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!