Jackson State University Top Questions

If I could give my highschool senior self a pep talk, I would put much more emphasis on staying focused. During my senior year of high school I did the dual enrollment. This allowed me to go to a community college to take courses my entire senior year to get a head start in college as far as credits. That experience was definitely an eye opener on what I was going to be getting myself into when I went away to college. However, now away at school, at a university, and staying on campus, it is not as easy as I thought it would be to stay on top of things. I would tell myself to make sure that when I got to college, I didn't procrastinate doing work for the sake of a social life. Not only that, but I would tell myself to apply for way more scholarships, so I wouldn't have to stress about scrounging up money for each semester. However, I do feel the high school me was more mature than most, so I wouldn't have too much advice to give myself.

Dear Tierra, I Know things may be hard on you right now but you never know what the future may hold for you. Im writing this letter for you for reassuance. You will be accepted into your first pick school and it will be ok. You will be frustrated at times but its all worth while. Looking back, I relize that you havent made the wisest decisions but now that you are in college every thing has turned out for the better. Packing for college is going to be stressful becuse you dont know what your going to need. Books are expensive, very expensive. Mom is going to yell at you sometimes, but only becuse she is worryied about you, and misses you. You will argue with your roommate, a few times but thats natural. Your going to suprise your own self a few times. You are smarter than people take you for, dont let that be your weakness, make it your strength. Im saying all this becuase dont make high school your college mistake. Your an adult now, so make wise descions and lastly If no one else loves you, love youself. From Future Tierra With love

From high school straight to a university, would be one advice for sure I would give to myself , as well as to other students contemplating attending college. I began my college freshmen year at a community college, which was okay, until I decided to transfer my sophomore year to a university. To find out that the classes you have taken at that community college, may not be accepted, felt like I had wasted my time, and then to be told that your GPA from that community college, would not be included into your unversity's overall GPA, well that has really been a problem for me. Colleges and universities should inform students of these unfair rules and regulations as they are holding recruitment seminars and onsite campus workshops for those prospective students. This will help students to make a better choice when deciding upon which college to attend or not. If you are only planning on an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree, the true facts should be revealed before applying and accepting the school of choice.

The coversation would actually start off not so much talking at first but with a good wack to the head. After I let myself regroup, I would take a second to introduce myself to myself. It would start off first explaining that I understand that a hard worker can work himself up the food chain so to speak in a company or corporation. Which is fine to a point. At this point the conversation would lead into how life is in your early 30s with nothing more than a high school diploma and years of exprience in a fading industry aka the printing industry becomes very difficult. I would explain that as time and technology changes that the need for certain commodities and the people who manufacter and service these industries may not be neccessary any longer. Which takes away from employment for what you have worked so hard to get to the top of. The last thing i would mention to myself is, it is going to be much easier going to a trade school out of highschool and get into the field of the career you have studied rather than wait till your 34!

College starts in highschool. Preparing for college early is essential to being succesful in college. It is important to make the best grades possible and get involved in extra curricular activities. College is more than an institution of learning,but a gateway to your future. The more prepared you are for it the more successful you'll be. Networking and making conncections can also go a long ways in the college world, so getting your name out there is also essential to being successful in college. Always word hard and put your best effort forward and it will pay off in the end.

i would say to stay focus work hard and stop procastinating becausse it only puts you further behind.

The advice I would give my high school senior is to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to them. College years are your best years. That is the time to adventure as much as you can, make mistakes and learn from them, and to make as many memories possible. You will find out who you and if you are like me the first in your family to go to college then being responsible will not be hard to maintain. College will teach you many morals and will instill values inside of you. You will not quit or give up in college because with the right amount of faith and preseverence nothing will seem impossilbe.

"Ke! What are you doing? That's money being thrown at you! Don't throw it away! CATCH IT!" Boy if I knew I was going to have this kind of issue getting in school I would've maybe slowed down and applied for some scholarships. I was just ready to get out of high school and attend college. Getting taught at highschool was getting boring. If I would've slowed all the way down. Moving to fast got me staying up all night applying for scholarships before school start.

You should be well prepared for college if you have great research habits, along with great study habits...

I would tell myself to start off on the right foot. Listen and pay attention to what the teachers and advisers are saying to me because I will hear it again in college and I will need to know it then. I would also say that the teachers will not take care of me as the high school teacers do. I am on my own and its up to me to do what I have to do to get the work done.

The advice i would of give myself back in high school would be to work harder than i did. Care about my grades even more than what i did to become a better student. I would be more competitive with myself. Built in more confidence and achieve more things. Being more organized and being more responsible. Apply for more scholarships to get a better education. Most importantly believing in myself that i can do anything that is [ossible in the world.

I would tell myself to research every career that I was interested in, college is expensive and it’s better to know what you want to do than to waste money and take classes you don’t need. Get a job, and save as much as possible. Get ready, college is the experience of a lifetime, but only you can make it that way. Be prepared to join clubs and meet people with the same interests as you, not the same brands you wear, college is about becoming an adult. It’s more than just your future, it aids in finding out who you are as a person. The people you are going to meet aren’t just other people anymore. Be more open minded about things, you don’t know it all. Anything you believe now is not set in stone the way you think it is. You have no idea how much you’re going to change and in how little time that change takes place. Get involved as soon as you step onto campus, the journey will be a lot more exciting. You’re going to become something beautiful, just take my advice and you’ll see.

