Northern Kentucky University Top Questions

I would tell myself to focus harder on my studies, because I can't slack off and still get straight 100s like I did in high school. Also, I would tell myself not to take a job at Wendy's because it is not worth it in the long run; I should focus on my studies while I am in college. If I did that my first year, I would have a perfect 4.0 GPA now, easily. I would tell myself that not to spend so much money on CDs, because I will need the money for medical emergencies. I would tell myself to always be willing to learn from other people. I would tell myself to eat less fast food. I would tell myself to enjoy the summer, because it is the best time of the year. Finally, I would tell myself to take it easy, not let my cynicism get the best of me, treat people right, and enjoy living and learning. College is the best place for both things.

I would defnitely, definitely tell myself to learn how to study effeciently and to be more involved with extra cirriculars. I turn 20 in less than a month and I'm just now getting involved in activities (mostly athletic) that I would be great at now if I had interest in it in high school. I was one of those quiet, awkward, shy kids that stuck to myself and friends I had already been friends with for years. Not that I don't adore my friends now , it'd just be nice to be able to make new ones. With studying, I was always one of the smart kids who 'didn't need to study to get an A'. That completely changed in college because classes are much more rigorous and book orientated. I would definitely slap my past self for being so arrogant and sit her down and show her nifty study techniques (like not highlighting every sentence) and show her what to study in text books.

To go back in time and mentor myself on college and the transition I would tell myself to not rush. Take a year off and travel. Research schools and see which one is the best fit for you. Research yourself and see which direction you want to go in. Do not go directly into school because everyone else is. Do not waste years of your life and money with uncertainty. When you begin school you have to be serious you have to study and you have to believe in yourself the easiest thing will be to quit. You must remember that you are a first generation student in your family and when you go to school and finish you will be changing history. Change it boldly and proudly. Do not dwell or wait on friends, boyfriends, and other relationships there will be plenty of time for that after college dwell on dreams, ambitions, and goals. The only difference between the people living their dream and the people not is that they never gave up. The world is yours go for it, and always shoot for the moon because at least then you will land among the stars.

The deadline has already passed but i would tell my high school self to try harder in school and on the ACT.

I would tell myself to not be afraid to voice your opinon because it is worse to not share an idea than it is to share an idea and have it not be accepted. I would explain the quote that perfectly states "you could be the ripest, juciest peach in the world, but there is still going to be someone who hates peaches" and say that I am still worth it, I have a right to exist such as everyone else.

Dear High School Self, Let the written word sweep you off your feet Lose yourself in the dim zebra pages of a tattered notebook Lose the invisible chains that thwart you from spectacular feats Let vicious vernacular transform you “You won’t make it.” Words will attempt to devour your soul Distort your image Destroy your spirit “College is a waste of time.” Words will becloud your once brilliant eyes Permeate your heart Pierce your fragile mind “Why not just get a job – be more useful?” You will struggle You will weep You will falter You will live “Must be nice to look down from that college throne.” Let the words that clenched your fists Inspire those around you Pave the road to your success Fortify your lovely soul Words cannot define you Words cannot defeat you Words cannot delete you College will be a lot of work, but you will make it through. You will be raped by a friend and want to escape. You will find solace through your grades, new friends, and myriad accomplishments. What happens to you and what is said to you will not break you down, but build you up. Great things await.

You're going to be okay. I know that we are terrified of change and traveling five hours away from home feels like walking a tight rope without a safety net, but it's going to be great. You're going to meet some of the best people in the world and figure out who you are and what you like and want to do in the process. Don't be afraid to talk to people and get involved. College is a learning experience and I promise you that you'll learn so much: both in and out of the classroom. It's okay to be scared, but don't let that stop you from moving forward. Now take a deep breath, smile, and go apply for those scholarships that I know you've been putting off.

Dear younger version, You do not have to settle for community college. Also, once you turn 26 you won’t need mom and dad’s financial info, but believe me it’s worth the hassle for the tuition assistance. The application process gets easier after a while and it won't be so overwhelming anymore. Buy yourself a file cabinet, it will really smooth out the transition process. Try, try, try to understand all the red tape, if you don't understand it, file it for later- see, I told you the file cabinet would come in handy. There will be times when you will be a walking zombie and it will shock you that you still managed to get a passing grade- that's normal. College kids are as lame as you thought, but you will never see them again, and if you do, you won't care. Everything you go through during this trying time will be for the better; it builds character- thanks grandma! As hard as it all was we still wouldn’t change a thing except go to NKU sooner. Lastly, there is no shame in taking a break. YOU GO GIRL!

Asia Dozier January 27, 2015 My advice to my High School self would be to, don’t be so worried about the negative out comes of college and only focus on the good energy that freely flows around you, since I dealing with a lot of nonsense in high school, teen wondering the halls, or loitering in gym and even the bathrooms just to avoid class, I figured I was ready for High School, then I thought the same for college as well, until actually being in community college made me realize that it’s the same thing just a different class room and that most if not all professors cared little to none about dealing with students face to face. I’d tell my high school self to come out of my shell more and be much more open to asking for help, I admit even now I still sort of have some small issue with asking for help, but I’ve grown some and still are growing to be more open, I realized due to past events I realize my issue is with fearing failure. Fearing failure is a cycle I have and still am pulling away from

