Loras College Top Questions

As my high school gradution date approached, I grew increasingly nervous about the transition into college. I was worried that I would not get along with the other girls on my floor, that I would not be involved in any activities, that I would never figure out my major, and that I would not make friends. If I could go back in time, I woud tell myself to not become so anxious about everything because it will all work out. I would tell myself to let everything flow naturally, because once college began everything would start to piece together and I would find myself being surrounded by people I would become very close with, and I would learn how to structure my life around everything so I know my priorities and I put them first.

Your life is about to change immensley. You are going to meet so many new people that will impact your life. Meet as many people as you can; they will welcome you. Be open to trying new things; get involved in as many campus groups and activities as you can. Don't forget to let those you love know how much you appreciate and care about them. Understand that there will be many changes happening in the next few years. These changes will all work out and be for the better in the end. You will be challenged in many aspects of your life while at college. Your education will be very different than you are used to, but it is to challenge and make you more globally aware. You will question your beliefs and values, which is a natural part of life. This will strengthen you and help you better understand yourself and your place in the world.

I came into college with an undecided major and serious doubts about myself and my potential. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that, yes, college will be hard and stressful; however, it is also so rewarding and self-affirming. I've learned through the past year and a half to truly appreciate each new situation that I am faced with and try to find a take-away from it, but it has been a hard thing to do. Ultimately, I would tell myself to believe in myself, God, and the goodness of those supporting me.

Taking a Photoshop class is very important in my major, and I have always been interested in computer designing. The advice I would give to my former self in high school would be, take a Photoshop class! Not only would I enjoy it, but taking a Photoshop class in high school would have helped me decide my major earlier in my college career. Having more of my required classes for my major fulfilled I would of been able to experience a lifelong dream of studying abroad in Ireland. My dream will hopefully only have to wait another long two years. Deciding late on my major is my main fault in college. If only going back in time was an option.

Don't stress about it. Whatever the situation is, ask yourself, "Will it matter next year? Will it matter 5, 10 years from now?" Life goes on. Whether you didn't do well on a test, forgot to do a homework assignment, or completely embarrassed yourself in front of the guy you like, it's okay. There is so much more to life than school. Yes, school is important, and you should work hard to get everything you can out of it. But in the end, the grades you got or the embarrassing moments you had won't matter. It is the people in your life that matter. Your family, friends, and other loved ones are what make you feel fulfilled in happy. They are who support you and carry you through the hard times. They are who your heart beats for. They will be the people you make your best memories with, and memories ARE forever. So make as many friends as you can, and keep them close. Andremember that if it won't matter 2, 5, 10 years from now, don't sweat it.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself to prepare to branch out. I would say: realize that college is an opportunity to become the person you have always wanted to be, but you have to work hard for it. It's not easy academically, socially, or financially. You cannot slack off, but it is an amazing experience. It is an opportunity to learn about an area or even several areas of academics that have piqued your interest. It is more than just school, though. In college, you get to be part of clubs that can make a difference. Like here at Loras, I'm part of Overcoming Violence and Empowering Positive Relationships (Ove+r) and the Gay Straight Alliance. In college you find people who are passionate about the same causes as you are and who give you opportunities to do something with that passion. All in all, I would tell myself to truly think about who I want to be and how I can get there and then to be ready to do it because college is the perfect enviornment for growth.

Hello, I am currently enrolled in the Architectural Technology program at Montgomery College. During my first year of college, I did not know what or where I was going in life. It was not until the end of my freshmen year did I find an interest in architecture. My foremost regret in high school was that I never took the time to apply and research about the diverse universities as well as scholarships that are offered within the U.S. I would advice myself to become more knowledgeable as to where I want to go and what I want to do after high school. I would have tried my best to enter on a four year university and if given the chance, to study abroad. I would have given myself a set of goals and plans as to what I wanted to engage in and experience. If I had taken the time and energy back in high school, I would not be where I am now. Life takes many unexpected turns. I have learned from my mistakes and nowadays, I ask for educational guidance and advice that are available for students. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Merlyn Rivera

If I could go back to my highschool self and myself advice or write a letter to myself; this is what I would say. "Don't be shy, get to know everybody and no matter how hard you try not to be, you will be over involved; not that that is a bad thing. Meet as many people as you can and take advantage of everything that is offered."

If I were able to go back to high school knowing what I know now about college, I would tell myself I'm about to experience the best years of my life. That being said, I would tell myself to be more prepared for paying for college. College is an investment and I believe you get what you pay for. In my case, college has been a financial challenge. However, I won't let college payments keep me from investing in my future. I truly believe that education is one of the most important things you can invest both your time and money in. That being said, I have no regrets about my college choice. Even though Loras is more expensive than some of the public schools I looked into, I know now from experience that I'm getting a quality education. Therefore, I would tell my high school self that decided to attend Loras College that I have made the right decision and not to worry.

The advice that I could give myself would be to get out there more. Try to figure out my own passion early and go for it! Focus on what makes me feel all 'warm and fuzy' inside and follow my heart. I would tell myself to break out of my shell and talk to everyone I meet so I could form more relationships and possible future friendships as well as atempting future networking. The last bit of advice I would tell myself is that being on my own is great, but don't forget school work! Don't study at the last minute, but learn as you go. It's not like high school where craming before a test seemed to work, but college requires knowing details and various concepts so don't slack off and wory about doing 'tomorrow'.

