high school self a piece of advice, I would have told him that success is only obtained when preperation meets opportunity. Going through high school, preperation was easily achieved due to structure. During college however, structure is no longer forced upon you as it was in high school. By forcing discipline upon yourself to create a structured enviroment, you will be prepared when an outstanding opportunity arises. If I were able to give myself this piece of advice, I believe that I would have had an even greater college experience than the incredible experience that this University has given me already.

Try harder in highschool to prepare for college. Mostly work on time management.

I would tell my high school senior self to suck it up and apply for scholarships. I would tell myself to spend more time with my brothers, and to build a better relationship with them. I would tell myself to focus some time on myself, to be a high school senior and not to take on all the difficulties of our parent's divorce. I would tell myself to enjoy my relationship with Marcel, my boyfriend, but to not get ahead of myself; for, even though it may seem like that relationship could last forever, he is not the one.

If I could tell high school me one thing, it would be "don't". Don't skip first period tomorrow, you're going to have a quiz on it the next class. Don't go to the volleyball game tonight, you need to study for that test you have tomorrow. Don't make friends with that girl in your gym class, she brings nothing but trouble. Don't join three clubs when you are already a captain of your varsity team, a leader in your show choir, an editor of the yearbook, and an honor roll student who in in national honor society, which requires lots of volunteer work. Don't spend so much of that graduation money, save it for the fall. Don't rush to get your license, it means paying for gas. Don't be so eager to leave home. It's a big scary world out there and you might think independence is the only thing you want, but surviving on your own isn't all it's cracked up to be. Lastly, don't forget to appreciate everything mom and dad are doing for you, and spend every minute with them that you can.

A flaming red heat would wash over my face. It would creep up my neck and blossom across my freckled skin. I hated feeling awkward. I tucked my chin quickly, mumbled an incoherent excuse, and high tailed it out of the classroom. That was in high school. My biggest challenge and redeemable quality in college is to smile. It sounds so simple, and truly it is. If you had told my high school self to pick my chin up and look people in the eye I would have cried at the idea of such a confrontational reaction. But now, I make it a point to state my mind, meet new people, and work through social awkwardness without running away. Don't get me wrong, social anxiety is something that I have battled with throughout my childhood, so in one semester I have not been dramatically cured. Smiling opens the heart and body up for acceptance. It takes your bluntness, stiffness, and nervousness and softens it into mutual understanding. I have begun to see my own value. I have seen my own power, which has led to having further confidence and of course, further smiling.

Why didn't I apply? Why did I have to accumulate so much student debt from out of state tuition because I didn't bother to apply? All I had to do was log onto these websites and write these essays. Here I am today. A year ago I was a naive high school senior. If I could just wind back the clocks exactly one year, oh the difference it would make! I wish I would have applied for scholarships. I would be close to debt free and the government wouldn't email me monthly reminding me of my pending debt. Oh if my careless high school self could just see exactly how broke I really am. I had everyone nagging me about it. My mom, dad, teachers, friends, and employers, but yet here I remain. I am at a zenith in my career. I can see the next mountain range but I can't reach it without help. Oh this gap wouldn't be nearly the stretch if I had just applied. Oh you naive senior, why couldn't you just apply for financial help, instead of sitting here a year later playing this silly game of catch up.

I would tell myself that I should have listened to my dad a little more when it came to studying for the ACT. I found out that if I studied little harder than I did, I could have gotten the 2 extra points needed to receive a scholarship from the Navy ROTC.

Follow your heart (or your gut) down the path it so chooses. This does not mean to follow others. College is a time to discover what you love doing, and figuring how to make that work for you for the rest of your life. This does not mean the road will be easy, so do not "cop out" of difficult situations when things are challenging. Greater sense of accomplishment comes from greater effort. You will be proud of these accomplishments, and the place that helped you find your way. War Eagle!

If I could go back and talk to my high school self I would tell myself to develop better study habits. In high school I didn't have to study much consqequently causing me to think I wouldn't have to study much in college. However I quickly realized that wasn't the case. I was not prepared to endure the workload of a college student and initially my grades suffered. The quote, "for every 3 hours of class, study 6 hours" is completely true and if I could go back and tell my high school self that piece of advice I would. I would also tell myself to not be so hard on myself. If I know I tried my best I shouldnt beat up on myself if I didn't get the grade I particularly wanted

I would tell myself to take my grades more seriously and to treasure the moments that were made with the friends in high school. I would also tell myself to take more challenging classes.