Eastern University Top Questions

When I started college at Eastern, I was a nursing major. Nursing was a major I knew would make my parents happy, and it was also a major I knew would get me money and a job. This was a good enough reason for me so I entered into the nursing program in the fall of 2012. As time went on, I grew to hate my major. I slowly realized I hadn't entered a major I was passionate about, but rather a major that was practical and boring. I was close minded and simply did things to make my parents happy instead of to make me happy. Half way through my Junior year, I decided change to a major I was truly passionate about; music. My parents were less than thrilled. They withdrew all financial support due to this decision. If I could go back and tell my high school senior self one thing, it would be to go after what makes you happy. Go after what you are passionate about. Open your mind, for there is a world of possibilities that you will experience soon. The world is much bigger than the corner you have experienced.

If I could go back in time and talk you myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college life is more challenging than I thought. I would also tell my younger self not to be intimidated by the deadlines presented on the syllabi because it will be manageable to complete my degree program with high honors. I would tell my younger self to stay consistent in my studies and continue to make an impression on professors and faculty.

If I could go back in time to before I went to college, I would advise myself to apply for more scholarships while I still had the time. College, especially my school, can be very expensive, and I did not realize just how much money I would need. I would also advise myself to not pack as heavily as I did. Half of the things I packed I ended up not even using, so it just takes up space in my dorm room. Lastly, I would advise myself to not put off my packing until the day before I left. Having to pack everything up in one night was a very stressful process that could have easily been avoided if I didn't procrastinate on it!

I would tell myself to talk to my guidance counselor more and utilize all the tools that she had. Even though I was stressed about where I was going to college or what I was going to study, I need to just enjoy the ride and excitement because it is not going to last long. I would tell myself to listen to my mom more, she knows far more than I sometimes I give her credit for. I need to start slowly with taking college classes, and allow myself to get used to the college work and schedule.

Dear Robin, Do not worry about the small stuff because it will all work out in the end. I know that you may think that your future looks bleak now, but college will shape you into a better person. You will meet the most amazing people in college and they will become your lifelong friends, so do not worry about the silly high school friends who hurt you. You deserve the best education out there and you have earned it, so keep your head up and be positive. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it, because you are a fighter and you always try your best. College helps you become more confident in yourself and teaches a lot about leadership, do not be afraid of that. Love yourself and ultimately you will be happy in college. Do not worry about not making friends because you will attract the best people. You are an amazing girl, do not ever forget that. Let your faith and intuition guide you in making the right decisions and ultimately you will be happy. Keep your head up and smile. Don't worry about money either, God provides.

I would tell myself: Do not be afraid to take chances and go out of your way to help someone out. There are people in need all over the world and what many need is someone to simply listen to them and make them know that they are loved. These will be memories that last. Do not forego any opportunities when it comes to jobs, friends, or serving others because of worries and fears. Looking back, you will ponder why you even feared in the first place. Lastly, fill your life with love and make love radiate from you through your actions and words. Remember that you have been strengthen and empowered by Christ and through Him nothing is impossible.

I think I would have told myself to focus more on the academics of High School and not so much on the clubs and activities. I wish I would have the time to search and fill out more scholarships so my financial situation would be better off than it is. Other than these two things, I really feel that I was ready for college and transitioned well.

To my high school self, don't wait until the last minute to study or do homework! Staying up until 2 or 3 and having to get up for an 8am class is not fun. Also, don't be afraid of trying new things, you will make new friends and memories that will last a lifetime. It is alright if your opinon about something changes; that is a part of growing up and being out on your own. Don't judge others based of the first meeting, oftentimes they are just as nervous and scared as you are. If you are doing bad in a class and have done everything you can to do better but it still isn't working, drop it; don't let your stubborn pride stand in the way.

Believe in yourself, you are smarter than you think you are. Love yourself, no one will love you the way you can love yourself. Stay focused, you can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you. You are great and you have so much to offer the world, do be discouraged by the challenges you will face, they are there to only make you stronger. Accept the things you can not change and move on, most of all have faith and hope and you will succeed. Put God first above everything.

Looking back on my high school experience and who I was as a person at that time, I would never go back. College has shaped my life more than anything else. It has made me happier, healthier and more motivated than I've ever been. Knowing that the transition into college scared me to tears during high school, I would tell myself 'don't worry, they future is better! ' I would quote Jeremiah 29:11, as common as that verse is, its words are the best comfort to those going through the scary transition: "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 a hope and a future." When I was a high school senior, when the world and my future was so uncertain, I needed to hear that God had a plan for me and that His plan would be good. He still has a plan for me as I go into my senior year of college, with the hopes of a good career and a bright future ahead of me, those words are as relevant to me today as they were then.

If I could go in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say "Save Money". I would say to complete as many scholarships as I can and never give up on hope. I would also say to save my money when I was getting paid than spending it on Unnessessary "Stuff". I would to stay on track with things in school. Get my finacial things done early so I could be on the roll without being stress out at the last minute. To always study and get in the habit of studing every day for each class. Take school seriously. When help was giving out recieve it, do not deny the help. fill-out more than four applications for school. To never think that everything will ride smoothly unless I do the work that need to be done. To start listening to what people say to me and take it seriously when it comes to finacial needs and college. Involved more school activities and be socially involed instead of being anti-social. Start taking notes and study harder because once I start to study more, then the more it become easy to study to do.

Make sure you do evey homework assignment that is issued to you. Believe it or not that actually count! Depending on your GPA, you can be awarded many scholarships, and that is less money you or you parents have to pay out of pocket.

