Howard University Top Questions

I would give my high school self one piece of advise. which is, " sometimes the key to making progress is to recongize how to take the first step. Then you start your journey. You hope for the best and you stick with it day in and day out. Even if your tired, even if you want to walk away. You dont because you are a pioneer. But nobody ever said it was going to be esay. When theres something you really want, fight for it. Don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you loose hope ten years from now. Youre gonna wish you gave it one more shot because the best things in life, they dont come free. you might fail..... but but thats what progress looks like a bunch of failures, but dont fall apart because one day you will succeed and one day you will walk on the moon. "

If I can go back in time and have a conversation with myself as a high school senior I would tell her not to relax so much. Yes people say that senior year is suppose to be the easiest which it was, but not to become to relaxed. There are still things to be done, for example, apply for scholarships and make the end of the school year count because in the end all we're left with are memories. Not to mention one day you'll want to become an OB/GYN and that takes endless hours of hardwork and college does not care if you want to take a nap or go home. One thing to keep in mind is that all of the hard work will one day pay off and you can relax a little once you've become that OB/GYN

Knowing what I know now, the best advice I would give my high school senior self is to take a breath. Take a breath, take everything in, and handle things one step at a time. As much as you think you are prepared for college, you will be overwhelmed. Don't worry, you will get the hang of things. Just because you go to class now from 8am-3pm, does not mean you will easily wake up for 8am classes(keep that in mind). Don't be afraid to introduce yourself, you never know who you might meet. Ratemyprofessor.com does not lie, listen to what upperclassman have to say; they've already been through it. Be optimistic, have no limits; and most importantly, DO NOT LET ANYONE STOP YOU FROM BEING GREAT!

I would have taken more AP courses in order to be exempt from more classes in college. For the AP classes I did take, I would have done better in them so as to prepare myself for the respective course at the college level. However, this could not be helped for some of my classes were poorly taught at my high school by teachers who did not prepare students well. I would have applied for even more scholarship and put more though into what major I would have pursued.

A few words for myself: Do not let people tell you what to do. Do what you want. Make your own mistakes. But don't regret the things you do, take your mistakes and let them make you better. Do not be afraid of failure. When you fail, fail big and have fun with it. Have no fear. The worst thing that you can do is not do something because you are afraid. Facing your fears is the only way to overcome them. So have no fear.

If I was able to go back in time and speak to my former self while i was still in HighSchool, the first thing i would tel myself is to study hard. Howard University is the Mother of all HBCU's and we are expected to uphold the stardards that are held for us. I would also tell myself to stay away from the partying becuase in no way shape or form is it benifitial to your future. There is to much competition and opportunities to be worried about partying.

I would tell myself as a senior in high school to continue to live life with no regrets. To trust that everything happens for a reason. To learn more about yourslef before you try to go out and join random organizations. To not procrastinate and waste time. I would tell my past self to really get out and meet new people. Venture out of your comfort zone and explre your surroundings.

It's important to understand how to select a school based on your future career goals as opposed to choosing a school specifically for the "college life." Don't break the bank on student loans just so that you can immerse yourself in a dynamic social atmosphere. Higher educiation is about learning, as opposed to partying. If you're unable to afford the high cost of tuition that accompanies most universities, especially in regard to out-of-state schools, attend a local junior college. Attending a JC for two years might not seem like an ideal scenario, but it will allow you to grow up a bit while also completing all of your lower division credits. Most importantly, it'll help prevent you from acquiring the obtrusive burden of crippling student loan debt. Be active in your community as you prepare to apply for schools and seek out scholarship opportunities. Also, be sure to fill out an annual FAFSA so that you can gain access to potential state and government educational grants. Following these tips won't be easy; life happens. But you'll be on your way to a successful college career if you're able to do so.

If I could go back in time and redo college life, knowing the different things that I know now, I would have done the following: When I graduated high school, I did not have a good foundation in basic math and english. Because of that, I had to start from the bottom and take the beginners college classes as prerequisites to the regular college level classes and it delayed the process for my college career. Had I known, I would have taken the extra math and english courses during my HS senior year, so that way I would have been up to the correct grade level in college. When I started college, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. It took me some time to figure out which direction I wanted to head in and I also took some extra classes that I did not need for my current master's degree. Looking back, I realized that it may have been beneficial if I would have volunteered my summer time during my high school years in the different job areas, in order to get a taste of what career I would want to pursue in.

If, for any reason, time permitted me to rewind my way to 2012, I would take the moments spent with myself to do a deep breathing exercise while reciting reassuring words into the ears of my younger “me” and reminders to breath; to relax. Seeing firsthand how alarmingly high stress levels are rising amidst high school students, I can only wish that someone was able to pull me aside and calm me down, reminding me that while the acceptance rate at Yale is 4{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, there are a multitude of other institutions in which I would blossom. And I would be sure to mention that college should not be stressful, and while there are certainly late nights and midnight coffee runs, college is fun because it is about exploration. It is about taking advantage of the much wider array of organizations and classes and people that each campus has to offer. As teenagers, we grow and change and stretch our minds past what we can imagine at 18, only if we remind ourselves to never let stress overwhelm our experience. I wish I could go back in time and remind myself to relax, so stress did not overwhelm my senior experience.

