Columbia College-Columbia, MO Top Questions

Life experience. Every day is another day in the classroom.

I figured out what I want to do with my life, and how I'm going to get there next.

I am a returning adult college student and this experience has been valuable to me in several ways. I have learned the value of my own money and time by returning as an adult, and I have also learned that I am much more determined and dedicated now. Finishing school is very important to me because I want to provide a better life for myself and my children and be a good example for them as they get older and consider college.

Value of friendship and hard work. Getting to know the teachers and fellow students and using the life experiences of both has helped me to grow as a person and become a better friend/colleague to those around me. Hearing stories and sharing some of my own its helped me to cope with everyday situations and situations that you may not normally see or hear about. Everyone has a different story to tell and giving them a chance to tell it may not only change your prospective on something but help that other person to feel better about something that has happened to them and to hopefully help them to grow or better understand what happens in the world.

When I first got out of highschool I was scared to got to college. First, I was afraid I would fail. For example, getting a loan then failing the class was scary, to just waste money. Second, the money is a burden to come up with. No one tells you how much money your going to need or where you have to get this from. Third, actually going to college getting everything figured out by myself was nerve wracking. But after all the tasks Ive had to deal with it financial aid, enrolling, motivating myself, and being there has gained alot of strength that I didnt even know I had at times. Finally, all these things have just made me smarter.

The idea that if you can stick with completing a degree you will be able to further obtain a better job in the field you are studying.

My experience has been wonderful. Its been valuable to attend because I have learned a lot and have had a great time doing it.

There are any number of things I might tell myself as a high school senior. Things that would change the whole experience of college life, and life in general: ?Don?t go to college yet. You?re not ready. You're doing it for the wrong reasons.? ?Don?t waste so much energy being who you think everyone else expects you to be. Figure out who YOU are. That?s by far the best person you can be.? I could save myself some frustration and failures by saying those things, but I would be a different person today. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Rather than changing my behaviors over the past 12 years, I would simply tell myself: ?The road ahead for you will not be easy. Learn everything you can about yourself along the way.? Today, I know who I am and what I want out of life and the world around me. I know how to decide for myself what I want, need and deserve, and reach for it. Those skills are vital to success in college, and life in general. Only because of my past failures, I know now that I can achieve that success.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to save more money during summer jobs and to concetrate more on my acedemics.

My high school senior year consisted of one semester. I didn't have much time change much of anything. If I could go back and give advice to myself, I would tell me that college is just like high school. There is nothing that is so new. The classes are merely a tad bit harder and the homework piles up, but other than that it is exactly the same. I would tell myself how disappointed I was to find that the only thing that came with college was more freedom but also more responsibility. I would also tell myself that it was a bad idea to mess around in high school instead of focusing on my studies. If I had been more focused, I would have had more scholarship opportunities. I wouldn't have to go to a private college before going to the college that I really wanted. I would only tell myself these things to better prepare myself for the disappointment that lies ahead.