Portland Community College Top Questions

Good morning, it is the first day of your senior year and I have much to tell you. Although college is still a year away, to fully prepare yourself, you must start planning as of now. When you feel you can't study anymore, that you have no more space for the information, that your fingers may get paralyzed if you write one more essay, keep going. You have slipped into the ordinary continuance of high school life. You have grown so accustomed to this life that you may not have realized that senior year is merely your last breathe as a high school student. In just a year you will be beginning something entirely new. When attending college you will get to know many more people as well as learning a vast more variety of subjects. Through college you will discover what intrigues you, what drives you, possibly what bores you, but most importantly you will discover who you are. Although the transition may be quite difficult, being as you have never left home before, the rewards will be worth it. While in college you will obtain the tools to make yourself into whatever you dream to be.

Enjoy your last year of High school. As much as you think you want to get out of the old rutine life you have now, you'll look back and remember how easy it was. College will be a blast, but make sure you are ready and have everything set up. This means, Scholorships, FAFSA, and applications turned in at the easliest dates! Get it done now and you wont regret it later.

For as long as I can remember, I was terrified of the idea of going to college and having to take care of myself for the most part: accepting more responsibilities, doing my own laundry and having no one to hound me about homework. Once I found my dream college, I was ready to try new things and have new experiences, even if it meant doing some of the things I had been scared about. Halfway through my senior year of high school, I made the mental transition to a college student by just being open to new opportunities and not letting myself get scared of anything just because it looked foreboding from far away. The main piece of advice I would offer my high-school self is just don't worry because college is a time of self-awakening, the stretching of mental fibrils to the furthest reaches of the imagination, and honestly, to have fun. As long as you always try your best, everything that was meant to happen will work itself out.

I would have told myself that opportunities present themselves at the most inconvenient times. Omens can be the most miniscule things, but knowing what you want is more important then what you are willing to limit yourself. After I found out about my program getting cancelled, I should have return to high school. Keeping my College grades, but allowing time to apply to the ivy league school, which I dreamed to attend. I would say to remember that life gets in the way sometimes, but don't be afraid to live if it means missing one study session, class, or term. Its better to take a break then to get burnt out. Experience living in a dorm, and go to prom at least once. Get involved sooner with groups around you. Finally, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF ACTING YOUR AGE.

If I can go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to file fincial aid earlier and look for more scholarships. Another thing I would tell myself is that I should go check out other college and their programs. I would let tell myself to apply to at least 4 different colleges. The most important thing I would tell myself is that I must finish and complete every single application and when I get into a college, make sure to register for classes so I won;t be on the waitlist. Therefore, these are the advices I would give myself if I could go back in time.

As I graduated in 1991, it is now some time passed that I was a senior in high school. Looking back, I can only wish that I had paid more attention, and taken the schooling more seriously. Actually, throughout my senior year, I was taking part in the open enrollment program where I was attending a community college, and gaining both high school and college credits. Yet instead of using this opportunity to my advantage, I took advantage of it, and the freedoms it offered me. Perhaps it took me twenty years to reach the maturity level that I am at where I have a yearning to learn. I do know that had I been more serious with my studies in high school that I would not only have saved myself time and money, but also that "lack of confidence" feeling that comes when you have forgotten that which has been given you.

If I could go back in time and tell myself about college life, I would tell myself to enjoy senior year a lot more. I would enjoy the walks down the halls, the bells chiming and warning us that we are late for class, and enjoy the slow pace at which students take to get to class. College atmosphere is very different, students are rushing to go to class & classes move at a fast pace. I assume this is because education is no longer free and hundreds of dollars are being spent for an education. So if I could go back in time I would tell myself to enjoy (responsibly), my last year as a high school student and leisurely make the transition to an adult in college.

I know it doesn't seem important right now, but pay attention in class. Some of those things you're tuning out because you don't think you'll ever need them again, you will. Retaking the classes you didn't think were important is expensive. When you can't find the answers you're looking for, keep looking, keep asking questions until you find the answers you need. Oh, and even though your family drives you nuts, their support will be a huge help. Study hard and know it really is all worth it.

Please, go to college now. Don't wait until your 30. If you think it's hard now it will be even harder when your older and you have kids. Pick something you love to do. Pick something that inspires you and makes you a better person. Don't give up on yourself. Most important, do what you love and don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it.

If I were to go back and give myself advice about what was to come I would definitely say "don't be scared about the difficulty of college classes", and "take a large variety of classes from the start to try to figure out what you want to major in". My biggest problem has been choosing a major, and had I taken more classes outside of my comfort zone I may have figured it out earlier! I think that everyone has a general idea of what it is they want to major in when starting college, but then they take however many classes pertaining to the major and end up changing what they want to do anyways. By taking more classes at first it will either strengthen your first choice or make you realize you like something else a lot better.