Bryan College-Dayton Top Questions

I would tell myself not to stress out about the small stuff. For my first couple of years here at Bryan, grades consumed my life. I sacrificed the ability to make many lasting frienships and relationships with fellow classmates and peers because I was so worried about my grades. In my final two years at Bryan, my priorities have shifted. I have finally learned the balance between academics and relationships. My time at Bryan has taught me that my college education is more than the lectures I have heard, more than the weeks of studying, and much more than grades on my transcript. At Bryan, I was taught to value studious diligence, but more importantly, I learned to treasure the relationships formed upon this hill. This community has taught me the intricate balance between involvement, relationships, and academics that many college students struggle with. For that I am forever grateful. In conclusion, I would say to my younger self, take risks, make mistakes, go out on a limb and make some lifelong friendships. They are just as important as the degree that you came here to earn in the first place.

I would tell myself three things: do your absolute best in your last year of school no matter what, get an early start in looking for scholarships and financial aid, and definitely take advantage of both dual enrollment and summer classes! I could have saved myself a lot of difficulty and hard work in looking for scholarships my first year in college if I would have taken the first two pieces of advice. Now that I am taking advantage of summer and winter classes, I have a big jump on getting out of college a year early; I just wish I would have taken advantage of them sooner, especially more of the dual enrollment classes. Overall, I would tell myself to do your best and trust God, and everything will work out as it should.

You are going to have a lot of struggles, and it will seem that you will never reach your goal. Remember that God has a plan for you, even if it is not what you want it to be. You will graduate, you will excell and you will achieve great things. Don't give up on your self, even when it seems that times are bad. It will get better, and you will have an amazing time!

I would tell myself to not be nervous or shy! The students loved you anyway, so just show them all of who you are right from the get-go. I was kind of in a shell in highschool. I was afraid to be vulnerable, but the people at Bryan taught me about love and how I can be me without any judgement! I would tell myself that and explain that I didn't have to hide anymore.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself not to worry about the future and to enjoy the college transition process. When I was a high school senior, the year after my graduation looked extremely uncertain for me. I wasn’t able to afford to go to the school of my choice, I was undecided in what I wanted to major in, and I had no solid plans for life after college. However, as time moved on, everything fell into place. Now I am at the college I wanted to attend, majoring in Biology, with so many open doors for my future that I’m excited. Looking back, I would tell myself not to waste my time wishing for immediate answers to the future, but to enjoy every second of the transition to college. I would say to enjoy being at home those last few months, enjoy the bittersweet goodbyes to childhood, and enjoy everything about college. If I could tell my senior high school self anything, I would say to look forward to the future with anticipation rather than anxiety, and not to miss the moments along the way.

Don't be a slacker! I say to myself all the time if I could go back I would. I was such a slacker my senoir year. I was so ready to be out of high school that I just did enough work to get by. And another thing...make sure you know where you're going. I had no idea, so I've been to 4 different schools. Transferring is so hard.

Don't be afraid to try something different. Whether it's a new food in the cafeteria (yay for fried pickles and okra in the South!), or a volunteer activity you've never done before, you'd be surprised at how much fun experiencing new things can be. Getting involved in things you would normally keep at arms reach will allow you to interact with all kinds of students on your campus, and will put you in a place of influence as you progress from a Freshman to an upperclassman. Trying something new will also give you a love of learning that is addicting, to say the least! Fast learners are innovators and world -changers, because they are bold enough to exeprience, observe, and interact with the world around them. So, try those new foods, travel to a different country, get involved in that juggling club, and you may just find that what your experience outside the classroom is just as shaping as your experience inside with your professors.

Now that I have attented a couple colleges, if I was to go back in time I would tell myself that it is important to take it seriously. I would know to study more and apply myself better. I think I would go straight into college after finishing high school. I would travel overseas and learn about an country. I would really think about my future and what I want to do, when you go to college straight out of high school, you really have no idea what you want to do. I also would tell myself that college isn't cheap, and think about what I really love and that is what I would study. One thing that I would do is make a schedule of classes, study time, and personal time, because it is important to keep proirities in line when you go to college. I've grown up a lot since high school and I wouldn't have done anything differently, except take a little time off before starting college after high school.

Go with your gut. Play soccer and stay away from girls your first year. Focus your studies and having fun like a man. Keep your relationship with God strong and vibrant.

That I would have studied harder and concentrated more on my academics. I would have been on the honors roll and put other things that I thought was important at the time to the side.