Shelby
My college experience has only begun but already I can say its been a crazy run. I have stood in long lines and experienced the stressfull financial aide lines that at times have crushed my hopes of continuing college. Through the crazy struggles with finances and trying to find the money to pay for college I have grown and become more aware of how expensive school can be. I have had days were I would cry and wonder how can students who don't even care about their education have everything paid for with either loans or some type of aid, and I have nothing. It really made me think of how valuable education is in todays society and how people who can't afford it can leave and never come back, and in return drastically changes your whole future. College has a way of opening up doors for you and experiencing life long lessons needed as you grow. I have already endured my first semester and I have learned that in life if you have nothing else you will always have what you know, and that can't be taken away from you. Knowledge is most valuable.
Uba
I have realized that in order to become successful, you have to work smart, network, and remain humble.
Charlotte
I have been attending Sierra Community College in Truckee, CA for the last year because of an inability to attend a 4-year university as planned because of family & financial problems. It has been a great way to get back on my feet & and continue my education despite obstacles. I have been able to expand my drawing & math skills in my effort to become an architect, & have been able to start my general ED to try to keep from getting too behind. I have been able to get used to the rigors of college while still being in my home community meeting new people & professors. I have also learned from my mistakes of not being able to pay for college when financial aid falls through last minute, & needing to stay on top of everything from applications to reaching out to schools to applying for financial aid & scholarships. By attending community college I have been able to continue my education in a hope to transfer to a 4-year university & work towards my goals.
Ms.
I have gain a wealth of life-long skills that can only be expanded on in a variety of ways. I received more independent work ethic skills. Learning and knowing how to ask questions, making appointments with advisors, multi-tasking between activities and classes, and making due dates have contributed to my work ethics as an adult attending school. Working as a collaborative group and individually were important components to successful completion. Working in a group shows a student who pulls their weight and who does not. This is a crucial decision making skill as to what the outcome should be such as either continue working with the "dead weight" group member, report them to the instructor, take over as the group leader, and/or confront the member directly of their lack of efforts. As I became closer to graduating, I had to make a choice whether to continue being in the band or focus more on the completion of my degree. I chose to remove myself from the band and complete my purpose for being in college, the bachelors degree. Overall, my college experience at Texas Southern University was the best as college should be for all students.
De
Texas Southern University has given me the gift of true education. It has allowed me to freely grow through the years while transforming me into a model citizen prepared for the workforce and society. Its history has infused me with pride, honor and gratitude; from its humble beginnings as a junior college to its rain as one of the biggest HBCUS in existence today. Through its racial composition, I have been able to see my African American race in all of its glory and embarrasement. Most importantly, the diversity in staffing, has giving me and my classmates a hollistic education backed by experience, knowledge and diversity of industries.
My university is one of four schools in the nation that offers the aeronotics program, which in turn as developed long lasting relations with NASA space center. Furthermore our debate has not only competed with the best but inspired the movie the Great Debaters. From academics to extra curricular activities Texas Southern University is an upstanding, inspiring, diverse college. It has graduated and continues to produce some of the greatest minority life time achievers, activists, scientist, lawyers and even doctors in the nation today.
Dinora
Right now i am berely statrting to get used to managing my time, but until now all the faculty has been friendly and helpful. it has valuable to attend because it increases my chances of becoming a better and responsible person towards all the task that i take up.
Cleondria
I have gotten out of my college experience a state of responsiblity. Being the youngest of three and not really having to do anything on my own became a comfort zone to me. Do not get me wrong I learned hard work and discipline when the time was needed but me having to take care of buisness really was not my concern. When I entered college if anything went wrong as far as my financial aid was concerned I had to take the initative and complete what had to be done in order for me to continue my education. I have taken value to the experience of meeting people of a different culture than mine and learning more about the different personalities we as human beings can possess.
Jose
This is my third year of college, i have learned so so much, i am just very thankful with God for permitting me to get this far, i am just 2 years away from graduating but time is just not enough for school i am a full- time student and employee, that is just very difficult to manage. My father has been with out a job for the past 7 months, and my mother is disabled, she suffers from diabetes and she was diagnosed with Gangrene on three toes, so she has been amputated and has been on a wheel chair for the last three months, I really need the help my father is not able to help me and i am about to start on the repiratory therapist program so I am going to need some money for some books and mainly for gas. I will sincerely and respectfully appreciate any help you may assist me with, thank you and may god bless you!
