Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Top Questions

You're going to miss home and everything that goes with it like crazy. Those first few weeks are going to be brutal and homesickness will start to feel like it is not ever leaving. Take this as fuel for your fire though instead of letting it burn you out. Knowing you are blessed enough to have something to miss and go back to is a wonderful thing to have! Understand that you are exactly where you need to be and those rough nights and harder days are preparing you and strengthening you for a life you are carving out for yourself...something GREAT! Enjoy where you are at NOW instead of constantly looking ahead to the future. This season of your life is not going to last forever, so better to make it count and enjoy its uniqueness, than to look back with regret on what you missed out on. Don't forget to smile and step out of your comfort zone....adventure and opportunities never come from the contentment of what you have always known or feel comfortable with. More than anything, stick to your faith and never be afraid to hold constant and true to your values.

If I was going back in time to advise my high school self I would definetly emphasise the importance of becoming involved on campus. From my experience these past three years it has proven that the connections made at school are the key to a happy and healthy time at college. I think that getting involved and maintaining relationships are something that evert student should pursue.

I would for sure tell me to look more into the cost and what is all involved in going to college. There is so much more than what is involved in high school. You are pretty much on your own. You have to work while you go to school to support yourself. I would also convince me to take more college level classes in high school to prepare me for when I start college. Alot of the advise that teachers and coaches gave me I didnt really process it like i should have. Looking back now it would have been smart to listen to them and follow what they said.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself is don't be afraid to adjust to the college lifestyle and be ready to work. If I had known that adjusting to the college lifestyle was the key to prospering then I would have done it way sooner. To adjust to college the key thing is to get involved and meet new people when everybody is floating in the same boat. Networking is one of the major things that will help students get connections when they are ready to get a job. Next, homework is the main thing that every student will need to do besides going to class. Being ready to adjust to the method of college homework is very important. Developing new studying habits and making friends that will help you succeed in class is the best way to do well in classes. Also, remember why we go to college. We go to get a better education and to prosper in life. At the time all of the stress and sleep depreivation doesn't seem worth it, but in the long run it will be.

“We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests.” This quote by Sheryl Sandberg adequately describes a lesson so many have looked to overcome throughout their lives. Stereotypes ruled my world in high school. Being involved in many clubs and activities and maintaining a 4.0 GPA were only some of the hardships I encountered. I was also “the poor girl”. Even though my father makes a very cushy living, my parents have always taught me to earn what I receive. My first job was at age 11 and I have had 4 other places of employment since then. I always struggled with balancing how people looked at me because of the car I drove and clothes I wore and spending my money on more important things. I learned my first semester at college when all my friends were taking out loans and I paid my bill in full from my bank account that “the poor girl” had only motivated me to break out and accomplish more from hard work and perseverance.

The advice I would give my high school self is definitely to plan ahead. I learned quickly that due dates and deadlines are much, much closer than they appear. I would tell myself to write down all deadlines and due dates in multiple places, such as a planner, calendar, and even sticky note reminders when the deadline is approaching. I discovered quickly that waiting until the last couple of days, while exhilerating, is also exhausting, and more stress than it is worth. I learned that carefully planning my days allowed me to maximize my time with efficiency.

Do not take freebies for granted. If I could go back in time and give advice to myself as a senior in high school, I would ensure that I absolutely did not take the free help offered by parents, teachers, counselors, etc. for granted. Now that I am attending an out of state college and paying for all expenses on my own, I wish I would have been more grateful for and mindful of the help that I was offered in high school. Not necessarily financially speaking, I have always been a very independent person - I grew up doing everything that I could on my own for I was not offered much help from my parents. Without their support, I have always vowed to do things for myself to prove my abilities and show that I could successfully do things on my own. After my first semester of college, doing everything alone has proved to be more than difficult, and now there aren't necessarily other adults for me to lean on for help like there were in high school. Since coming to college, I learned that it's okay to ask for help from time to time.

Rhandi, college is not what all of those teachers make it out to be so don't stress out about it too much. But make sure you do more in highschool. Join more clubs, study more than what you did and be more involved in your community. Sure, you may be a bit of an introvert, but put yourself out there and make sure your name is out there. That way when you get to college, you wont be that awkward kid. Those kids are nicer than you would think. Those kids can be in your study group and help you get through those nasty midterms. But don't be afraid of doing things on your own. You will be eating, shopping and studying alone. It isn't the end of the world and sometimes it is refreshing to be by yourself. Last of all, just calm down and have some fun. Make sure this summer is the best you ever had and actually look forward to being on your own. It'll be more fun than you could ever imagine. These will be the best years of your life!

the best advise i would give myself, would had being to had apply to OSU sooner than later to achieve more financial help.

Going back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I would suggest to study. Studying is a big aspect of college life. When teachers say, "all you do in college is read", they are not lying. I would tell myself to get rid of all your dress up clothes and shoes and invest in a mountain of athletic shorts and t shirts because it is all you will want to wear and all anyone else around is wearing. Watching netflix tv shows until two in the morning is not going to get you very far, even if it did in high school. I would tell myself to get scholarships as soon as possible. I do not think you realize how much college really is until you have a pile of bills staring you down in the face. I would tell myself to leave the high school boyfriend behind and just enjoy the new experiences coming down the line. Get out and have fun and get involved. You have so many new opportunities awating.