Columbia College-Columbia, SC Top Questions

I would tell my high school self not to be so serious and to learn to have fun. College is the time in your life to find the perfect balance of work and play. Once the work is done its okay to let go, relax and have fun. You don't want to wait to your senior year and realize you don't have any good memories or pictures of your college years. So let go, roll with the punches and go do something instead of staying in your room. Share yourself with the world.

Dear Renee, I know that you are anxious to begin college, but before you get ahead of yourself, I have some advice for you. When you arrive, many people might try to make you feel pressured to choose a major andto decide upon a career choice. Please make sure that whatever you decide to study is based on your individual interests. I understand that you want your family to be proud of you, but you must keep in mind that your career choices are going to affect you for the rest of your life, make sure that you are happy with your decision. Each semester will become more difficult than the previous one, but keep in mind that it is only a challenge because it is supposed to help you grow as you learn to overcome it. Make sure to concentrate on evolving your foreign language skills and take advantage of Spanish, French, and Twi speakers who are around you. These languages that you speak will continue to be useful to you in the future. If you have any questions, send me an email: [email protected] With love, (Self)

If I were afforded the opportunity to travel back in time and give my high-school self advice, I would stress the importance of working relentlesssly, and always believing in my ability to succeed. In high school, I was always uncertain of what I wanted to do in the future, and I often found myself doubting my own potential. This affected me not only in the classroom, but in the various musical extracurricular activities that I was a part of. For awhile, my future seemed dim. Entering college has been a journey of self discovery, and a rebirth regarding my level of self confidence, and the ability to realize the amount of skills that I have to offer. As a high school senior who believed she would continue as a music major, I never would have believed that in three years I would have completed an internship at The Walt Disney World Resort, maintained a level of high academic proficiency in college, and would work in Social Advocacy and Policy with the SC Legislature during the 2014 Session. Though I have regrets, I can only conclude that taking the path less traveled has certainly made all the difference!

I would tell myself to develop confidence in many parts of my life. Confidence is a necessary aspect of one's freshman year of college when the initial transition is taking place. Oftentimes, people mistake the incoming freshman as being skittish or afraid of the transition. However, with my experience, I've realized that even the most shy of people have found that move-in day of their first year became a liberating experience for them. It is the days, weeks, and months following that desire this amount of confidence which I feel is necessary. As a high school senior, I experienced the senioritis that comes with the last year of public schooling. In the long run, I still wouldn't justify this as the type of confidence I am referring to here. I would tell myself that true confidence can't come from the status that you acquire or the people you find yourself around. It has to come from within in order to withstand anything that has been thrown its way. I would remind myself that if I plan to succeed as much as my dreams require me to, I should develop this confidence early in my career.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior if I was able to go back in time would be, prepare yourself for college life mentally and financially. I would have advised myself to seek out more scholarships and grants and to utilize student loans as a last resort. My main concern would be school first and then concentrate on work after I've obtained my career. I started at a technical college which allowed me to save money. I obtained two Associates Degrees and decided to further my education to obtain a Bachelor's. My goal after obtaining my Associate's Degree was to land a job making a lot of money. I lost focus of my goals of furthering my education to obtain a higher degree. I don't regret the way that my life has turned out. I'm happy with my life; my husband and my two daughters that I am setting an example for. I trust and believe that I am where I should be; majoring in Behavioral Science. Obtaining this degree is more meaningful now that I can ever began to imagine.

If I were to back to being a high school senior, the advice I would give myself is to consider future obligations when choosing a major. Consider that you will have children in the future to provide for and pick a career that's going to work with family obligations. Also consider that no matter what career you do pick, anything you will learn at college will allow you to acquire a more effective way of thinking. Secondly, I would encourage hard work in perseverance in college because this is needed throughout life in order to be a success. Remember that you can not only learn from your teachers but from your peers as well . Finally, it is important to pass on the information to future generations so that our world can be a better place.

I would tell my high school self to get into college and get my education while I was still young and had the time to do so with out all the distractions. Coming back after my kids have both actually gone to college made me realize how important it is. It is harder now because I have other responsiblities to take care of and I have to make many adjustments to get to class on just two nights a week. If I was younger all I wold have to focus on would be getting good grades, taking care of myself and having fun learning who I was in the process. I would tell my high school senior self to make any and all adjustments to get in school and finish school, because it will make a difference in the long run.

As a mother of two young kids and who decided to go back to school to get a higher education, I advice my fellow classmates that they are on their right path by going to college first before having kids. It is extremely hard to be able to balance life with school work but I have manage to do so. I think that If I could go back in time I would have never thought twice about the importance of a college education. I did not have anyone that push me to go to college, who saw the potential I had when I was young. If I were to go back I will tell myself that I could do it, that I am as equally smart as my other classmates and not to be scare to be challenged. I think that I need it someone to believe in me as my husband believes in me. I know too have seen how far I have come in school and how good I am at it.

I would have told myself do not wait and go to school, go ahead now and get it over with. After high school, i didn't go straight to college. I was one of those students that had to "find themselves". Then When I was about 23, is when I started to work on my associates. I have completed it however and are now working on my bachelors,but looking back, I could have been done with both and my masters at this point. So I would have told myself to be more serious about life and make better choices.

