Columbia College-Columbia, MO Top Questions

If I could give my high school self any advice it would be to be sure to be present in the moment, enjoy that moment, and take a more zen approach to college in general. Too much planning can reduce ones ability to be present in the moment just as too much dwelling on the past can. I would tell myself that college is not about perfection but about the ability to adapt appropriately and come out of challenges improved. Enjoying the process would likely be the main point of my conversation with myself. I would stress that college will be one of the last times where I can focus only on being a student without any potential distractions such as career, children, etc.. Another important thing for my past self to know would be to be comfortable being yourself. Pretending to be someone else is too much additional unnecessary work and it is often seen through. Lastly, I would tell my past self to utilize every resource available and never be afraid to ask questions. You will never know until you ask has never been more true than when one enters college for the first time.

Start out by taking class at a communitiy college. Just the basic courses: math, english, social studies, etc. That gives you time to decide what major you would like to go into. Then you can decide what colleges you want to go to by the major you have decided on. Start looking for scholarships RIGHT NOW!! Do not wait until you are in college. The more financial help you can get is better. NO LOANS!! You con't want to spend all of your money after you graduate on loans AND interest. Grants and scholarships are the way to go. If you want to pick a couple of AA's along the way, it is OK because it will give you more ideas of what you really want to go into and give you a wider range of knowlegde.

If I could go back and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would say, "Elisa, you have been through some really tough times and life is about to get a little bit harder. Do yourself a favor and stick with vocal performance. You have been fortunate to receive a full-tuition scholarship for your voice, so don't waste it. Remember, if a boy tells you he loves you and then tells you not to go to school, he doesn't really love you. Keep going to school until you get your Master's degree, no matter what you decide to major in. You are smart, creative and talented. Don't let yourself think otherwise. Lastly, don't marry the first person who asks you. Even though you will learn valuable life lessons, he will stunt your growth. Wait until you are 30 to get married, you won't regret it!"

I would have started with what I needed to take first and not wait for my math classes at the end of school. I would have came here first because the other university was to big I enjoy this all adult school.

Don't worry about having fun and living life to the fullest, without an education you will never find a job that lets you live the way you want too.

I can easily imagine my seventeen year-old self heading off to college- nervous, uptight, and completely naive. If I could go back in time and give myself some advice I think would tell the old me to relax; to open my mind, and stop being such a perfectionist. Though having good grades and behaving properly may seem important now, experience has shown me a different set of priorities. An "A" is not nearly as important as the process of learning itself. You gain more from talking to people with experience than you can ever learn from a book. And perfectionism is impossible, so give in to the unpredictablility of life and you will be delightfully suprised. These are the lessons I would share with my former self, with the hope that I would make the choice to heed my own advice and open up my world view at a much younger age.

Don't take out student loans, get by on less and work harder on grants and scholarships. Study harder, work harder, pay attention to deadlines. Attempt to check on teachers before applying for their classes. Get more involved with other students and attempt to make lasting relationships with them.

If I could go back to high school, I would tell myself to not sweat the small stuff and look more into scholarships. In sweating every small thing that happened when coming to school, I gave myself anxiety attacks and paranoia for no reason. By learning to relax, I have been better able to enjoy my first year at Columbia College and take in everything that college life has to offer. Also, I would have looked more intensely into scholarships. Since I didn't look into them as a senior, I now have loans for the full amount of tuition where if I put time and effort into scholarships, I wouldn't have the stress of having loans and paying back so much. Scholarships are highly valueable if you take the time to apply and research.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would remind myself that life doesn't end here and that it gets way better as you mature and put yourself into a different environment. Who you are in high school does not determine who you are going to be. You will meet so many new and interesting people that will influence you in many ways, be it positvely or negatively. I would also tell myself to work harder in everything, be it a job or school, but most importantly, school. The better grades you get in high school, will make college a lot easier. The better grades you get in college, may not guarentee a six figure job, but the knowledge you aquire will put you that much closer to it. IT ALL STARTS WILL HIGH SCHOOL!

I would tell myself to start school right away and not wait. At least get your generals done even if you dont know what degree you want to pursue. I am almost 30 and I am just starting toward my masters's degree and I could have been done now.