Georgetown University Top Questions

It's hard to believe that I have been out of high school for 16 years, but boy do I have some advice for my high school self. First off, I'd grab myself by the shoulders and give them a good shaking to wake up. I'd tell myself to hit the books and make sure I was Valedictorian and nothing less. I would get into the University of my choice and focus on nothing else but being a 4.0 student and not let anyone or anything stop me. I have always had dreams of becoming a teacher and kept putting it off due to a teacher's income. That's no longer important. What's most important and the biggest advice I could give myself is to follow my heart and my dreams and realize that people have passions in life because it is what they are built for and now at 33, I know without a doubt my life destiny is to be a teacher. A good teacher, in which I will be, does not do it for the money, he or she does it for the intrinsic joy it brings to see a child learn.

The first thing I'd tell my younger self is to do more extracurriculars and take more AP tests. The college credit from the exams dramatically decrease the amount of work you have to do in college. Specifically, the AP Statistics and Economics exams, as those two subjects can be easily taken care of. In the non-academic side of life, I'd inform my younger self that extracurriculars are where the real fun is had, and without them, life will be quite dull. The second piece of advice I'd give myself is on how to make the transition to college life easier, you should have the expectation that you will not do as well as you did in high school. At a university like GU, you are among those who are just as smart as, if not smarter than, you are. This changes the grade distribution, and will likely land you in the B range. You must also realize that college is a mountain of work, and that even making the average B will require much more effort than getting an A in high school.

I would tell myself to not be afraid to learn something new. A new way of life, a new way to dress and a new way to learn were all things I had trouble coping with when I started at Georgetown. Focusing on superficial things such as differences in East Coast style and mannerisms really thwarted my ability to get to know the people and the culture on campus which is what makes Georgetown so amazing to attend. Holding on to past tendancies from California and looking for friends who reflected those values was such a mistake that really hindered my growth. I'm glad that I was able to overcome that and meet the best friends of my life, although it would have been great to meet them sooner.

Don’t feel sorry for yourself because you’re not as well off as the rest of them; revel in the mere fact of being different. Tell them how your get into arguments with your mother while washing the dishes because she thinks that you’re wasting water, or how your father doesn't leave the house on weekends because gas is too expensive. Blast your soulful, harsh African music, wear bright, ostentatious colors, have your hair braided, and dance to the sounds of your homeland on the way to class. Take classes that will help you understand social cleavages, political and conomic developments; join clubs that will help you effect social change. Take on leadership positions, make a difference in a child’s life, and never forget just how fortunate you truly are. Stop thinking so much about yourself! Wake up in the morning and think: “How can I help someone today? What can I do at this world-renowned university that will not only serve me in the future, but also help me make a difference in the world?” Dream not just for you, but even more for those who will never see the gates of a university.

This is what I would say to my high school self. "Listen to me, April. College is definitely something you really need to work hard in. That means no fooling around, no more video games, no computer games, and no writing stories... Well you can still do that, but there's a little something called Time Management. Trust me, you're gonna need to learn that now. You're gonna have to use most of your time studying, and preparing for upcoming tests and projects. If you could get ahead of schedule, then you'll have some extra time for other stuff. Oh, and another thing: DO. NOT. PROCRASTINATE. It's gonna smack you in the face if you do that. "

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would tell myself to finish college with the scholarship I recieved and not join the army. Altough the US Army taught me many things it has not helped me in the work force. The only thing that will help in the work force is a college education.

You are making the big leap to college. Do not worry about failing your classes, that is basically impossible. Instead, focus on skills you are going to want in college. After all, Mom has a wealth of knowledge on sewing, cooking, and medicine. Dad knows about finance and law. While you might rather be out getting a tan, which is actually going to be a burn, learn something an adult should know. At first, the cafeteria seem like a gift from God, unlimited pizza and ice cream, after a while you will find yourself craving something else. With a kitchen in your common room, you could make Asian flank steak from Mom's recipe. I know that you already know how to make cookies, brownies and the like, but extend that knowledge to actual meals. Maybe also have her teach you how to hem a skirt, she is a seamstress. I understand that Dad esentially filled out the FAFSA, but you really need to gain some understanding about finance. Soon you are going to be renting an apartment and paying taxes, learn a few things from your lawyer Dade. Essentially, don't waste your last summer at home.

Thanks to my wonderful but often overachieving teachers, I have been preparing for the next step in my life since 5th grade. 5th grade prepared us for middle school, middle school prepared us for high school, and high school prepared us for college. Having experienced a year of college, I realize I was, perhaps, over prepared. While this made the transition fairly painless, the stress of working to pay off student loans makes me miss the days when unlimited extracurriculars consumed the majority of my time. Yet, I feel that I didn’t appreciate them at the time. “Present me” would tell “high-school-senior-me” to value my activities for the reasons they became a part of my life, not as prerequisites for the greater goal of college. When I started playing the cello or tutoring children it was not out of obligation to fill up an application, but because that’s what I loved to do. Perhaps if I had that attitude senior year, I would be able to look back on my high school career and see it as more than just a transient stepping stone towards what I assumed would be a more fulfilling college life.

I would tell myself not to worry so much about choosing the one right school. There are plenty of schools that you can be happy and do well at.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be prepared for the adjustment that takes place the first two weeks or the first month of college. I'd tell myself that it'd be hard to make friends, to get used to living away from home, and to adjust to the new campus but not to give up because no matter how you felt that day, in a couple weeks it'll be just fine. You will find friends, you will find your "niche" at school and it'll all work out. I'd also tell myself to balance my academics with athletics and extracurricular activities. Other than that, enjoy college!