Roanoke College Top Questions

Dear High School Self, Knowing what I know now at the end of my freshman year of college I have a lot to tell you. No matter how prepared you think you are for college you are never prepared. High school tries to prepare you but in reality it is all up to you to prepare for college life. Number one, if you are a failing a class or think it is over whelming do not be afraid to drop it, you are not a failure for dropping it! Learn studying skills before you go to college; it will help you when you have your first big exam and have no idea on how to start to study for it. Whatever you do, stop your procrastinating habits before you enter college for they will only harm you in the end. And most importantly do not be afraid to try things you never thought about trying before, whether its joining a sports team or a club. Take heed to my advice. Love, future college self!

If I could go back in time and speak to my high school self I would tell myself to prepare for the real world. Being in college gives you a new sense of responsibility. Be prepared for more homework and having your mind learn things you never even knew existed. Also to try your best at being social because having at least one friend on a campus like this makes all the difference.

The hardest part about college is being able to afford tuition and college expenses. With that said, do not let your decision be based purely on Money. Although money is tight, and at times it will seem almost impossible to be able to afford. If you let money dictate what you do in life you will never be happy. College is about more that your GPA, no matter what any one tells you, although it is very important it is not the only thing that matters. Growing and becoming an adult is what college is about. Learning not only academically but also socially. You will meet people from all walks of life, by learning about there experiences and how they grew up and where they are from you will gain a better understanding of life. Just because you grew up in Chicago doesnt mean every one has the same view and ideals as you. By surrounding yourself with people who come from different walks of life. You will become a more well rounded person.

Apply early, apply local and for public schools. Also I would tell myself to visit the campuses of the schools. And maybe also take summer courses at some institutions.

If I could go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, I would ensure that I learned how to study properly and developed a great work ethic in academics before college, including avoiding procrastination. Now that I am a senior in college, I realize how much time management and organization play into succeeding in college. A good work ethic is the most valuable thing a person can have when attending college.

Dear Self, I know right now you're stressed out. You are ready to graduate and get the hell out of high school. You're thinking to yourself, "This doesn't matter anymore. In a few months I'll be walking across that stage and then going off to college to start some more boring courses and get a degree." However, you couldn't be any more wrong. Why? Well, The school you CHOSE was no public highschool. You CHOSE a place of HIGHER education - a school that encourages you to do your best, to step OUT of your comfort zone. A school that holds your heart - Roanoke College. Self, what you need to know about college is that it is NOT full of ingreatful students who do nothing but sleep through a class and earn an "A++." You chose a school where you have to study your ASS off just to get a C. What you will realize when you get here is how good it feels to succeed, and how MOTIVATING it is to fail. So self, don't say that high school doesn't matter, because without it, you wouldn't be where I am today. -You

I would tell my self to make the most of high school. To find a balance between studies and friends. Also I would tell mysel to start the scholarship search early. There are so many scholarships available to high school juniors that I was not aware of.

Never let anything get you down. You are strong enough to take on the world. You're not alone. There are people out there who want to help you succeed. You applied to colleges alone, you got accepted, the world isn't ending, it's begining. You're about to start a new life in a new place with new people, you can start over, or you can let the past make you stronger. You don't have to take on the world alone. College will be great, you'll make friends there, you'll take the classes you want, you'll start your own life where you can make everything work. When it feels like the world around you, the changes that you need to face, are sufficating you, that will make you stronger, don't let it bring you down when the pressure comes. You will learn to be independent but that doesn't mean that you're alone, you can lean on people, your friends, your family, to help hold you up when you feel as if the world around you is crashing. You made it to college, you did it on your own, now keep going.

Looking back at my college life and what I thought it would be like when I was in high school there are a couple things that I would want to warn myself of. The first, be confident in yourself and what you do. Don't feel like you need to change who you are to be liked by others. You will be able to find your own group on campus and fit in without changing yourself. The second thing would be peer pressure and believing in yourself enough to know that you don't need to do anything you don't want to do. Lastly, I would tell myself to have more fun. You worry too much about getting good grades so that you will have a better future with graduate school and although that is important, you have to explore, go on random adventures with friends, take advantage of things you may only have a chance to do once in a life time, and study abroad. Do the unexpected and don't regret anything.

I would advise myself to look into more scholarships to help pay off my education. I never truly understood how much it is to attend college, and I am truly grateful for my parents who have helped me get to where I am today. By looking into other scholarships, I would have been able to help my parents out more and cause less stress on my family who works extra shifts at their jobs to make sure my family has enough money to fund the best education for me as well as for my younger brother.

