Pepperdine University Top Questions

I would go back in time to tell my high school senior self to believe in herself. There is so much uncertainty when planning your future and applying for college that it is easy to lose your spirit and stop believing that you have what it takes to enter the big world. My dreams were, and continue to be, big and it is difficult to maintain the strength to reach for them. It is so much easier to settle for a choice that you know you are good enough for. I applied to a half dozen colleges, some of which were the easy choice. Then there was Pepperdine where applying to it was like extending my heart to them. I felt so vulnerable knowing that if I did not get in, my heart would break. But I did get in and by putting my heart into it, it turned out to be the best decision of my life. I would tell my high school self to keep reaching beyond what is easy. That is where true success lies.

If i could go back in time as a high school senior i would tell myself many things. Applying for scholarships is very important in order to pay your education because school is not free anymore. After high school you step into the real world where you either make it or fail. Failing is not an option after being in school for 12 plus years. Every financial aid aviable should be tooken advantage of. A constant reminder of how my parents came into the United States would keep pushing me to become some thing in life. Knowing how poor we were when i was little, every struggle there was, and my parents giving me everything possible to pursue my education. Furthermore the college life is not something to joke about, it can be very stressful but as long as you present yourself every day and turn in all assignments on time everything will be okay. Entering college means not depending on anyone anymore, they will not be the ones to give you your degree. You will learn to be independent, as well as many other things.

Dear high school self, You made it! Everything you ever worked for is finally here. You're attending a great academic, private school that has your religious mindset! But, I want to warn you. THIS IS NOT HIGH SCHOOL. You have to work a little harder and push yourself a little further. You'll have times where you fail, badly. It's ok because you'll have times where you succeed to balance it out. Don't give up, the best has yet to come. One important tip: make the most of your situation. Even though you may not have much, take advantage of the opportunities given to you! Establish a relationship with your professors, attend as many on campus events as you can, and stay true to who you are and who you want to be. Most importantly, remember to stay grateful for the opportunity you're presented with. It doesn't come to just anyone, so rejoice on how far you've come and anticipate how far you'll go! Much Love, You

If I was given an opportunity to go back in time and give myself advice on the college life as an high school senior I would tell myself to go and enroll in college right after I graduated high school in May of 1997. If I would have gone to college right after I graduated high school I would have been so much further in my college education that I am now. At the age of 32 years old and also a single mother of an 10 year old daughter, which she is in the 5th grade knowing what I know now about beening in college as a full-time student would have been so much easier if I would have went to college right after I graduate high school. I have been school for 16 years and so I decided to make an huge transition in August of 2011 by going to Columbia State Community College , which has been hard for me but I am making it work for me and my daughter. It was the best decision I have ever made for myself and for my daughter because in the end all this hard work will pay off.

Memorandum To: Karen Purves From: The Future Fairy Re: college Date: June 1985 Karen, Your Future Fairy Has Arrived! Congratulations, Karen! You’ve been touched by the Future Fairy, a very rare and highly esteemed Fairy. Of all the fairies in Fairyland, the unique Future Fairy has special wisdom from your future self. It’s like “Back to the Future” only better! The Future Fairy knows you’re stressed over what university to select, your major, and making sure you don’t disappoint your parents. Should you pick Pepperdine? Should you pick USC, where you have a scholarship, but your parents are afraid you’ll be the victim of a crime? Should you major in Business, something “practical” like your dad says, or major in Biology, which is what you really want? The Future Fairy can reassure you: you can’t make a bad decision. The truth is: it really doesn’t matter. What matters: stand up for yourself and follow your heart. With your drive, passion and persistence, you will succeed. Your character matters more than your school and the most important thing is be true to who you are so your gifts can be given to the world.

Always take the advise that your teachers and counselors in high school give you prior to becoming a high school senior about selection of your courses. Work hard to obtain the highest grade point average you can get and become involved in programs that will prepare you for the SAT and ACT testing process. These are very important testing processes that will align you with scholarships to pay for your continuing education as well allowing you to have choices of colleges and universities to select from. I learned that it is good to have a selection of colleges to chose from in order to prepare you for your future and to be in the learning environment that is stress free.

If I were to visit my high school self, I would tell her three things. First, I would make sure she got all of her work done before she went out to have fun. It was a little tough to balance work and play first semester because of all the exciting things happening around me! It makes your experiences so much more enjoyable if you don't have that sociology homework looming in the back of your mind as you go to the beach. Secondly, I would tell her not to worry about leaving her family. Pepperdine is such a wonderful placed filled with people that are able to help ease the homesickness. You make so many bonds with your suitemates and other friends that need to be cherished. Last but not least, I would tell her that high school is nothing in comparison to how awesome college is-this is where you make your lifelong friends and make the best of memories! High school is just a blip on the map; college is the real deal!

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would say, "Figure out what you are passionate about, and begin developing and pursuing those passions now!" It is so important in your education to LOVE what you do, and that is something I have learned as a college student. I get excited when registering for classes in my major, and often I wish I could take more classes than realistically is humanly possible. A student should never feel like he or she is stuck in their major - those classes should be exciting because that student should be passionate about them. If a student can figure out what they want to study during high school, the student can begin to develop the skills necessary for that major, begin to research or understand that field of study in more detail, and be more intentional with his/her extracurricular activities or classes in high school.

If I could go back in time to when I was a high school senior I would tell myself to learn more about who I am. I would want to find out more about myself. My likes and dislikes. This way when I started college, I wouldn’t have wasted most of my time taking random classes to figure out what I wanted to major in. Another thing I would advise is to carry out more volunteer work, practically all different kinds. This would have helped me learn more about myself if I would have accomplished this sooner. I would also tell myself to enjoy being young. To hang out with my friends, attend football games, participate in sports.

You don't have to have everything all figured out before you get to college, so stop stressing out. You will grow so much in your first year, and you might even change your political or religious views, your major, or your lifestyle. Give yourself enough freedom to explore new things and get to know new types of people, and don't be afraid of change; that's what college is all about! At the same time, decide now what is really important to you, and hold on to those things next year. Get involved in campus life, but also make sure you take your studies seriously, because they will require more work than high school classes did. My best piece of advice is to trying to enjoy your last year in high school instead of trying to figure out exactly what your future looks like, because you only get to be a high school senior once! Take advantage of every moment you get with your family and friends, because even though they will still be there for you once you're at college, you will be spending a lot of time pouring into new relationships, and that's okay.