Bellevue College Top Questions

If I could, for only one moment, capture my own attention as a high school senior I would advice myself not only to stay in school, but the follow the path of happiness. I would tell myself not to listen to my parents, or my teachers, or my counselors, because they don't know everything, despite their confident facade. I would advice myself to jump into a variety of hobbies, instead of avoiding them like the plague, in order to discover what ultimately captures my passion and my heart, and tell myself to run with it, and don't look back, stop for moments to appreciate the beauty in what you are doing, step back for a second to admire it, but never give into it, always be on top of it. Be open to everything and attached to nothing.

I would give anything to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior. My parents didn't discuss with me the importance of attending college and so I missed out on the opportunity to earn an education when I was younger. Instead, I decided to go back to school at the age of 30 and it has been very challenging. The advice that I would give myself would be to take a year after graduating from high school to travel so that you can discover what interests you and explore the culture of the world. It is so much harder to find the time and money to do this after you have started your career or a family. After traveling for a year, follow your passion and choose a school that will offer you the best education possible for your chosen career goals. If you are still unsure about your professional goals, just start the first two years and a focus will emerge. The important thing is that you make education a priority so that you are given the opportunities that you deserve.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say that college is all about self motivation. It is no longer your teachers responsibility to make sure you do your homework. There is no such thing as free education past the point of high school. You are going to pay a lot of money for your education and it is your responsibilty to get everything you can out of college. Whether it is learning how to manage your time, or learning about business and finance, college is a place where you decide what you are going to do with the information given to you. College is another stepping stone to your future career and even your future lifestyle. I would tell myself that college is the priority over everything else if you plan to have a successful future.

I would give myself this advice: "In 20 years time, the education that you are choosing to not get right now will be the single biggest regret of your life. It's hard to convey this, and say it in a way that makes sense to someone who's 18, but please don't let time slip away from you. You may not want a college education now, but you will be desperate for it in 20 years! This is because you will have had years to reflect on what you missed and the affect it has had on, literally, every aspect of your life. The idea of going to college or deciding what to do with your life is overwhelming to you right now; but it doesn't have to be tackled all at once. Better you do a little something now and over the next few years than have a mountain of time to make up for when you're older. Trust me, anything you learn now will make your life easier later on and nothing you learn will ever be a waste of time."

Dear Anthony, I know high school was tough and at times there were mental breakdowns. I know, I was there. I'm sure that you remember your junior year. The rumor that "junior year is going to be your hardest, so you be better be ready" become a reality and at times a nightmare through your AP U.S. History class. However, don't look at the negative and stress that you went through but rather take a look back and see not what you learned from that experience but what you became from it. The hard work that you put in paid off because you passed the AP test. Your work ethic was put to the test and you surpassed your expectations. In college you will come to find that those characteristics will keep you afloat. Take those characteristics and run off with them all the way to the finish line. I have no doubt that you shall become a better student through your hardships and more relatable to others. Never back down from a challenge and always be on the lookout for doors filled with opportunities. Sincerely, Anthony Martinez

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior I would tell myself to do running start my senior year and continue to stay at a community college for two years, then transfer to any school of my choice. I ended up choosing this path but not until I was a week away from leaving for a four-year university. I am much happier now with the transfer because it seems great for a student who needs to work in order to pay for school. This option also helps to save some money, so that I could go to the four-year of my choice. For any high school senior that is paying for school themselves, I would tell them to consider going to a community college and then transfering so that only two years is th price of a full university.

?You must realize that the journey is the joy?, that is what I would say to myself as a high school senior. I drove myself with constant fear, the fear of not being successful. It was a burden that drove me to not live life; it robbed me of my present. In high school I was in honor society and enrolled in college level classes; basically anything I could do to ensure that was would be successful. I was just waiting for the day this success would come because when I reached it I believed than I would finally be happy. But I have come to realize that everything that I had done in high school didn?t matter in college. I did try my best and you should to but try to but find a balance in life, make a more friends, go to more dances, you must life in the present, not in the future. The future is an illusion, you can not let it control you. College will come soon enough and when it does live it, enjoy it, embrace it, but always do the best you can do and don?t forget to believe in yourself.

I don't think I would advise my younger self to do very differently than I already have, despite waiting a while after graduating high school to attend college. Because I did wait, I was mature enough to deal with the adjustments of college life more easily, and I could try my hardest in class. I think that the way things have already happened have worked out for the best, so I'd let the younger me know that it's all right to wait until she felt ready to attend college.

During my high school senior year, I did not have any idea of what I wanted to study. I went to Germany for one year after graduating and I was late in starting any application process to get into college in time. I finally started college this semester (a year and a half after graduating from Highschool), and it has been a little frustraring. So if I had the chance to go back and talk to myself during senior year, I would tell myself to start the application process, even if I didn't know what I wanted to do. This way, I would have had a much better advantage and could have started college immediately after arriving from Germany. Doing applications in time is an essential in going to college. Even if you don't know what your major is going to be, there is plenty of time to discover that in your first year of college.

Transitioning wise, don't be scared to make new friends and keep in touch with them and also its ok to be yourself. And also keep in touch with friends from high school and hang out whenever you can. There is a lot of time in between days and classes so spend time wisely and use the time to actually study and what not. studying will help you out. Dont slack it'll kick you in the butt later. And don't be afraid to ask for help and esp. financially also. Help is avaiable if you search for it. Just don't rely on yourself getting things done, ask for help and get a study group going so you have at least a group of people you can go to for help. Teachers are willing to help you out if you just ask for it. Just all in all don't be afraid of change, embrace change. Also know that change is good, its nothing to worry about, and if you are scared talk to someone about it. But yea, don't be afraid of change embrace it.