Brittany
As a high school senior I was just ready to get out of my situation, but I wasn't preparing for the future in every way that I could. I am pretty happy with how I spent my time, but I could have benefitted from getting some experience in the work field. There are so many valuable lessons you gain from the responsibility of a job. I am a nanny now and I can't beleive how much I have grown as a person just because of my occupation. I am very appreciative of the funds I am now making but wish I had started back in high school. Even if it was just more effort put into scholarship applications. Also, I woud have tried to be more invovled in school. I was on leadership and a part of three choirs, but I had time to play sports and I could have done more in my surrounding community. I was heavily involved with my church, but there is never too much community and leadership that you can be invovled with.
Elizabeth
Choose not to stress about school work. If you instead invest the time and energy into being proactive and preparing assignments and studies before the deadline, in the long run you will be a happier, healthier, higher GPA student. Also Ignore the students who say they do best when at the last minute they have to stress and throw out a small time investment on an assignment. If you do the assignment before the deadline I guarantee you will receive a better grade, as well as be able to enjoy at least half of a night's sleep, without the stress headache.
College is a time when you learn to take care of yourself as a whole person. You realize your needs physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally and spiritually. Prioritize caring for yourself. You have value as a human being created in a loving God's image.
Last but quite important, enjoy this time. It is a season in life when you have the opportunity to learn knowledge you actually desire to learn. I believe I learned more academically my first semester of college than I did all 4 years of high school, becuase I desired this knowledge as a person.
Lindsey
Knowing what I know now about college life, I would tell my old high school self to first and for most, learn who you are. And once you know who you are, be yourself 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time and don't ever change.
So often we get wrapped up in everyday life and activities we forget to spend time with ourselves, and pamper ourselves every once in a while. It's so easy to lose sight of who you truly are. I would encourage my old self to not worry so much on the future because when we slow down we don't understand the process of what's happening and you're scared because you are proposed the question, "Who are you?" in which you cannot honestly answer.
"Do not conform to the patterns of this world..." a verse from the bible saying be you, be proud to be you, and don't try to be anyone else.
James
Have fun in college but always put your studies first.
traci
I would tell the younger me to take your SAT/ACT test even if you don't plan on going to college immediately. Also, enjoy your senior year, participate in all of the senior activities and last year of high school sports. I was too rushed to just finish high school and finished a semester early to keep a job. I missed everything that happened before graduation. So much, that my senior yearbook has not one signature because I wasn't there! Enjoy the memories, make memories, and don't be rushed to be an adult.
JayDena
Don't take that gap year, it turned into many because of your passion for people. Stay in school and stay focused on your goals. Don't worry about if there would be enough money for tuition: it is worth every dime borrowed. You are valuable enough and deserve the opportunity to do the things that you inspire you to learn how to give back to the world to make it a better place. Your thoughts and optinions are very valuable to society and really can make a difference. Keep the faith in yourself and your fellow human beings. Dreams become realities through hard work and perserveraince so keep dreaming because you have never been afraid of work and perserverance is like second nature to you. You have thrown more obsticles in your own way than any reality ever will and yours are overcomable. Therefore, your passion will pull you through anything you can think of as an obsticle and the world will be a better place with your degree because you can reach more people futher away, faster than without a degree.
Richele
I would tell myself to take school seriously. College is a lot different than high school. The classes are harder. Being a college athlete, I would tell myself to spend more time with professors on my school work that I have missed. Also, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to save money.
Natasha
If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior about college life and making the transition, the first thing I would tell myself is that it will take some time to get use to the change. I would tell myself that even though I will want to leave so badly and just go home the first few months things will get better. I would tell myself not to waste so much of my time crying over being so homesick. I would tell myself to go to the events offered, and to meet the people around you sooner rather than later. I would tell myself that everything will work out, and that I made the right college choice.
Tsedenya
College life is very intersting. It is the the important place where you can get good knowledge. In order to enter college, you have to do many things. You are expected to study hard. Besides this, you are also expected to adjust your studying as well as learning styles. This helps you to have good grades and satisfaction with your performance. The other important thing you have to consider is the management of time. After completing high school, you may be involved in some other jobs to meet your financial need. This may reduce your time for study; but if you have good schedule for both your education and job, it will not be as such hard. You have also think about the extracurricular activities. These activities play a great role in strengthning your skills in a variety of acadmic tasks. In addition, involving in voluntary and social works also prepare you for your future career and develops your knowledge well. I also advise you to find out your interests and talents. This makes your academic path very easy and you will not be confused in selecting your major. Finally, try to have good discipline and ethics.
Mackenzie
I would convince myself to save up my money. I wasn't careless with my money in high school, but I sure didn't save it, so by the time I started going to college, I had none. I had a great job as a waitress, but I never accepted the extra hours given to me because I wanted to hang out with friends I don't even talk to any more. I didn't work hard enough to earn money, and now I'm literally living off starbucks gift cards from Christmas. I would have urged and advised myself to spend money on the things you need at the moment, (which, considering I was living in my parents house and not having to pay for meals, I didn't really need anything other than gasoline for my car and books for school). Saving money isn't just a smart thing to do now, it's critical.
