North Carolina A & T State University Top Questions

Dear high school Dasha, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything,” (Malcolm X). Be strong and have an idea of what you want to do with your life. In college your best friends and family will be miles away and you must survive every day. People who do not want you to succeed, drugs, alcohol, parties, sex, and boys will be thrown your way. Beat the odds and go for the dream. Fight for what you want and enjoy a meal on someone else’s buck because noodles will be your brunch and dinner. Your image only carries value in the walls of your high school and once you all go your separate ways, your back to being a little fish in a big sea. You should have paid more attention to that biology, chemistry, and algebra because it will pop up again in college. While you are at it, fill out and apply for every possible scholarship while you are a senior because that is where the money is. Last but not least, love yourself more and more every day. Love yourself before you try to love anyone else. Sincerely, 4.0 college Dasha

Senior year I was the girl voted “Most Grateful to Graduate”. Senioritis was real, and the word “study” didn’t exist. After receiving my acceptance letter, my only concern was partying with friends. The lackadaisical habits I formed during my senior year were habits I carried with me into college. I never learned discipline during high school, so college was one big playground. I was satisfied with just showing up and turning in mediocre work. I loved the nightlife and had a fake it until I make it attitude towards academics. During sophomore year I questioned if I really wanted to be there. It wasn’t until junior year that I noticed the people I had hung with were gradually heading back to their respective cities with no degree to show for their time and money spent. I realized I was there for a reason and couldn’t waste that opportunity. I switched majors and my so called “friends”. The library became a second home. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to focus on things that matter, surround myself with positive people, and understand the difference between work and play time. My education was worth the sacrifice.

WHEN YOU GET TO COLLEGE THE WORK IS MORE DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING, BUT THE HARD WORK PAYS OFF.

The advice I would given myself is to focus on school more. Don't be afraid of change have nothing but postive people in your circle. And even when is gets to become to much at times you have to keep your eyes on the prize and the end of the day. You are trying to make a better life for yourself. Apply for as many scholarships an many different Colleges. Understand that its ok to have a job but don't make work your main priority. Life is alot harder then you think so stay focus on you studys and don't let people distract you from what you need to be doing.

If I were to go back and give myself advice as a senior I would say dont get lazy. Grades and attendance do still matter. I wish I could tell myself to stay focus and take advantage of the free education that is given. My grades could have been way better if I would have realized that grades determine scholarships. I wish I would have applied for way more scholarships in order to actually get some. I would also say do my financial aid a little earlier to get more money. I also would say to myself to take IB exams to save money in college. Not only should my grades have been better but I should have been more involved. I would tell myself to obtain leadership roles in the organizations I was a part of. Senior year is not a year to kick back it is a year to get ready for college and a lot of students don't realize it making them struggle their first year of college. Research early and make sure you know where and why you want to go to a school and if you can afford it.

I would tell myself to take college 101 first thing. That college is a different world from what highschool and definately different than the military, and good luck.

If I could go back, I would tell my high school self to get prepared earlier. Stop waiting until the last minute to do everything. Fill out every scholarship that you are eligable for that you come across. Do your FAFSA as soon as it opens up. I would also tell myself to get even more involved in activities and strive for high positions. Learn not to settle for vice president but go for president. I would advise myself to enlist in a mentor or two who have been where I am before and can guide me to where I'm trying to go. My main advice would be to find a balance between academics and a social life. Focus on getting my work turned in on time instead of going to parties every weekend. Academics should be 65 percent of my school life and the other 35 percent can be filled with social activites.

Now that I've graduated and enrolled myself in college, I wish I had done a few things differently as a senior. Beginning senior year, start applying for different scholarships at an early date. Scholarships aren't very easy to receive, but It's always best to apply as early as possible. Grades, they're very important, but It's even more important to actually LEARN what you were taught in school. Retain information so that you could carry that with you to college and throughout life. It's essential that you have discipline as well. Discipline can take you a long way in life, as well as taking responsibility. The last piece of advice I'd have to give is to simply "get involved". Get involved in sports, school activities, join clubs or even community service. Getting involved looks great on records as you go through life.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to be more active. I would use more of the resources that are readily available within high school such as scholarships to better my chances of not having to pay for college. I would have even worked to raise my grades and ask counselors about their college experiences. In doing so, I would have been more prepared for the real world and the responsibilty of managing my own time.

I've learned the value of time. The average person would love to speed up time or slow it down, time is precious. It reminds me of the words of the late Benjamin Frankin who quoted "You may delay, but time will not." If I had the opportunity to go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to use time wisely. I remember like it was yesterday, telling myself how I couldn't wait to go to college to get out my mom's house and only then would I officially be grown and on my own; only to see that I was still a child wanting grown-up responsibilities. As a senior in high school there are so many time consuming distractions. Who's your boyfriend? What color dress are you wearing to the prom? What will people say if I get a piercing or a tatoo? Inspite of all the irrelevant questions I wanted answered and the reputation I was trying to build, I would have shared with myself then that true success didn't rely on how people view you but in how you view yourself.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd remind myself to be more reflective and careful in my choices. I'd tell myself to treasure each moment and not waste any of this wonderful gift of life. Time goes by so quickly and is so easily squandered. There are things I wish I'd done during my teen years that may have better prepared me to take on college and adulthood. If I could go back in time, I'd tell myself to read more biographies about great people, write in my journal more often, spend more time listening to people, and enjoy more quiet moments taking in the beauty of God's creation. I'd tell myself to focus more attention on those who've been neglected. I'd tell myself to rush less and love more. I'd tell myself to worry less and pray more. Fortunately, I believe in second chances. Even though I can't go back in time and change anything about how I've lived my life, I can decide how I will live today and every day that follows.

