Northern Virginia Community College Top Questions

Dear me, please look deeply into your soul, and think about what you REALLY want to do. I know it gets cloudy in there, lots of emotions and no idea what they really mean or where they are coming from.I know it 's hard, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS. Think only about what you want, and how far you are really willing to go to get it. This may mean putting work in, in a non-traditionally way. You may have to pave your own path, but you need to make decisions that you can be accountable for. You should definitely start at NVCC, but take it seriously. Pick classes you want to take, that you find interesting, and mix them in with classes that are required and you don't want to take. Make friends, because it's a commuter college, you'll have a diverse pool to pick from. Don't ever doubt yourself, because only you are in charge of your life, and only you can decide where you take it. Work, but do not get distracted from school. Join as many activities as you can, experience as much as you can. Ready...GO!

I would tell myself to pay attention and study more. Beyond that I have not found much useful information to pass on to my high school self.

Talk to academic advisors as much as you can to make sure you are staying on track to getting your degree. Ask as many questions as you want to in the classroom, you are paying them to teach you, if you aren't learning (and you are really trying) then you need to ask the appropriate questions to get you were you need to be. MOST IMPORTANTLY, follow your dreams! Do not let anything slow you down, otherwise you will regret not following the path you wanted to later on in life. Lastly, do not underestimate the challenge of community college you GPA will always follow you, work for it and really apply yourself.

Going back in time, I wish that I could tell my self one thing. Be more prepared. Be more prepared to buckle down and study hard so that you can succeed. College is not a walk in the park, it isn't highschool. This is college! Transitioning from high school is not easy. You have to worry about so much more than just school and sports. You have to learn how to do everything on your own without your parents. So, if I was to go back in time and tell my high school senior self something I would tell them this: learn how to set goals and make plans for success. Always evaluate yourself and move forward.

Knowing what I know now about making the transition from high school to college life, I would tell my high school self to enjoy having everything done for you; that would be the main difference between high school and college for me. There were constant reminders of when assignments were due, constant encouragement to do homework, etc. However, college is a compeltely different story. No one is there to remind you of when you need to turn things in, it's all on you to remember. The professors don't care if you come to class or not, it's your own responsibility to want to be there because it doesn't phase them either way. For example in high school, there were a plethora of inventives for students to come to school and keep absences at a minimum. But in college if you don't show up to class, you can easily fall behind and fail, it's just that simple. Your parents aren't forcing you to go, it's totally up to you whether or not you go, whether or not you pass your classes. You really get a taste of the real world.

High School Clair, Almost 8 years have gone by since you graduated, and a lot has happened since then. Let me begin by telling you that your post-graduation plan, or lack thereof, isn't going to work. I know that you think you're not cut out for college. I know that you feel a sense of responsibility for Mom and for Neil, but the truth is that they'll be fine. You don't need to leave home in order to go to school. Community college is a great idea for you. You'll be able to take care of Mom and be a buffer for Neil while taking classes and working your way toward becoming a teacher. There are a lot of jobs that you can get without a degree, and if you don't act on college you'll get those jobs, but you won't be happy. 8 years will go by, you'll lose Mom, Neil will go live with his father, and you'll realize that you have nobody to live your life for but yourself and you wasted a lot of time. Don't start late. Go to school. Always, Future You

Don't stress. Think about what you want. Think about what you need to do in order to get what you want. What do you want to achieve? It's not about what other people want for you or what they deem success to be. Create short term goals and prepare yourself each day for what is to come. Continue your education proving to others you have what it takes to be great and maintain a certain confidence. Do not allow circumstances or people to get in your way. You have the power to make the ultimate decision and you will have the strength to endure the consequences that will follow. It sounds simple but it will not be easy. Work with the resources you have and the skills and talents you have been blessed with. Grab every oppertunity that comes your way. The only fear you should have is the regret that comes from the lack of courage and hard work. Dream big and do big things. Just breathe. Find hope. You'll get there.

If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and give my self advice, I would emphasize the importance of school. Throughout my senior year I got decent grades, but I could have gotten straight A's with a little more effort. I would advise myself to rest more often and focus on the importance of being the best version of myself. For two of my classes, I would advise myself to get the help I needed. The best advice I could give myself would be to embrace who I am, the year ahead of me, and the opportunity to learn. This advice would help me to remember that school, although not always fun, is important and does effect the years to come.

I know you're worried about school, but you don't worry, you'll be just fine I'm going to give you some pointers. I know that you're scared, I mean you're 17 and didn't get into a 4-year school, but that's okay, financially NOVA's a brilliant decision. You don't have to be ashamed about going to NOVA, it's a good school that will provide you w/ a multitude of opportunities. Applying to NOVA is virtually painless so don't worry about getting in. One thing to keep in mind is to actually set up a meeting w/ your 1st year advisor to determine your major--you’ll change it but you'll like the new major better. The best advice I can give you is to work hard but know when to put the pen down and relax more. You're going to be a great student so take a breath and go out w/ your friends. Also, you can be yourself, no one cares that you're bisexual it's not a big deal. Live your life, work hard, make friends, and be yourself. You'll be fine.

Don't let the people tease you about going to community college first. It doesn't make you stupid, in fact, they're going to be telling you how they wish they had done so as well. You will save thousands, and that is a huge deal! Don't go to crazy with your new found freedom. You're not out of the woods yet! Learn how to budget your time and money EFFECTIVELY. It's not the most glamorous aspect of college life, but I promise you it will help you get through it with less pain. Pleasem just work hard, and focus on school. The most importatnt thing is that you learn and thrive.

