Georgetown University Top Questions

My advice to my high school self would be to think in perspective. Life is inherently subjective and as human we tend to only consider things in the moment in which they occur. It is the wise person that considers events and decisions in the grand scheme of life and the universe. Thus I would tell myself not to solely consider what is best for myself at that given time but for me in the longrun and more importantly for those around me. I would recommend that I examine the friendships I had and to pursue the true friendship in virtue as Aristotle would put it, rather than casual friendships of use. If I were to consider the classes I took freshman year as offering the lifelong knowledge which they did, I think I would have taken a greater care to gleam as much as I could from those teachers. In retrospect, that is the main lesson of college anyway, to think more deeply and transcend the individual.

As a high school senior, you being to think you know everything and do not need help from anyone, but in reality you will need help. Looking back at my transition from high school to college my parents were the most supportive and helpful people ever. At first I tried to do everything myself, but I did not realize how hard it was going to be to keep my paperwork together, call all these different offices to make sure I was set for the year, or to keep my emotions in check. It was all very overwhelming. Without my parents my first year I do not think I would have survived. Classes were very challenging, but my parents keep encouraging me. They also would send little gifts of encouragement, such as my favorite snacks, and letters from my brothers and their families. Even though I was leaving my home thinking I would not have to bug my parents again, I never knew how much my family would play in my success. The first year is the hardest and my parents made sure I knew that I could call them and bother them anytime of day or night. Get help!

I am proud to say that my high school and technical school prepared me as well as possible for college. The only advice I could give myself would be learn to cook. The hardest transition for me was living by myself. I am going to college in another state with only off campus living. My parents helped set me up in an appartment. But being alone and cooking for myself has been the most challenging for me.

I would save up more money, prioritize my time, eat healthier, try to cram less stuff in my little dorm room and to appreciate every day.

The best piece of advice that I can offer to you, about going off to college is the importance of accepting balance in your life. College is similar to everyday life, there is going to be surprises, some good and some disappointing. In college, you will learn every day, whether you like it or not, friends will come and go, and there will be times of extreme stress and late night cramming, but there will also be exhilarating moments of self accomplishment and peace. You will meet professors who are technically more intelligent than anyone you've ever meet before and there will be times when you’re not happy with the grades those same professors give you. Personally, I learned from the negative experiences and felt gratitude for the positive ones. If you learn to appreciate the good and the bad and stay true to yourself, you will make it through successfully.

I have grown so much this past year. I now feed myself, do my own laundry, and make my own decisions. Contrary to high school, I now have a choice: I can choose to learn, or I can choose not to. This was the biggest surprise for me. Classes are mainly self-taught. There are no organized PowerPoint presentations that list all you need to take away from a course in a few, succinct, and well-chosen bullet points. No one bugs me to do my homework and do it well. Here, it is up to me to choose to study. If I don’t, no one particularly cares. Some of my classmates have already dropped their valedictorian work ethic because of this. But now that I have to invest so much more into my education, I feel more committed to it. I can appreciate my success. I know I did not get where I am because someone pushed me to it; I got myself here. I’ve extended the limits of “do your best”—I’ve become aware of my true potential, more so than ever before.

Georgetown University pursues a mission of involvement and a deep understanding by instilling within students the Ignatian ideal of magis, meaning “more.” For me, this knowledge I’ve received comes in two forms - that of academic learning and that of learning as it pertains to life experiences. Through conversations with Jesuits, the ideal of cura personalis, or “care for the whole person” has been further ingrained into my mind and is echoed through university programs surrounding a variety of interests. The Jesuit-based education at Georgetown enabled me to ingratiate the differences of others and understand community problems. Life experience is also of great importance. The only way one can truly grasp the depth and awareness of an issue or problem is through active involvement from within the area or community facing difficulties or hardship. For example, by serving food at a homeless shelter, I have a better understanding of homelessness. My education at Georgetown granted me a greater understanding of society and appreciation for serving others. The mental wages I earned, and the maturity I gained, are incomparable, and nothing has given me greater pleasure than to have the ability to use the knowledge I acquired to serve others.

I feel that I have been exposed to a lot of opportunities and perspectives that I would have never encountered otherwise. This exposure has made me a more open-minded individual, a characteristic that I directly trace to my attendance at Georgetown University,

Being able to attend college has brightened my outlook on the future. Not only will I have a degree, but I will also have proved to myself and others, that I have discipline. I actually feel like a kid again. I have been given a second chance to gain success. As an older student, I have the ability and confidence to go on. I have learned how to manage my time and motivation, while furthering my education. I know that receiving a degree in Spanish language can bring about a positive outcome for many career choices in my future. I now feel like I am finally achieving a life-long goal.

My college experience has helped me grow as an individual. Striking out on my own, I've learned not only how to find success in the classroom, but how to take care of myself in all aspects of my life. I've balanced learning Aristotled and Weber with making sure the landlord gets the rent check on time and that the utility bills are paid. My professors have challenged me to discover just exactly who I am as a person - what I believe in and those principles that I stand for. Long after I forget Accounting 101, I'll have the life lessons I'm learning in college to guide me on my path.