California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd give myself plenty of advice. Firstly, don't be shy to talk to strange people. Everyone is looking to make new friends and college is an opportunity to start over. Life (and college) is too short to waste time hesitating and being scared. Second, save money! The bad economy and rising tuition doesn't help college life. So many expenses other than textbooks attack our wallets. Finally, the most important piece of advice I could give is don't take what you have for granted. Friends, small classes, your bed and even time. College is a rough transition in which we're shoved into the real world. Everything is done on our own. In high school so much is done for us and we don't appreciate. Even school friends need to be taken advantage of because they wont be there to help next year. I would tell myself to enjoy what I have before it gets taken away. Sure, college will bring new and fun experiences. But the experiences from high school will never be relived, so take advantage.

Relax. The single most important piece of advice I would give myself if I could go back in time would be to take a deep breath and calm down. College life and the transition are not as difficult as they seem. Sure it is challenging to leave behind your family, friends, and significant other, but the distance between them will not break the bonds that have been formed over countless years. In addition, where a new home is being made, new friends are simply waiting around the corner, and once those relationships begin to blossom, the pain of leaving home begins to lessen. College life is a whole new experience with not only new friends, but also new surroundings, freedoms, experiences, knowledge, and challenges. Focusing on the positive side of a college career greatly eases the aching for home. A relaxed approach and an open mindset will make the transition much smoother and much more fun. College can be an extremely difficult path to undertake, however it can also be one of the most rewarding, enjoyable, and enlightening periods of your life. So relax, take a deep breath, sit back and enjoy the ride.

If I could go back in tiime, I would tell myself to stay on course at all costs. I would also tell myself that when I go back to visit my grandmother when I am 19 years old for her 70 the birthday to make the best of it. Ask her a lot of questions abuot my grandfather and her life togther. Ask her where we come from and what my greatgrandparents were like because it is the last time I am going to see her. If I could go back in time I would tell myself that not matter what dad is always right even if it feels wrong at the moment. I wouldn't change anything else. I am quite content with my life experiences and have fullfiled many of my goals.

I had an extremely difficult time trying to decide which university to attend. I sat at my computer just hours before the enrollment deadline of April 1, 2009 crying and hoping something would come to me. In the end, I made the wrong choice. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself not to choose Cal State Long Beach; after all, I worked too hard in high school for such a terrible and expensive (supposedly) college level education. I would tell myself how attending a commuter college like Long Beach equates to a lack of new friends, and without friends college is not a good experience. If I could only say one thing, though, I would tell myself that deciding on a college should be about me, and me only. It shouldn't have been about my family or finances, it should have been about my dreams and my future. Fear of failing should not have been an obstruction I let overtake me, and I should have allowed myself the adventure of moving away to the University of Miami.

Going back in time, I would tell myself, as a senior in high school, to take as many units as possible when I get into college. The reason for this is because I hesitated to exceed 13 units because I feared that college would be stressful, at the same time, I hesitated to ask anyone for help or support, and now, as a result, I am trying to catch up on courses because I am a little behind. I would also inform myself about the campus of California State Univeristy and how it is big and incredibly beautiful and that although I did not get into the schools I desired, California State University Long Beach was definitely a college worth experiencing; because CSU Long Beach was my back up college, I felt disgraceful that I could not get into my desired college which was UCLA, however, during the first semester of attending CSU Long Beach, I met people, and interacted with my professors a lot more and eventually I felt welcomed to the school. Since then, there has been no regrets that I have regarding the fact that I attend CSU Long Beach; the school opened its arms to me.

I would have said to myself, "Reuben, lose the bookmark." I know that seems arbitrary, but it has a lot more to do with college life than just the time I spend reading. See after a sit-down of book browsing, I put the edge of my bookmark exactly where I left off, so I don't waste time reading what I'd already covered before. Sounds innocent right? Wrong. The bookmark ranks among the exclusive club of man's inventions that are too convenient for our own good, like the tv remote, escalators, and coffee. See, I used to read without the use of a bookmark. I would end reading at a chapter break. But now, I end whenever I want... mid-chapter, mid-line, mid-sentence even. It means when I pick up reading again, I'm lost. I have no context of where in the story I am, because the damned bookmark gave me no incentive to finish the chapter. I really might have done better to lose the thing. But its too convenient. The day I get rid of the bookmark is the day I lose the remote and taking the escalator. Not going to happen.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self the first thing i would tell myself is to study harder so I can pass all of my ap tests thus there would be no need to take thoes classes in college. In addition I would tell myself to apply to more scholarships because college is expensive and it would be very helpful if I had more economic support. I would also tell myself that what I put into my classes is what I get out from them thus I would have worked harder.

I would tell myself: "do not be afraid of change and open yourself up to new opportunities. No one should hold you back from your dream or your future. You need to be confident in yourself and not be easily influenced by people who are unmotivated. College is a whole new world where you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself. It is a place you learn to be comfortable in your own skin and make real friends that will stay with you for life. You get to learn a lot of new subjects that will get you where you want to be. College is the key to your future where you will learn what you need for your career and meet people who can help get you where you want to be. Most importantly, all of the challenges you will face are experiences that should be learned as lessons to help you in the future."

If I were to go back in time to my senior year of high school I would advise my senior self to take deadlines seriously and make them a first priority. In college I have learned that deadlines mean everything and that you can't rely on people's generosity. In high school, teachers tend to keep up with you. In other words, Ms. Johnson from your English class may have said, "Don't forget, your papers are due next Monday." In college however, the professor will state the deadline and usual won't say anything till the day before it is due, so it is definitely important to note deadlines and keep them organized. If I was really able to have this talk to my senior self, maybe I would have realized this lesson when I was first admitted into Cal State Long Beach, because even though the forms said to hurry and apply for housing, I didn't take it seriously. The result of my mistake consisted of being numbeer 993 on the waiting list and spending extra money I didn't have for an off-campus apartment. If only I had known the detremental consequences of deadlines.

High school seems like a hassle but it really is a preparation for what college brings to the table. In college, no one will tell you to complete the homework or to study for the quiz. The reality is that you have to be responsible and have balance. At times it will be tempting to skip or 8 am class and sleep in. Other times your friends might convinve you that In-n-Out is a much better alternative to your afternoon communications class. Balance isn't right or wrong, it is what works best for you. Teachers and classmates can offer their advice and opinions but you have to know yourself well enough to know what workload you can and can't handle. However, college isn't only the expensive education you pay for. College is experiencing life from new angles and making connections with people you never thought you would meet. It is making hard choices and growing up. The knowledge you attain isn't only from books but also from your mistakes and the ones you observe. Give yourself time to fit into this new environment but don't lose yourself in the moment, just live it.