Concordia University-Chicago Top Questions

I would give myself the advice to be more open to all people without judging them because you don't know there story and where they came from.

The advice I would give to myself would be to not go to Aurora University, as it was a waste of time, and I could have gone to Concordia much earlier. If I did, I would have a lot more friends.

If I could rewind to August 2008 , I would do a complete spin on my life. From the people I surrounded myself with to the classes I chose to take. The first thing I would have done differently is not take any study halls and retake classes that I previously got low grades in. I would come to class on time and not be complaceive. I gradguated with a 2.8 and could have had at least a 3.5, but I settled. Today, I am learning that being mediocre isn't good enough for me. I am ambitious and want to be the best person I am capable of being for myself and for my son. I want to expand my knowledge and if I ever fail, I want to try again and again until I get it right. I would have told my senior self that friends come and go, but your educational background is always permanent !

If I could go back in time, i would tell myself to pay more attention in class, do my assignments and not to play around. Although i came to this realization late, i know if i had put in all my best. I would have been able to make a lot of difference academically, my grades would have been better and i would have been able to get admission to any school i wanted.

All the energy you are spending worrying about boys (Denny included) is energy wasted. Do not worry about who you will spend your life with NOW. God has a plan for you, I promise. It looks much better from my perspective. Also, do not be afraid of Concordia's Lutheran tradition. Remember that you need to be open to listening to their beliefs as much as you think they need to be open to listening to yours. God has so much more for you than what you see now, and EVERYONE is trying to tell you that. Don't be afraid of being independent. You won't know how strong you are until you try it by yourself. Just TRY IT. And, heads up: pay attention to the mission work on the mission trip. Not Bryant.

The advice I would give myself if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior about college would be, that I definitely need to concentrate more on my high school grades, instead of just always trying to have a passing grade. In high school everyone talks about needing to get good grades for college, but no one really puts much effort into it. All the students really just try to get a passing grade which is a C or a D. If I would have gotten better grades, I probably would have been able to attend a university instead of a community college. Now that i'm in college I have been striving to receive A's in classes, and so far i have succeeded. I find school very important and put much more effort in trying to get great grades.

I would go back and tell myself that it is okay to let loose once in a while. Not everything has to be stone cold serious. I would have told myself that it is normal to let yourself have a little fun and not be afraid to procrastinate every so often.

I would have told myself that nothing is as important as maintaining good study habits. If you let yourself get behind than the homework and stress can consume you. I would also have told myself not to worry about roommates too much because I spent my entire summer worried about it even though it is relatively easy to switch roommates if it does not workout. I also would tell myself the benefits of going to the library for more than just getting resources, first semester I always did my homework in my room but there are to many distractions there and it was hard to focus. I now know that the library is my sanctuary when I really need focus and I feel more awake than in my own room. Ultimately I would remind myself not to stress over the small details because if I remember my homework, appointments, and deadlines and get everything done then it becomes a lot less of a task and I can schedule in a brake every now and then.

I would tell myself as a high school senior knowing what i know now in my first quarter of college to take it seriously! When i was a senior I was simply so ready to graduate high school and be out of there that I didn't take very much of my school work seriously. College is so much different than high school and I honestly feel that I was not ready for it, but I was thrown into it anyway and forced to grow up fast. My high school also did not prepare me for college well because they tolerated many things that a college never would. I would push myself harder to do the best that I could instead of slacking off like i did. Although I didn't do my absolute best I am glad I enjoyed the time with my classmates while i still had it. All in all if I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would have kept my butt in line!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. As a college junior I am very active on my college campus. I'm a Residential Assistant on a freshman floor, captain of a track team, and somewhere between all of that I work a babysitting job, and continue working on my elementary education degree. I arived on campus August 10, 2011 ready for a year full of challenges and adventures. Once my residents, freshman girls, started moving onto my floor I started to think back to what I would have loved to know when I was in their position. I believe the only thing that would have truly calmed me were the words from Jeremiah 29:11. Knowing that my story has already been writen and that I am just watching it unfold. And when things get rough to know that they are all part of the plan, my struggles will make me stronger, my acomplishments will bring me joy, and my time at Concordia will bring me memories that will last a lifetime.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give some advice on how to relax in school and enjoy the experience. I would tell myself to concentrate on trying to really learn the material being presented to me instead of just memorizing the facts for a test. Also, I would advise my past self to take a wide variety of classes since, often times, a person finds a new interest or even a career path simply by enrolling in a random class.

Attending college has and continues to take me through new experiences. It has truly been a pleasure to have the opportunity to be able to attend an elite university. It has allowed me to prove to myself and others that anyone with motivation can do anything. I was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. I came from a lower income family, and as long as I can remember my family has always struggled financially. There have been many unfortunate events with my family and every experience I was put through turned me into the strong determined person I am today. College allowed me the perfect get away from my chaotic life with the family. Being so far away from home has taught me the meaning of true independence. I have learned to figure out my own financials and how to make it in life without needing my parents 24/7. Deciding to attend college in Chicago instead of California is truly an experience. At first it was a culture shock, but it has opened my eyes to new things. I am able to understand and grasp different aspects in others cultures.

