Metropolitan State University of Denver Top Questions

No one can do it all. Help doesn't make you less smart or demean who you are as a person. There are people out there that do care and will help you. It's up to you to let them know. It's hard for you to let anyone know that you have faults and hardships. Even though your used to being the one lending the helping hand everyone needs a little push to get you through things. College isn't highschool. It is hard thats why not every one achieves this goal. It's a tool for you to master your craft and find a career you enjoy. Once you know what you want asking for the help you need doesn't seem like a crazy idea after all.

The journey to success maybe the most important experience one could earn in life. Living life not having much teaches one many valuable life lessons. Having nothing teaches lessons that can never be taught in school. Such lessons are only learned through valuable life experiences. It would be nice if money and knowledge and connections were handed to me as a child. Thinking logically I have decided that I like the fact that I have to work for everything I will ever attain in this world. I know that whatever I achieve in this world will be much more rewarding and worthwhile knowing what work had to be done in order to achieve such success. I have the journey to success in my future, including all the risks, pitfalls, and challenges to look forward to. Therefore the advice I would go back in time to tell myself would be, ?Never give up, and never quit fighting for what you want and what you believe in.? Such advice would give me the opportunity to enjoy all of the ups and downs, all of the highs and lows in life. This is my world and I can accomplish anything I try.

I would have reminded myself that high school is a spring board that sends you faster and further in the direction you decide for your future. If you utilize all the assistance and opportunities you have at this stage in life you could be anyone, do anything, all you need is a little persistence and guidance. As you get older a lot of the opportunities you had available in high school go away and there are a lot of experiences that just can't be relived. Regardless of how hard and how impossible getting through high school is there are people there that can help you. This is the time before you grow up that you have all the time and energy you need to accomplish those goals and become a more experienced professional in life. The strive you carry from that jump in life decides how quickly and just if you'll reach all your dreams that you never knew you were capable of achieving.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from graduating high school and then immediately going to college was that there really is no rush. When I first went to college, I had no direction or goal. All I knew was that it was expected of me to attend and graduate. With that in mind, I went to the University of Colorado in Boulder. I spent about two years there taking core classes and putting off declaring a major until I finally had to pick some sort of direction. I was at the point where I could no longer continue as "undeclared", and because I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, I dropped out. I spent the next year and a half working full-time and pondering career options. Eventually, I came to the conclusion I wanted to teach elementary school children. This meant I would need to go back to college and inevitably retake many of the same classes. The one thing I would tell myself is to relax and take your time. You have your whole life to find what you want to do, and rushing into something half-heartedly will get you nowhere.

Going back in time, would love it if I knew what I know now. I would tell a high school senior to take advantage of enrolling in some college classes as a senior if they could. Heck, it's free when you are a senior in high school. I would advise the individual to also take advantage of the programs that help determine what career you want. I think that looking at a variety of options, weighing the pros and cons to every situation and going with your gut. For some individuals it's better to start with a trade school or an associates, and then transfer to a college. For others it's important to live close to home or at home their first year. While others, it might be healthy to live on campus and leave a nest. The most important thing would be to emphasize the importance of knowing who you are and why you are doing anything. To ask yourself questions like; what are your motives for going to school, what do you want to get out of the school you select, do I need schooling, etc.. Really, knowing WHO YOU ARE and going after it.

If I could tell my 17 year old self one thing it would be to listen to your heart not the advice or judgments of others. I took to heart a lot of what people told me to do with my life and three years later I regret the choices I made. I did not focus on what I wanted to do and ended up spending a year and a half doing what others expected of me. Since then I have back tracked to try and be the person I was meant to be instead of the person others expected of me. Standing out in a crowd is a good thing as long as you are happy with where your life has taken you. I am happy now and I wish that I had known that being a robot controlled by others is bland, just being me is much more refreshing of a life. Finally, take risks in life without worrying what others will think of you, because you know later that they will wish they were you.

I'm currently looking to transfer into a technical school and go directly into a certain field. If I wanted to give myself advice I would say to choose my next direction after high school based on what I want and need in accordance to my learning style, instead of just going straight into a four year institution because "that's what's expected." I value my education highly and would have saved myself a lot of time and money by going to a technical school right away. I've experienced a lot and I'm glad I have and don't regret the decisions I made. I guess I like to take the "scenic route" and discover as much as I can along the way.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and the difficult transition, I would tell myself, ?Immediately apply for financial aid and start applying for scholarships, ASAP! Listen to the advice of others regarding the best fields to major in but do not limit yourself to those fields. Major in what ever subject you enjoy most. Be who you are and don?t be afraid of what others will say. Be optimistic and determined. Many opportunities are available to you on campus. Take advantage by speaking to recruiters, instructors, and advisors as many times as possible. Never limit yourself to what you think you should do or what you think you have to do. You don?t have to do what everyone else is doing. You can make a difference, be an example to others. Your parents will be proud of you no matter what. Focus on your studies and give them a call from time to time. Try not to limit seeing them to winter breaks. Most importantly, don?t be afraid to ask for help. You?ll do great!?

"Janie! Get a grip!" The voice screams in my ear. "You have a son who deserves better and you know what you have to do!" I would tell myself that the future does exist, that the unknown, though terrifying, can be controlled. It was always that fear which dominated my daily existence. I would tell myself to trust my instincts and not listen to all those around me who told me to get on welfare and just hang out, find a man, and not look toward anything but Friday night. I would tell myself that I do deserve better, that I can be the first in my family to be somebody and do great things. College life is a bit stressful and if you can stay focused, be organized, and keep your dreams close, you'll be GREAT!! DO IT!!

If I were able to talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to make decisions based upon my own judgement, not that of others, to choose the most beneficial path for me rather than for someone else. To follow my heart and intuition.