Clarks Summit University Top Questions

Always do your best in whatever you do, even if you don't like it. There's a reason it's been placed in your life, so don't let it go to waste. Aim to learn instead of getting good grades and a high GPA. Neither of those matter if you did not learn anything after you get your diploma. Think ahead financially! It may not seem like a big deal now, but your future self will appreciate it. Plan ahead, save money, sign up for as many scholarships as possible. Be careful who you hang out with. Even if you call yourself independent from others, the people around you can and will have more of an impact on you and your education then you may think. Take time to meet people and build relationships. Networking and growing that group of contacts will greatly benefit you. Lastly, teachers and facualty are there for a reason! Don't fight through high school all by yourself. There are people there you can and want to help you, take advantage of that when you need it.

This is a season of life that you will never repeat. If I could advise you, these are the things I would say.1. Make the most of each moment. You only do this once. Be bold. Be wise, but try new things. Do this and you will graduate with no regret. 2. You mind is fresh and young LEARN EVERYTHING! Your mind is a sponge. It will soak up so much. Do all of your homework, do the extra credit. You are prime for learning. Do not waste your beautiful mind. 3. Seek out good company. You will become the sum total of the friends you keep. Choose them wisely, and then stand by them, defend them, encourage them, invest in them. There is something about the human soul that is eternal. Nothing else in life is…. Focus your time on people.4. Never second-guess what you love.You will have people ask you all the time if you know what you are going to do with your degree. DO NOT let that get to you. You are doing what you love and loving what you do. There are few greater things in life. It is worth it.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior after experiencing college, I would tell myself to not be nervous. College is great, it is fun and the people are incredible. Here is where you will make true friendships that will last forever. Financial aid might constantly be a worry in the back of your mind. Do not worry about the future; you will figure out what you are supposed to do and where you are supposed to go. God is good and He will provide and He will bring you through. I would also tell myself to be prepared. You will experience more growth and more change than you ever have before. You will realize how much you need the Lord and He will show you areas you must improve on. Work hard in every area of college-growing in the Lord, making friends, schoolwork. It will all be worth it.

I would tell myself as a high school senior to take more steps at becoming independent and not so reliant on my parents' presence in my life. I gained confidence simply by being with my parents everywhere I went. Without my parents at college, it was hard for me to be confident in things I did. I would also encourage myself to not be so self-focused. I was always concerned about getting good grades, so I spent a lot of time on school work. This limited my ability and willingness to socialize or volunteer large amounts of my time to noteworthy causes. When I came to college, I still had this tendency to focus on myself rather than others. Lastly, I would tell myself to pray consistently that God would prepare my mind and heart for the transition into college. I rarely asked God for help as I anticipated the entrance into a new stage in life. I believe if I had been more faithful in praying, I would have been more prepared for college life, and my transition would have been easier.

If I could give my high school senoir self addvice I would say " Do not stress over your grades,enjoy learing for the sake of learing itself and when you do this grades will come natually." I would then go on to explain that although grades are a good indication of your progress they can never truly measure the extent of your education. The value of education that is available in college is priceless, however if it is reduced to merely passing tests and completing assignments then the education itself is squandered because it is no longer about learning. I would also tell myself not stay up late cramming but instead to work hard thoughout the entire semester weather it is the first day of finnals week or the first day of classes. Find ways to apply what you are learing to the real world because this is where your education will truly be meared to the extent that you can take what you were given and use it. What is the value of an education if it is not accuired in a fassion which allows it to be applied?

If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to do dual enrollment online my senior year in order to get an early start on my degree. This would save both time and money. I would also teach myself how to say "No" to opportunities that are not going to push me in the direction of my long term goals so that I won't become overwhelmed with responsibilities that are not beneficial to me. I would definitely make myself work harder at finding and applying for scholarships, because even though it seems laborious and time-consuming, working to pay for school before it starts is much better than working to pay off my bill after I graduate. Finally, I would remind myself to appreciate my private high school education because it prepared me for college better than public school.

By senior year, with college so close on the horizon, I finally understood what needed to be done for college. However, if I could go back to the start of my sophomore year in high school, my life would be very different now. Around my second year, I began to give up and become more interested in my social development than my education. I was in advance classes and was on the right track to a great future. By my junior year, I would have been in dual-enrollment classes that transfer into college credits. If I could go back in time to that point, I would tell myself that “your dreams are more important than having fun. In order to get into a good college, you need to get better grades, apply for more scholarships and push yourself harder”. I just wish I had understood that before my senior year. Everything I have done has led me to where I am and who I am today, but I would be farther ahead in my pursuit for my education degree if I could go back in time.

I would tell myself that I should take even my senior year of high school seriously. I would tell myself to keep on going through whatever motions happened in order for me to finally attend a school which I feel I belong (for the most part) in, but I would highly emphasize the importance of taking my education seriously. I would also tell myself that I should have drawn more, put my artwork more publically, and I should not be as timid as I was in certain social aspects while in high school. I would also tell myself that I should learn to cherish the little bit of downtime I would have. And I would tell myself to cherish every moment spent with my best friend, because I will never be able to see her again. (she died in a house fire in December 2009) "Take chances, love and live fully, and be serious about your talents" would be the main focus I would wish to say to my high school senior self.

Dear Younger Asa, I am excited to hear that you will be attending Baptist Bible College in the fall! There's a lot of hard work, but the experience is so worth it. I want to advise you to mannage your time as well as money in a responsible manner. You only have 7 days in a week and you have to balance them between friends, a job, church, schoolwork, and also getting exercise, decent sleep, and eating healthy. If you make sacrifices in the right areas, you will appreciate those efforts in the future. When you get a job, be careful not to spend your money on unnecessary things like fastfood and drinks and entertainment. If you make small payments to the school here and there, you could avoid graduating with a high amount of debt due to student loans. This will allow you to have freedom to make many more decisions in your adult life because money issues can seriously weigh a person down. Lastly, don't worry about girls so much...you have plenty of time! Sincerely, Older Asa

Mom always told you to hike up your grades. You are better than the B's and even C's you are getting. In a few years you will be so passionate about your education. You will practically live and breathe learning. Start on the right foot now. The college you are wishing to attend will leave you with more debt than you would make in 4 years if you continued at the job you are currently at. You won't recieve too many scholarships if you continue putting minimal effort in. Just skating by with your grades will not suffice. You want to be a teacher. How can you expect solid work out of your students when you hardly put forth any effort yourself? You need to put every ounce of your being into your education. If you start now, things won't be so hard later. Take my advice, because if anybody knows you, it's me.