Many people slide through high school with the mentality that "I am just going to do what i have to do, so I can get a diploma and graduate," but this mentality will get you with a low GPA, and a job flipping burgers for the rest of your life. High school is the foundation to life because everything afterwards, depends solely on the knowledge you've acquired in those four years. "Don't be late for class," "Hand in your assignments on time," "Don't wait until the last minute to start on your work," "Eat a well balanced meal," and "Study hard!" These are the things that we're told, but those are all the "rules" that will help with your transition to college, and in life. In high school, you are also finding self; be strong in who you are because it won't be so easy to fall under negative influences, if you stay true to your own values. Know your worth, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Make goals, and get on the right road to fulfilling those dreams, because with a college education, opportunities are always in your reach!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior there are a few things that I would tell myself. The main thing is to stay focused and trust your gut. This is because by getting to the point I am now these are the two things that I tried my hardest to do and I have successfully completed all my necessary courses as well as kept pace to graduate with an engineering degree in 4 years. I have also had the pleasure of interning with the government as well as a few fortune 500 companies. If I were to improve on these things I would far better off than I am right now. I would also tell myself to focus on the community and environment. This is becasue these are two things that I have recently discovered that I am highly interested in and care about. I feel so strongly about giving back to the community and helping the environment that I often wish that I had found this passion earlier on in life so that I could have done a lot more activities and community service.

I did not finish High School; I received my GED in 2007, so my advice to myself would be: “Finish High School. You will have to stay an extra year, but it will open so many doors for you that will not be available if you do not finish High School. Live at home a little longer and get a degree before the economy crashes, because lack of education really does play a pivotal role in your career choices and your ability to succeed in the future. Please do this and our future will be much nicer, much easier, then it is now.”

Dear Ariel, Forget your worries and enjoy your year. After being accepted to North Carolina A&T State University and receiving your scholarship offer, put your mind at ease as you are in for an unforgettable experience. College will not be the unforgiving, unbearable academic experience you think it to be. It will be exciting, challenging, and filled with surprises. You will meet students with the same amount of ambition, motivation, and brains as yourself. You all will be friends and competitors, always hoping for the best from one another while pushing yourselves to do more than expected. Ariel, you are ready for college. You've worked hard during your academic year. Trust your intellect. During this year and the years to come, if you do nothing else, be confident, be spontaneous, and be yourself. And remember the words of Marianne Williamson, "We ask ourselves, who am I to be brillant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" Sincerely, Ariel (2012)

If I could turn back time and give myself some advice on my college career, I would implement the fact on how necessary and important education is. I would take my education a lot more serious and begin to save money up so I would have the means to pay for college, and not be in debt like I am today. I would invest a lot of my time on career options and colleges that provide the necessary courses to achieve my career goals. Also, I would advise myself to begin applying to schools, as well as scholarships and grants, as early as possible. The most important advice I could have ever received in High School is knowing how truly important college is. I wish someone would have told me how much my future would benefit from having a successful education and career. Instead of focusing on the newest trends and fads, like most high school students do, I wish I would have toured more college campuses and made my education a priority, instead of an option.

If I could go back in time and talk to high school Christina, I would tell myself that college will be a very exciting time in my life; but to realize that schoolwork comes before my social life. I have the weekends to go visit my friends, but from Monday through Friday it's school time. I would also tell myself that college is nothing like high school. Procrasination may have not hindered me in the past while doing work, but in college procrasination will be the difference in me having a passing grade and a failing grade.

To my high school self to whom everything seemed vast and overwhelming and consequently did a great deal of slacking off: Even when fears drag at your ankles and turn your knees to ungracious marmalade, do not cringe, do not yield, and don't despair. Accomplish. Conquer. Laziness will never gain reward; minimum effort earns bare results. As important as the past was and the present is, it's the future for which you strive. To reach the desired point, you must take the steps. No one can do this for you. Live for your dreams and yearnings. Don't stagnant. Grasp, challenge, learn, learn, learn. Stop resigning yourself to 'That's how it is' or 'One day soon.' The day is now. This day, each day. Be as scared as you must, but stomp on that fear and learn to step over it. In this way you can tell yourself, 'I do not regret - not who I have been, not who I am.' In the future, you will look behind you, and know each effort was worth its cost. Nothing is wasted. I would say: 'Dear Myself, I look forward to who I will be.'

First I would tell my self to be more outgoing. I have a tendacy to hide in the shadows and watch the crowd around me, in college I need to embrace the freedom, not go crazy off of it, but embrace it and talk to new people and be out in the crowd. Then I would tell my self to always write down dates that the school is having a speaker or guest at the school. It is a great way to meet people who could help me later in college or life. I would tell my high school self to always be cracked down on my school work and do not pass up an opertunity to learn to study more efficently. That studying in high school and college are two completely different skills and the information on tests is more indepth. Most importantly I would tell my self to have fun, you are only young once so make the best of it with the time I have.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have many things to tell myself about the college life. Being a student in college is lonely because I spent the majority of my life under my parents house. I did not have to pay for many things. My parents are no longer physically there to help me out. I can not depend on them anymore. I have to depend on myself and make the right decisions. Also being in college is fast paced, so I would tell my high school self to challenge myself. Teachers go through information quickly and do not repeat. Teachers also do not go out of their way to help you if you are not doing well in class, so I would have to take the initiative. Procrastination is somethin I want to stay away from because it is harder to get back on track in college. Most importantly, I would tell myself to stay focused; even though it may be embarassing, ask for help because it will help me succeed in the end.