Rivier University Top Questions

Don't let the judgemental atmosphere of high school discourage you from the mind opening oppurtunities of adult education. When I was in high school, I hated school because kids made it hard to feel normal, let alone successful. I was a D students and vowed I would never go to college. Just out of high school I landed a really good paying job. I found that I wanted to develop and grow in new the company. At age 30, I realized that in order to do that I would need some education. With much hesitation, I enrolled in a Supervisory Management Program. Before starting school, I had a chat with my mom. She earned her Nursing degree as an adult raising six children. I new if anyone had challanges with college it would be her. How does a person balance life, family, a full-time job and college? Her testimony inspired me to look beyond my insecurities and rise to the challange. It was the best thing I ever did. Adult education is so much better then high school. The students and the teachers are great! I have never felt more successful. My 4.0 GPA speaks for itself!

To be honest, I have always thought about going back in time to talk to my high school senior self. I wish I could go back and tell myself to work hard and strive for the best. I'm currently taking prerequisite classes to get into nursing. These classes are the same that I took while I was in running start trying to get my Associates Degree. I was too involved with my friends and socializing then actually studying and caring about school. I would tell myself, "The sooner you get it done the better." I could have been working as an RN from the time I was 22 years old. Now I'm 26, working on pre-nursing classes and will have another two years of the nursing program. By the time I'm 30 I would like to own my first home, have a great career, and start a family. Everything has been pushed back because my 18 year old self wasn't interested in school at the time. If I had a magic lamp, there is no doubt that I would talk to my 18 year old self.

You’re about to begin the most interesting journey You’ve ever had in your life There’ll be pressure and struggles, trials and troubles Plenty of good but plenty of strife And people you know may turn out to be enemies The road to success is not a perfect place You’ll be faced with decisions that stretch you to breaking But it’ll all be okay if you just keep your faith Don’t choose to be tempted, and run if you are So many situations put you to the test Choose as your friends those who bring out the best in you But never forget to be kind to the rest And when it comes to assignments, work as hard as you can It will all pay off in the end If you start on your homework as soon as you can You’ll do well and then still have time for your friends Yes, the workload is heavy, the pressure is hard But don’t let stress have the last say With every new obstacle of homework or peers Take a breather, relax, and then pray And everything somehow will turn out okay.

Make sure you learn time management and use it to the best of your ability. The transistion of work load and available time changes dramatically as you go from a senior in highschool to a freshman in college. It is a shock and can be very overwhelming at times if you do not learn how to properly manage your time. With good time management college students will be able to balance there class work and their social life much easier, with much less stress and alot more fun. It will allow you to get the good grades you want and still be able to go out with your friends. If you learn this skill early on your college experience with be much better and less stressful.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to my senior self about college life, I would defanitely give myself the advise to continue to work harder. College classes, professors, and assignments do not procrastinate. As someone who always used to procrastinate, I would tell myself to do the work as soon as I know what I have to do and to get as involved in the work as possible, and asking for help instead of pondering the assignments until the last minute to get it done. College is fast pased and there is no time for lazyness.

I would say don't be so nervous because college is great and yes it may be hard, but I know that I am more then capable of doing it.

Do not make assumptions and do not tie yourself down to any long-term career or relationship without first exploring all of the options available to you. It's not all about the money, but if your heart and mind aren't set on any particular school, try going to a community or other less-expensive college for a year or two while you figure things out. When you first enter college, join a variety of clubs and organizations. You don't have to stick with them all but try to find some passions and hobbies along the way. Even though GPA is important, it's not all about that either. When you graduate college your degree will represent a combination of all the classes, events, parties, sports, travel, and any other expierences you have along the way. Everyone in your class and major had to take a lot of the same classes, but it's what ELSE you did that sets YOU apart. Ask lots of questions. Always be present and interested in whatever you are currently doing. Always choose a new situation over an old, comfortable one... you will learn more that way.

Looking back at my high school years, I have realized that you need to work hard for what you plan to achieve, things do not always fall into your lap. I have always dreamed of becoming an Early Childhood educator my entire life, I thought it would be easier that it has. I went to Fitchburg State University for the first three years of college and am now enrolled at Rivier University for the fall. In high school I figured that just because I have always dreamed of becoming a teacher and helping to teach as many young children as I could, meant that it would happen no matter what. If I could go back, I would tell myself to keep my head up, continue to follow my dreams but continue to try my hardest and follow my heart. Look at more options, more schools, and avoid any negative feedback from others. Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

What’s up? It’s me your inner self “Big Mike” talking to you. As it stands our college future is in jeopardy. Been there, seen it. “High school baseball standout Mike Scanlon attends Manchester Community College; poor academic record keeps him from advancing to his college choice.” You play fall ball injured and get cut from the spring team because of unsatisfactory academic performance. Heartbroken, you transfer to Tunxis Community College closer to home and work full time to stay busy. You transfer again to Manchester Community College in the fall but school budget cuts include eliminating the baseball program. Let me give you a piece of advice. “Do what you do best, channel your passion for baseball, apply it in the classroom and challenge yourself academically.” This is a second chance, a huge break for a “DO OVER.” College is a great adventure, one that leads to an abundance of career opportunities and advancement over a lifetime. High school is a stepping stone, a journey that leads to the adventure. “Get it right this time.”

“A light at the end of a long and painful tunnel”; that is what I feel I am getting from my college experience. I went back to school late in life to change careers to nursing. After receiving an Associates degree, I worked full-time as an RN and part-time continued to work towards a Bachelors. I worked hard as a Medical-Surgical and then an ICU nurse. This type of nursing is very labor intensive. Just as I was finishing my Bachelors I sustained a devastating back injury, requiring three progressively more extensive surgeries. I was out of work for over eight months. At this point I have not been able to return to my previous position as an RN. I have decided that school will be my savior. I have been accepted into a Graduate program for Nurse Practitioners. Who knows, maybe this is how it was all supposed to happen. Years ago I wrote down “About the Tao”. On occasion I reread it to remind myself: “Let the world unfold without always attempting to figure it out…When expectations are shattered, practice allowing that to be the way it is….” And then go back to school.