Illinois State University Top Questions

If I could talk to my senior self, I would emphasize the importance of applying for scholarships. Even though jobs are said to be available on-campus, it can be very difficult to obtain one. This is for the same reason that all of the other students need money too! Whenever you see an opportunity presented to you (such as a scholarship) go for it! There is no reason why you should not give yourself the chance to apply for it. Of course, you may be lazy to write the essay for it but trust me, your future college-self will thank you later. If you apply to scholarships at the beginning of your senior year, you just might not have to be worrying about money while you are in college. Think about all of that time and energy that you will save by not working while you're in college, and how you will then be able to use it all towards your academic performance!

Life Goes On.

Things I would tell myself: Take a deep breathe and stop worrying so much. Don't be too hard on yourself. Grades are important, but embracing the college experience is even more important. Get to know your professors very well. In the end, those people can be some of the strongest networking tools you can have. Immerse yourself into campus community; join clubs, and a lot of them. This will only make your college experience that much better. Make mistakes!! This is the first time away from your parents. Skip class, change your major 7 times, sleep all day...This is the best time to figure out who you are as a person and what you are interested in. Don't be shy. Put yourself out there. Introduce yourself to anyone and everyone. This will only help you once you get out of college and into the real world. If I could tell myself one very important thing I would say, "you don't get these moments very often, so stop and enjoy them!" Most importantly, have fun!

Be all in. Join every club that interests you, but only stick with the ones you love. Say hello to strangers, they might be your best friends tomorrow. Smile even when you don't feel like it, because one day you'll realize these really were the best years of your life. Talk to your professors. They're a well of practical knowledge that you can't get from textbooks. Follow your instincts. You don't have to know what you want to do with your life, just start with what you want to learn. Don't be afraid to change your major. Figure out what and who you believe in. It's important. Be with people who push you to be better and do better. If your dreams don't scare you, dream bigger. Don't be content with living a good life. Prepare yourself to live a great one.

Trust your gut. High School Senior Madeline questioned everything. She questioned what others thought of her. She questioned whether or not she was making the right decisions, and she questioned what she wanted for herself. However, in retrospect I knew that this old version of Madeline knew what she wanted. I was once so consumed with making the "perfect" choices that I ignored the only thing that could guide me in making all my decisions: my gut. Having completed a semester in college, I've learned that I know what I want, and when faced with tough choices, I learned to take a breath, think about what I wanted out of my college experience, and realized I knew exactly what to choose. Whether the choices affected my relationships, academics, or my extracurriculars didn't matter. College is a time to figure out who I am. In keeping with that, I have to trust that my gut feeling will guide me in the way I'm supposed to go, allow me to learn from my mistakes, and enjoy what the next four years have to offer me.

Life is about to get weird. People are gonna be a lot different than you, and are going to be in your face about it on occassion. You don't have to give in to peer pressure, but don't be afraid to have a good time. Make sure to call Mom and Nana every two weeks or so. Make sure to get a job on campus, because you'll need all the help you can get. College is a sink or swim environment, where the people high up don't care if you sink; as long as they get their monthly pound of flesh, they'll "support" you. But hey, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Work harder. Get a better GPA. Study constantly till you get that A. The ACT is no joke, study for it and try your hardest. Make wise choices and your education in high school really does determine your life so act like your straight A's is all that matters.

If I were to go back in time to give high school me advice, I would tell myself to do what I love to do. I have recently been looking back and realizing that I was wasting a lot of my time taking class in school that did not interest me. I wish I could have taken other classes that were more appealing to me rather than taking what my family and friends recommended for me to take. Looking back on high school, I really did prepare myself for college by knowing what I am interested in. Throughout high school I completed every business course my school had to offer. After taking those courses I realized that I loved the business industry and want to work in some aspect of it after college.

I would tell myself that all great things take time. The person that I am now in highschool, is not the person I will be when I am older. I was not happy with myself when i was in highschool. I was unmotivated and didn't have a plan for my future. I would tell myself that before I worry about my future, I should work on myself. I should become a better person and persue my interest. Anything worth having is worth working for. Good things will come my way but not all at once.

The only advice I would try to give myself is to not worry about anything, that I am still young and have time to find myself and who I want to be.