I feel blessed to be attending SDSMT and I am studying hard for my Environmental Engineer degree. I am proud to be a good example for my children, to show them that one can change their situation to make a better future for themself at any age, through any hardships, and even with physical challanges. Also, learning about the sustainability of our earth and going to a school that values that has prompted me and my children to be more aware and contribute by recycling, growing plants and trees, conserving energy and water use, etc. I have learned to reach out to other students and professors for help with studies and appreciate the importance of networking. My children spend time at my school where they have met my professors, socialize and play games with students, enjoy their great food, and marvel at the emphasis that the school puts on "Green" living. Not only do I enjoy learning and have professional and personal goals that this schooling will help me to acheive (building my family a self-sufficient monolithic dome home), but my schooling has also opened up a whole new positive outlook on the future for myself and my children.

What I have gotten out of my college experience was to always have a back up plan an have a strong network because now a days it doesnt matter what school you went to or the grades you recieved while you were there, it's about the people you know and your plan for life. You have to have a strong network so when you need that job after college or just some connections in general, you have someone to call or have a referance because everyday it gets harder and harder and harder for people to get jobs that they want. I know a woman who has a assoicates, bacholers in two majors, and a masters and she still can't find a job, or a good one with the cridentials that she has and the worked that she has put in. She was a teacher in the city of Detroit, where I live and she got layed off. In that city, no teacher should be getting layed off, especially with her type of skill and knowledge but thats how hard getting a job is. Your back up plan you should have already planned since highschool.

My college experience thus far has taught me a lot about people in general; I have learned why they act the way they do at times, whether the actions are welcomed or rejected. I have learned not only about the behavioral part of others, but more importantly, I have learned--and continue to do so--that every individual has a story that ultimately explains their behavior. Most people overlook the "why" when an individual acts contrary to what they consider to be "correct." Perhaps they reasoned that people are simply "too different" to bother tolerating that particular individual, or maybe there is another reason. However, in my college experience, I have learned that people are not as different as they might seem; no one likes to feel alone, unloved or like a cast-out. That is why I have to say that my time at college was valuable and quite priceless.

I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. It has taught me how to be independent and I have learned to see the world in a different way. Life can be like an adventure and if you don't learn how the world works, you can get eaten alive. It's like survival of the fittest. I learned that life isn't as easy as it seems. I feel this is very valuable to me because I wouldn't be who I am. Without the changes I have endured, I would not be as open-minded and as knowledgable as I am today. I'm glad I am lucky enough to have gotten the opportunity to learn more about our world today and how to survive it.

At this point in my college career, I'd say that what I got out of my college experience is a sense of what it means to be independent. For instance, previously, I've never been concerned about money because everything I needed was provided for me. However, now, I have been seeking employment and gaining experience so that I would be able to pay for what I need on my own. Also, I enjoy spending time volunteering, spending time with friends and family, and other things that aren't academic or work related. Therefore, I realize that to really be able to be independent, I must be able to prioritize and manage my time.

I attend a community college in my area. When I first began school, I was young and didn’t realize the value of an education. I dropped out after three semesters. Time passed, my life continued to grow and I matured. I returned to school full-time with the idea of obtaining my Associate’s degree in Small Business Management and had no real intention of continuing my education beyond that point, fearing that I wouldn’t be able to handle the upper division course material. As I have progressed through my classes, I was honored to find that I made the Dean’s list every semester with a 3.0 or higher. Though I am in school full-time, I continue to serve in my home church ministries, work part-time and raise five children. I look at all that I have accomplished thus far and can sum up that I have done well. Through my accomplishments I have become more confident in my abilities to achieve more. If I had not returned to college to finish my Associate’s degree, I would not have gained the confidence in myself to continue on to obtain my Bachelor’s degree.

So far i have gotten alot out of my college experience. I have learned how to make friends and be helpful to all my peers. Playing on the soccer team for the university has helped me experienced a high level of competition. My freshman year has been very valuable to me. I have learned alot of new things while attending concordia university. The quality time that i get to spend with teachers really helps me be successful. I am content with the accessibility to all my teachers.

My college experience has been life changing! I earned the money needed to pay for the first semester by myself. This was the first time money was coming out of my own pocket for education. This meant that if I did not try my best I was only hurting myself and the hard work I had put in to get myself here. Knowing this, I had more motivation to work hard in my school work and extracurricular activities. My first year of college was also the first time I did not live with my family for a whole year. This meant that I was on my own. I did not have a curfew or set of rules that my parents could enforce because I lived under their roof. The feeling was both exhilarating and terrifying. I was responsible for my actions and had to rely on myself and my own conscience to know what was right and how to make the correct decisions. The whole experience was very valuable to me because I learned independence and what it meant to be an adult. I learned to rely on myself and my own willpower which made me strong as a person.