If I could go back to my high school self, I would tell myself to not waste time on the little things. Don't waste your time on parties, you should be studying. Don't waste money on unnecessary things such as clothes, instead you should be saving for college. Your senior year of high school should not be wasted. Take advantage of those AP courses (something I didn't do) because it will get you ahead and even save you money. Don't waste your brain knowledge the more you have to know, the more you hae to offer yourself as you go through college.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in highschool, I would tell myself to reach for my goals and to never give up. Even when it seems like school is hard and a social life and working is more important, it is possible to balance all of them efficiently. I would take attending college the first time around more seriously. I would tell myself that i have survived school for 13 years and that college will just be another 4 to 6 that I can get through with a little hard work and dedication.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I will tell myself to go to the school that you really want to go to. I feel like I let my family decide where I wanted to go for me. I do not think that they meant to do that, but my family pushed me into going to Marietta College. It was close to where my mother lived, who moved my junior year, and she really loved the idea of me living close to her. I chose to go there and ended up not feeling at home. If I could tell my senior self one thing, is to, for the first time in my life, make my own decisions and to pick what was best for me. I would tell myself to visit more colleges and get a feel for more campuses. If I would have done this, maybe I would not have transferred. Maybe I would have found my home at NKU sooner. I would also tell myself to enjoy my time in high school. I did not think I would miss it, but I do. I wish I would have enjoyed it more.

If i could talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to work harder and take classes more seriously. I feel that by taking this step I would be able to better prepare for my college career, and make wiser choices. I also feel that I would tell myself to take the ACT more seriously, and to take more pride in the work I submit to my instructors.

Keep your mind open to new experiences and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

The first lesson that college has taugh me is that no, going out with your friends is not nearly as important as applying for scholarships. Although you may feel that your entire extistence relies on attending this one party, there will be more of them, and most likely each one will be essentially the same. Unfortunately, the deadline for the scholarship is not nearly as forgiving as your classmates. You will now be forced to work five days a week to pay for your tuition. The second is that once you're out of highschool, no one cares what you did in highschool. It doesn't matter if you were prom queen or had to eat lunch by yourself everyday. The social hierarchy disappears and you realize that everyone has the same goals; make it to class on time, graduate, and hopefully have some fun along the way. The third is you are entirely responsible for yourself. No one is going to make you succeed. You have to want it and you have to work for it. You must be passionate and proactive. If you fail, you will only have yourself to blame.

Knowing what I know now I would have told myself to take a break from school before rushing back. I would warn myself how school is full time dedication and commitment and to make it through I would have to sacrifice working full time. The most important advice I would have gave myself is do not take on too many credit hours even when an advisor try to pressure it on you, it is up to YOU to take advisor advice you can tell them no.

I would tell myself to always look at things with the most postive outlook possible. Almost any problem you are having, be it academic or otherwise, can be fixed with a good attitude and a little bit of hard work. The transition into college can be rough at times, be it the rigid standards that some professors hold you to or the tough coursework, but in the end a positive outlook makes everything seem worth it. Keeping your goal in sight (in my case, medical school) and not letting go of it is also important. Even the toughest lab is worth it when you have perspective. To conclude this, the biggest thing I would tell high school me is to not give up- ever. The college transition can be an incredibly difficult one, but a good attitude; keeping sight of your goals; and a positive outlook all serve to make a what can be a rough transition a lot easier.

Pay attention, high school does matter despite all the advice you heard. Your friends? You'll stay friends, but be prepared to not share as many memories. You'll change - everything will change, and it will no doubt be hard for the first few times you go grocery shopping by yourself, or see the price of just merely renting a text book. But, even though it'll be hard, you CAN do it. Don't stay up as late, enjoy sporting events and please go to your prom. Make stories in high school that you can tell to your college friends, and make stories at college you can tell to your high school friends. Be yourself, because out of the hundreds of people you'll encounter a day, at least one will want to befriend you. Don't try and be someone else - highschool is known to change a person in that sense, but please believe me, my past self, when I say that who you are in highschool is irrelevant to the name you'll make for yourself at university.

I see you are nervous. It seems impossible to survive four more years sitting in classes! Instead, tasting uninhibited freedom and roaming the world is what entices you. You question how college can accomodate such a restless spirit. Those worries can be debunked! My first semester taught me the anthem of college is actually freedom to achieve fascinating opportunities. The road is open to fashion your learning environment into what you need. For instance, just take a walk to the study abroad office. I can now proudly inform you I will be studying abroad in South Korea this summer! I also see you are unsure about being noticed amidst the sea of undergraduates. My advice, simply be genuine. When you write papers, engage in conversations, and make decisions, do it with an honest interest and effort. In a very natural way, I found like-minded people because I fully engaged in my major's courses and clubs. It is there that I am met with a constant source of inspiration and support. Rest assured, you will find a million ways to celebrate your incredible new phase in life! In fact, college is just the beginning of a lifetime of adventure.

The advise I would give to my high school senior self is keep looking for scholarships. When I was a senior I was very lazy when it came to research. My mom would always scold me about searching for scholarships because she knew we didnt have the money to afford college. I was very slow about things being a senior; I was always procrastinating on it. The financial issues didn't really hit me till I went to freshman orientation at Northern Kentucky University. During one of the session the faculty talk about money and how much everything was going to cost. At that point I realize I messed up. Now that I finished my first semeter with a 3.5 GPA, I learned some valuable lessons. The lessons I learned throughout out my first sesmeter I would love to tell my high school senior self. For one, I would stress the fact of keep looking for scholarships to help pay for college. Two, I would tell myself to dont give up, keep pushing. Last but not least, I would tell my self tokeep praying, believing and always continue have faith. Miracles will come just in time.