Kent State University at Ashtabula Top Questions

If I was able to go back to 2009 when I was a senior in high school I would have told myself to take my actual schoolwork more seriously. I would have forced myself to stay awake in class and actually listen to what the teachers were saying instead of worrying about who i'd be hanging out with after school and counting the minutes until that period was over. After you graduate who you were in highschool, what you did, the rumors, the drama... none of it matters anymore. What does matter is the information your teachers tried so hard to get into your head while you were too worried about anything and everything BUT school. When I started classes at Kent I remember being really nervous because I was constantly comparing it to highschool and the good grades i was never able to achieve, after being there for a few weeks i realized that i could make it so much more by being proactive, paying attention in class, finishing my homework and over all basically doing the opposite of everything I did in highschool which I have greatly benefited from.

I am twenty-six-years-old and I finally decided to go to college. I applied once when I was twenty but didn't go through with it. Why? Because I was homeschooled and the idea of school frightened me. I wasted so many years with that fear, struggling with it, rolling it around in my mind. After eight years, I finally got up the courage to go and it is the best thing I ever did. If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would tell myself that yes, it is hard, but it isn't as scary as I thought. It is a wonderful social and learning experience; more than I could have ever hoped for. I would tell myself to swallow my fear and take that leap because those are years that I will never get back.

Looking at college through the eyes of a high school student can vary upon many different things. It was a place for me to establish my social status, rather than my education. I eventually became bored of this mentality, mainly because I could not learn the things I wanted, and I was always being told what to do and how to do it. With that being said, I imagined that college could only be the same stagnancy as high school, and I felt I could achieve anything I desired without college. If I could talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to completely oppose this way of thinking, and start thinking positively for a change. I would let myself know that I am a unique individual with a brain that is too important to waste and that nothing materialistic could triumph. Life is not just about survival and the items that temporarily fill the empty space around you. Life is about progress and human consciousness that differentiates us from the natural world of just merely existing. In college, I would be able to choose what I wanted to learn with little to no restrictions.

If I had the chance to talk to myself as a high school senior I'd tell myself three things. First, choose English as your major, its what you love, and what you will be successful in. Second, give every class your all. Once you finish a course, its done..and you do not want the disappointment in knowing that you have to repeat a class because you chose to not give an extra hour a day to study for your future. A semester is 16 short weeks! All it takes is a small amount of effort, to reach big dreams. And lastly..always, always, ALWAYS! Think for yourself. College is a time to discover who you are and where you will go..don't let an undeserving, unmotivated world bring you down. They're jealous of your ambitions and accomplishments. You're representing yourself, so do it right.

First things first, the illusive 4.0 is a great goal to have, but don’t beat yourself up if you get a “B”. Some classes are just that hard, and some teachers grade just as brutally. A few other things to keep in mind: As long as you do your personal best- don’t be disappointed. Life is tough. You are going to be stretched outside of college as much as you are in it. Take each class as its own challenge. Though the teacher may be the same, the course could be completely different. Also, take a look at what classes can apply toward any bachelor’s degree. You may know what you want now, but down the road, you will want to continue on. The worst thing is knowing that you took classes that don’t apply towards anything. And one last thing: if you happen to win some money… save it for your bachelor’s degree!

If I was able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to make sure to take college very seriously. It is so important to get a degree to have a successful career. I would tell myself how much harder it is to go back to college once you have had children so do not quit until you have that degree. I would tell myself that studying is more important than partying so don't get distracted by your social life. I would tell myself to be proud of myself for graduating high school and I you will be even more proud of yourself after graduating college.

Who knew that the transistion into college life would be such a difficult concept to grasp as a high school senior? With the experiences I have had going through this phase and all the work that goes with it I have learned many valuable lessons. If I could go back in time to the days I started talking about college, I would whisper in my own ear that the advice of others is perhaps one of the most valuable things to obtain. Those who are more experienced with this type of transistion have many excellent and helpful tips for making it easier, and as a senior in high school I never wanted to listen. I know now that had I listened, college life would have been much more simple and graceful for me to fall into. And the last piece of advice I would give to myself would definitly be to enjoy yourself, because semesters fly by and you will never want to take all the memories you make for granted!

If I could go back, I would tell myself to have more fun. I would have made more friends and gotten involved in more school activities. I would tell myself not to stress about not knowing what the right choices would be, and that everything would work out the way it was meant to be. I also would have told myself to get a head start on preparations and not wait for the last minute to decide on school choices and financial decisions. I would also tell myself to make the best decision for myself, and not for my family or friends.

I have learned a lot since I have graduated High School. I do not like to regret anything in life. I think you only live one life and you only have one chance to do it right. Making the transition was harder than I thought it would be. It was hard to have that extra time inbetween classes because I felt I had all the time in the world which would cause me to procrastinate. Eventually I learned to manage my time wisely. Then, my other concerns had to do with my studying skills which I still find myself working on. If I would have listened more and taken a couple extra different classes I would have been more prepared for what was to come in college. Although i know i have messed up before because of certain circumstances my family and I were in, I never think it is too late to fix mistakes and make yourself better. That is exactly what I plan to do no matter how much I may struggle to get there. I am super determined.