Rocky Mountain College Top Questions

I was a high school senior in 2010 who was doing something rather untraditional, I had decided to study abroad from 2010--2011 as an exchange student in Per Brahe Gymnasiet (High School) located in Jönköping, Sweden. During that year, I repeated life as a "high school senior", and came to learn a lot about myself, my family, and the country I was currently living in. As I look back upon that year and my last year in the US, I would make myself realize how important it is to take care of finances, and plan ahead. I still struggle with this to some degree, but as a teenager we think of only the immediate future, not what could happen further down the line. I would make myself understand the concept of planning and saving. I believe it is a skill that everyone should learn, people need to realize that sometimes immediate gratification is not better long-term preparedness. Instead of buying whatever I wanted, I should have saved the money I earned, and taken better control of my finances. Thank you for your time, Dakota R. Karlsson

If i were to go back to my high school self I would tell my self to let it go and belive in yourself. No matter what anyone says to you or what you hear through the rumor mill, you need to belive in yourself and know only you can shape your future. I would also say to myself that take every experience from your parents divorce and become stronger, don't doubt yourself. Use the common phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" to get through everyday and be a leader and example to your friends to help others. Live every day for that day and dont hold on to the past just live and let go.

If I were to go back in time to when I was a high school, I would tell myself that I should focus more on school and the time I had with my friends than slacking off. I would tell myself to save up money because when you go to college you are broke, period. I would tell myself that the people that are your friends now change in college and that they might not be your friends anymore. You become an adult so fast and are thrown into another world that you are not used to. Sure the freedom is great, but the things that come along with being an adult are not always what they seem. Get cracking on applying for scholarships there is zero time to be goofing off now. This is your life and you now make the decision for your future.

OK pal, future self here, listen or suffer. First: Stop. F*cking. Procrastinating. Seriously, it does neither you nor I any favors. Second, you know as well as I do that piloting is fun and all, but trust me, actually going to school for it drains all the life out of it. Go for a history major instead at RMC, and a minor in aeronautical science would be really easy from where you're standing. Being an aircraft mechanic is more suited for you, ask the mechanics at flight ops about it, they have good advice on how to get started. Third, stop being lazy, be a man, and get help when you know you need it. The faculty here are pretty good, and Mom is more understanding than you might think. Alright, those are the main things you'll be concerned about a few years from now. Don't have any advice regarding girls, sorry to say. No lottery numbers or anything like that either. Oh well, perhaps 25 year old us will visit you or me at some point with better advice. Now stop whining about your self esteem and go do something about it. Future you, out.

I already have a love of the science fiction genre, so I am certain I would have no problem opening a letter from my Future Self and know it was genuine. I would let Freshman Aubyn know that even though she had to have an untimely foot surgery just a week before starting college, to go ahead and move into the dorms and not return home for the first semester. Your new roommates will freak when you try to move in the second semester. One girl will cry because she can no longer use your area for storage. Another roommate (who will become a good friend) will escape to Santa Barbara to be a nanny because she isn’t connecting with anyone at school. Freshman Aubyn could have been that connection! I would re-assure my younger self that she has the tools and capabilities to meet the challenges of college, academically and socially; however, prepare for some incredibly awkward and hilarious times! My post script would suggest hitting the gym more often to release stress.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself about college, I would tell myself to get my head out of my romance novels, and apply for more scholarships. Talk to people, I never have before to get advice, on the best way to apply to scholarships. Don't fear what other think about you, go out and Work! Don't make up excuses about everything, Go out and start saving for college, you can't comprend how much that extra money will help you. Voluteer, I know you were always willing to help if someone asked... Don't wait to be asked... Take action. You can do it, When life gets tough, you won't be able to shove your head in a novel, and pretend you don't exist. Do everything you can to get a car, don't worry about how amazing it looks, just if it's durable enough to get you where you need to go, Lastly, spend ALL the time you can with your family, because when push comes to shove, and you are in your dorm feeling like your all alone... or confused a call home makes the world of diffrence.

Going back in time to my senior year I would have given myself the knowledge of the financial situations to come, the work load to expect, the level organization needed and to be more involved. First off, enrolling in a four year college with a high dropout rate should have been a red flag and should consider a two year where I could have gotten Associates in Science that was transferable to a four year university. Doing so, would have prevented me from accumulating a few thousand in debt on classes that are non-transferable. Secondly, I would have warned of the heavy work load and late nights that where to come and would have gone a lot smoother with some organization skills used. Thirdly, as a commuting student it’s key to be involved in clubs and organizations to meet new people around school and develop relationships that are vital to life after college.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would emphasize the importance of becoming more assertive and confident. In college, it's easy enough to find resources for educational struggles, but it's difficult to make friends without jumping in head-first. What I would specifically say to myself is to cut off the toxic friendships that led to a lack of self-confidence in my senior year and carried into my college life. Because of my shyness, it's been difficult to make friends or talk to classmates, which plays a large role in satisfaction with college life. I would also tell myself to start saving as much as possible and as soon as possible- instead of taking that babysitting job out of charity, I should have found something that would allow me to help people while also taking care of my needs. Financial stress is a huge issue, and since I have to pay for college myself, I should have gotten a job that would actually have helped make a dent in my current debt.

If there was such thing as going back into the past and just to talk to our "highschool senoir" version of ourselves, it would be so dam awesome. My question to myself now is, where in which time peroid during our highschool senoir year? That, my answer to my own question is, start from the very first day at the start of my highchool senoir year. Knowing what I'm capable of now, and if it' even possible to go back into the past just to talk to my highschool senoir version of me, honestly I would be very glad to use as much time as I can talking to my highschool senoir version of me. What I will do is, I'll give him more than just advices, I'll just guide him so that he should force himself to better himself. Something very basic like studying very hard and always never fall behind, and even if he's a little behind, then I'll tell him, " hey you get caught up so you don't fall too far behind". Hopefully this should help my highschool senoir of me to be prepared before he actually get into a college.

College is a difficult transition. From a life of comfort and support you enter a life where your success or failure over the next few years determines your future. That is a heavy load to carry. However, there are people around that want to see you succeed. Your parents, friends, professors and school counselors want to support you in making your dreams come true. Many people start college with a preemptive plan. Once you become immersed in a different lifestyle and constant knowledge being thrown your direction plans change. Changing your future career path during college is totally normal. The American education system is designed for you to find yourself and your dreams. The best advice I would give myself is to never shy away from help and seek it when needed. Trust your gut, it will take you in the right direction. Ultimately, remember to breath and take it one step at a time.