Chapman University Top Questions

Be patient and open minded. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there in the world because nobody else will do it for you. Stay focused and be on top of things. You will be more independent than you think, it is difficult to have no one to depend on. But that is life. Don't depend on anyone, you need to go out there yourself and make it happen. Also, don't rush into certain deicisons because the most important thing is for you to be happy. If you are not happy with what you are doing, it is not worth it. Therefore, you need to make a change and don't let anyone influence your thoughts. Be strong minded and don't let anyone put you down.

Everybody tells you that you're going to change, that you'll act stupid and that you might not recognize yourself over the next few years. Embrace that and welcome the change. It can be a scary thing, change, but if it's executed correctly can open up all the doors that your teachers, parents and elders have been telling you about all these years. Make sure you are a little reckless, that you do skip a few classes here and there, but also make sure you know when to stop. There is a time to have fun, a time to buckle down and a time to blur those lines and live life on the edge. Make sure, though, that you know exactly when those times are and when you need to come back to reality. The next four years will be crazy and fun and crazy fun, but remember that after the four years is up, there's a realm of "adulthood" waiting for you. It's a realm that only your self change and the crazy antics during that self change can prepare you for. Biggest words of advice from me to you... just live.

Say yes Kayla. Say yes to meeting new people. Say yes to going to class. Say yes to asking questions. Say yes to homework but also do not be afraid of pulling all nighters. Say yes to going to parties, but also say yes to an early night in bed with a movie and a good friend. Say yes to calling your parents at least once a week. Say yes to work. Say yes for early starts to your day and late nights with the people that have joined you for these four years. Say yes to travel. Explore the depths of what this world has to offer, you will recieve so much back in return. Give back to your community and explore your passions while doing so. Let others inspire you, and in return inspire the ones around you. Make relationships with your professors and tell them thank you every chance you get. Take risks that challenge or frighten you, this is the time when you have the least to lose. It are those risks that you will remember and define you from the inside out. Finally, let the knowledge you learn trickle from your head to your heart.

I would advise myself to take the time to relax. I would tell myself to prioritize my life with faith, family and health at the forefront. I would say not to worry about the petty obstacles in life but to set my eyes on the future knowing that all adversities will pass. I would tell myself not to be afraid of being different--to be open to being myself and accepting the person that I was instead of trying to fit in with others. I would advise myself to stray from a negative self-image and instead to stay true to my values. I would tell myself that God has a plan for me and that I don't need to worry about the future. I would tell myself to let loose sometimes, to act spontaneously and to be a kid while I had the chance. I would tell myself to not be afraid of making mistakes.

Make sure you have good study habits and continue to use a study planner. Things move faster in college and you need to keep up. make usre you know hot o plan your time carefully. That is helpful in college. Learn how to aks questions so that you don't miss out on good opportunities. Be prepared with a good resume at all times so you can easily apply for jobs and internships. Learn how to play and enjoy down time. you can only study so much. Be a good friend and others will be a good friend to you. Learn how to do laundry. Learn how to check prices so that you don't spend all your salary on unnecessary things. College is an important time of your life and so you need to make sure you pick the right college. I am glad that I did that.

In the first year of college, I can almost guarantee that you will make more mistakes and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. You WILL get homesick but it WILL NOT last forever. You WILL make friends no matter how lonely you feel on the first day. And I promise that you WILL survive regardless of the repetative meals in the cafeteria. But the biggest piece of advice I want to give to you, aside from encouraging you to learn from every mistake, is to seize every opportunity and try anything and everything that interests you even if it's something completely new. You could fall in love with something you never expected or you could fall out of love with something that has been a part of your life for as long as you can remember. And both are okay. College is a time for you to experiement and find just what you want to do with the rest of your life. I've heard it's unlike any other time in your life, and I definitely believe it. College is incredible. Don't let that just pass you by.

There is nothing wrong with walking in clueless about where you want to end up. Don’t be afraid to switch majors and don’t be afraid to switch back. High school lets you try on the clothes; college lets you do that too, but it also lets you buy them and wear them out of the store. Ultimately, the major you choose won’t affect the person you become. But avoid choosing a major just because it sounds like a TV show you’re currently into. Political science really isn’t anything like The West Wing. Trust me—don’t learn that one that hard way. You will get out of college what you put into it. Most every school offers internships, company tours, presentations and conventions if you take the time to look. It’s easy to walk out of a college with a piece of paper that says you were there. Be one of those that get something worthwhile out of it. Lastly, the transition between high school and college will happen while you’re busy doing other things. You’re going to have a great time. So get to it.

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I have always been resistant against change and college was no different. I was hesitant about becoming engaged and meeting new people and as a result I was timid and shy. I was distraught being away from my friends whom were changing and I constantly talked to my parents instead of meeting new people, as they were the one thing that had not changed in my life. It took me an entire semester to open up and meet new people because I finally grew sick of feeling alone and staying in my dorm all day. Now that I have opened up I have been able to regain my confidence and become an active member within Chapman. Looking back I wish I had told myself to be more open and excited for the transition to college. I feel as if I essentially wasted my first semester of college due to my hesitance. There is nothing to fear when going to college. Your experience depends on what you make of your time and I have discovered that in order to be happy you have to explore whatever lies in front of you.

College life and the transition will be harder than you think. A lot harder. Coming from Hawaii, there will be culture difference. It's hard to explain, but it's going to be very different. I'm still trying to figure out how to explain it to others. One of the biggest differences is that people aren't as accepting of you here. Yes, even in California. It's not as laid-back here and people are more harsh with the way they act and talk. You are a multi-ethnic woman coming from Hawaii. You will find that at times bringing such diversity will be one of your strengths and at other times it will be where you will meet many difficulties. You will be discriminated against and it will not feel good. You will feel defeated. Get involved with diversity initiatives on campus and I promise you will find that the world isn't such a bad place after all. Also, be vulnerable. You grew up thinking that vulnerability is a weakness. But it's not, it makes you strong, brave, and POWERFUL. It will free you. Be free and live with your heart open. Love you.