Loyola University New Orleans Top Questions

I would tell myself to focus on critical thinking skills and prepare myself to be ready for lots of writing.

Take this last year of high school slowly. After high school, your world flips upside down and you can never go back to the routinely comfort of high school. Take advantage of the relationships you formed with your teachers and friends; learn life lessons, not only school lessons from your teachers, as they have already completed college and have valuable advice. It is okay if your plan does not work out; they rarely do. That does not mean that you will not achieve your dreams, you just have to get a little bit more creative and pursue them from a different path. Keep your options open. College is much more about exploring yourself and your relationships with other people and the world than it is about making your career. Be open-minded and willing to accept random and new opportunities.

Enjoy it enjoy it enjoy it! Make sure you stay on top of your school work because it will catch up with you, but enjoy it. Get as much financial assistance as you can especially if your family does not have much to contribute. You do not want to end up in mountains of debt. Really look at what major is going to get you a job or jump-start towards a career. Because in the end, this is preparation to work and survive in the real world.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would come prepared with a bucket of water and scream, "Pay Attention!” I entered High School as a straight-A student and by the time my senior year rolled around, I was barely able to graduate. My high school days were spent doodling on my notepad, text messaging under my sweater and keeping up to date with all of the latest drama that roamed the halls. I somehow managed to sit in a desk for four years and learn close to nothing. As soon as I entered college, reality hit. I felt four years behind everyone else. I was missing the building blocks to my education and couldn’t pass even the simplest of classes. Now, five years later, I am a straight A-student but I cannot even begin to express how hard it has been to play catch up. As a high school senior, I wish I had understood that people and drama will come and go in life, but your education, or lack of, will stay with you forever.

It gets better. But, as it gets better, it also gets harder. The more you learn, the more problems you discover. The more problems, the less you feel capable of making a difference. Don't let this cheat you out of becoming the strong-willed, compassionate person you want to be. Allow your professors to inspire you, your peers to challenge you, your coursework to expand your worldview. Get involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans, dedicate your free time to serving the greater good instead of yourself. Read outside of the classroom, ask questions when you don't understand something. Don't waste time with the television or social networking, as these days are passing more quickly than you realize. Be appreciative of the opportunity you have to attend such a great school, as many people don't. Know that it's ok to be unsure of where you are going and that every decision made is an experience. Your first job out of college probably won't be the one that shapes your career, and the economy will get better. It all gets better, even you.

If I could give my highschool self advice it would be this: Concentrate on the basics. I would tell myself to do more independent studying instead of relying on just what my teachers tell me. I would also have done alot more volunteer work and tried to join more clubs and make friends with lots of types of people. I've discovered that in college you really do have to buckle down and study. In highschool you can get by doing a minimum amount of work but in college you really need to spend a couple of hours a day studying. I would tell myself to not be so nervous, work hard and look forward for the great things to come in college.

There are three things I would advise myself of: not to do too much at one time, have fun, but don't let your friends talk you into shirking your responsibilites; and fight the burnout that you begin feeling at the end of your time at the community college. All of these things go hand in hand. By not doing to much and having fun, you can hold off the burnout for a tad longer than if you go in full force and only take serious classes. With the personality that we have, shirking your responsibilities will only make you stress more and therefore cause you more trouble than its worth, so when Amanda asks you to go to a party resist the urge to blow off that homework and go. If you take this advice you'll not only graduate honors, but also with that 4.0 GPA that you strive for.

I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff. The problems you're facing right now in high school are nothing compared to all of the stresses of college. I would also tell myself to appreciate the full nights' sleep I got in high school...because those are extremely rare in college.

The best advice I could have given myself would have to be enjoy the time you have left with your graduating class. I do not now how many times I found myself missing the friends I had made during my senior year. I would also have told myself to apply for more scholarschips, especially the ones that were sent out through email by the guidance counselor. The last thing I would have told myself would be put more work into the college decision. I almost wish I had chosen a school closer to home and one that was one that was not as expensive, but I love Loyola and would not leave it after all the network connections I have made.

Highschool Samantha had no idea what to expect from college. I would tell her to get ready to be yourself. Everyone is very accepting of who you really are. Do not worry about making friends because everyone is in the same boat. You should start challenging yourself academically now because college work is very different from Rahway High School work. Your independent mindset will do you good in college and do not begin to allow other people to make your decisions for you. Keep your motivation to follow your dreams and aspirations and they will come true. Save up as much money as possible now because once those monthly tuition payments start, you are going to be very tight on money. Get ready to work hard, have fun, meet amazing people, and find out who you really are. Don't worry about this highschool drama, you will have bigger things to wory about in college.