Bryan College of Health Sciences Top Questions

Dear high school senior Nicole, college is intimidating and nerve-wracking I know, but there are so many wonderful things about it. You will meet some pretty cool people and have some great opportunites that will help you in the future. Some advice for you is to stop being so worried about meeting new people, not fitting in, not knowing where your classes will be at, or how hard the classes are going to be. Step out of your comfort zone and show everyone how wonderful you truly are. People will be amazed by who you are on the inside. You will survive, so stop worrying, relax, and begin a new chapter in your life because it will be the best four years of your life.

I am currently in my third week of undergraduate classes at Bryan College of Health Sciences and I graduated at semester from high school about 5 weeks ago. I still consider myself a senior somewhat because I am still graduating in the spring with my friends and classmates. On the other hand, I am trying my best to adapt to my new college lifestyle while still being 17 years old and living at home with my parents. I would like to reiterate to myself as a high school student how important being involved is and developing excellent studying habits. My second biggest adjustment in college is having to create exceptional studying and learning habits because in high school I didn't have to study very often. It's very important for me to do well in the Bachelor program I am in. Hopefully in the years to come, I will be admitted into the Nurse Anesthetist Program and look forward to earning my Master's. Something else I would like to tell myself as a high school student is that other students in college don't care how you dress/act and compared to high school, girl drama is sparse.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to become more aware of my future schooling options, and to make the decision for myself. I first attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for two years after high school because that's what all my friends were doing. I'm now paying the price for not digging deeper into what I really wanted to do in life. I've always wanted to work in the medical field, but I wasn't exactly sure what to become. There is such a wide variety of careers within the field, and I would tell my senior self to do research, and to go do shadowing experiences. This would've shown me Nursing is the field I want to be in and would've allowed me to choose Bryan College of Health Sciences sooner. It's a four year program, so most of my senior classmates will graduate this year, but I still have two and a half years left until I will graduate. Making the decision to go to Bryan earlier would've left me more satisfied and with less debt.

Trust yourself and stick with it! As a senior in high school I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I took a course, received my CNA license and decided to go to Midlands University for nursing. Then, I had decided that Midlands wasn’t for me. I applied to UNL and was accepted but would receive no financial aid or scholarships because I missed the deadline by applying so late. While at UNL I had thought at one time or another that I wanted to do Occupation Therapy, Oncology and Physical therapy but soon realized that none of them were not for me and I went back to nursing. I now know that I am in the right place but I would give anything to tell myself to trust what I know, that nursing is for me! I would also tell myself to trust that everything will work out and to stick with it. I believe that if I would have stuck with nursing I would have realized that I truly love it and I would have been one year shy away of my BSN rather than three years away and in my third year of school.

Darian, Most high school seniors are concerned with what to wear to prom, homecoming theme, and making varsity all-conference in sports and academics. I know that you are more concerned with financial problems, living on your own, and getting enough sleep, but memories are important too. Do what you can. Go to that bonfire on Saturday night when you get off work. Grab a smoothie with your best friend on your day off. There is nothing wrong with getting your sleep at a sleepover/ movie night with your gal pals. You have your whole life to worry about how to pay your bills, and guess what worrying won't make you any richer. Although family life is rough, God is still present as ever. There is nothing wrong with asking for a little help through prayer. Most importantly, through it all, school is the top priority. Wake up early and get to Spanish on time. Soak up everything you can in class, and take better notes. Then study those notes thuroughly. If you get good grades when you don't study, imagine what you can do when you do. My message is to: pray, study, and relax.

Have you ever had that moment where you think, “Man I wish I had known that before..” or “Why didn’t I know this sooner?”. Being a freshman in college I find myself with these thoughts, if only I could go back into time. Whenever I would have a test or quiz in high school I would barely study for them and I would still pass with an A. From taking my first college exam I didn't do as well as I hoped. I realized I need to study a lot more almost to the point as everyday to understand the material. I wish I would've know about the importance of study skills. it would've helped me a lot in college. Most high school students want to go out with their friends every weekend, I’m someone who loves to go shopping or go out to eat with my friends. Going out cost money especially shopping. I didn't save as much money as I would have liked in high school. I wish I would've had more motivation to say no to those things so I could have saved more money for college.

Really think about what you want to do with life and follow your dreams. Make sure you agree with the views of the school and trust your gut when you find a school to go to. Although it may be more expensive, sometimes in the end it is all worth it. Just be happy and make sure that you stay happy.

