Millersville University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

I would tell myself that it is okay to take a step away in order to calm down. The stress of senior year is crazy and so is the college application process and transitioning into college. The most important thing I had to constantly remind myself was to calm down. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to calm down a lot more. I would tell myself to take more breaks and not worry over every little thing. I would tel myself that nobody is in charge of my life but me, and if I need a break I am allowed to take that break.

I would tell myself to wait to choose a major and go into college undeclared. As a high school senior I didn't really have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life and my future. At the time I thought everyone else had it all planned out and that I should too so I felt pressured to choose a college and declare a major before I was really ready. If I could speak to myself as a high school senior I would have told myself to go into college undecided and take my general education classes first before choosing my path for the rest of my life. It would have saved me the struggle of changing majors, and schools. It would have made the transition to college easier and less stressful because I wouldn't have been so pressured to do well in my major classes and impress my peers and professors.

Renee. You are a mess. Not the hot kind. Papers are a one night sprint. Tardiness is a life style. Your teachers don't like you. People say your mind is elsewhere. Your mind is never anywhere in particular. You think a zombie apocalypse might not be that bad. You are crazy. You are afraid you will let everything fall apart. This fear is real. Renee. We have ADHD. We are going to be just fine. I recommend taking Ritalin. It helps with the depression and social anxiety. As well as the spirited away moments. ...I am crying a little. The college years are not going to be the best years. But they are the turning point. You will discover that no one but you has the answers. Not even our parents, God bless them. I can't tell you. Because hearing the truth and living the truth Are not the same. And because we are extremely pig headed. I will say this. You were designed for a chaotic world. You need to struggle, and problem solve, and explore. You love it when things aren't perfect. You like to make them better. Like how we made ourselves better.

Being a female on the ASD spectrum, also having been diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, my college experiences were not always the norm. Growing up, I always knew I was different but was not informed of my condition until the summer before college. I had heard people say that college is a time to start over and be whoever you want. I tried to fit in, but I wasn't accepted by my peers. I felt isolated and negative towards college until sophomore year when I made supportive friends through a campus fellowship. If I could, I'd warn my high school self to be prepared for challenges I would face as a special needs student. I would encourage myself would be to accept my differences rather than try to conform or fit in with a group. I'd share that freshman year is a hard transition and does not reflect how the rest of college be, nor do the people I meet reflect the whole student body. I would also advise myself to do my best academically, be sure to find an internship and utilize the career center, as those are what matters most after graduation.

Dear High School Emilee, I know you are stressed, trying to figure out where you are going next year and what your career will be. But let me tell you, it will get easier. Especially if you stop trying to please everyone else and follow your dreams. Go to culinary school. I know what you are thinking, you need a real degree. But I guarantee you will not find anything that makes you feel the way frosting cupcakes does. And I have done the research, culinary school is academic! You take tests just like any other major, and you learn a hands on skill too. So, a culinary degree holds as much weight as any other degree. Also, do not worry about moving away from home. Everyone will tell you not to worry, and that your roommate will like you. That is true, but you have doubts, so let me give you some new advice. You and your roommate are usually on different schedules. Even if you are not best friends it will not be a problem. So please, take this advice to heart, Follow your dreams and do not sweat the small stuff. Sincerely, Older and Wiser Emilee

I would warn myself about the temptation of freedom. Going to school people tell you that "you're on your own" but for me it didn't hit until I saw the showers in the bathroom. From there it settled in that there was no one telling me to clean my room, go to class, no one checking up on me, and no one enforcing a curfew. You have to make responsibe decisions to get your school work done and then have a social life. Balancing the two is harder than some would think. For example, if you wait until the last minute to do a paper because you think you have time, 9 times out of 10 there will be a party that you will want to go to. Of course you will convince yourself that you can go and save the paper until Sunday but then Sunday will come around and it won't get done, or you will be up all night jeopardizing your chances of making it to your morning classes. Bottom line is discipline yourself right now, get on the ball. Just because you don't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

Look, do not think that this is going to be easy because it's not. This is going to be on the of the hardest things you are going to do. You're going to have to put everything you have into this. You can't procrastinate or just lay around doing nothing. You can't expect to do good if you don't work for it. This isn't going to be easy. You're going to get tired. You're going to get stressed. You're going to scream and curse. You're going to want to quit, but don't. You know why? When you're finished, it's all going to be worth it. You're going to be successful and you're going to be able to give your children things you didn't have. You're going to be happy doing something you love. Just keep going. Your hard work will pay off.

Knowing what I know now, as a high school senior I would advise myself to listen to everyone that told me "you won't be friends with half the people you are now", "Your current boyfriend won't be your boyfriend in college", and "don't sweat the small things". After two years of college I am not friends with half of my friends from high school, I am not dating the same person, and I have realized that the things i worried about in high school were not important. While a senior in high school, I would never have agreed to any of those statements, but I now realize how true they are. So, in conclusion, the advice I would give myself as a senior in high school would be to listen to the advice of others and take it to heart.

Knowing what I know about college life and making the transition the advice I would give myself is to not fool around, use professor office office hours wisley and that high school and college is completley different. Fooling around will get you no where but have your grades decrease than what you expexted. Using your professors office will help tremendously help throughout college. Professors are there to help you and answer any questions that you have. In high school you can get away with so much and turn assignments in late, make up test with no consequences but in college it the other way around if you don't turn an assignment late or not take an test on that day thats an zero right there on the spot with an emergency excuse. Don't fool around, use office hours and college isn't like high school is what I would tell me myself before heading to college my senor year of high school.

College is a great experience that I was blessed enough to take part in this past year. If I was able to give myself advice about college, I would tell myself that petty high school drama doesn't follow many to college. Everyone has a new start and what they decide to do with a clean slate is up to them. It might sound cliché, but stay true to yourself and know that you will find a group of friends that accepts you for who you are. The first few days are the hardest with all the forced ice-breakers and insignificant small talk, but you will be able to find people you can have deep conversations with. Most people in college actually want to be there, so there will be a lot of positive attitudes. Maturity tends to increase with the additional responsibilities, freedom, and independence. Occasionally you might get home sick, but remember there is a whole group of people just like you going through the same, sometimes frightening, transition. The support system in college is almost built-in, which makes it easier to thrive.