Leslie
Work hard during your first semester at a university. I know it's tempting to slack off, and community college will be easy for you, but for goodness sake don't slack off. Your G.P.A. will suffer if you do. Also, make friends, college is an experience, a time to bond and share interests with those like you. You're lucky enough to be going to a God centered place, thrive in that environment . Get involved, join Choralons, join Drama team, do something and make memories.
Janie
Dear Self,
Don't worry - college is so much better than high school. You can forget about the drama, cliques, and chaos (for the most part, at least!). But college won't be easy. You'll have to work hard, read a lot, and use your brain in new ways. Studying isn't all you'll be doing, though. You'll make new friends and have a lot of fun. You'll be busy, but don't get too caught up in the daily grind to miss out on the little things that make college life worth remembering--the dorm floor parties, the late-night board games, the inside jokes, the movie nights. Four years in college might sound like a lifetime now, but you'll be surprised how fast it flies by. Enjoy it while you can, before you have to enter the mysterious corporate jungles of the "real world"!
Jimmie
I have wondered about this question several times. I took a twenty five year break between high school and collage. I would try and get the point across to my high school self that in order to get a well paying job, you need to start and finish collage now. The other point that goes with the urgencey of now, is you are single right now coming out of high school you do not have any major responsibilities, i.e. family ( wife and three kids as I do now). If collage can be done right now after high school you could have it all done in four years what has taken me almost eight years when I finially graduate. One last note to high school self, the joy of having a family is spending time with them and watching them grow, not doing home work every waking moment so please consider going to collage now and not later.
Tiffany
I would tell myself to study hard and get into a more structured role and practice discipline since there is no one to guide you through college. Also, think about what you want to do now so when you get to college you will already know but keeping in mind its ok to change that goal. Also college is about location so go somewhere you really want to go to get the full experience. I would have told myself to look into scholarships of all sorts before leaving. Warn myself about g.p.a's and how important they really are to succeeding. I would have also told myself to start saving for educational expenses as well personal experiences. I would also stress the importance of being prepared, finishing task and being much more serious.
Moses
Go to school for general education requirements. Once you decide your major, you have the credits that can be applied.
LANISHA
The most important thing a student can do when making the transition to college life from high school, is to build and maintain a strong support system. I had a very difficult journey post high school graduation. It meant the world to me to have strong relationships with my family and friends. When the class loads seemed overwhelming, they were able to teach me ways to become more organized. Advice came mostly from those who were with me during my high school years but may not have taken as seriously as i should have.
Alicia
While academic success is extremely important, it is only important if there is a purpose behind it. I would advise myself to explore and experiment with learning about different areas of study in order to have a wider understanding of the people in this world. While doing so, do not get caught up in striving for achievement for achievement’s sake. What good is an award or a high GPA if you did not apply that knowledge or experience in your own life or use it to impact the lives of others? Experience, learn, and grow as much as you can, but always do so with a purpose.
Do not be afraid to be different. Challenge the “normal” ideas and modes of operation respectfully. Differences in thought and idea spark creativity and encourage cooperation. People who are different from you have a lot to teach you and you have a lot to teach them. Love them and love yourself for who you are. The opportunity to attend college is an incredible privilege that most people in the world do not get to have. Use this opportunity to bless and serve others.
caitlin
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that college is a lot more challenging intellectually as well as emotionally, and I would take more honors classes. I would tell myself that worrying about being popular is a waste of time because in college, everyone is friends, it doesn't matter which group one is in. I would tell myself to save my money because in college books are not just handed to us like they are in english classes in high school, we actually have to pay a lot to get them. College has taught me to look outside my own surroundings, and broaden my scope to others around me, and offer a helping hand to those in need. I wish I could have told myself in high school that the world is a bigger place than my group of friends, and going to the mall every friday.
Meagan
A college education is about more than just academics, it's an experience. True, academics is the main part, but it’s also about the other little things that you go through that make it all come together. Things like friends, lessons learned, mistakes made, and finding out who you are make college what it is. College is different than high school, because you’re taken out of your comfort zone and thrust into an unknown environment. It is in this new and dangerous place that your limits are tested. My first year away from home, I have struggled with fear of the unknown, loneliness, stress, and sleep deprivation due to poor time management. But through the trials and stupid mistakes, I have grown stronger, in what I can do and in my faith. I have met friends that will get me through anything and I have found wisdom that will last a lifetime. My college experience has not only made me a more educated student, but has also made me a better person. This is why I would not go back to tell my high school self anything, because it is through trial and error that college is experienced.
Brittany
Some things I've gotten out of my college experience include, relationships, adademic and social skills, education about different cultures and our society, and leadership skills.
Northwest University works hard to fight Human Trafficking. The faculty is very supportive of student groups. This school has let me direct a program called Embargo that fights Human Trafficking. NU lets us to many findraisers. Last semester we sent over 6K to a safe home for trafficking victims! Through this I've learned how to keep my studies in tact while doing this program, as well as keep an off campus job! Also, there are many on and off campus internships availible for students from NU. Since I've started at NU, I've had an internship at World Concern and I still continue to work with them on projects. Also, leading Embargo will have given me 2 years in internships when I graduate.
There are also many great study abroud oppurtinities availible at NU which I am thinking about taking advantage off, although my major has let me chose Urban Studies as my concentration so I do not have to study abroud if I chose not to!