Benedictine College Top Questions

Never settle for less than your best. College is a new frontier: no local family, challenges like never before, and situations you've never been in. It's up to you to let these situations mold you into a better version of yourself. It's not up to your teachers or classmates to make college a good experience - it's up to you. Strive to do your best. And when the going gets though, you know what? Get going. You're tough. Just do it. Excuses don't cut it and you were made for more than procrastination. Don't fall for that. Be the change you want to see in your school and you will insire people around you. It's the little things in life that make all the difference, so be sure to reflect on how you are balancing your time. Know that in the end college is a small part of your life so enjoy it while you can. Take the time to savor the little things. You have years of life after college, but you have one chance to create lifetime memories. Make them unforgettable.

My advice, I would give would be to just be yourself, but also be open to new things. College is a lot different than highschool. It is also a lot more fun but here you are treated as adults and it is only your responsibilty to study hard, make good grades, and graduate with a major that you truly want to be able to use in your life!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school there is a lot I would want to say. For example, it does not matter what people think or to just live in the moment cause it will be over before you know it. But most of all I would want to tell myself to be kind to everyone and enjoy yourself. High school can very difficult but it is a lso a place where you will make best friends and memories that will last a lifetime. So make those memories good ones and have fun. I would tell myself to stop worrying. All the hard work will pay off and everything will be ok. You will go to a great college and will miss the people you became friends with in high school. Study hard and have fun.

If I could go back in time to visit my skinny, chlorine stained swimmers hair, friendly yet highly distractable self I would give two pieces of advice. First, the door to success and happiness has the ability be opened with a variety of keys. At this time in your life you can open that door with self-compassion. Yes, that means it's okay to take it easy on yourself. No, taking it easy on yourself won't make you grow soft. Second, I'd tell myself that there are things worth working for and believing in. To curb the youthful directionlessness I'd say that it's possible that you can find a career, interest, or relationships that are worth time, effort and sacrifice. Sticking ones neck out for something is a risk that also comes with a reward: satisfaction won't appear without it.

If I could go back in time and talk to that senior who knew everything and said college would be a breeze, I would have a lot to say. First, it is going to be a lot of hard work – more than anything you’ve had up to this point. No matter how good you were in high school, studying will become a necessity. If you choose not to study (and it seems that almost every freshman chooses not to at first), you are setting yourself up for a rude awakening. Just remember, it’s better to study and not need it, than to need it and not have studied. Despite the difficulties your classes will create (and they will) you will have a lot of fun too. Make yourself go out and meet your fellow students as some of them will become your life-long friends. Being away from your family will be a new experience that takes some getting used to but you will adjust in time (and making friends makes it all the more easy). Study hard and know that it will all pay off (although there is no way you can make yourself believe that initially).

What I would tell myself if I was a senior, I guess to get up off your ass and do something before its too late. I was late for inrolling in college so I didnt get the classes I really wanted; I was late to fill out scholarships and grants so It lead to a bruttle struggle paying for books and intution. I would do a lot of things over but I would tell myself not to waste so much your time. Between work and school and trying to have as much fun as I could before adult hood really stared, I forgot all about the future and that led to many other mistakes down the road. I have messed up a lot but I could have easily prevented this. When the college people would come to my class I just brushed them off; now I constanly regret it. I would tell myself "Zack your too talented to struggle like this. So go out there and don"t stop intill you realize what you can be." Thats what I would tell myself knowing how I was I still probably wouldnt have listen. But now I am ready . Thank you

If i could talk to my high school self, I would tell her that it's okay to not have everything figured out. When I headed to college I was set to get a degree in Biology. I thought I had to go into college with a degree in mind because I didn't want to be one of those people that was undicided. I did not want to fail. After changing my degree twice and finally deciding to double major, I realize its okay to change your mind or be undicided about things. When you are 18, everyone tells you, you need a plan for your life. I thought I had one, but I discovered my love for journalism my sophomore year of college. You don't know who you are at 18, people change. You discover new things when in college. It took me an extra semester to complete my journalism degree, but it was worth it. At 25, I still don't have all the anwsers, but it's still going to be okay. Most people twice my age still don't have their lifes firgured out. My advice try everything, learn from the results.

Dear Clare, Congratulations, you're almost there! This is your last year of high school, and next year you will be going to Benedictine College (spoiler alert!). I know Kansas seems like a random place to live for the next few years, but you'll have fun! Enjoy your last months of high school and being familiar with your surroundings. Things change when you go to college, but most things change for the better. The first few days away from home feel surreal, and college won't feel like home right away. This is okay. Soon enough, both home and college feel normal. Your family and friends will be there for you even though you are hours away. Don't be afraid to call home when you need to, but also remember to continue your journey toward independence. Branch out and meet your awesome new friends! God loves you very much, and He will never give you more than you can handle. Benedictine College is the right college for you, and you will not regret coming here! Love, Clare P.S. Thank you for taking those AP classes; they were worth it!

As a senior in high school, all I did was worry. I stressed about my grades, agonized over scholarship essays and college applications, fretted about my future roommate, and constantly feared all the various changes that would inevitably come with the transition from high school to college. Looking back, I can't help but laugh at my anxieties from a year ago. Here I am, with only a month left of my freshman year of college, and I am having the time of my life! College has already taught me so much about life, I have made some amazing friendships, and I have discovered that all my worries were quite ridiculous. So if I could go back in time, I would smack myself upside the head and tell myself not to worry. I'd say, "Self, chillax. Seriously. It WILL be okay! Worry will only make it worse. Instead, give God your stress and He'll do the rest. Then buckle up and get excited because college will be the most exciting ride of your entire life." If I had the chance, that's what I would say. And hopefully I would listen, because worry is just not worth it.

