Spring Arbor University Top Questions

Stop stressing! Go where you feel comfortable, yet challenged. Go where you will be able to grow, yet also grow others, and where you can learn about yourself and about the world. You carve the path for the rest of your life, not the college you decide to attend.

Julia, You're going to be okay. Yes, this new challenge seems a little out of your league, but everyone else feels the same way. Ask for help. Don't wait to be floundering, lost, and terrified. Be it emotional support, finding the right building for your next class, or anything in between, there are people whose entire lives are devoted to pouring into you; let them do their jobs and make your life easier. You're going to argue with your roommate; that's what happens when you go in blind. Yes, she'll be a little bit crazy at times -- but so are you. The pronunciation of words like "vague" and "data" don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Also, you only have to put up with her for one year; next year not everything will be a government conspiracy. This is a learning experience for both of you. Finally, seek to find balance. You're at school to do school, but you also need introvert time and time with friends. It's not selfish to designate time for each of these areas; quite to the contrary, it will make you a better person all around.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to the insecure, uptight high school student I was during my senior year, I would tell myself to do one thing: simply relax. When I was a high school student, I worried far too often about my future. While yes, it is important to be concerned with the direction in which to take one's life, I was utterly fixated on it. Everything had to work out perfectly then. I was not able to cope with imperfect situations and would panic and become overwhelmed. In college, I have learned that, with the right amount of studying, social interactions, and career planning, I could become completely content without a pressing worriness constantly overhead. I certainly do not regret my high school experience, but after reaching collegiate learning, I know now that I would have been more content and prepared if I would have been more relaxed.

Look at you! You’re a senior and about to head off on a big escapade to the small SAU. So I’m writing you to share my odd word of wisdom, my quirky proverb: Do what you can to keep your weight under control. Hold up! Don’t cast this letter aside! I know what you’re thinking (“You sound like our mother!”), but I’m not talking about being skinny. I won’t sugar coat it; you gain a lot of weight in college. We turn to breadsticks when we’re upset, when we’re anxious, when we’re bored. But even though Spring Arbor doesn’t have readily available breadsticks, the D.C. has a soft serve machine…You’re still beautiful as your curvy self, but everything is affected by using food as a happy pill. You’re constantly tired, you battle depression, relentlessly wrestle anxiety, and you shortchange your confidence for cookies. You are so successful in college! But your body is made to serve your intelligent mind and your lovely spirit, not the other way around. Do yourself a favor. Don’t just skid by; take care of your body so you can flourish!

Although I am a high school senior attending college, if I went back in time to when I first enrolled I would tell myself that college and high school are very different. If you pay for your classes you might as well get the most out of them. I would tell myself to sit in the front row, and ask the professors questions. At the high school I went to, I could attend all my classes at Polk State College, I was not the brightest in the class, and no one would ever talk in any of the professors discussions, but I would put my input into it. The more I did this, the higher my grade would get, and the more the professor would like me. Another thing I would tell myself, is the learning center should be gone to everyday, even if you're doing good in a class. It's good to practice with smarter people. If you practice for a course with intelligent people, even the toughest subjects won't be a challenge on test day. Finally I'd tell myself to be more outgoing, there are a lot of interesting people in the world.

I`d ask myself question to make a decision for what part of my major I wanted to get into. Having a general idea of what you want to get into might seem like a good idea when you first enter into the school, because you really want to get started on collge life and not wait any longer. But once you get to college, and realize that the program your in isn`t as great as another one you could be in - you start to wonder why you didn`t look and gather more information before. Do research, a lot of reasearch. And be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} confident that where your about to go to college, is really where you want to go to college.

If I could go back in time, the advice that I would give myself is stop complaining about how much homework I am given. Another thing that I would tell myself is to take some electives that are offered to give me a head start on college.

If I were to go back and talk to my high school senior self, I would tell her to work on creating good study habits now. By doing this, those habits will carry over into college and help you be successful in your career and in your education.

i would tell myself to study harder to get better scholarships and apply for scholarships as soon as possible. also do better in math

I would tell myself to plan ahead. Such a tremendous transition can be extremely overwhelming. I would also remind myself that I can do anything I put my mind to because I have such a strong support system in my friends and family. College is not as difficult as I anticipated so I would tell myself to not sweat the small stuff and have confidence and believe in what I have accomplished and all that is in store for the future.

