Augustana University Top Questions

Never reside with a housemate who is not on a lease. Even when unofficial subleasing was possible, no authority held the housemate accountable for paying bills, and great upheaval was needed to remove the unwanted guest. This became especially problematic when the aforementioned resident agitated friends and romantic relations and also purportedly used methamphetamine. Never lose faith in yourself. The world will constantly doubt your mettle. Explicit and implicit messages will daily remind you to give up. Find many reasons to defy them. Never lose sight of the big picture. There were days—even weeks—last year when I looked forward to nothing short-term. When my part time job scheduled me nearly 40 hours per week on top of a demanding, full-time academic course load, I wanted to drop out, quit my job, and never look back. I completed large swaths of tasks in dutiful fashion until I rekindled a zeal for working, studying, and daily living. Afterwards, the obligations no longer burdened me. I wish I wasted less time wracked with anxiety about all the commitments and enjoyed every day more. I have learned for the future, but could have avoided great drudgery.

Keep your head up and your eyes upon the Lord. This life is hard. People can be hurtful. One of the biggest obstacles you'll face is yourself and your own shortcomings. Everything can be a learning experience. As long as you're aware of and open to seeing your mistakes, you will continue to learn and grow from them, applying what you've learned to future experiences and situations. Be yourself, or rather, be who God created and called you to be. Many people are continually striving to be who society tells them they need to be. Stay true to yourself and the Lord though, and one day, people will start looking to you as a role-model and guide. You might feel like you don't measure up, or that you're not good enough. But just wait. Eventually they'll look up, and they'll see you for who you really are. They'll realize how beautiful you are, for you are God's child. They'll see how wonderful you are, but you know the truth - what they're seeing is really Jesus Himself living inside you.

As a current college student I would go back and tell myself to relax when first coming into college and not overextend myself in clubs and other excessive activities. I would also say to take some time and find who you sincerely are as a person and to associate with others that you find share a common characteristic you find in yourself and want in others. Along with that I would also encourage myself to stay focused on courses and also find others who are also involved in their learning, beacuse that is what going to college is all about. Also I would stress the fact not to get too stressed about your future, because the future always changes and to have something you think is concrete could one day turn to puddy. Lastly I would suggest to focus on your weakest subject while maintaining your strengths to become a overall better student and person.

I would advise my high school self to apply for more scholarships and save more money. College is more expensive than I originally thought. I would also tell myself to be completely honest when taking the survey for the roommate assignment. Another piece of advice I would give is to work harder on my people skills. Not only will I need it for making connections in college, but also in the line of work for which I am in training. I would also stress the fact that taking dual credit classes is a very good idea; those classes count as college credits and are easier in high school. My final piece of advice would be not to worry as much and try to have more fun. However, I know what I’m like so I doubt I would listen to myself on that last bit.

If I could go back and give myself any advice it would be to study, study, study and then study some more. When I was in high school, I never thought to schedule a time to study, I just expected my mom to tell me when I should study. I was doing myself a disservice by relying on my mom to keep me motivated. I realize now that it is all on me to decide when and how much I need to study. And now that I am in college, I need to study a lot more and study harder subjects as well. If I could give advice to myself as a high school student, or any high school student, it would be to study in any free time you have and do not depend on other people to make a schedule for you.

I would tell myself to listen to my mom, she really does know better. I would also tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions and there is no such thing as a stupid question. Most of all I would tell myself to enjoy every moment of college life, because it goes by way to fast and at one moment I will really have to grow up and enter the real world.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself, first I would tell myself that everything is going to work out. I remember the consuming fear I had about choosing the right college, making new friends, and moving away from home. Therefore, I would consolidate my past self and tell her to hold onto her confidence and patience. I would admit the transition is difficult, but she has strength still undiscovered that will help her adjust. Next, I would tell her to stay strong and open her mind to the oppertunities she is presented with. Being an undecided senior, I constantly had other people pushing me towards making the decision they expected me to make. The stress was overwhelming, and I let it overtake me. I missed a lot of scholarship oppertunities and never decided a major. I entered college as an comfortably undeclared major. I never took up the oppertunities to job shadow around my community, go to career fairs, and research possible careers. This decision is my greatest regret. I was left trying to set up these oppertunities myself while also balancing my work and class load. Lastly, I would say, "Never lose faith."

