Cecelia
If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would try to emphasize how important education is. Although I am in school now, and it's never too late to go back, I feel that I wasted time trying to figure life out instead of learning what life had to offer through education. I have had many life experiences that I probably would not have had the chance to experience otherwise, but now that I am a mother, wife, student, and Reservist, it is so much more clear to me how important education is.
Craig
I know what you're thinking kid. Why waste the money. ..and the time. So, you don't want to be a doctor or a lawyer and burn four years or more of your life trying to figure out what you want to do with it...hey that's fine. But let me tell you something. I've been where you're going and yea, I have to admit, I made a good run, but the times have changed and they always will and opportunities will present themselves and they will pass you by and you'll always wonder "What if?" What if I listened to my counselors and family and just tried it for two years? What if I swallowed my pride just a little and pursued my dreams? What if I gave a hundred percent to my studies like I did everything else? Think about that kid. Because let me tell you something I have learned for certain in the thirty years I've been out of high school...that no matter how well I did in life, both the ups and downs, I was always pondering that question. And what a waste of time that's been.
Jacqueline
If, knowing what I know now as a college student-athlete, I was given the opportunity to go back to high school and give myself advice, I would reiterate the importance of seizing all opportunities. I was a varsity womens basketball player, whom had just signed a letter of intent to Washington State University to play college Pac-10 basketball. All that was expected of me was to pass all of my classes for the last semester with a 2.0 GPA. I ended senior year with a 1.9. If I were capable of going back and motivating myself I would, I would demonstrate the importance of going to class everyday rather than hanging out in the hall with those friends that you wouldn't remember 2 years later. Nothing is worth jeopardizing your dreams. I would advise myself to study until the sun rose if I needed to, sleep will always be there but opportunity won't. I don't encourage regret, but I do believe in learning from your mistakes, and if it wasn't for me missing out on that opportunity I wouldn't have taken the initiative to write this today.
April
I would tell the student to think long and hard about what field they want to go into. Although it is possible to change majors part way through school it will only lengthen the time you are in school. Don't get a degree in what is easiest at the time. Learn from my mistake, someone that is going to school for a second time to get the degree in the field that I should have just done from the start. I would also tell students to become as involved as possible in campus life and get to know the other studens, join student orginizations, and have fun. Going to college is not just about getting an education; it is about growing as a person and finding out who you are. Take full advantage of every opportunity given to you. Finally, get to know your teachers. In a class of 500 students you may feel lost, so make a point to introduce yourself to each teacher. They will remember who you are and it may even have a bareing on gradeing when they can put a face to a name. It will make you experience more enjoyable.