If I were able to give my high-school self advice about college: Train yourself from the beginning to wake up to your alarm, because the more times you hit snooze, the deeper you dig your hole. Join as many things as you can freshman year, and meet as many people as you can, but DON'T let that stop after freshman year. Never stop learning. Find something you are passionate about and chase it. Take leadership roles in clubs and sports you enjoy, they will pay off later. Never let anyone make you feel like they are better than you, but don't make the mistake of thinking you are better than anyone else either. Don't be afraid to get to know your professors--they will be the ones writing your letter of recommendations. Don't be afraid to try new things, but remember that you are forming yourself, so form yourself into someone you can be proud of. Above all, strive every day to live life more fully, to continuously grow in knowledge and spirit, and to never let a day go by where you can't honestly say to yourself you did the best possible!

Dear Eileen, You don't know me as well as you should, but I know you better than you'd like. I know everything about you--your strengths, your weaknesses, your hopes, your fears. Everything you like and dislike about yourself. Including the things you won't admit even to yourself. Thanks to this wealth of knowledge, I think I can make a fairly sound judgement on what you need to hear before you leave for college in the fall. Don't close yourself off, thinking you've heard it all before. I can guarantee no one's told you this. Guarantee. You need to trust more. You're hurting yourself more by not trusting than by closing yourself off to the world. True, you won't feel pain, but you won't feel love either. Yes, love really does exist, and it's just as good as they all say it is. And yes, there is such a thing as true friendship. But you'll never get either of them if you don't trust people. You have to take that jump. Trust that you'll land on your feet. It's worth it. I've been there.

Dear SeniorME, Relax and enjoy this time you have been given. I know at times classes will be stressful and you feel like this will never end but trust me; the end will be here before you know it! Do not be afraid to be yourself! Let your light shine and the right people will come into your life. Never try to be someone you're not. High school was filled with drama but if you don't want that then you don't have to have it! This is the time in your life when you determine who you are and who you want to be. Don't let anyone or anything stop you. The sky is the limit! Take your studies seriously even though there are days you want to throw your books out the window. How is is life right now? Reading books, drinking coffee, and learning! How fun is that? Don't be afraid to meet new people. This is a time in your life you will always want to remember. When the stress seems to be at a max take a deep breath and remember this is the time of your life! Good luck! FutureME

I would advise to myself to never stop believing in a better future which comes with a better education. I would of never take breaks in between the schools. And, also, I would of told myself that I should appreciate time, because it can never go back.

My high school self was innocent of the intellect and social rehlm. Together these things caused me to have a judgemental attitude toward all my peers. College is a time for personal growth and materity, but that often comes from falling and making mistakes. The thing is is that I am not perfect. My life is full of sin and challenges just like my peers that choose to drink underage and subject themselves to morally questionable situations. If I could go back to my high school self and give advice it would be to look at everyone with love and non-jugdemental eyes. As the saying goes every person has a story to tell and that story is what shapes and forms them. The world is fully of hate for those who spread the news that love is all around us and in us. Knowing now that I am not perfect, my friends are not perfect, and my school is not perfect allows me to see that I am here to grow not to cement myself into the pavement of this university. I would tell myself to love, forgive, and to allow everyone around me to have their redemptive story.

I would suggest looking at the types of internships that would be available to me. I would also decide whether or not I was okay living in that area for years after college if I were to get a job there.

I would tell myself to calm down and not to worry. As a senior in high school I was very nervous for college and that transition but now that I have been in college for a year I know how amazing it is. I am a huge worrier and I like to know what is going on in my life with little or no change. College is a huge change and it was hard but I know that it is worth it and it all worked out so I would tell my self to trust my decision in school, do not worry about the transition it will be okay, and to enjoy my senior year and get ready to move on.

The advice I would give to myself is to be more decisive. Decide what you want to do with your life and just do it instead of waiting. Even if you decide later on in your college career that it isn't what you really want to do it is a start and you can always change your mind. If you have some college it is better than having no college to many employers and will therefore help you obtain a higher paying job. College life is hard but it is easier to obtain an education when you do not have a family yet, as I do. If I had gone to school before having children and before the economy had gone downhill I wouldn't be so worried about paying for it now. Being decisive will help in all areas of life, not just deciding what to go to college for.

Don't underestimate how much tuition costs should play into your college decision. The idea of student loans may not seem like a big deal coming out of high school, but it becomes a much more real concern once you have to think about paying your tuition, room and board, book costs, and inevitable other fees while also trying to plan for your life after college.

I attend/have attended college for the purpose of learning things I did/do not already know. I have studied Automotive Technology for a few years and have gained a much deeper knowlege in this field. I am going on to a four-year college in order to study more and to earn a four-year degree. Diesel is a topic that was not covered much in my community college, but it will be covered better at my four-year college. College has also caused me to mature and become much more responsible. I pay for my own schooling which makes me work hard to keep my grades up and learn what I am studying. Scholarships have been a big part of paying for school, but applying for them and keeping up with the requirements have been my own responsibility.

I have met and befriended great people. I have madfe relationships that will last forever. I have been a part of a larger family. I have gained a great and revered education. I have grown as a person. My spiritual life has strengthened. My social life has benefited. I have learned how to communicate more effectively with employers and instructors. I have been a part of a varsity sport. I have supported my friends in their activities. I turned 21 here! I learned more about myself here than anywhere else. I played golf, video games, watched movies, and had all kinds of fun here. I have been blessed to find this place and call it home. The value of an education here is priceless. You will have earned a valuable and sought after education when applying for work. You will have gained precious resources and networking alliances here. You will have beome a part of something bigger than yourself, but that not everyone knows about. It's not like claiming a huge university. It's more like a close network of people who have all experienced the same thing. Your time and money are well spent here.