Lawrence University Top Questions

I would tell myself to take a deep breathe and relax! I can stress myself out, and all that does is cause high anxiety and wasted time. I would tell myself to stay calm and do the best I can because when you can keep yourself calm and controlled; you can do a lot and you can do it quite well. Self confidence is huge because the more you undermine yourself, and talk yourself down the less you will get done and most likely you will not do as well as you potentially could. so my advice to myself is: keep calm, do your best, and belive in yourself!

You're going to be happy. I know how anxious you are now about having to meet entirely new friends and worried you are about proving yourself academically. Everyone feels a degree of this and making friends just happens. Some of these friends are going to change your life and inspire you to be a better person. You decided to go to an academically demanding school, so be ready for late nights in the library, but always remember what you're learning is more important than the grade. With this in mind, you'll get the grades you want anyways. You'll also have the honor of being mentored by a few incredible professors, who will influence you to pursue a career in human rights advocacy. I know you're planning on going to medical school, but there's nothing wrong with changing your mind and you'll soon see how good of a writer you are and how this new career path is fitting. So, I'll leave you with this. At times, you're going to be stressed, sad, or scared, but far more often you're going to be challenged, inspired, loved, and most of all happy.

It’s true: college is hard. Nobody says otherwise, and there’s a reason. I’ve been there two years now and I can confirm. But I can also confirm that in some ways, college is much easier than high school. High school is a struggle to achieve a respectable GPA in many classes, not all of which deal with your favorite subjects, while applying for schools, maintaining extracurriculars, and surviving in a cut-throat social environment. College is entirely different. Sure, it’s a high level of academics – you’ll do a lot of work, with more expected of you than has ever been asked before. But you’ll love it. You’re going to be studying what you want, learning about things that interest you – all your choice. Everything’s a bit easier socially, too. In college you’ll make friends who care about you for who you are and what you do – not what you’re wearing or what parties you go to. So get ready: college is a bigger challenge than you’ve ever met before. But it’s a challenge you’re going to love – one you’re not going to want to give up.

If I could have the chance to talk to my high school senior self, I would stress the importance of implimenting solid study habits and entering college with an open mind. I was one of the high school students that never had to study to get straight As, simply showing up, doing the homework, and paying attention was enough for me. In college, I underestimated the amount that I needed to study and as a result, my gpa suffered for my first college term. If I could go back to senior year, I could convince myself the necessity of discovering which study methods worked best for me before I got to college. I also had the opportunity to live with an international student my freshman year - I was paired with a Vietnamese girl. Coming from a small town, I had never imagined the possibility of having a roommate from a foreign country, one who could be so different from myself. Luckily, it was one of the best experiences I had freshman year, although there was definitely a learning curve in discovering how to interact with each other. An open mind was key for that, and many other college experiences.

I would tell myself to focus on what I want and not get pressured by those around me. Sometimes the best school for you isn't the highest ranked, or the one that gives the most financial aid. You have to find out as much as you can about schools before you can make a decision, but you'll never know what it will be like until you try it!

I would tell myself to re-consider other career options instead of being contained to one path. Lawrence is an amazing school but it can be limiting as far as majors go so try not to box yourself in too soon. When you meet people in these new classes, don't assume they will be your friend right away because chances are, they are only concerned about their own individualized needs and not about you. Don't have such high expectations. Just live, enjoy, and don't forget to practice. :)

There are several pieces of advice I would tell myself as a high school senior. The first would be to get involved with activities you know you like to participate in, as well as ones that are unfamiliar. You may be surprised at what you find. Second, I would tell myself that college is a lot of hard work and long hours, and learning how to manage your time is one of the best things you will learn. Third, in making the transition from high school to college, I would tell myself to explore different subject areas and take advantage of opportunities to learn about other subject matters. Finally, I would tell myself that college goes by quickly and to enjoy the opportunities it provides.

Be ready to grow up and become an adult.

I would like to tell myself one probably cheesey but completely true statement that others repeatedly threw at me. "You will love it." At the time, I did not believe the countless parents, teachers, and students who threw this statement of trust at me. If I had truly took their words to heart, my whole attitude about college would have changed. The simple knowledge that someday after a bit of time I would truly love college would have made my transition much easier. I spend the beginning months missing home and trying to adjust to the different lifestyle college presented, looking for the light at the end of the tunnel that I was sure would appear with time. If I had taken the knowledge that college would definately be a place I would cherish spending time and love to take an active role in, my initial fears and doubts would have been significantly less than they were. I would have more activley engaged myself in activities and college life in the beginning, knowing this would lead to my enjoyment of my time at Lawrence. Just believing in the simple statement "you will love it" would have greatly effected my experience.

As a junior in college I have learned so much since high school and there is a lot I would tell my younger self, but the most important thing I would tell my younger self is that I can make a difference in the world some day. In high school I never thought it would be possible to make a difference in the world, that I was just a simple girl from a small town. But now that I have been in school I have realized that I am capable of making a difference with the education I am recieving from Lawrence University. I have been given opportunities from this school that will change my life and others lives forever. I will be going to Africa next year to volunteer at an orphanage to work with children that have disabilities and I can not wait to help them. I know that my younger self would have viewd this opportunity as something that seemed impossible but now I have made the impossible become possible and I will continue to make a difference in this world because of that.