Dont sweat it, college is all about experiencing new things, dont be a fraid to mess up and learn form those mistakes. Also, some good advice that I would give myself would be to take more AP courses as a highschool student to then opt out of the courses in college but still recieve the credit. Every dollar saved is worht it!

If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to stop obsessing over boys and care more about my schooling. As a senior I dated my entire senior year and I feel if I would have studied more I would have been able to raise my GPA and get a better scholarship than I did.

i would tell my younger high schoolself to apply for scholarships quickly and don't wait. also i would tell myself to be accepting of others and to learn how to think on a broader scale. also i would say to myself to be more of a people person/ community oriented. in addition to this try to touch as many lives as you can when you get on campus.

If I could go back and have a conversation with myself as a high school senior, I would first give myself a slap in the face (not hard, just enough to get my attention). Then, I would proceed to shout (not rudely, just loud enough to make a lasting impression), "STOP WORRYING ABOUT COLLEGE!" The transition was difficult, yes, but if I knew then what I know now, I would've realized that the tremendous pressure placed on high school seniors to choose a college and a major is simply unnecessary. Success for some means getting a degree, for others it's staying home and working. (By the way, I honestly believe that.) Either way, there is no need to stress over college decisions because there's no way I could have messed up what God planned for me before I was even born. Sweet relief! I am in no way saying that you shouldn't put effort towards college, I am merely saying that all the stress is unneccesary. Relax! Apply, and get in, and don't worry about money or anything. If God opens the door, then you just go and let him worry about money.

Going back I would tell myself not to worry about moving across the country for school, leaving everything and everyone that i knew. Sometimes starting over is the best thing you can do and it allows you to find who you really are. I would tell myself not to listen or care what other people thought of me, just to relax and find myself, it would have saved me a lot of heart ache and worry. Another thing is that not everyone is going to like you, but you should not change for them. Being you should be enough, if not, move on.

I would tell myself to enjoy high school, because it won't last forever. I would also tell myself to make sure I was, not only developing good study habits, but also developing good communication skills that would prepare me for real life.

The universe is impartial. Be like it; don't judge. Nobody is as simple as they seem, so stop pretending that they are. Instead, consider that the person you’re sizing up is no less troubled than you are. As Wayne Dyer put it, "When you judge another, you do not define them, you only define yourself." Face your fears. Don't let them paralyze you by trying to ignore them. Be sure of this: If left unmet they will come back to haunt you. In the midst of economic depression Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". If the former president was right, then the cost of success is courage. Confront your fears today and you won't suffer them tomorrow. Finally, persist. Don’t get discouraged by the trials you face. Trust instead that you are stronger than the task ahead and find joy in knowing you did your best. Life isn’t easy, but it’s a fight you can win. So keep your chin up, because there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. Sincerely, “Yours Truly”

I was terrified in high school. Classified as a loner, though some people may have described me as a "choir-chick" or "gleek." I observed while everyone else went to football games, joined the drama club, or went on spring break with friends. My sister, a grade above me, was prom queen, student council president, and on the dean's list- seriously. I'm sure I was smarter than my grades showed, but I absolutely no motivation to apply myself. I had a lot of anxiety. My counselor told me I should consider other options besides college after graduation based on my grades. Ten years later and I am now interning at my high school for my SAU program. Some of my students are just like I used to be. I saw my old counselor in the cafeteria. He asked what my plans were after graduation- whether I would continue teaching. I said, "I'm going get my Masters in School Counseling" If I could go back to senior year, I'd say "Kate- don't let anyone make excuses for you. This is YOUR life- live it, love it. You are special and deserve success."

I would tell myself that the cost of attending college is more than you think. Tuition, fees, books, food, and room and board add up over the semesters. I would tell myself to take as many college courses as I could in high school, when it is much cheaper. I would also advise myself to attend a community college for atleast two years before transfering to a university to cut down on costs. I would tell myself to get a job in my spair time, and to save all of my earnings for college. While in high school I would tell myself to learn the real price of a good education. Having a proper education is essential in life, but it is hard work to get there.

I would tell myself to just immerse myself in those around me. When I first came to college I was so home sick that I restrained myself from others, and went home every weekend. I would tell myself to relax and only go home once, maybe twice a month. However, I would have also told myself to go to a less expensive university. I would tell myself that if I didn't than nmy family would lose their house, like we are now. I would also tell myself to live a little. It's ok to get out there and enjoy being a college student.