Florida State University Top Questions

First I would tell innocent, clueless high school me to get a summer job before I left for college because I could have used the extra cash. Secondly, I would tell myself to spend less time with my high school boyfriend first semester (a relationship doomed to fail anyways) and more time exploring campus and making new friends. It's so tempting to spend time only with people you knew in high school but the first few months of college are the best for meeting people because everyone is new and generally open to a greater variety of people and experiences than they will be in a year or so when everyone has a more established friend group. And most importantly I would tell myself to start out as an art major because it is what I love, rather than struggling for a semester in a major I was not interested in- and bringing down my GPA in the process! Follow what you know in your heart is best for YOU.... Yes, the world needs scientists and doctors and lawyers but it also needs actors and writers and artists.

I would advise myself to let things just happen. Don't stress so much about What you think you have to do and spend more time doing what you enjoy doing. Things will happen the way they are suppose to happen. Life has a funny way of working thing out.

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you! (Dr. Seuss)." When going to a new school, many students try to think of ways to reinvent themselves in order to create a fresh start; I was no exception. In high school, the gap in social statuses was not very noticable because I had the same group of friends since elementary school and they would accept me no matter what. Unfortunately when college started, I was alone for the first time and I began doing anything I could to gain friends: buying "cool" clothes, going out, and partying a lot. When my loan money started to run out, so did my friends. I was now broke and alone from being someone I am not. If I could do it all over again, I would try to remind myself that my old friends loved me for me - not the clothes on my back or the music I tried to like to fit in. Just like Dr. Seuss said: There is no one alive that is youer than you!

There is no comparison between high school and college. The work is harder, the stakes higher, and the competition greater than ever before. Procrastination must now be a thing of the past, because it's no longer about regurgitating answers for tests. Professors expect you to understand the information and be able to apply it in any way they deem necessary for their course. Not having parent supervision also may take its toll, because you have no one to chastise you for not finishing your work. Also, professors are not concerned about whether or not you come to class, so having an internal conscience to do the right thing is essential. There will be friends made and lost; decisions made, right and wrong. The most important thing to remember is who you are. If you remember the morals and values that your parents have instilled in you, then you'll never go wrong. Enjoy the ride, because the experiences you have and people you meet will have such a profound impact on your life. Learn, love, live, and finish on top, because after all, that's the only place you will ever belong!

If I could sit my younger self down and tell her about her future college experience, I would be painfully honest. I would tell her that it is going to be hard. She is going to miss home a lot; she will miss her mother's cooking, her father's random singing, even being bossed around by her older brother. I would tell her that she will meet all kinds of people, people whose main goals in life seem to be the make you feel bad about yourself and undermine everything that you went through to reach the university. She will be scared of new people and intimidated by the idea of have to make new friends, and the course load will be overwhelming to the point where she will wonder why she even did it in the first place. But I will also tell her that those next four years will show her who she really is as a person, and that they will show her how strong she is. She will learn so much that she will be grateful for all the hardships that she went through. Then I would tell her to not eat the cafeteria food.

I would first take my SAT and ACT tests more frequently to boost my scores. Mine were lower and it has hurt me with scholarships. I was Valedictorian but my class placement was less considered than that of those scores, I was very surprised as I had worked hard to keep my GPA up and stay at the top of my class. I loved high school and all my friends, I have given this self-same advice to many of my friends coming up behind me. I would probably have taken more dual enrollment courses to help with class credit for college. I took 12 hours but I know now, had I started earlier, I could have chiseled away at my first year in college and the expense would have been lower. I lived in the dorm for my first year and I didn't care for it very well and it is very expensive with the dorm fees and mandatory meal plans that are separate. I would probably tell myself to get my apartment sooner and have a good roommate in mind when I did it. But most of all, I would tell myself not to stress!

Going back and talking to a younger me, I would definitely give myself a few pointers. I'd start by saying the normal stuff, such as "Derick stay focused, work hard, and dont slack off, it wont help you in college." But then I would tell myself to not worry so much about hanging out with your friends before they all go to different schools, because your real friends make sure to stay in touch no matter the distance. I would follow that by telling myself to listen and learn as much as I could from Ms. Dooley, my old english teacher, as she was a friend and mentor over the years. When you're in college you'll miss all the guidance she gave in life. I would tell myself to relax and have some faith, working hard will eventually pay off. The last thing I would tell myself is to hug your Aunt Nydia every chance you get , and not forget to spend time with your family before moving because you'll miss them more then you think.

If I could go back to my senior year in high school, I would change a few things that would make my life easier. I would tell myself to seek alternatives and that things do not always work out the way that you expect. For example, I was so adamant about going to school for cosmetology. Unfortunately, several years later I was injured on the job and could no longer perform at work. It was at that point I realized the importance of a backup and the problem with a trade that had limited options. The ideal situation would have been to go to community college part time after I had finished cosmetology school. I could have an associate’s degree as a backup in the future. At the time I was too naive and stubborn to consider going back to school. I now see the importance of a backup plan that I did not see when I was younger. My father is living proof that options are important. He completed an apprenticeship program only to be laid off. He chose to go to college at that point and never regretted it. I wish I listened to him sooner.

My advice to you, Avonlea is to be patient and work really hard. High school was hard for you because of your mom and sister getting cancer, but you did not give up. You kept pursuing your dreams even when you could not push on. My advice to you is to be patient because good things come to those who wait. It seems like forever at the community college level, but it will pay off once you get accepted into your dream school. Stay true to who you are. Join as many extra-curricular clubs on campus as you can because it will shape you in a mature person and challenge you to come out of your comfort zone. Do not give up on your dreams, Avonlea.

I would tell myself to definately be more involved in the community. College isn't only about recieving the education neccessary for our future, but enhancing the lives of others. By participating in organizations that focus on the welfare of the community, you gain experiences that are valuble in all aspects of life. When I was in high school I primarily did community service in order to meet the graduation requirement. Now, I understand that community service isn't just giving up time to do some work; it's an individual interest to improve the livelihood of others.