The world out there is unforgiving. Harsh, I know, but true. You’re feeling pressure now at seventeen to make tough life choices. Don’t do that. Wait until you grow up and figure out who you are before deciding what you want to do with your life. I won’t tell you where you ended up because it’ll be fun to see if we come to same end point. I will tell you to live and laugh and go on adventures. Do all that while you’re young enough to not worry about the repercussions. Life is tough out here, but just know that every curve in the winding road that is your life is leading you to great things. Follow your heart and your gut because in the end all the decisions you make will be worth it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. Also, you know that book that is simmering on your brain? Put it down on paper. Trust me. Take chances but still stay true to your values. Always be proud of yourself even when other people can’t or don’t say it because you are amazing.

If I could give advice to my high school self about the transition to college it would be to set realistic goals and to use time management skills to achieve them. It is harder to get good grades in college than it is in high school. It takes more time and effort inside and outside the classroom. So it is important not to take more than the recommended credits because it is better to succeed with a few classes than to fail with a lot of classes. Allow yourself time to adjust to your new life so you are not overwhelmed and begin to feel discouraged. You will have more freedom in college than you did in high school, so you will have to stay on track with studying. You will also have more independence, which means more responsibilities such as washing clothes and cleaning up after yourself. All these factors play a major role in college life so make sure you know what you need to do and how to make it happen.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to be more organized and to learn how to study effectively. Something that's really helped me in college is keeping a color coordinated planner. It keeps me focused and it helps me determine what I need to do each night. In high school I would have practiced better study habits. I didn't have to study much in high school and I didn't really know how to study in an effective way. The first semester of college was rough because I didn't know how to study for these tests. I've learned to start studying in advanced. I finish my reviews ahead of time so the next few days before the test I can review the material. I also meet with my teachers every week to review material. If I would have done these things in high school I would have been more prepared for college.

I would tell myself to keep working hard and studying. In college I came to find that you really need to study and devote time to your classes. That would seem like a simple and obvious thing for somebody to know. In high school everything came easy to me, I didn't need to study that much and I still did good. I would tell my high school senior self that it is a whole different ball park in college and that I should start practicing good study skills and time management. In the end, I have learned so much through my college experience so far that I wouldn't change it for the world. It would be nice to go back and tell my high school self what it would be like though.

I would absolutely love to go back in time and shape myself up as a high school senior. During high school i had the motivation of a rock. I would have rather hung out with my friends and do what i wanted instead of focusing on school work. It scared me so much not knowing what i wanted to do after highschool, that i spent most of my time pushing aside reality. Eventually i got so scared that i decided it was time to face my fears "reality' and put my head in the game. My motivation at that point was like a sloth trying to climb a tree, I tried, but i was very slow and weak. My half hearted motivation didn't pay off. Graduation came and went and my goals left without me. I wish so much that I could tell myself as a senior to "Focus on school instead of friends because your friends will always be there for you, but senior year will only be there for you once so don't screw it up!". I am a very smart girl and i had only misplaced my goals. I am ready to play again.

My advice to my former self as a high school senior: confidence is key. In order to make it in the cut-throat world that is college as we know it, one must be aware of oneself. In my first couple of years at Southeast Community College in Nebraska, I was incredibly shy. I was too afraid to speak my opinion in class, for fear of rejection from my fellow classmates. Instead, I chose to smile and shake my head "yes" or "no" in response to most questions I was asked during class. I'm originally from a very small school, with little social interaction with those outside my personal ghost town. If I could go back in time and talk to myself at my graduation ceremony, I would say, "who cares what people think? Be the best person you want to be, both in the classroom and out, regardless of what others may think'". If I had been the confident, mature student that I am now, I would have saved myself two years of dropping classes at Southeast Commmunity College for fear of standing out in a crowd or making the wrong decisions!

