Bryan College of Health Sciences Top Questions

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.