If I could give my senior-self advice from the perspective I now currently have, there are quite a few things I would tell myself, however one piece of advice holds most important. I would tell my senior-self that sticking to your values and remaining true to yourself is more than possible and more than worth it. When I was a senior, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find anyone who shared my faith-based morals, such as remaining abstinent and avoiding the party scene. I was convinced I would be alone in my stand against the popular culture, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not every college student's focus is drinking and partying. I am involved with a campus church called Encounter at ISU and have surrounded myself with other people just like me. On the weekends, instead of feeling the pressure to party, I enjoy just watching movies and spending quality time with my friends from Encounter. Because I have surrounded myself with these wonderful individuals, remaining true to myself is easier than ever, and I couldn't be more happy with my college experience.

There is time for work and there is time for play you need to understand the difference. Study hard so that when it is time to play you can enjoy it. Do not be afraid to try new things or meet new people. The sky is the limit. The only thing ever holding you back is yourself. If people don't chase you when you walk away keep walking.

Some good advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to become more disciplined. As a senior in high school I admit that I slacked off becuase I felt I was in great standing as a student preparing to graduate in the top 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my class. I would return to tell myself that the top 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my school is only a very small sampling in comparison to a university, and that I will need to work extremely hard to keep up with the top in a very large university. More avid advice would be to do more research on colleges and become well aquainted with the new responsibilities being bestowed upon me. One of the hardest things to grasp, that is not taught in high school, is the proccess of applying for and receiving financial student aid. The last bit of information I would provide is to follow your dream and do not attempt to please your parents by choosing a major that could possibly net a high salary. This is probably the most important because no matter what, your destiny will always keep you around your purpose.

If I had the chance to go back in time to talk to my highschool self, I would say to not worry so much. The small problems you face in high school with friends, family, or even school work will not matter in a year. The only thing you should focus on is getting the grades you need to succeed and maintaining a positive attitiude towards everything that comes your way. I would tell myself that it may be frightening to leave your life behind and start over once you're in college, but it will be the best thing to ever happen to you. You should also make smart decisions at all times. Anything you do will affect your future in some way. College is not something to fear, it's an oppurtunity to find yourself and make something of your life. Find something you love and pursue it and do not let anyone or anything get in the way of it.

If I could go back and tell my high school senior self about college life is that it is not as hard as high school teacheres make it seem. You know how to manage your time, you will do fine. Do not forget to spread your studying out because filling one night with studying is not going to help you.

If I could go back and give my high school senior self advice about college, I would tell myself things to make the transition easier and more fun. The first thing I would tell myself would be to take one or two general education classes at a local community college during the summer before college to get ahead and possibly graduate early. As of now, I am set to graduate on time in four years in May 2016. For me, the transition into college life wasn't too difficult mostly because I was in marching band and I had no choice but to meet new people. There are a few other things that I would tell myself to do differently going into my freshman year of college: Don't be afraid to meet new people. Almost everyone is away from home and in the same boat of transitioning. On the topic of new people, if you have a roommate talk to them. Ask them to get lunch or dinner with you. Also, don't worry about being away from home for long periods of time, just stay busy with your school work and other school functions.

Lynnette. Do not get married at the age of 18, you are so young. You have college and travel and partying, and so many other things to do. Lynnette, don't have a baby at 18 1/2, children will keep you so busy it will steal away your own youth. Once you have a baby your childhood ends as a new person's childhood begins. Why did you start college and not go back? Don't have another baby, your only 20. And look at your life, your working as a waitress to make ends meet and getting help from the govement for food stamps and health insurance. Lynnette you finally seem to have your marriage and your finances togather about the age of 25, you bought your first house, your husband has a good job. Why are you not back in school, why did you have a 3rd child? At 26 your husband becomes permanatly and totally disabled from a car accident. Here you are. No college education, no way to pay the bills, the husband can't physically do it. You have 3 little kids counting on you. Get back to school. Lynnette finished AA '05.

"Save your money and get a job during school!" My mom and dad are working hard to get me through college, but they are struggeling. I know they are making sacrafices for me, but they are having a hard time helping me. I need to get $3,000 to pay for my tuition in order to attend the college I love. I would tell my senior self that Illinois State University is the right college for me, I am just going to have to work hard in order to attend. I would tell myself I need to get a job during school and apply for scholarsjips every day so my mother does not lose her hair over stressing about me. I love my parents and I am so lucky that they are helping me with my education, but now it's my turn to help them.

To keep calm and save alot more money beforehand because it does not come cheap. Also apply for scholorships

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would be sure to tell her to value her time with her friends everyday and not to stress out as much. I would tell her to go into freshman year as a blank slate; no expectations of how life will be there because she will undoubtedly be wrong. My main piece of advice would be to take chances. I would remind her that, although she is there most importantly for an education, without taking chances and being herself, she won't get the full experience. Risks, chances, and exploration; that's what college is really about.