Saint Ambrose University Top Questions

I would first tell myself to not care so much about what other's think of me. My time in college spent trying to impress other's cost me a great deal. While the party lifestyle is appealing, it is only temporary. I would tell myself to put forth my best effort. I spent the first two years in school wasting away. After I got in trouble I went from almost failing out to getting a full time job and making straight A's. In life and in school you are capable of accomplishing wonders if you put your mind to it. I would tell myself before deciding on a major take a variety of classes, and choose a major that makes you happy. After I spent time refelecting on college, I realized the most heplful piece of advice would be to listen to my parents. If I had have listened I would not have made many mistakes that I did. When a mistake is made keep your head up, and never stop going forward. I would finally say for every decision you make think to yourself does this get me closer to what I want for my future.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would definitely tell myself not to be scared. College has been an amazing experience, and I was very worried coming into it. I was afraid I wouldn't fit in and I wouldn't find friends. I would tell myself to just be outgoing and friendly, and everything else will fall into place. People in college are much friendlier than they were in high school. There is no reason to be afraid that you wont find where you belong. There are so many opportunities to get to know people, just take advantage of those and everything will be fine!

I would tell myself to not go home nearly as often as I did. I went home almost every-other weekend the first semester of my Freshman year and missed out on a lot of things happening at my school. It was also very hard to make friends at school when I was gone so often, I never had time to hang out with the people I was meeting at school. I hated school that semester because I was never there. As soon as I got involved in things and couldn't go home, I made more friends and started loving college. I know this would have happend a lot sooner if I had just stuck it out and stayed at school most of the times I went home. Not going home very often, at least at first, is the best advice I think I could give myself. Making friends in the place I'm supposed to be for the next 3 or so years of my life is much more important than seeing friends at home, having friends at school makes you a much happier person, helping you do much better in school.

As I am sure all current college students would do, most of them would go back to their high school self and say “Be more social”, or “Be sure to get involved with this earlier” or “Choose this dorm because it’s better than this one”. If I had the chance to go back and talk to myself again as a high school student, believe it or not I would actually have nothing to say. All the advice I would have given myself would be redundant because I heard it all throughout senior year of high school and through the summer. Saint Ambrose gave me all the input/guidance I needed to make the most out of my college experience. Every situation I have been involved in this far has shaped and changed me in different ways, and I believe that without them happening I would not be the person I am today. So giving myself unnecessary information would sort of be a waste of time; because I can truthfully say that I would go through everything all over again...no regrets.

I would tell myself to be open to new ideas and trying new activities and groups on campus. By talking with and becoming friends with people that are different from you, you are able to better understand yourself and why you believe what you do. This in turn will better develop your values, and thats what college is all about. With this in mind it is important to stick to your values and not try or do something because "everyone is doing it" because in reallity not everyone is doing it. Their are other people on campus with your same values, more than you would think.

Knowing what I know now about college life and the transition after high school, I strongly advise to get organized. Apply, apply, and apply for as many scholarships that pertain to you and definitely get an early start to avoid feeling overwhelmed and rushed. I would also strongly advise to avoid spending money on unnecessary things, because once you are in college you are going to remember buying that expensive new outfit and wish you saved it to buy your now expensive and necessary textbooks. Getting involved in as much as you can in high school, and being an active volunteer are smart things to consider. I would also strongly advise you to be more social and explore outside of your comfort zone, because in college you will be new people almost everyday. My last piece of advice would be to have an open mind to new possibilities and to keep a visualization of where you want to be in the future. To work hard to make that visualization become a reality some day.

Cassea, high school is going to go by faster than you think. You need to plan for your future. My advice to you is to explore different careers through job shadowing. Find out what it is like to work in different careers and what really interests you. Take more duel credit classes from your local community college to earn college credit in high school. Life in college will be much simpler if you do. The more college classes you can take in high school, the earlier you will be able to graduate from college and save on tuition expenses. Take time to study each day and review the subjects. Prepare ahead of time for upcoming tests and research papers by organizing notes, making flashcards, and rereading the material. If you don't understand it, request a tutor or extra time with the teacher. Ask questions until you truly understand it. Grades are important. Study hard. Lastly, remember those calls from work asking you to come in and you came up with some lame excuse as to why you couldn't? That is going to cost you. You need to earn and save as much money as you can for college.

The advice I would give myself if to keep going no matter how rough things can get. I would tell myself that I need to buckle down in my school work because I am not going to get by in my classes without studying like I am use to. The people that I have in met in high school will eventually change but the ones that mean the most to me will always be there in the end. I would tell myself to keep my options open and to expect to meet some crazy people that will forever change my life. Times are going to get more stressful then before but I need to stay organized and ask for help even if I feel like Im going to be a bother to someone else. My last piece of advice to myself is that now is the time to open new opportunities and to take it and run with it. I am going to be a new person and it starts today!