If I could go back and to talk to high school senior Phillip, I would have quite a bit of advice to give him. First, and most importantly, I would encourage him to "embrace the awkward". I have always had a tendency to avoid situations where I might feel even remotely uncomfortable; but younger Phillip needs to know that college is the perfect place to grow and expand his horizons. "Embrace the awkward" doesn't mean to ignore the fact that a situation is uncomfortable, but instead to realize that it is this very lack of comfort that enables personal growth. The second piece of advice I would impart to my younger self is a more practical and concrete suggestion: "Manage your time wisely." Time management is incredibly important in the college world. With poor time management skills it's easy to miss out on some incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Academics, social life, and health all revolve around this one key skill. Focusing on these two mantras would help me make the best of the transition between high school and college.

The advice I would have given myself is a quote by martin Luther king. It says “the time is always right to do what is right” the quote summarizes the first two years at Roanoke College. There have been times that I wanted to speak up about an issue. There have been instances that I wanted to try something new, but was afraid to do so. This quote reminds me to follow my gut and do what is right at the moment. Hesitance and doubt can delay and even cost me an opportunity to have an impact in my community and myself. Self-doubt may cost me a life time experience, therefore when I see an opportunity to experience something new, I should not hold back, I would tell my self, to go ahead and try out for the school choir because the worst that could happen is not see my name on the list of those who made it. That I would make it to the school choir, because honestly not only am I talented and just as good, but also better than those who questioned my abiilty to make it. I would tell me to just do it.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that I should learn how to always start assignments early and to not procrastinate. I always try my hardest to prevent myself from waiting until the last second to start assignments, but I do fall victim to procrastination sometimes.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself at the very beginning of my senior year, I would tell myself to try as hard as possible, but to still enjoy high school while I could. I was always a person who loathed high school, though now, I feel my loathing was unwarranted. It is a place of learning where students may socialize with one another, free of any persecution that others in our world may be subject to. The place, students, and staff were some of the greatest people I have ever known and I doubt I will ever know anyone the same. I had many experiences in high school, from chemistry projects to spanish projects, and I would make sure I let myself know that I should enjoy the time I have left there. The world is much larger and more complicated than I contemplated in high school. The idea of venturing out on one's own is very nerve racking and exhausting on one's mind, though I would make sure I would be ready and able to make the transition into my new life. I would make my past self excited for this world.

The most important thing that you will take with you from High School will be your dedication, efforts and work ethic. The relationships may last or they may not last, but what will take you into your future will be what you learned during those years and how you apply that knowledge to the rest of your life. Make your decisions thoughtfully and remember that every action that you take will affect someone else in some way. Control your impulses as they will often get you into trouble. Always remember that your parents/ guardians are the only ones that will ever completely have your back, so listen carefully and thoughtfully to the guidance and advice that they offer you, and apply it to your daily life. One last thing, Pray everyday and ask God to guide you through and don't forget to thank him for the opportunity.

I would tell myself that its OK to go to a community college. I would tell myself that there are easier ways to get money, than filing for 3 private loans. I would tell myself not to take my Highschool boyfriend to school with me, that it will in fact be the worst decision of your school career. I would make sure my past self knows the importance of studying, and how bad procrastination can be. There are a lot of negative things I could advise my past self about, but I think the most important thing would be to reassure myself that no matter what, it will be OK. If you dont pass a class it's OK, your parents will still love you. If you dont make friends right away it's OK, it will happen. If you feel scared about paying off loans, it's OK it will be manageable. Just keep being yourself and doing your best, life has a way of working things out.

I would tell myself to really take a step back and look at the people I had been surrounding myself with. Once I got to college, I realized who the important people in my life were. Some did not happen to make it just because they, or me, did not want to put that effort in anymore. I would tell myself to surround myself with only people that genuinely cared about me and my interests, rather than trying to be the coolest people on campus.

I would offer advice about making sure to pick a school you really can picture yourself at because you should never pick the school based off of a financial aid award letter.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself to view going to college as an opportunity to explore new hobbies, while also keeping a close eye on my academic performance. Striking the perfect balance between work and play is a challenge, but absolutely essential to being a successful college student. Reaching out to new people and establishing personal relationships with professors is another tip I would give myself, because I am beginning to realize the importance of having a support system as well as learning to network with others.

Dear High School Self, Focus! High School is not the time to slack off or slide by. Do the most you can as best as you can. The more advanced classes you take in high school the less money you have to spend now. Its okay to not know something right away thats what your teachers are for. You dont have to worry about looking stupid or feeling incompetent; you arent. You can do anything you put your mind to as long as you focus. Study more, work harder, and try not to pay attention to the cruel words or dysfunction. The better you do the sooner you can leave the drama behind. Also go with your gut. Your first instinct is your best. Dont worry about the people who were mean or judgemental; they dont matter. Just think about getting out and moving forward. You'll probably end up better me. Keep your eyes on the prize and dont lose hope or focus. You can do it.