Stonehill College Top Questions

The advice I would give to myself is: just be Jessica. Don't try to impress other people by doing things that are not your style. Don't try to act like someone you are not. Just being Jessica is enough and you should not have to justify that to anyone. This may mean that you have to work a bit harder to find a group you fit in with, but that extra effort will be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} worth it in the long run. Take the time to find those people that truly like you for you and hold on to those people, they are the ones you will be friends with for a long time to come. So, just be Jessica and enjoy the crazy, emotional, educational and never-ending-fun that is the next 4 years of college.

I would tell myself to try and make as many friends as possible because it will help in the long run. Also be prepared for anything when it comes to your roommate.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I honestly would tell myself, " I have worked really hard to get my high school diploma at a rigorous college prep high school. College will be difficult but I CAN'T give up because I deserve a college education and money should not be a reason to not attend. If I work hard in school I can accomplish anything no matter what it is!" With that mentality I would have went it to college with a better attitude and not have felt so timid because I'm a minority struggling to afford school.

Put yourself out there more! The people at Stonehill are nice and outgoing, but you have to be willing to try to make friends instead of waiting for others to approach you. Also, don't act like you're still in high school. At Stonehill, you actually have to study for a few hours a week in order to do well. And, no, being able to ace the AP biology test and intro biology course without studying does not mean that you don't have to study in the future. Either you can accept that now or spend the next three years learning it. And, above all, be open-minded! Accept the fact that you can't plan out your life, as much as you may want to. Because it may just turn out that you don't actually want to go into research after graduation. It's even conceivable that you could end up applying to -gasp- nurse practitioner and physician assistant graduate programs. It's okay to admit that you aren't sure what you want to do next year, let alone for the rest of your life.

Don't be afraid to go to a big school. No matter what college you go to, there's going to be a transition period: meeting new people, getting to know the campus, and learning how things work. So don't limit yourself to a small school that has little to offer you culturally, musically, and socially. Taking advantage of all that is available is the most important advice. College is a time to explore and discover what is right for you--take advantage of that and use these four years to learn exactly who you are.

Since I spent most of my highschool years sleeping in class, I would tell myself to stop sleeping and study more. Graduated with a 2.9 GPA from highschool, and now that I am in college many years later, I have proven that I am smart enough to carry a 4.0 GPA. If I would only had applied myself and did better in highschool, I could have earned scholarships and could have had a much better career with a much better lifestyle. I would tell myself to to stop being lazy and work hard to get the education that I would so desparately need in the future. I would suggest that I apply for every scholarship available and to take advantage of every opportunity that I can because even though I could not afford college when I was that young, my mind could have brought in the money through scholarships, grants, and good grades.

If I had to go back to senior year with advice, I would tell myself to relax. By no mere exaggeration I was a ball of anxiety during high school and went into college the same way. It took me over a year to really escape the overwhelming anxiety that I faced due to my self-imposed pressure. So what I would say is that grades do not matter as much as you think they do. It does not make a difference if you get an A, A-, or B+ so stop making yourself crazy in classes that are not worth the effort. This was the greatest realization that I made in college and something that I have passed on to many freshmen over the years.

I would tell myself to take more AP classes and to work on my study habits. I was not fully prepared for how challenging my college classes were and the amount of time I would need to spend studying outside of the classroom in order to succeed. If I'd taken more AP classes I would have had a better idea on what to except from a college class, and maybe even could have gotten out of a few if I'd done well on the AP exams. I also would tell myself to not worry about meeting new people. It's extremely hard leaving behind your friends and family, it's scary at first, and it does take time but you'll make friends and they'll become like your family. And college will become your home away from home.

During high school, I consistently challenged myself with a rigorous course load at an International Baccalaureate school. In addition to a rigorous academic program, my high school also embraced service as an important element of our education. Throughout high school, I volunteered at Special Olympics, volunteered in a hospital, volunteered in a library, interned at an aquarium and participated as Co-Captain at Relay for Life. Volunteering ultimately led me on a personal journey to becoming an active, contributing member in my community. My high school experience has also shaped my confidence in a very different way – the confidence to be myself. In addition to receiving two high school diplomas, the rigor and intensity of my high school curriculum definitely prepared me for college. I have set many life goals that I wish to accomplish and am thoroughly enjoying my jouney at Stonehill College. Although I am closing one integral chapter of my educational journey, I know this spirit will continue throughout my new academic venture in college. I have set many life goals for myself that I wish to accomplish; however, I am currently focusing on enjoying the experience.

The sooner you get involved on campus, the better. Stonehill has so much to offer, so start taking advantage of it from the get go! Join a club, take a class you never though you'd take, try a new sport, take a dance class, run for a student government position. There are so many opportunities to get involved in the community here, so DO IT!

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to shine. I did not realize the importance of confidence as you go through your college years. I would remind myself that I do have a future. I can achieve my dreams. I can live a happy and successful life despite what others may believe. In the words of Marianne Williamson, "Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do." This is not to say arrogance is acceptable; rather, it is to say that by radiating a wonderful person, wonder will be refracted back to you.