When a person is a senior in high school, older people with more life experience will tell him to “enjoy this last year.” However, the senior year of high school is also a transition into major changes that will take place in the student’s life. The advice that I would give myself as a senior would be to pursue my academic passions with persistence and intensity. I would tell myself to perform all of my responsibilities with excellence. Sometimes it is easy to allow yourself to do enough work to get the job done. Having this type of work ethic will not prepare a person to succeed and excel. College is not a place for procrastination, but rather a place for preparation and study. It is also a place where a person can experience many types of activities, clubs and organizations. It is important to participate in activities which fit a person’s talents and personality. The experiences gained from both academics and extracurricular activities will prepare the student for his future. Whatever the student pursues, he should be a diligent worker who takes his schooling seriously. Anyone can succeed in college if he has passion, diligence and discipline.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stop fretting over my grades so much and worry more about the skills I am learning. At my high school I didn't have to work very hard to get straight A's, but I find it harder to get good grades on tests in college. College is not supposed to be easy, but my problem was when it became time to take the tests, I didn't know how to study. In college professors don't always hand you notes or tell you what is on the test. Most professors will just lecture at you. In high school as well as college, I suggest not taking classes to get an easy A, but take harder classes that you will take more from. Explore different study methods to discover how you learn best. Don't fret over your grades as much as asking yourself what can I take away from a class that will better prepare me for my future career or even skills needed for life in the future like time management, problem solving and budgeting.

I would advise myself to open up to people and try new things. You never know if you like something unless you try it and you wont make life long friendships with out shaking a hand and saying hello. These have been two of the biggest things that I have learned in college this far and without pushing myself, I would never have got to the place that I am today.

Get the education sooner than later. A good paying job does not substitute when times get hard. More education makes you most valuable to a potential employer.

I would tell myself that you are about to start a new transition into adulthood in the next nine months. You will get all honors because to have all A's would mean excellence as well as receiving academic scholarships. Your main focus this last year in school is going to attend to studying and doing the best you can do. If this means to cut off people that you've ran with since you were five years old because all they want to do is party and have fun then so be it. They may get mad at you, but it's to better your future. Think about what's going to better you. Success is in you and I know that you will achieve it. You have the brains and I know you can accomplish anything. You just have to apply yourself. The future is full of infinite possibilities. Which ones are you willing to go the distance to achieve? I hope that furthering your education is one of them. Do something with your life that you will look back on one day and say, "Man. I really did it!" It's your time to shine. Do it.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would talk myself into playing on the women's basketball team here at St. Ambrose. Sports were my life in high school and I miss that part of it now. I would also tell myself to learn good study habits now because in college there will be more distractions and I need to be able to put my education first. Basically, I would tell myself to try my hardest and do the very best I can so that when I go to college I know how much I am capable of and know I can succeed in whatever I do. Doing the very best I can do is all the matters. As long as I am trying my best I can succeed at whatever I do.

I wasn't interested in school then, I just wanted to get out as soon as possible. Now I would tell myself that it's not as bad as I imagined it would be. You can still work and carry on your life. College won't take up all of your time. Just try it and see how you do and at least you'll know you gave it a shot. Just go on and get your 2 year Associate Degree and be proud of yourself for being the first one in your family to get a college degree.

Stop procrastinating! It's your last year of high school. I know you are going to go to a community college, but do look now to where you want to transfer afterwards. Don't decide last minute after you graduate community college to continue your education. I know it will be hard, but you can do it. Also, please save your money better. I know it's hard to have to save and buy what you need. Just skip out on a couple of those wants you bought. No one said becoming an adult was easy, but you will have some great fun along the way and meet new people too. Relax and enjoy your next step in this journey called life. Without all of this you will never get the opportunity to go that amazing trip in a couple years.

My senior year of high school was not like most students' senior year. I was enrolled part-time at my high school and part-time at Black Hawk Community College. I had already disconnected myself from high school. I was ready to be done and move on with my life, meet new people, and make new memories. I had fun through the first three years of high school, but by the fourth year, I was ready to get out, which is why I only went half of the day. I think the best advice I could have offered myself would have been to stick with it and go into a field that made me happy, and to stop worrying about disappointing people. I spent the first three years in college being extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with my choice of major. Now that I have chosen to switch my major to Elementary Education, I am so much happier. I am excited to wake up every morning and go to school, because I am working towards what I love. If I had to tell my senior high self one piece of advice, it would be to do what I love.

I would tell myself not to worry, and that not everyone likes to go out and party. I would also tell myself not to worry too much about religious leaders, because all of them on campus are really open and understanding

If I was able to go back in time and talk to my young self I would say to keep an open mind. College is a once in a lifetime experience and not everyone is fortunate enough to experience it. Go into college with the best attitude and treat it as a learning experience. I would tell myself to live everyday and make the most of what is given to you. Take nothing for granted and hard work really does pay off in the future. Keep your loved ones close and treat your fellow companions as you wish to be treated. College is going shape you into who you’re going to be for the rest of your life. I would tell myself to play hard, but work harder, for your future is based in what you know and what you choose to do with your education. If it is to be, it is up to me.

My college experience was and still is phenomenal. My study of choice is Criminal Justice and I have learned almost all I need to begin my career. St. Ambrose University has put me in a position to know and understand the basics of criminal justice. Through my internship at the Scott County Jail, I received more hands on learning. The staff there know me and my work ethic and have encouraged me to seek a career with them. I appreciate my school for taking the time to work with me and cater to my needs. I now have the motivation and the drive I need in order to see my future more clearly. Without St. Ambrose Universtiy, my name would not be known in the local criminal justice field that it is. I would say my attendance at my school has been extremely valuable.