Assuming I could go back into time and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to better prepare myself. College is sooooo much different from high school, therefore there is so much advancing and progression that needs to take place within myself and my habits. You can procrastinate, but it is not recommended whatsoever. There is no such thing as free time. Not to say that you'll be buried in books and homework, but thus there is so much to be apart of and to do on campus aside from your school work, you'll always remain busy. When you're not doing anything, you should be studying. No one is here to push you, because you are no one's true concern. You must put aside the immature things you did as an adolescent in high school and become an adult in college. Though you are a first-time student in college and have time and room for curiousity and mistakes, you can easily avoid many expected mistakes by preapring yourself now. You don't want to be the kid that is enrolled in college, but still acts like a high schooler.

I believe that the most important thing I have learned is to dare to be myself and be on a constant journey to grow. I have learned to constantly evaluate who I am and what I believe and be willing to defend that. Most importantly, I have learned to spend time with myself and not jeopardize my integrity for anything or anyone.

Dear Kimberly: I know that you are eager to attend college and just like your senior prom, PREPARATION IS KEY. Now, let's separate the good from the bad. The good: you are on your way to greatness and only you can define your journey. Make the best of it. Don't be afrad to ask questions and always keep trying after each failure. Failures will come. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." (And pssst... guess what? Tomorrow and the day after that, you are still you.) College is like your locker--only more organized. There is a lot going on and it is for you to find your way through the clutter. The bad: The "freshman 15" could be for you the "freshman 20" but you're still beautiful and don't you ever forget it. Parties come and parties go. Guess what? Before you there was Soul Train, now there's Amtrak--another train back home in case you forget why mom worked so hard to get you where you are. In essence: Carpe Diem!

All of my life I have pushed myself to give my all to my education. I remember as a high school senior loading myself to the brink with classes and extra-curriculars just so I could "stand out." I also remember the feeling of inner dread that I had while doing it. I always felt like I had something to prove, but I didn't know what. The first piece of advice I would give myself is to look in the mirror, smile at myself and say "You are enough. You are going to succeed. Your passion shows. It is okay to not be what people consider perfect because you did your best and that is always the best you could do." I would still advise myself to give it all that I have, but I would warn myself to be easier on me and to give myself a break sometimes. It is okay to be a regular teenager, it is okay to not know all the answers at that moment, just give yourself time... growth and answers come with time.

I would tell my high school self to stop doubting yourself and just do it. Every goal you have and everything you want in your life comes with consistency, hard work, and persistence. I would also tell my high school self to work even harder, because you have the enthusiasm and the power to change thw world someday.

I would tell myself not to waste your last year of high school and be more proactive. I would tell myself to take duel-credit course so you wouldn't have to take basic college courses in college. Dont worry about the future ,and be happy with your desicions. Be sure of yourself ,and go with your gut feeling about certain situations.

Do not delay on deciding what it is exactly that you wish to achieve. Have a clear-cut plan with realistic steps that will get you to the position that you are striving to be in. Always remember that doing nothing will get you nowhere; you have to be willing to go the extra mile and work harder than your peers. Network with as many people as possible; only surround yourself around people that have the same mindset as you. Constantly remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Find someone (a professor, advisor, classmate, etc) on campus that has similar career goals such as yourself. Complete all work on time and never slack. Remember why you came to college: to graduate and receive a degree. Sure the social life seems fun, but make sure that you have a balance. Commit yourself to studying at least 10 hours per week. Although you may need to possess certain skills in a field, you also need to know someone who can help push you even further. Apply to as many internships as possible and leave a lasting impression on them so that a full-time position is waiting post-graduation!

During my senior year in high school I was franticly trying to find a college that would please everyone else instead of me. Many of my classmates were getting accepted to many great colleges across the nation. In my high school you were considered a failure if you didn't get accepted at a prestigious college/university. Now knowing what I know about college life and making the transition I would have spent less time worrying about my social life and dorm rooms and focus more the important things such as the opportunities that the university offer and finding a college where I was sure I could flourish academically and professionally. I would also tell myself not to worry about making everyone else happy, but instead choosing the best decision for me.

Dear KIera, I know you would rather be watching tv right now than writing essays, but please apply to as many scholarrships as you can from this point until you go to college. I know yo u don't fully understand the financial process of college and you think that money is just going to magically appear in your account, but I am here to tell you know it doesn't . You are going to have about a $10,000 gap in tuition with less than two months to apply to as many scholarships as posible. Soon, you are going to get a job at Rita's. Keep it. Don't let that boss get to you. Don't quit even when the boss has you in tears. Use this job as an oppotunity to learn and build a thicker skin. You cannot run away from everything that makes youn upset and uncomfortable. Honestly Kiera, the journey to where you are now has been a hard one, but you will be succesful and you will make your family so proud of you. Love, Kiera Onunaku P.S. Enjoy your summer in San Diego before you start college!!

If I could provide my high school self with the knowledge that I posess now I would have stressed the necessity of a balanced life. Time management is something that you hear about all the time as a high school senior but when you are actually on campus it is a completely different world. The problem with my personal experience was that there was no transition from high school to college; I did not change my study habits, therefore my grades suffered ridiculously. I went from leaving high school with a 3.5 to receiving grades that I'm ashamed to even speak of. This has hindered so many aspects of my college life, and I had to spend the following semesters catching up just to be able to qualify for scholarships. It was a struggle academically, socially, financially and personally, and I believe that it could have all been easily avoided had I known how to balance things like I do now. I am lucky enough to have learned a lesson that I will never forget and can always use the skills that I acquired along my journey but if I could do things differently I definitely would.