I would tell myself to take my math classes more seriously because it will cause me some problems in the future. I would also tell myself not to take a break between graduating high school and starting college. The "short break" that I was planning turned into years and now I am trying to make up for lost time.

If I had the opportunity to go back and talk to my high school self, I probably wouldn’t speak much. I would write a letter and hand it over to my old self. My letter would say the following: January 2014 Surprised? Who wouldn’t be? But with every great miracle comes a great purpose. I came back because I was given the opportunity to give my past self advice. I have two pieces of advice. Playing for Columbia College’s volleyball team will be a life changing experience. You will be wary of your team and won’t trust them. I know you’ve been taught that trust is earned not given, but it can be a better experience if you let yourself be a part of the team. This leads into my next piece of advice. Don’t be disappointed in others. God’s foremost commandment is to love. Understand that others will not always have the same values as you. People will not always do the right thing. You will be much happier if you accept this and choose to lead by example. Be a leader through actions not words. Work hard and stay diligent. Yourself

If I could go back into time, I would tell my high school self, to stay focused on what is before you. That you have the skill and potential to achieve whatever you want. Go to college and find your passion in a field that you will love, not a field that will make you money. If you heart is not in it, no money in the world will make you happy. You are your own boss; you dictate the direction and path that you want to follow. It will not be an easy path, but if you put in the work and effort, it will pay off. Stay prayed up and trust in God when times get hard.

College is alot difrent from high school. you need to get your game straight and get your self on the ball. Apply to as many colleges, pick up your G.P.A and dont settle for less. Take advantage of all the things you have here in school. Get dual enrollment classes, and A.P classes. dont fool around, dont be lazy. I'm telling you because I'm experinceing all the difficulties of the college life. For example the tuition and fees, the housing, and the stress of the classes. Study,Study,Study!!!! dont forget to always study in advance! Leave other things for later you'll have time for that. Please follow my advice right now that you have time to change it and make mine(ours) eaisier. I know for a fact that we can do this Karina. Don't give up on yourself, you have the power to achevie your highest! Because if you dont do this for yourself no one will. Everyone is capable of doing greatness, and we are that person who can make a diffrrence. Not only for ourselves but for the people in our communites. Keep going don't give up!

Dear Cristina, You’re 18, you think you know everything; well you don't. Your personal life is going to go through hell. That guy you meet freshman year, well he’s not the guy you end up with; in fact he puts you through a three year abusive relationship. When you get out you find yourself on academic probation, and working 50hrs a week at a Taco Bell to pay the difference. Its okay! You’re going to make Dean’s list, get your aid back, and be so much stronger for it. You’re finally going to figure out what you really want to do with your life, you’re going to regain every ounce of confidence you lost, and you will become so much more aware of both life and yourself. I want to tell you not to make all the mistakes you’re going to, but if it wasn’t for them you would not be who you are now, strong willed and awesome. Life is going to hurt, but I promise you’ll come out on top. So I leave you with this: make your mistakes, and never give up. Sincerely, An older wiser you

In high school, I was living in a bubble. Everything was perfect; I got to see friends everyday, I was a top athlete, I didn't have to make any life changing decisions (I had parents for that!), and I was used to the everyday hustle and bustle that was, high school. By Jr./Sr. year my our counselors began trying to prepare us for some big changes ahead. I didn't know where I wanted to go to college (if I wanted to be away from my family), what to do for my entire life, I was only 17! This panic/uncertainty caused me to put off searching/applying to schools. Out of sight out of mind right? I was living in a perfect bubble, I wanted nothing to change. Today I'm attending a two year college, ready to transfer. Knowing what I know now, I would tell my self to be better prepared. Life continues wether your'e ready or not. I would also tell my self not to worry so much. Everything works out even though it might be unclear at first. It might be hard at first but u you will gain rewarding life experience.

If I had a time machine and could go back in time to talk to my high school self about going college my high school self would look at me like i was crazy. Upon finding my high school self i would inform him that he should'nt be skipping class and to take high school seriously and not to take a break from school. It's better to go straight into college after high school so that everything you have learned in those long 4 years is still freshly engraved in your mind. I would make it very apparent to my younger self that playing around with your education could be extremely costly. Education will get you farther in life than anything else you can do. I believe that would be crucial knowledge for my high school self to know.

If I could go back to visit my high school self I would not have much to say other than to apply for more scholarships, work a little harder in classes, and to not worry about the transition, because it really is not as bad as many make it out to be.

To dream your on Dream.

Do all the things you never thought you were allowed to do. Be all the things you were never given permission to be. If you do this, you're onto something. If you don't, you are wasting yourself.

There is nothing wrong with the two year college! It's ok to start small in your dreams and work your way up. Sometimes we do not know where or what it is that we are truly meant for and we rush into college because that is what is expected of us. Relax... breathe, and take some simple college courses, find a relatively nice paying job, and work your way up. Don't be scared to tell your family that you are not ready to commit to something as big as a four year college. BE STRONG, because everyone will definitely have an opinion, but nothing really matters if you fail out because you were not ready.