Loras College Top Questions

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.