North Carolina A & T State University Top Questions

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.