Sam Houston State University Top Questions

I'd tell myself to make sure I sign up with to my classes early, or I wouldnt get the ones I need. I'd tell myself don't slack off, make sure you are ready to work hard. I'd try to make sure I was ready for what college really is. I wasn't ready for what I was going into and now I feel over whelmed. My pasted self would really need to know about how hard college is and how I need to put off my video games and hanging out with friends. I'd tell myself what I wished someone had told me.

I would advise myself to keep working hard in school. I would have liked to keep a more focused mind about my studies and homework. As a freshamn, I was so used to not really doing anything my senior year but there is actually a lot of work you have to put in and college. I would also want to learn to manage my time and to budget my money. You never know what things might come up and you always have to have a backup plan.

I would tell myself to work harder. Ever since I was little everybody told me that I was very smart. Learning came easy and school was a breeze to me. As I got older I learned that I could get away with doing less and still get good grades. I started to pick and choose which assignments I wanted to do and I would put all of my effort into those and I wouldn't even try the others. As I got into higher level classes during my junior and senior year that plan stopped working. I started struggling with classes. Even though I'm in college this mentality still plagues me. I still find myself trying to pick certain assignments to pass up. I have been successful at breaking myself out of this most of the time. If I could go back and talk to my high school self I would tell myself to break out of this habit a lot earlier.

Take deep breaths. Stop stressing about that government exam because you are going to fail the class anyway. You don’t have to take all AP classes if you feel like you’re not going to succeed in them. Freshman English is better than taking those critical reading assessments in English AP anyway. It doesn’t matter if everyone else doesn’t think you are smart, know your worth. Stop forcing yourself to become friends with everyone. It’s pointless in trying to impress them because you won’t even remember their names two years from now. You are going to hate your freshman year of college and that's okay. It’s going to be an emotional year, but you are going to end it with a better perspective on life. You are going to thrive off of positivity. You are going to learn that friendship does not equate having the same classes with the same person. You are going to wish you had that government exam when you take Organic Chemistry. You are going to fail a lot, but you are going to learn from those failures. Everything is going to be just fine. Remember those deep breaths.

Dear Shelby, I know senior year seems to be stressful with just getting everything together but just realize and appreciate how lucky you are to already know where you are going. Sam Houston State University is a great school and has so much to offer you. For starters, don't take trigonometry, you don't need it! You should just go ahead and start taking your classes towards being a Business Administration major. I know it's a broad degree but keeping your options open will be good since you will be graduating a year early due to your hardwork in high school and taking summer classes. Always remember you are Student-Athlete, Student comes first, so even though you may need sleep for that big game tomorrow, your grade on that accounting final is top priority. Lastly, remember to stay true to yourself. Be confident in who you are because you will be used in a great way wherever you end up. Keep your dream alive to make a difference in the world. Pursue your MBA and then tryout for the professional soccer team! The only time you truly fail is when you never give it a shot!

If I could go back in time, I would definitely advise my senior self to "Keep Calm and Relax". There are so many stresses associated with graduation and moving on with the next part of your life. When you finally get there, it's amazing to realize all the things you thought were so important really don't matter as much. No one cares if you were the class president or if you recieved an honorable mention in football, and that remedial math course you threw such a fit about is what is actually keeping you from failing college algebra. The truth is, the experiences we have in high school are important and help to shape our ideals and future paths, but they are not defining. Everything we experience, good and bad, helps us to make better choices later in life. Embrace the good times, learn from the bad times, keep calm and relax because it will all work out.

If I could go back and offer myself any kind of advice as a high school senior I would have quite a few things to say. In the past few months I have learned a lot, about myself, the real world, money struggle and much more. I would start off by telling myself to apply for as many scholarships as I qualified for. I applied for several but looking back I feel as if I could have done so much more; and it will make things so much easier in the long run. I would also let myself know to do what I want to do and not let everyone else get into my head. College is a huge decision and I tend to be very indecisive. I juggled the choice between community college and a university for months until I decided to do what was best for me. I stressed for so long about what everyone else wanted me to do. Lastly, I would just remind myself to not stress so much and everything will work out for the best.

Be you. Don't change yourself for a boy, don't allow yourself to get mixed up with the wrong crowd, just be you. If you want to accomplish something go out and do it. No one and nothing can stop you, but youself. Forget about anyone who has ever told you can't or has installed fear into you. You are your own person. Have confidence in yourself and fufill your dreams, afterall you only have one life to live. Some of the friends you have now might not be there later for you, but the friends you make in college, with good judgement are here to stay. Don't stay so sheltered go out and be a tradional college student. Go to parties, but stay on track with school. You're paying to go to college so don't be dumb and flunk. Stay focused. Boys aren't important, but have fun and be safe. If you don't want to be that person everyone thought you were in high school this is your time to change that. There will be bumps in the road, but remember you pave your own road .

Scholarships! I would definitely say apply for as many scholarships as possible. In high school it doesn't seem that important but once you see your fee statements every semester, you will wish you had applied for scholarships. Be active. Once you make it to college it is nothing like high school. There is more freedom and way more to do. Get involved with the right crowds. It's so easy to get distracted, but you have to remember why you came to school in the first place. Always have fun but stay focused and stusy hard!

I would tell myself to focus more on school and less on working. Money is a huge stressor in college and often times it has effected my grades. The fear of not being able to make rent, buy groceries, and even being able to pay off my massive school loans have always made me try and get a job and work hard. However, being a full time student, work has fought for my attention. Choosing between work and school is a constant battle. I try to always put school first to get a better education but I have often failed. If I could go back in time I would tell myself to not worry about money as much and focus on school, it will all work out in the end.