George Mason University Top Questions

High school was a very difficult time for me, I used to work myself to the bone. I don't know why I was so obsessed and hard on myself about studying. Thinking about it gives me unpleasant memories as I was considered, back then, to be a loner which means a person with no friends. Sometimes I wondered if it was just me, because I used to get lost in trying to figure out why my classmates wouldn't accept me as a friend. If I could've given myself some advise back then, I would've definitely said "Dude, cut yourself some slack !" - enjoy your life for the moment and don't worry so much about your grades or what people think. At the end of the day, all those struggles and resentments that teenagers go through weren't worth it. That's because the trick is to keep a positive mindset and find hobbies that make you feel good about yourself. I might as well have allocated that energy to studying for the SATs and working on college applications . Doing that would have atleast generated something useful and taken me to the college of my dreams.

I would tell myself to get started early - don't slack on scholarship or work opportunities, because every little bit helps. The more prepared you are, the easier the transition to college will be. And it's okay if you don't have a major decided or have no clue what you want to do after college. You still have time to figure it out! Taking general classes gives you time to figure it out while still helping towards any degree you decide on. Keep your focus and don't let your determination or work ethic slip. Even though it might get tiring and you just get sick of homework, it'll all be worth when you've got a diploma in your hands and are on your way to a higher education. College isn't as hard or scary as you might think - while the workload might grow a little, just remember that you are too. It's nothing you can't handle if you have your mind set, so jump in and give yourself the future you deserve!

Make connections, become involved. Never burn bridges.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'm not sure i would take the opportunity to do so. I'm a firm beliver in the idea that everything happens for a reason, and though there certainly are things I wish i didn't take for granted in high school, I would not want to change anything. As far as being able to go back in time and give myself advice, I wish I knew not to rush. Most people rush through high school, and I was a victim of this naive ideolgy. Though I could have benefitted from not doing so, the consequence resulted in who I am today, and i wouldn't trade that for the world. The way I carried myself in high school made me who I am today; my time management, self respect, and work ethic, are all things that I strived for and molded in high school, and they have been vital to my success. The future is bright, and I cannot wait to shine some of my light.

College is the most important part of your life. It is officially the beginning of the practical life. For me the transition to college has been very smooth. My first semester went really well and managed to get a good GPA. College education is expensive. Many times you will feel that you should not have attended this college or have attended community college.The majority of First year college students reported that they had "some" or "major" stress regarding their ability to pay for their college expenses. You may think you won’t be able to pay for the next semester. In the light of my experience,I as a high school seniors would give "paying for college" high importance and think thoroughly on that. Financial Aid or paying for my college has made college scary and haunting for me because even good grades do not pay for your college tuition and fees. Thus, apply to as many colleges as possible giving preference to those where chances and opportuntities for scholarship are the greatest. I wish I could go back and do this, but its too late now.

Choose your college major yourself. Do not let other people influence your decision. You need to choose the academic program that makes you happy. If you are not happy studying something, you probably will not be happy doing it for a living. You are going to be investing a lot of time and money into your college education. Make that investment one that will yield happiness for you.

If I were to go back in time to my senior year of high school, I would tell myself to stay focused and do not forget why I am going to college. I would tell myself that College is a lot of freedom but it also has a lot of responsibility. I would say that in college you are going to be responsible for yourself, and no one is going to be telling you what to do. This is why you must be focused and aim for your goal because it can be very easy to lose focus with our friends and other distractions. I would remind myself that I am the first one in my whole family to go to college. This is the biggest accomplishment in my family dreams to see me go to college and I cannot ruin it. I have to set an example for my nieces and nephews and to open doors for other generations to follow. I cannot turn back, and now that I made the Dean List this semester and that I must continue to make it every semester, and to never lose my goal and motivation.

If I were to travel back in time to my some-what immaure high school senior self, the two important advice's I would give would be to not sweat the small stuff and do the unthinkable or at least attempt it. The reason I chose these two advice's to tell my young self is because they are very basic common sense which I lacked back in high school. In the past I've struggled to sweat the small insignifficant problems that wouldn't matter within 6 months and I did not realize that the world offers more obstacles than just a project or an essay that needs to be completed. The second advice was given to me when I realized I was a very shy and unwilling to my community. If I ever wanted to go somewhere in life, I learned that I'd have to do something out of my comfort zone to be recognized, hence why doing the unthinkable is a very suitable advice. Even though I would want to talk a lot of sense into my high school self, these two would be the most significant that would impact my future.

I would tell myself to find a balance. One of the most important things that I have found it balancing fun with responsibility. College is the time to have fun, meet life long friends, go crazy, make mistakes, and find out about yourself. However at the same time it is a very expensive four years and it is the time you shape yourself educationally for the future. It is important to stay focused on your goals and dreams. I would tell myself to think hard before settling on a major, to organize myself better, but most importantly, to have fun with whatever I choose and never look back.

Be yourself! The only mistake you made in college is not being proud of your cultural background. West Virginia is does indeed have to reputation of being poor, backwards, ignorant, and country; but that is not the full picture. Most of the people you will meet at college are indeed very welcoming to diversity. As shocking as it is to hear but, most people on campus have never meet an African American and is even more surprised to meet an African American that is Muslim. You are a double minority and that is in no way anything to be ashamed of. Actually when people find out; you are invited to do class interviews, radio talk shows, invited to teachers’ homes and other activities. Your motto for now on should be African American Muslim and proud!