Attending college has given me a new outlook on life. The many interactive, discussion-based classes that I have had at Stonehill College allow me to contemplate multiple issues that are prevalent in today's society. I have the ability to sort through dilemmas that I would not have been able to solve had I not received this education experience. I am also more open-minded and more readily able to consider other views, not just my own. Such an endowment is vital in today's society because there are so many social issues that remain unresolved.

Allow yourself time to adjust to the college setting and life living away from home. It will be hard the first semester of college, even the first year, but once you get used to your classes, the amount of homework and living away from home and high school friends, everything will fall into place. Make sure to allow time for fun as well as schoolwork, for if you spend all your time on academic work you can burn out ,leading to deterioration of your physical as well as psychological health. However, don't allow the fun and new atmosphere of a college campus lead to your schoolwork being affected, for it will only hurt you in the long run. Partying too much can lead to damage of your GPA, which is hard to raise once it is established. College is a place where you will grow up and learn more about yourself as a person. You will meet lifelong friends, learn many valuable things, both academically and personally, and have the time of your life.

The only piece of advice I would give myself if I had the chance to go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school would be to put myself out there more. As a naturally shy person I have never been great at being open and making friends right away and I feel that hindered the first few months of my college experience. I also didn't get involved in too many things on campus during the first semester and I really wish I had. That would be something that I would tell myself to do if I could talk to myself as a high school senior.

The most important advice would be to not worry so much about what you look like. The social life is important but education is far beyond that. Also I would not procrastinate with reading assignments, it is not worth staying up all night trying to get it done. It is much easier to do a little very night than all in one. Another helpfull tip that I have learned is to study the information that you learned in class, as soon as you can after. It helps me obtain the information better, and I don't forget the little details that the professors add in.

When you enter college don't havea set plan. Because you will most likely find that you do not like your plan after takinga couple classes, and seeing whatelse college can offer. Be open to trying new activities and pay close attention to your core classes because you might find a subject that interests you that you didn't know was out there. Don't expect to be ready when you arrive, because there will be a lot of adjustments in your life when going to college. You independence is more than just living away from your parents. You finally need to enjoy every minute of college because it only comes around once and this is the time when you find yourself, what you love to do, and who you will become; but never forget that you came to college for an education so have fun, but not too much fun. This is step one to your new life.

If I was able to go back in time, I would tell myself that volleyball isn't everything and that I should look for schools that really suit my personality and that could help me define myself. I decided early in high school that I wanted to play volleyball in college, so my entire college selection process revolved around what schools I would be able to play at and receive financial aid. I would tell myself that college athletics are not the most important aspect while attending college and that opportunities for internships and work experience are important to develop invaluable skills for your career path. Juggling athletics and competing with other students for important internship jobs is not an easy task. While participating in varsity athletics can be a fun experience, the benefits from working a job in your desired field will be much more rewarding. I would finally tell myself that after you graduate college, it is most important that you are prepared to enter the workforce with as much experience you can learn from.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior there would be a few suggestions I would tell myself for the transition to college. First off, I feel the hardest transition into college has been the step from high school writing to college writing. I would challenge myself to explore different writing styles and better my understanding of writing at a more professional level. Instead of trying to complete the assigned essay just to be done with it, I would recommend thinking about the topic in a deeper way. Secondly, I would tell myself that the trasnsition to college is much easier if you become familiar with the college I was attending. Due to the fact that I was extremely nervous of the transition, I often tried to not think about the next four years of my life. Instead, I should have set goals for myself for the beginning of my college career.

I would tell my high school self to speak more in class, participate more. Participation is a large part of a person?s grade in all classes. I would tell myself to not be so shy, scared or insecure but to be confident and speak in class. To raise my hand, answer questions, and add to discussions, in the end it will help your grade and your understanding of the material. I would tell myself to be careful of how you spend your money. Money goes very fast with all of the different events, vendors, and nights out. I did not spend a lot of money but I wish I was still more careful and selective with my spending. I would tell myself to be more outgoing and sociable. I have done this more in college but still strive to be better; to talk to more people, be more social. I would tell myself to not care what others think, to be myself, and enjoy all of college. The time goes by very fast and needs to be cherished, live to the fullest.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as high school senior, I would remind myself to be open to all kinds of people coming into college. I went to a relatively small private Catholic school, where little diversity existed, so even coming to Stonehill was a bit of a culture shock. Even though I try not to pass judgement on anyone before getting to know them, I definitely has preconceived notions about people based on superficial characteristics. I would also advise myself to hit the ground running when I enter college, and get involved right away. Although I attribute this delay to transitioning into college, I still wish I got involved in extracurricular activities, such as SEA (Students for Environmental Action), sooner rather than later. The final words of caution I would give to myself are: the freshmen 15 is not a myth! It took my awhile to figure this out, but I finally discovered that alcoholic beverages and ice cream every night didn't exactly flatter my figure. It would have been a lot easier to maintain a healthy weight by taking preventative action, rather trying to fix it later.