Minnesota State University Moorhead Top Questions

Academics is number one! Go to every class and be awake and prepaired. Friends will always be there, class is the most important. I would also remind myself to stick with it. It may seem overwhelming and tough, but anything worth doing is!

I would tell myself to relax. At the start of the year I was so nervous because I was the only person from my graduating class attending MSUM. I would tell myself that yes, not knowing anybody in a new place is very scary but also to suck it up and go introduce yourself to people because you will meet great people and make amazing friends. I would also tell myself to not skip class for any reason. It is possible to do well while skipping class but you are paying for it so you should attend every class and get your moneys worth in knowledge. It also makes the professors feel better when they have all of their students attend every class, and when the professor is happy everybody is happy.

First of all I would tell myself - GET your assignments done on time! Don't get behind and try to do it all at one time, it is too over whelming. Stay on track and put your full attention in to your work. Next, start applying for scholarships as soon as they are open. If you don't have the money to pay for college, get those scholarship papers in and if you are lucky enough to have a job- SAVE YOUR MONEY, or at least half for college. College is expensive so if you don't want to be paying for your education for the next 30 years- start saving and apply for all the grants, scholarships, and finacial help you can. The last thing- Matt do better than your best in your classes. Grade do matter! Study, study, study! But remember you are a Senior and have a life, so be involved in school activites. Remember this is the best year - your senior year, work hard, and play hard.

You need to break out of your shell! The college experience is different for everyone, and it is up to you to make it how you want. Orientation weekend is the best weekend for some people, but it wasn't for me: I wasn't open enough to the new people I met. My advice for that time is to just be friendly to everyone, and let them know you want to hang out with them. After that, I realized how great the dorm life really was. It is important to make good relationships with your RA, and everyone else on your floor: they have become my good friends! Another thing that has made my college life great is to get involved in groups and/or organizations. It is great to gain experience, and more great friends! It will take practice to balance all the new things, like classes, friends, and organizations, but it is worth it!

Carpe Diem, seize the day! I woudl tell myself to live life to the fullest it seriously is a beautiful and short jouney that needs to be cherished and college is a huge life enrichment. I have done the most growing in myself over the past 3 years and I am a better individual with the growth I have done. That has all been with the experiences I have gone though, leadership positions, advisers, professors, bosses, co-workers on campus, and a great major and friends within the major. I would tell myself to make mistakes and keep making them that is how we know we are alive and working towards something, without falling we wouln't know how to get back up on our feet. Each and every circumstance in life teaches us something and we take wisdom from it. I woudl tell myself to live with passion deep meaning and love as many things as possible and don't be afraid of hurt, pain and rejection if people don't like you for who you are then that is a clear indication you don't need to surround yourself with them. Find happiness in the simple things.

I would tell myself that I am just as deserving of a college ecucation as anyone else. While we may have some people in our lives who say that we can't do it and family unwilling or unable to help us, there are still options out there. People on campus are more helpful than one might think. They key to success is realizing any college experience is what you make it. Use the resources campus offers and don't be afraid to ask for answers to your questions. After all, that is the campus staff's job. You don't have to figure out every little thing for yourself, but take the initiative to know what questions you need or want to ask. Also, look into the surrounding environment of your campus for related costs such as seasonal expenses, public transportation, utility costs, and housing. Also get to know your school's community so you can not only utilize its services, but so you can also contribute through volunteer opportunities that are offered. You'll find you usually get back way more than you give, so take it as a personal challenge to see how you can improve yourself.

Make new friends. Yes, the ones you had in high school were great and you can still stay in contact with them, but let them go. This college is going to take up four years of your life, and it is crucial to get out and meet new people. Don't be afraid to say "Hi" and scoot in to a chair next to someone. The worst that can happen is they'll give you a weird look and walk away. The key to being happy while away from home is finding people you enjoy being with. You probably won't end up staing friends with some of the first people you meet, but that's okay. You are a social person deep down inside, and let yourself crack out of that defensive shell you have created. Ask for people's numbers, talk to your surrounding classmates, tell stories, make jokes (even if they're not good, you can at least laugh at yourself and relieve the tension). It's going to be one of the hardest things you'll have to do in college but I can promise you, it will pay off in the end. Good luck, Mackenzie

Relax and let the cards fall where they may.

There are many choices that one has to make on a daily basis; you have to decide what to wear, what to eat, how to spend your money, and when to go to bed. But one of the biggest questions that you have to ask yourself at 18 is to continue on with a higher education or not. College was a great experience for me because I meet very influential people, learned many valuable lessons, and learned how to educate students to be healthy and fit. Through my college career, I worked with many young professionals and professors who had the same love for physical activity and health as I did. I was able to learn from all the influential people around me and take life lessons with me for the rest of my life. With my valuable lessons and great education, I was able to get a job teaching physical education right out of college. I am currently teaching middle school physical and health education. I have a great job where I get to interact with influential adolescents and help instill lifelong values and skills that students can use now and for the rest of their life.

I have been given the opportunity to grow and to expand my epxeriences.