The most important thing I can say is that when you get to college, there is a certain new freedom that comes with it, do NOT take advantage of this freedom. Go to bed at a decent hour, do your homework, don't go out on school nights, and go to mass. It will be tempting to disregard all of those things, and many of your peers will. I know from experience that it might seem fun at first, but that will catch up with you. I found that going out and being at a party with a ton of people was often when I felt the most lonely. I encourage you to just be yourself and to do things you are really interested in. This will help you to find friends who are just like you, and who you get along with. I'mnot going to lie, the first few weeks of school are rough. Everything is new. But the adjustment is much less painful than I anticipated or than anyone led me to believe. Good Luck! Be yourself. Trust in God's plan for you because you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now.

Going back I would have told myself to work even harder. I thought I was working hard, but when I got to college I realized that was no where near good enough. If I would have applied myself in high school more to academics and athletics I wouldn't need to be applying for so many scholarships, but now that I am no longer becoming a teacher I will be losing my teach grant and the price of my tuition goes up. I love this school so much and want to remain a Duhawk, but with my tuition price going up I do not think I will be able to afford it. It stinks because if I would have worked a little harder before college, instead of waiting until I got here I might not be in this situation. I am on the Dean's list, but that doesn't helping my financial award anymore. If I could do one thing, I would to back and tell myself to dedicate myself to academics more.

I think if I had the opportunity to go back to senior year things I might have done differently would be to not procrastinate on work. I also would have made the most of every moment because you don’t get them back. I had planned to play basketball in college and tore my ACL during preseason. I took for granted how fortunate I was and didn’t appreciate every moment. I think I realize both academically and athletically that I won’t get those moments back to redo. I don't regret being a hard-working high school student but I wish I would have stressed a little less and enjoyed the experience more. I avoided peer pressure which has been very helpful because there is a lot of pressure to do things that aren't productive in college. The alcohol, drugs, and sex pressures are great, I am glad that I am a strong individual that can avoid those situations. I have had a relatively smooth transition to a great campus. I am very fortunate to be where I am.

If I could go back in time to my high school self, I would have a lot to say. I would start off by telling myself that everything always has its way of working out, so do not dwell on the things you cannot change, and work hard to change the things you can for the better. Do not spend today anxious and nervous because then you waste a day you could have spent enjoying your loved ones. Since going away to college has left me very homesick, I would tell myself, your family is not going anywhere. You are not missing out on anything, so stay focused on what you need to do and you will be surprised at how time flies. I would say, always keep your chin up. Those days will come where you get pushed down one time after another, but do not give up. You are at school to better yourself for you and for the world around you. You have worked too hard to get here so work hard and enjoy your time because it flies.

There is one thing that determines whether you will have a good transition to college or not: yourself. If you decide to sit in your room and be anti-social, you're not going to have a good transition, and you'll probably want to transfer. However, while it may be difficult to do so, if you put yourself out there and actively try to make friends, I guarantee that you will have a successful transition. I have seen far too many people thinking that the switch from high school to college will be simple... but it's not. It's up to YOU to work through it. Also, the same thing will happen no matter where you go. While the size or location of a school may differ, the same rule still applies, if you don't work to make friends, you will feel woefully out of place. On the bright side, your respective college will provide opportunities for you to meet new friends, but again, it is up to you to attend those and do something to further yourself in your social situation.

I would tell myself that everything is going to be fine. College is easy to transition to if you do not get worked up and go with the flow. It is also very important to not be afraid to get the help you need in accept of going to school, or dorm life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself “Don’t be so afraid. The only thing holding you back is you. Believe in who you are today and everything that person can be. Strive to become the best version of yourself. Work every day to beat that person and compete with no one else. Reveal in the world of big and beautiful ideas because they will change you. Know that what you learn shapes who you are. Take control of your education. You own it completely, so make it everything you want it to be. Read. Ask critical questions. Research around the issues brought up in class. Don’t sit back in your desk and expect the teacher to make a deposit in the bank of your brain, because it’s up to you to do the investing. Be bold. Make mistakes and redefine success and failure. Embrace every moment of this opportunity and always remember- when you graduate college you will be one of less than 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the world’s population. You are privileged and entrusted with a great gift. Make the most of it.”

The advice I would give to my highschool self would be to first and foremost, save your money. You do not need to "keep up with the Joneses", window shopping can be fun too. With all the money you save now, you can have a decent car and have enough to "pimp out" your dorm room your freshman year. Another piece of advice I would give myself, would be to exercise more and cut back on the fast food. By creating healthy eating habits and exercising now, the legend of the "freshman 15" will not become a reality for you. The last bit of advice I would give to my high school self would be to cherish every moment as it happens. Even though things can be difficult and stressful at times, those moments will pass. It is the priceless moments, such as hanging with your friends at the lunch table, going on the senior trip, and finally walking across that stage, that you can not get back. Take risks and don't let oppurtunities pass you by and you will not regret your past when you get older.

If I were to go back in time to talk to myself about choosing a college and something about the transition I would tell myself that the most important thing about picking a college is making sure it is somewhere that you would enjoy being at. Make sure that the size is something that isnt going to be overwhelming but also that it won't be restricting. About the transition I would tell myself not to worry about making friends too much. There are a ton of opportunities to meet new people. Other people are looking to make new friends as well.

I'd say stay true to your faith/belief no matter what. It's okay to ask for help. Cherish your family becuase they won't always be there to help you. Always work hard.