As a high school senior, I’d tell myself not to be afraid. I was nervous to start college. I felt well prepared, academically, but not socially. I wasn’t sure that I’d make friends and that I’d feel like I found a place I belonged, but college has taught me that I’m not alone in feeling like this. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with my friends here about how they felt before college and it turns out—they felt the same way! College has allowed me to gain a much better sense of the human condition; there are people who think in similar ways as I do and who have relatable experiences. If when I was a high school senior I knew that my hesitations about change were common among most students, that could have eliminated a few nightmares about not fitting in at college and not succeeding. Fear is a powerful tool in our society; many intolerances stem from fear and to know that I no longer fear change is incredibly empowering.

I would tell my high school senior self to slow down and enjoy the moment. I would encourage her to consider Harper for a couple years in order to save some money and really consider what her dream career would be. Knowing myself at that age, I would have rolled my eyes at myself and done what I wanted. But, I would explain to myself that college is an amazing opportunity to learn about the world around you. I would also offer the advice to be kind to everyone and don't wear pajamas to class every day. I would encourage then me to keep reading for leisure and avoid coffee, tanning, cigarettes and sleeping with make up on your face. Finally, I would tell myself to be extra kind and patient with myself. Don't be in such a hurry to grow old, instead grow into the person you desire to be. I would encourage myself to keep with therapy and I would encourage myself to journal telling myself it's such a great time to really evolve and grow. Best of luck high school me!

Dear Chelsee, Right now, I know times are very stressfull with work and school and trying to decided what college is right for you, if you can afford it and what you should major in. But it all works out. You decided to start off small and go to a community college and get your generals because of the price but you find out what your passionate about and what school you want to go to! And now you have new dreams and accomplishments. Go on, remember to love yourself and your family and be careful who you trust. Life will go on even when you think it cant get any worse with family deaths and the hardship of life. Love, Your future self

All I would say is, "Live your life. Have no fears. Have no regrets. Be who you are and don't let anyone stop you from reaching your highest dreams."

Lawrence University has been essential to me discovering who I am - what I value, what I need from my life and the people in it, what my strengths and weaknesses are and how to best live life with them and despite them. I have also learned how to rely on other people and not just myself; in life it is a must, you cannot live this life (very well, anyway) alone. In addition I have learned how to better prepare for academic and artistic events, how to balance my social life with my academic life with my music life. That has been the most valuable lesson for me: learning how to balance and staying healthy all the while.

If I could go back and talk to myself I would definitely tell myself to work harder, be creative and get involved in more campus activities. I would also encourage myself to become a better writer,learn new vocabulary and frequently practice to write essay's. At Lawrence the conservatory is really important due to this I would suggest to myself that I start to re play the piano. This is very important as it is a creative way to express personal thoughts, it is also a very positive release from the studies. I would also advice myself to focus more on understanding and comprehending the knowledge that I learn in class instead of relying on the textbook. One important thing that I have learned that I would really say is important in college is to always spend the time that you have wisely. The most important piece of advise that I would give myself is to know what I want and ensure that I stick to it and work towards that goal. Also to know that studying is not all and being able to communicate well may be the difference between an great college experience or a terrible one.

If i could go back in time to talk to myself. The only advice I would have given myself is to stay on top of my loan applications and such because that is the only reason I'm not currently attending. I would tell myself to make sure everything is covered from top to bottom, to keep on the lookout for available scholarships and grants. That way I wouldn't have to worry about whether I would be covered. I would also tell myself to keep focused in the classes and get a goodnights rest and to study every chance I get because the classes are incredibly interesting and deserve my full attention.

I would tell myself to relax, and not worry so much about impressing other people. Very few people care to know anything about you beyond the superficial--everyone is caught up in their own little world, anyway. Instead of stressing over performance for others, give more attention to your own needs and causes. Be authentic, be honest, be genuine. Don't get caught up in meaningless fads and popularity contests. Such social stress adds up to nothing in the broad scheme of one's life.

I would talk to myself about handling the work load. Although I have done ok in college this far, it was hard for me to concentrate on my studies my first term. Also I would tell myself to visit college campuses before choosing one. When i was a senior I did not do this and I wish I had compared other schools campuses with the one I am on now.

Starting college is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming new experience. My friends all spent their first night at school getting to know each other and playing games. I ended up spending my first night of college falling asleep while watching a movie in my mother?s hotel room. More than a year later, my roommate still doesn?t let me live it down. I was so concentrated on not letting go of my pre-college years, that I missed out on what would have been a memorable beginning to my college life. I have found that we regret the opportunities that we don?t take more than the ones we do. If I could go back in time, I would advise myself, and any current freshman, to always live in the present. The four years of college go by faster than any others. Take as many opportunities as possible and don?t be distracted by fantasies or fears of the past and future. It would be a shame to get to graduation and realize you missed out on the last four years.