Collin County Community College District Top Questions

I have often repeated that phrase to myself over the last 20 years but not nearly as much as I have over the last 6 months. As an 18 year old, I had my whole life ahead of me. Unfortunately, circumstances occured, my parents died. I allowed thweir deaths to prevent me from completing my education. I wasn't smart enought then. I thought I had it all worked out. I was wrong! Now, that I am 45 years old. Now that I am a college student again, it's actually very simple. What I would tell myself, 27 years ago is, stay in school, no matter what! Don't let anything get in your way of the education you often dreamed about! Don't think you know it all! Do whatever it takes to finish! In the end, it makes it all worthwhile!

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself how great starting off at a community class could be. It is very helpful to ease my way into college instead of jumping straight into a university far from home. I am glad that I decided to ease into college because now I am not worrying about living alone, doing laundry, and everything alone with leaving home on top of the work that goes along with college. I would lastly tell myself to not waste my time taking all those SAT tests since I did not need it to get into community college or when I planned on transferring.

This is a tough question to answer in only 200 words. Only a year ago, I was a senior sleeping until 10 A.M. every day and breezing along through my classes with seemingly nothing to worry about. I let my GPA slip to a 3.1, the lowest in my life and procrastinated often. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself that college will not be this easy. You have to work extremely hard and put everything you have into every assignment. Also, I would tell myself that college should not be about the partying. Some of the schools I selected were based on their rankings on "Maxim's List of Party Schools." College is not a time to party. College is a time to expand your knowledge, and become more mature while doing so. A year ago I was clueless. I never knew what college would bring.

I would tell myself to make sure and study throughout your entire college career instead of partying and slacking off the first few weeks. I would also advise myself to go to a junior college for a year, and then transfer into a university in order to cut down on freshman year tuition and fees. These two pieces of advice are things I wish I could now do, because if I had before I could still be at John Brown University instead of Collin County Community College where I might not get as good of an education as I could somewhere else.

If I were a high school senior and could do it all over again, I would definitely make some changes to the choices I made as far as attending college. I started out at Tyler Junior College my first semester, and due to the fact that I didn't put enough of my time and energy into researching this school and what was important to me, I ended up hating it and moved back home to go to community college. One of the most important things you can do is to make a list of things you are looking for in a college, because if you are going to put so much work into getting there and basically spend your life savings there, you mind as well enjoy it. Things you may be looking for would include a certain type of sport, a public vs. private school, small or large. Another thing is apply for scholarships like crazy! Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. To my gained knowledge over the past semester, the more people you may annoy, the more questions you get answered. Most importantly though, DON'T settle!! Find the college that fits you the best!

The advice that I would give myself is to work my hardest with everything that I do. In the past I never really worked up to my potential because nearly everything came easily to me. I was satisfied and quit working if whatever I did led me to achieve a passing grade. However now that I'm in college, I realize that it's not just about grades and passing, but to work my best to show myself how amazing "my best" can really be and that I'm capable of achieving more than what I thought I could do. It's a great step in growing up and learning more about yourself. If I could go to the past, I would tell myself to not stop working just because it's simple and efficient, but to work harder to make it complex and wonderful.

If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would start by telling myself to get involved in more senior activities. Although, I have some great senior memories there were a few activities that I chose to skip out on, that looking back, I wish I had taken the time to be apart of. Secondly, I would advise myself to stay strong in school through the very end of my senior year. I made good grades but I admit that I did slack off towards the end simply because I was so ready to be done. Finally, I would tell myself to be more open to meeting new people my first semester of college. I am a very outgoing person but the first part of my first semester I didn't take the time to get to know my classmates as well as I should have. College is very different from high school, and so far has been a complete blast!

High school graduation was a monumental moment for me. However, it took growing up and many, many years later for me to fully appreciate the fact that I had graduated from high school. I didn?t do very well in school back then and it was only by a couple of points that I managed to acquire a diploma. I now have a thirteen year old daughter who is about to go into high school. She has struggled in the past. I have made it my goal to make it her goal that she will be involved and practice good study habits. Unfortunately, regret is what comes to mind when I reminisce back to those years and remember how uninvolved I was. If I could go back and give myself advice I would tell myself that I needed to work harder and to take the time to study more. I would tell myself to get involved with school projects, sports, clubs etc. I would let myself know that I can do it and to have more confidence in myself. My daughter definitely has an advantage and that is parents who will always support her.

Don't wait. There are many things that can be put off in life. College should not be on that list. Time goes by so quickly before you realize it you have settled into a career that has very few options for advancement. It is much more difficult to switch gears later in life and once you have settled into life. Regret is a weight not easily left behind. Everytime I look at the past few years I wish I would have done things so dramatically different. I feel like I wasted years of my life. Use your time wisely always looking to the future because before you know it, it has become the past.

If i were to go back in time i would tell myself that college is an investment and you shouldn't just throw your money out their and not put any effort into what you have invested towards. Studing is a major part of college and should be done constantly and you shouldn't just try to flow through school.