Lauren, as a college athlete, your time is going to be limited. People have been telling you for awhile that things get busier in college, but none of them balanced a sport with classes either. It will seem overwhelming at first, but you can make it. Just get your priorities straight as soon as you get there. You are there to get an education and track is a bonus. Get school work before you go hang out with friends, because they eat up time quickly. You need sleep as an athlete too, so don't stay up all hours of the night. You can't study the same way in college as you did in high school. It's ok to study a week before a test, and it is highly encouraged. Don't procrastinate. It will bite you in the butt.

If I were to travel back in time and have an insightful conversation with my high school self, I believe I'd have much advice to give myself. Someone going to college can choose a couple different paths, they can be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} fully dedicated to their education and study 24/7, they can party all the time making many new friends but do extremely poorly in their classes, or they can get involved in the fun and safe activities taking place on campus as well as spending ample time with their studies. That is the best road to take. Get involved as much as you can, meet new people, do fun things, however do not spread yourself too thin, and make sure you still have ample time for your education. When I first started, I wanted to be involved in everything, musicals, clubs, etc. and I held down two jobs and pulled good grades. Although that was a blast and I loved it, I was absolutely exhausted and stressed out. Therefore, my official advice would be encouragement to get involved with campus activities, however still make ample time for education and to not try to do too many things.

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior in high school, I would give myself a few pieces of advice. First, I would tell myself to be prepared to study more than I think I should; college is a lot more challenging than high school so I need to do a lot more studying. My next bit of advice is to be a "social butterfly." In other words, I would encourage myself to meet as many new people as I could. The more friends I make will result in a more enjoyable college experience. Being outgoing and friendly in college will ultimately help in the future because it teaches me valuable social skills. The same goes for professors; the more I interact with them, the more likely they are to write a good Letter of Recommendation for me for graduate school. Also, I would tell myself to not be afraid to take risks. College is a time of exploration and finding who I am as an individual. Risks may lead to mistakes, but then I can learn from those mistakes. Lastly, enjoy every minute of it because it flies by fast.

Dear me, College is incredible, but it is also very difficult. High school prepares you for your classes and for living on your own, but it does not prepare you for the transition from high school to college. I need you to know that it is going to be so hard. Making friends is tough, having a stranger as a roommate is tough, and missing mom's home cooking is tough. You will feel alone at times and you will certainly be overwhelmed, but I need you to just keep stumbling forward. Fake a smile, be a little more outgoing than usual, and try something new. If you can struggle through the transition as if you know what you're doing, one day you will stop missing home and find yourself calling college home instead. It takes time, but I promise, it is worth the ride. Love and hugs, Me

I have completed my first semester of college. I wish I had known how difficult the courses were at college. If I were back in high school, I would take advantage of more college level courses that were offered. This would have prepared me for rigor and expectations of college courses. I would advise seniors in high school to develop better study skills. Learn how to study by breaking down textbook chapters and taking notes from the textbook and lectures. I would also suggest reviewing class materials and vocabulary throughout the course by establishing study groups with peers. Participating in class discussions is another great way of contributing to the class but also solidifying concepts and building a collaborative relationship with the instructor. Overall, I would suggest taking advantage of everything you can in high school to prepare for the college experience.

If I could, I would sit myself down and say, "Listen, college is going to be so incredibly difficult. I know you think you know how hard it will be, but you have absolutely no idea. For the first semester you will come back from class and you will cry. You will cry tears of frustration, tears of loneliness, tears of sorrow, tears heartache, tears of failure... You will call Mom and Dad and all you will do is cry. Speaking of Mom and Dad, this place you are so ready to leave, this home, this town, these people; yeah, you are going to wish you could go back in time and return to this place. You are going to look back and remember how happy you were and how simple life was. In college, you will be tested in so many ways. You will question your beliefs, your identity, and your strength. But you know what? You will grow so much! Through your struggles and your sorrow you will rediscover the world and more importantly, yourself. You will fail. Multiple times. But after your failures, you will succeed. And there is nothing more satisfying than that.”

