Dominican University Top Questions

As there are many things to be prepared for when entering a university for the first time, I would tell myself to expect people to be just like you. As Valedictorian of my high school class, I chose a university that could offer challenges in the form of coursework and competition amoungst my peers. Little did I know most of my peers would have the exact same expectations as I. In truth, my biggest expectation was to have the same success I'd had in high school. Though I did not look for ease of success, I found myself discouraged when facing certain challenges. I should not have been down on myself or my abilities, for I found over time that though we were competing for the same academic respect, my peers were also my future colleagues. Therefore, just as I aimed to be successful, I came to admire their ambitions as well.

High-school is only a stepping stone to the rest of your life. Do not become fixated on one dimention. Explore your interestes in order to learn more about yourself, including interests and abilities. Always remember that failures are valuable tools to learn how to overcome obstacles and they help one to improve him/herself. Do not judge yourself by other people's standards. They do not walk in your shoes and they certainly do not know what is best for you. In a few years their opinions will not matter and you will be stuck with the consequences of the decisions that you make. Although they may give good advice, and it is always good to listen, they may not have all the facts pertaining to your situation. Be true to yourself and your maker, then all thing that you do will be the tools to make you succeed.

I would tell myself that it is very possible to change your mind about your chosen career. Because of this I would recomend that I keep an open mind for the first two years and take a variety of coursework to ensure that I find the best fit for my career.

The advice I would give my former self with the knowledge I know now. Is that college will change you and that being socially is the key to making friends and colleagues for the future. Be yourself who cares what others think it is our life our decision to make mistakes and learn from them. Leave your dorm room and explore Dominican you are paying tons of money to be there anyway. Friends will come and some will go. Some will bring out the best in you and at times annoy you but that’s the point. The teachers there will be amazing they will open your eyes to new things in which you never thought of before. Doing theater will be amazing and you will not be type casted do not hesitate just do it! The Basic Skills will be a drag so study now you will need it. Love will happen but not in the best way better to have love then lost so they say. Overall your first year will have its share of bumps along the way but you have 3 more years to change everything and make it memorable.

I WOULD APPLY TO AS MANY COLLEGES AS POSSIBLE AND ALSO VISIT THEM AS WELL. I WOULD APPLY FOR AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS POSSIBLE AND NOT DEPEND ON MY FAMILY SO MUCH. BECOMING AN ADULT IS SCARY, BUT SOMETIMES, FAMILY CAN INHIBIT YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. NOT EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGING WHEN MONEY IS AN ISSUE.

If I was to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student first I would tell myself not to drop out. Dropping out was the worst mistake I ever made. Secoundly I would have told myself that in order to be able to take care of a family and not become a crack head like my mother I need goals and dreams and to go after them. I would tell myself not to listen to the people who told me that no matter how hard I try I would never amount to anything. I would tell myself to start being the person I am and stand up for what I believe in and be the strong person I am today. Going back to school and becoming a college student and getting my education is the best decision I have ever made. I am not only doing this for myself but for my children. I love how my children look up to me now and can be proud of their mother. I didn't have that as a child and it's not a good feeling. I am the person I want to be now.

I would tell myself to definitely study abroad my sophomore year. I didn't know that you could take most, if not all, general education requirements in Spain, China, Ireland, what have you. I would tell myself ask as many questions as you can. Even if they seem like the most obvious questions. That way you stay informed about how things work in your school. I would definitely tell myself to take different courses of things I liked in order to decide on my major. I think there are a lot of things students are interested and they don't take the classes because they want to graduate on time; there's loads of time, believe me when I say this. If you like art, take an art class or if you like cinema, take a cinema class. You have the right to enjoy your college experience. I think my best advice to myself would be pace yourself, take it slow, and most of all enjoy the ride. College is tough no doubt but there's nothing like it ever again in your life. If I could go back I would take different courses and study abroad.

I have gotten a lot of out of my college experience. When I applied to Valencia Community College, I had an expectation everything to be difficult and felt I was not ready for college. The professors made me feel at ease and ready for my upcoming years of college after Valencia. You meet so many people different in your courses, and in turn you broaden your knowledge of the diverse types of people. Learning this can be used in every type of field in the workforce. College is valuable to attend not only from what you learn, but from what you learn about yourself. You may enter thinking you want to major in one field, but end up loving another. This may cause slight issues depending how far you are into your picked major, but at the end you're into a field of work that you love and enjoy. You meet many interesting people from across the world and learn from them as well. You learn from your professors who some have worked in the field and can give you advise that you might not find researching the career yourself.

I have learned many things from my college epereince thus far. For one, education is a privilage and a rightfully selfish journey. For me attending Dominican is an extereme blessing and privilage considering that my family would not have been able to afford for me to attend school had I not recieved my scholarships. With that I have also learned that I am my greatest inspiration and motivator, that college is a job that pays well in the long run. College is the opportunity to be selfish in one's educational pursuits to find truth in whatever it is I am curious about, using those answers in my career for the rest of my life. With that there is work that I must not let be interupted by any means; I must be selfish with my time and dedicate it mostly to my studies. I have also learned that in all the new ideas that I am exposed to by my professors, peers, and classmates I must stay true to who I really am. At the heart of it college is the prime time to find "who I am" and want to be, carrying it with me to the world.

Central Arizona College has allowed me to find my true calling in life. The honors program has allowed me to do further research and develop my academic abilities. Attending CAC has allowed me to be able to reach my future goals with less expense and in a friendlier setting. My experience has given me many opportunities that starting off at a four year school would not have. I know what direction I want to take and am aware of how to get there because of attending CAC.