Dear Vicci, This is you a year and a half into the future. College really is as fun as you think it will be, but I have a big warning for you. I know the idea of applying for scholarships seems dumb, but trust me on this you will need every cent you can get. Right now im working just to have it all go back into our mom's pocket. Start now or you will regret it later. Equally, get rid of all your stuffed animals now. They are very cruelly destroyed in the future by your family. That is all. Hope you take my advice, but knowing me from then, you probably won't. Love, Vicci

As a high school senior having a better inside peek at the collge life I would tell myself make this year count, continue to push forward, and make sure you do all you can to be prepared for ACT test. I would say you need to make this year count because it shows what you have learned through high school. Even though your high school journey is over, keep challenging yourself. Preparation can never be overrated. Continue to push forward because obstacles will come. When you make it through the obstacles it truly makes you stronger to endure whatever lies ahead. "Believe in yourself Marlina, and never doubt", is what I could hear myself saying. Teachers constantly said ACT is important. I never realized until now. Listen to the teachers they know best, and they are here to help. Last but now least, I would have to say follow your first mind.

When going to college you are there for one goal that is to graduate in your particular field of interest. While in college strive to be the best you can be. Do the best you can in all class and whenever you are struggling with any course always get help immediately. Also try to find friends that have the same outlook on life as you have concerning education and those that are perusing the same field as you are so that you are able to study together. Make sure you attend all classes, because those who attend class are more than likely to pass than those who don’t attend class. Just have fun and enjoy your college life and always remember to do the right thing.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself "you are going to encounter numerous obstacles and not to lose who you really are, amongst the hustle and bustle". I would tell myself to be patient, goal-oriented, and have good organizational skills. I would weigh the pros and cons of my major to make sure this is what I want to do, along with the guidiance of my advisor and professors. I would tell myself not to get discouraged, when one door closes another will open. I would tell my future-self to talk to my professors when ever I did not understand something, or I felt I did not do the quality of work I know I am capable of doing. Most of all, I would tell myself all things I want to do is possible, if I focus and put my mind to it and that I am going to make some mistakes but they will be worth learning from.

As a young woman, married with a child, looking back on it all, I wish I would have completed my college degree fresh out of high school. I was never worried about my college career because I knew I would eventually finish and have a job as an educator because it has been my dream to serve others and enrich young lives with knowledge of the future. As an eighteen year old child, I wish I could explain how truly important it was to make school my number one priority. Now, I am working, definitely not at my dream job, taking care of a little one, getting my education back on track all while maintaining a healthy, loving relationship with my husband. My life would be much easier to waking up and traveling to a job I loved and was proud of. Although now I am working very hard to maintain balance in my life between everything on my plate; I live my life with no regrets looking forward to what the future has in store for me.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to spend the next four years in a junior college pursuing certificates in Welding and Collision Repair. I would tell myself to take more time to contemplate my career choices to prevent myself from having to repay multiple school loans. I would make the most of my caring, compassionate demeanor, and goal-oriented determination to focus on a career in Social Work because I truly enjoy interacting with and helping people from all walks of life. I would concentrate on maintaining high academic achievements so that I could broaden my chances of receiving scholarships and grants to defer or prevent massive financial repayments after college. In return for receiving these funds, I would give back to the community by volunteering my time and/or resources after graduation. While going back to talk to myself during my senior year in high school would have made some things easier in my life, doing so would have thwarted my life experiences and perhaps, prevented me from experiencing the things I have experienced and prevented me from being the person I am today.

Coming straight out of high school, I was nervous yet excited. I was entering into an entirely new phase of my life and I had no idea what to expect. I knew that I would have freedom that I had never had before. Freedom required lots of responsibility. Now that I am an upcoming junior in college, I have learned so much about myself as well as others. I would now be able to tell my high school self that college is full of choices, both good and bad. You must decide which choices you make; parents are no longer there to tell you what you can and cannot do. If you choose to party all night and miss you 8 o’ clock class, it’s your choice. No one will suffer from it but you. You are simply wasting your time and money. Discipline, I have learned, is also a key component in college. Being disciplined will get you very far. Simply making wise choices will make your college career a success. And I must say that there is peer pressure all around but ultimately you are the only one in charge of you.

My father instilled in me the values of going to college and receiving a promising education. Throughout my matriculation in college, I have been awarded some amazing opportunities and even gain strength from times of adversity. I have always pride myself in being involved on campus, interacting with my instructors, servicing the community, and maintaining high scholastics. But my greatest honor of achievement is not the positions I have held or the prestigious accolades that I have obtained, but the impact that I have been blessed to have made on so many lives. Attending college has been very fulfilling to me because it has allowed me to not only pursue greater strides of achievement but use my experience to inspire others. Every opportunity on campus that I have partaken in has played a vital role in allowing me to meet a unique individual each day. Upon conversing with each individual, I have been able to assist, encourage, and even leave a lasting impression on others whom I have not yet had the privilege to meet. Through this experience I have received a great education and most of all a greater purpose in life to truly inspire others.