The first piece of advice I would give to my high school self is to get involved when given the opportunity. So many of the friends I have made are through my work and the clubs I've joined. Clubs and organizations are a great way to meet people with similar views and interests. Another piece of advice I would give to my high school self is to not be afraid to ask for help, especially with homework. Professors are always more than willing to help students with any questions. Get to know your professors so you feel comfortable asking them. Also, tutors and friends are always available for help so don't be afraid to ask them either. The first test in any course is always a little hard, but once you get through that one and know where you are study wise, the rest is smooth sailing. Finally, take advantage of any opportunity given, whether it is an extra seminar or a leadership position or a fun j-term class. You never know how much you like something until you try it, so don't let those opportunities for new experiences pass right on by.

Starting college classes was a shock. I had expected the transition to be easier because I had consistently taken college classes in high school. I was wrong. At home, I had a mother who told me to do my homework and a stepfather who told me when to go to bed. In my dorm room, there was no one but me. My classes were fast-paced and the teachers were unfamiliar. It was terrifying. I was completely unprepared for how much time that I had to spend studying. Now, I've never been a person for motivational speeches. They bore me, sounding overly rehearsed and insincere. That being said, I have always been one to rise to a challenge and perform well under pressure. I hear so many people say, "things will get better," or "just hang in there." That doesn't work on me. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that it gets so much harder. I would tell myself to start developing good study skills and practice god time management, because after graduation, life gets much more complicated. This would have been my motivation.

Emily, don't play softball. Don't do it. Yes, it does pay for a huge part of your schooling, but you're going to feel owned. You're going to feel trapped. You're going to feel so stuck in something you don't want to do that it will drive you absolutely crazy, and you're going to hate the person you become. But do go to Augie. The friends you make are the best people you could meet, and I guarantee they will be by your side through everything. Plus, they like to prank people too, so you know it'll be fun. But if you take one piece of this away, just don't play softball. You're going to think that it would be waste not to play since you've been playing it since you were 6, but it won't be. You're going to learn that happiness and money are not linked. Softball may cover half of your schooling, but I promise that it definitely is not worth waking up, dreading your day, and feeling trapped and miserable every single day.

If I went back in time and talked to my high school self, I would give him this advice. Do not worry about yesterday's struggles, today's struggles, or tomorrow's mystery. Go with your friends and know that your life is shaped by the people you meet. Every person is different and sometimes you don't like to be hang out with them or be near them, but they can teach you the most about yourself. Sometimes, the person in the back of the room by himself or the person who you never talk to beside you can make the biggest impact on your future. It's because of others that you find yourself and your direction in life. Do not worry about the big things of the small things, but look to help others just as if it was you struggling. We all struggle and the best friends come from helping those that you help. They are true friends who will remember you for the rest of their lives. They tell you who you are and who you are becoming. The rest of your life you will be in situations that call you to be there.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a young and immature high school senior, the most important thing I would say is that high school was a breeze. Expressing this to my younger self would mean that I was able to prepare myself a little stronger not only mentally, but physically too. College is a grind and being able to realize the things that need to be done and putting your priorities in order will pay off when the year all comes to an end. Placing the academic and mental priorites ahead of being with friends or leisure is something we never would have to deal with in high school and is one of the hardest transitions I have had to make. Placing these priorities above others is what put me in the opportunistic setting that I have been lucky enough to be part of. Finding a routine is also a huge part of what makes a young college student successful. Also, learning to use the resources available such as study groups and the professors is a great habit to have.

There is plenty of advice I would give to myself as a high school senior. The most important advice, however, would be to go into college and the transition with a completely open mind and an open heart. Nobody knows what exactly to expect while transitioning into college so hoping for the best, but expecting the worst is sometimes the best idea. I would also advise myself to be extremely outgoing and to break out of my shell early on. It makes finding friends and building relationships so much easier. Being very nonjudgemental towards others is also very beneficial in making the transition. It is so important to keep in mind that everyone struggles their first year of college and everyone handles the stress and transition in a different way. Therefore, one must be understanding, patient, and willing to lend a helping hand for anyone whenever needed. One last piece of advice I would give myself would be to remember that who you were in high school means absolutely nothing in college. College is a brand new start so take full advantage of the opportunity to recreate yourself and start fresh! Enjoy and don't stress!

The advice i give myself is to always work hard and put school work first to obtain a great degree to earn your career dream. Have fun and make it the best years of your life, but stay focused on the task at hand.