I would tell myself to finish up strong in high school, go to college and don't let anything get in your way. Not money, career, relationships, nothing!! Get your degree, once you have it, no one can take that away from you and you won't spend the next 32 years of your life explaining why you didn't get your degree. It should be the automatic next step in your life after high school. Bite the bullet, get it done, you won't regret it.

I'm currently going back to community college for some extra classes to qualify for a graduate program and have already earned a bachelor's degree from a four-year college. The best thing I could have told my high school self about college is learn how to manage time now. Time management is vital to success in college. When roommates and friends are having fun and skipping class, remind yourself this fun event will only last a short time and getting the work done now means you can have fun later. Long term success comes with winning the short term battles. Have fun but work hard first. Also, sleep is crucial to do well in class. An all-nighter is never a good idea especially during finals week. You'll feel better and perform better on your test if you get adequate sleep. These were skills that I eventually learned in my undergraduate career and am currently applying in community college. My grades have never been better and I attribute the success to diligent time and sleep management.

There are some things about life you can only figure out through experience. If i had the ability to speak to high school me, I am sure I would assure myself about one thing. As a senior I was worried about many things a typical high schooler would not have on their mind. I was worried that, despite my good academic standing I would not be continuing my education. My single mother of five beautiful girls, could not afford to take on the burden of the cost of college. Although I was devastated, I did not blame anyone for my situation and decided to make the best of it. I would go back in time and tell myself that there are options out there. College is not only for the wealthy. I would emphasize the benefits of a community college and tell myself that my dream of becoming a doctor is achievable. I would also explain to myself that the transition to college level classes are not as difficult as one might perceive. There are many people around campus there to help you and make your life easier.

Everything has a drawback. If it had already happened, it must have had some reasons behind it.

Every year, every day, every moment of our lives counts. If I could go back to when I was in high school, I would tell myself this over and over again. One of the most important lessons I have learned from my college experience thus far is that every day of your life is a gift. Time is precious; we can never get it back. I have so often underestimated this gift. Now I realize, that if we have a goal in mind, we should sieze the opportunity now. Now is the time. Even if we feel like we have not even made a dent at the long time goal, we have made progress. I often used to shy away from striving for goals because I thought my efforts would be in vain. Oh, how I wish I could go back and sieze every moment that I thought I could not do it. Instead of wasting those moments, I would turn them into positive ones of perseverence. Now I know, and now I will live by this: sieze every day and live it as if it were my last. The very first step to succeeding is deciding to try.

If I could go back to my senior year in high school, I would strongly advise myself to take more classes and get more involved in clubs in the arts program. I would say "Stop being so shy and put yourself out there! Talk to people who are in the industry you are interested in and get their advice. Time goes by so very fast. Focus more on your studies and participate more in outside activities. And above all listen to your parents. They understand more than you think and things are not as different in your day as it was in theirs. Except for the social media aspect that is. They know the pitfalls out there and the things you can learn from their experiences are endless. Their advice is invaluable. And last but not least, find confidence within yourself and be happy with you. Don't look to your peers and classmates for validation that you are a valuable, capable and talented person."

Dear Jazmyn This is my letter of advice to you about college life. Jazmyn earn your education while it’s free, because there will come a point when nothing is free. You are still in high school so you are probably not thinking about college expenses. Studying is the key to your success. Step up your study habits, because once you enter college it’s a serious necessity in order to pass. Secure a job and start saving, so you won’t have to take out loans. Do not procrastinate , assignment deadlines come up quickly, it’s better to work on projects and essays in advance. When you start college don’t be afraid to join different student groups and organizations, but don’t put your GPA at risk by getting involved in too many activities. Time management is key! Most importantly, HAVE FUN. This is a major milestone in your life, so make the most of it. Make memories to tell your friends and family. Your ultimate goal in college is to earn an education and prepare for your career. Don’t let anyone stray you away. Jazmyn put God first in everything you do. love you!!!!

After completing high school, many things changed for me. I assumed that after graduation, it was all fun and games. I didn't quite understand the meaning of 'Kicking it into high gear', or 'The sky is the limit'. Like most of my peers, I began attending college in the Fall of 2008; however, I had other priorities that eventually took my full attention. In the Spring of 2009, I began working at a small town cafe. This was my first job out of high school and I was promoted to supervisor within a year. My job quickly took top priority over my schooling and I began working full time. Although I placed my education temporarily on hold, I continued to experience on the job training which made me realize the importance of obtaining my degree for further advancement in my field of interest. Knowing what I know now, I would tell my high school self that I must surround myself with people with the same drive, goals, and priorities as myself. I would also tell myself that everyday is a learning lesson and there will always be more goals to be achieved

If i could go back in time and talk to myself in high school, i would tell myself to apply to more schools! i wish i had the opportunity to tour and attend other colleges!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is important and more than worth it. In high school I did not see the need for college. I took three years off after graduating. I would tell myself that dreams are important. Without them we can become depressed, feeling like we are on a hamster wheel - going around and around everyday without seeing a point to our lives. This is not really living. It is important to believe in yourself and pursue your passions. Do not get stuck in that rut! You can do whatever you put your mind to - just give it your all. It may be scary to enter new situations without knowing the outcome, but with great risk comes great rewards. Following your passion is a reward in and of itself.