It’s one of the most frequently asked questions: What’s your biggest regret? Although that question seems to be pretty thought provoking, I can think of mine instantly. I didn't put enough effort into my high school career. If I could go back and give advice to my high school self, I would tell that 18-year-old girl to get more involved in my high school’s extra curricular activities and spend more time studying my school work. I will be 25 at the end of this week and if I compare my high school self and my college self the difference is unbelievable. Now I understand the importance in being involved in school and spending countless hours at my desk studying. I realize that my involvement college can and will affect my ability to find a job in the career field that I love and am so passionate about and I wish I would have realized that as a senior in high school. I can’t go back and change my high school past but I can learn from my mistakes and excel in college and that's what I plan to do.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would say to try my absolute hardest. My mindset in high school was “it’s just high school, who cares about grades?” Now I’ve learned that grades are very important and creating excellent study habits is just as important. I would tell myself that all of the things being taught in high school are being taught for a reason and to do my best. I would also say, “No procrastinating!” If I even think about procrastinating I will set myself back a day. The most important thing I would tell my senior self would to be to not give up on myself. In high school I saw no potential in myself. But now I realize that God made me to do great things. He gave me the opportunity to start nursing school so I could show myself that I can do something with my talents. I would tell myself that I can become an amazing nurse and make a difference in the lives of the people I care for because now I know that there’s hope for me to have a career in something I love.

Knowing what I know now about college, I would have a plethora of advice to give my highschool self. But to narrow it down, I would tell myself: “Don’t party, stay involved in extracurricular activities, and apply yourself because highschool really does matter.” Unlike most kids who graduated highschool with a plan of where they would attend college in the fall and what their major would be, I had other adventures for a couple years. I joined the U.S. Army and was shipped out for training one week after I graduated. It was through the experiences from Uncle Sam over the next couple years that really turned me into a man. The Army also greatly influenced me on joining the healthcare field. When it came time to apply to a prestigious school like Bryan, I quickly realized that my past of partying in highschool could very likely hold me back from being accepted, even though I am a completely different person now. I also found that schools seriously look at your GPA and extracurricular activities you participated in. I take great pride in my achievements and spend every day striving to make up for my shortcomings in highschool.

Do your research, lower your costs for your education and seize opportunities! College life is fun and exciting, but don't let it deter you from your goals. Since your dream is to become an interior designer, make sure you only attend an accredited design school. This may require some research, but attending the right school will be helpful in furthuring your career. You don't want to graduate with mounds of debt, so make sure that your work as hard as you play. If you can help it, avoid applying for loans so that you don't have the weight on your shoulders of paying it back. Work a paid internship, and apply for scholarships. Driving down the cost of your education is an intregal part in planning your future. When opportunities come your way, seize it! You never know where you end up just by taking on volunteer efforts and part-time jobs. Most of all, enjoy the experience! No since in going to college if you can't have fun. Cherish those days because soon, they'll be over.

If I could go back in time to a high school senior, I would have so many words of advice for myself. However, the most important piece of advice that I could give would be to apply myself. As an adult, I've learned to tell the difference between importance and fantasy. In high school, even though I made appropriate grades, my heart wasn't in my work. After leaving school and becoming a parent, I realized how important a career is. How important it is to accomplish something really worthwhile, even if it's only worthwhile internally. I want to know that I have done everything possible to make my dreams come true.

When I was a senior in high school the only thing I could think about was college. I was ready to get out of my parent’s house and even more so out of my home town. I wanted to go somewhere big enough where I could accomplish all of my goals. Looking back there is more advice I would give myself than what I can fit in my 200 word essay. I would tell myself to enjoy living at home and being able to be with my parents every night after school. I would have enjoyed home cooked meals more knowing now how frozen dinners taste. I appreciate family more now than I ever have before. I have always done well in school so my advice for myself in the past would be to continue to care about school just as much in college as I did in high school. College isn’t about partying every night and going to class hung over. I would tell my senior student self to make good choices because those choices will affect the future. The last thing I would tell my past self is to love myself every day, no matter what.

So the big day is coming, you know your graduation. Now it’s time to move on and become an adult. One of the main traits for survival is responsibility. If you do not have it before you move onto college you sure better find it quick! The only parent you will have is your alarm clock! Most freshmen flunk out after their first year! You have to want to succeed in order to make it. If you want something bad enough and contain the self-determination and self-motivation, you’ll find ways to get your goals reached. Resources will not just be handed to you. You have to go find the assistance. Your parents cannot call and speak to your professors like they can your teachers. Now everything falls back on you. Warnings are sometimes not even given especially if the guidelines, rules and regulations are in your syllabus. Your professor may only mention a paper twice, in the beginning and the next time it’s brought up may be the due date or a reminder. There really is nothing much to tell you except be responsible in everything that you do, including the choices you make daily.