Chapman University Top Questions

Many times I have heard people say, "if I knew what I know now when I was your age my life would have turned out a whole lot better." I never really understood, or even bothered to try and understand that statement until now. I haven't even been out of high school for a year and there are already things that I look back on and wish I did differently. However, if there was one thing I would tell myself, it would be to not slack off. I would tell myself to be more focused on my schoolwork and my grades and not get distracted by the other aspects of my life. I would demand that I stay on top of my scholarship applications and my college applications and not push them aside and never bother to glance in their direction again. I would tell myself that an education is one of the most important things to have and I shouldn't sit back and watch all of my opportunities slip away. That is the one thing that I regret the most about my high school career and I wish I would have taken a more mature approach.

This question reminds me of a song called "Letter to Me" by Brad Paisley. In this song, Brad describes what he would tell himself if he had to chance to talk to himself at 17 and tell himself what he knows now. If I could go back to talk to myself as a 17 year old high school senior I would tell myself not to worry so much. My senior year of high school was full of worrying and stressing about grades and college acceptances that I did not allow myself to fully enjoy the experience of my last year of high school. Having gone through the transition into college, I now realize that there was really not that much to worry about. Everything eventually falls into place and I wish I would have realized that as a high school senior.

As a high school senior I was scared to death of the college life. What it would be like, would I be pressured, or how much would I change? The answer: Don't be scared. The truth is that if I were to talk to myself I would say that the only way that you can change is through yourself and if you don't want to change you don't have to. The same goes for pressure. Peer presure is a great problem, but in the end it all comes down to your own decision. You have to be the stronger person. No one can do it for you. Speaking of on one can do it for you, college is going to be tough. If college wasn't, anyone would do it and it would no longer be a great achievement. The point is that you CAN work throgh all the ups and downs ensuring that you will never be a failure. Sometimes the curve balls are what's really the best thing for you anyway. As I say, "I don't have any regrets, for they are little life lessons to learn and be inspired from".

If I were able to go back in time, not only would I have accomplished a huge feat in time travel, but most importantly, I would be able to prepare myself on some of the choices and opportunities that await me in the future. My first piece of advice is to enjoy and appreciate the relationships that you have with your family and friends. The love and support of your family and close friends is priceless, and will definitely be missed when you move away for your first year of college. While your sitting in your dorm one day, you will understand that your parents, grandparents, siblings, and best friends, are your main eternal support systems. Although I do advise you to make new friends and connections in college, I also encourage you to keep in touch with the people who love you. My second and last piece of advice is to take advantage of all opportunities that come your way. Don?t be afraid or too lazy to join a committee, get involved in the community, or participate in a play. Once you leave high school, the world is a much bigger place, so prepare yourself and get involved.

Megan, do not doubt yourself. You can almost always trust your first instinct. Just go for what you believe is right. Take risks. Do not feel as though you need to justify your decisions to others. You know what is best for you, not them. And since I'm from the future, believe me - you're doing great so far.

"Who do you know that went through college and what are the possibilities of your future?" That is the question I would ask my doppleganger of high school senior age, and the question I would ask any high school student looking to further their education. If I had the same thought process and cognitive ability I have now, I could have made a much bigger impact on my college life before beginning the Fall term. In high school, my life was about art and media. Yet, I was also very interested in the natural sciences and ahd the capability to do well in those subjects. I had doubted my ability in doing science as a career, and I did not realize what I wanted to do in my life. I would now tell my 18 year old self, "What do you want to be remembered for with your life? Do not doubt what you can do, even though everyone has limits, do not fear failure. Once you do, you will be more limited than your current state. Do not be afraid to seek guidance." If I was free from doubt and sought assistance, I would have been much more prepared.

That i need to strive for a better life for myself and going to college, and getting a job i love will help, because they say if you work at a job you love , you will never work a day in your life.

Undoubtedly, the transition between high school and college life is a feeling that no words can truly explain. Although, being a high school senior seems so distant now, I vividly remember every thought and question I had about whether I was going on the right path or not. In high school, life seemed so structured: every day was comprised of the same classes, extracurricular activities, meetings, homework, and time with the family. Rarely was there a moment when I could sit and think about myself. In college, you do take on more responsibility for yourself, however, you are also granted more time to reflect. Whether it be about yourself, your studies, or about life, in general, college life gives you the opportunity to reflect on the person you are now, what you enjoy, and where you want to go in the future. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to just relax. As long as you are focused on your goals and believe in yourself, there is nothing that can stop you. Let your mind be free of societal norms and expectations of others. Follow your own mind and heart. Anything is possible.

If I could go back in time and do some things differently knowing what I know now, I think the first thing I would do is remember to not be shy about introducing myself to every person I see on campus during orientation week. It was hard for me to remember that everybody was in the same position, and not knowing anybody. I just wish I had been more outgoing during that first week, and made as many connections with other new students as possible. I think another important thing would be to try and come in to each class and go to the front of the room and introduce myself to my professors to start that relationship. This lets them know that you are interested and excited to be there. I did this with a few of my teachers, and it definitely made a difference in the class, and will also help me in my future if I ever need to go back and ask for any letters of recommendation or anything like that. I guess basically it's just important to put yourself out there and not be afraid of rejection.

Don't change a thing, and don't worry about mistakes that you may make; that is how you learn, and that is how you have thusly turned in to who you are today...and I would say you have become a well rounded individual within the last 2 and a half years of college. WAIT! I spoke too soon! There is one precaution that you should take during your senior year of high school as well as all years of college: try not to accrue student loan debt!!! They will soon be the bane of your existence. Enter in as many college scholarships as you can! I can only hope that you will not learn your lesson too late...as your future self fears he has. Although college is considered good debt, debt of any kind can hinder your exploration of the world. I want to see the world and its many faces, not a cubicle and a bill statement.