The advice that I would give myself is Jesse, stay in school, maintain a high gpa and apply apply apply to collges and scholarships. Don't drop out of high school and go to college later because you are going to want to be working. Being in college at 23 Jesse is not fun at all, you are older than everyone else, and when you want to get married, you can't because you don't have a stable job. And apply to scholarships as well! I didn't start doing that when I started college and that messes with my financial aid. Be wise and start school early and focus focus focus. Don't get distracted by things going on and don't allow the fact that mom and dad got divorced to get in the way. I know it hurts and it messes everything up but stay focused and you will be okay. The pain will go away eventually and broken hearts will mend. Don't allow that to mess with you because it will affect you for the rest of yoru life. And always perserve through every obstacle because you are going ot be great in life.

Experiencing college life and how difficult it is, if I can go back in time to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to focus because the life of a college student is way more complicated than the life of a high school student. I know when I was a high school senior, school work was a breeze and I was involved in so many things. Being in college now, things are different. The work is harder and I am learning things that high school teachers don't teach you even if they do say that the course is on a college level. I have faced so many challenges when it came to trying to balance activities with school work and a social life. If I can tell my high school senior self just how difficult college can be then at that time I would not have only prepared better for college, but to appreciate my wonderful high school years that I got to have. I say this because you can experience college more than once, but you can never go back to high school and have that adventurous experience again.

I would tell myself to eat better and pay attention to your weight. Also excercise more than I did. I would teach myself how to write good notes and how to study. Studying is a big part of classes and if you do not know how to do that well you will not do so well in your first couple of tests. Be open to new things and do not be afraid of people. It is hard with so many people that you do not know but do not be afraid of that. People just want to get to know you. Also, be smart about money. Get it and save it. Don't spend it.

I'll start with something you don't have to know in high school: what you want to do with your life. People always ask this, so we think we should have an answer. If someone asked about my plans, I'd say my first priority was to learn what the options were. You do not need to be in a rush to choose what you are going to do with your life. Just because someone is blood related does not make them family. Likewise, just because someone is not blood related doesn't mean they are not family. I would encourage myself to listen to my inner voice & follow my dreams instead of letting “family” tell me I can't accomplish something I want to. Don't let them make your choices for you. Make decisions not just trying to do the right thing, but make sure they are right in your heart and that they are right for you. Make sure to ALWAYS read what you sign, BEFORE you sign it, as it can come back to hurt you later. Finally, I would encourage myself not sweat the small stuff because it is all in Gods hands.

My four years at Eastern University helped me become a better person, not just an educated one. The faculty, staff, and students at Eastern are concerned with developing the whole person into someone who is actively pursuing his/her passions through family, work, and community involvement. I was surrounded by people who pushed me to expand my horizons, not so I would agree with them, but so I would understand my perspective, my purpose, and my life to my utmost capacity. Through my college experience I didn't just gain knowledge, I became wiser. I grew in my ability to ask questions, think deeply, solve problems, counsel others, and give generously. I developed deeply-rooted friendships with people who I would be beyond proud to even call an acquaintance. I'm not just impressed with the ambitions, potential, and accomplishments of my classmates and friends; I'm amazed by their depth and character, too. I could say that Eastern provided me with the best four years of my life, but it gave me more than that. The time I spent and people there gave me the tools and courage to continually search for and create life's best experiences.

My college experience is one that I wouldn't trade for anything. To start, my time at Eastern prepared me for my future career and life paths. I participated in two internships which showed me that my choice of a major in social work was the right one for me. These internships paved the way for my current job working with teenagers in foster care. In addition to my internships I also studied abroad in Spain for a semester, which was not only valuable in improving my Spanish-speaking abilities, but exposed me to diverse cultural experiences and some very interesting and wonderful people (not to mention delicious food!). Another extremely valuable resource that I gleaned from my time at Eastern is a solid network of friends and professional contacts. I still keep in contact with many of my friends from Eastern and lean on them for support, guidance, and comradery. I also stay in touch with several professors with whom I had close relationships, and their guidance to me post-graduation has been invaluable. The experiences, relationships, and career preparation that I gained from Eastern are second to none.

I've learned a lot about resposibility. College is very different from high school in terms of self-discipline. Nobody is telling me what to apply for or learn anymore; I have to find opportunities on my own, and if I want to succeed I need to be alert and independent. My mother can't help me because she is preoccupied running the house and paying the bills, and my sister is still in high school. My father can barely pay his own bills and might have to move away permanantly and quit his job. The only person I can rely on is myself. All these dreams I have about becoming a doctor and going to USC are made more impossible by my economic situation, but I know that with enough persistance I will achieve the impossible. My mother always says, "Focus on what you want and nothing else; There cannot be focus without discipline." Santa Monica College is competative and a one hour commute from where I live- but I attend because I know my tenacity will pay off. If I have to apply to 1000 scholaships I will, because I've learned true focus.

My college experience has its ups and downs. Of course finding jobs that correspond with my degree has been difficult as is the state of the country recently. I am always grateful and value that I had the priveledge of an education, but feel college did not prepare me to deal with the expenses and obligations of a working individual's life. I blame myself for not being completely certain on a plan for my education and sort of "going with the flow" as many college kids do. Now that my aspirations of law school are over, I find myself slightly limited in the job market by having "only" a bachelors in Political Science. My most successful positions I have held have nothing to do with my degree whatsoever and I may very well have been able to obtain them without a degree. So this being said, I believe the value of college lies in working toward a goal and contributing to your future. If I had taken more time, I may have done things differently. Though my plans have changed, I do believe it is the road to begin working toward your passion and excellence in that passion.