Nicole
One experience I have gotten so far would be living in the campus apartments. Why this experience is valuable to me is because I came from a single parent home and im the only child. To having to live with four other people with differnet backgrounds. This experience has taught me a lot about the person I am, but not only that, but how to patience and how to share.
Ashlee
College is not only a place that you go to learn from books, but a place where you learn about yourself. I have learned about my country from a non bias view, the world around me and the theories from which we evolved, and much more. In school you learn ways to study and time manage which I believe everyone should know for the real world. I still have a few years to go but I already know that it has made me more aware of myself and my priorities that are important.
Tawanna
I learned independence as a college student. Its important during the transition from adolescence to adulthood that one be taught the criticality of independence and good decision-making skills. A great deal of responsibility and self-entitlement comes from independence and individual accomplishment.
Latosha
College is very valuable and i have recieved may things from my experience already as a freshmen. College differs from high school greatly because in college its totally on the student to recieve their education, which teaches the students responsibility for the real world.
Janeith
I would have told myself to take more AP classes, get involved in more extracurricular activiites and to study harder for the SAT and ACT. I would have also cautioned myself to read all the stories that were assigned because it would give me a head start in college. Lastly, I would have said to be prepared for hard, demanding work and to always focus on my goals.
Dominique
I would tell myself that beginning the college experience is a very fun yet tough. There will be many enigma's but all can be solved by getting in contact with caring individuals on campus. Many times you're parents may not have the answers but there is always someone on campus more than willing to help you. I would also tell myself to stay focused and that the reward will always exceed the struggle. Doing thing's early are also very beneficial to your college experience. Last but not least I would say, once you've gone through these things make sure you give back and help someone younger than you. Not only will you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone, but you will have made someones college experience a lot less stressful.
Leora-Dona
If I were able to give my high school senior self advice on college based on what I know now, I would tell myself to look at a few more universities and ask lots of questions. To be able to know what college life entails, one would have to live it. But as a high school student, the closest thing to living it is to ask current college students any and every question that comes to mind. As I have learned through some of my classes, it's better to take a large, general survey than a small and very exclusive one. This rule goes for requesting information from universities, applying to those you like, taking standardized tests, and asking current students questions. Another thing I would suggest to myself would be to let my english teacher edit my college applications/essays. There's no better tool than getting help from someone who's currently teaching you to give you pointers on how to present yourself better to the admission's committee. The last thing I would tell myself is to chill out, take a deeep breath, and know that wherever you go, things will work out just fine.
Stephanie
Join every possible organization your time and schedule will allow! Don?t be afraid to walk up and talk to people either. There are so many great people you will encounter and it all starts with being able to put yourself out there. Make sure you prioritize class, work and parties and don't be afraid to stop and ask for help. When it comes time to take speech classes make sure you enroll in Dean Wards Class. He's one of the coolest deans I think this campus has to offer. Well, I can't divulge all the secrets of college but just enjoy you. Your only young and in college once!
Latosha
Pick the right school that would benefit me and my ultimate goal in life. Going to and having counsels teach/lecture me about the college life and the seriousness involved. Knowing anything is possible and to get to the top, some (like myself) start from the bottom. Being financially ready, applying for grants and scholarships alot sooner. Preparing more for college by taking more time out to get to know the university I wished to attend. Planning for the future by having a map of the steps needed to make my dream/goal into a reality. Basically, all I learned about college I witnessed by going to college, I never was aware of the college life nor was I prepared since I'm the first to go to college in my family. I would change alot of things if I could go back to high school but some wise professors/scholars say experiences are the best form of teaching, and without them we would not grow wiser.
D'Lexus
Don't give up its not as hard as they make it seem.
Wanjiru
If i could go back in time i would have really stressed time-managment skills. In high school teachers somewhat babied their students, constantly reminding their students of due dates and holding their hand through assignments. In college the teachers just hand you a syllabus and expect you to be responsible for whatevers on there. In high school based on your grades sometimes tutoring was required, in college if you are struggling in a subject if you dont go out in get tutoring nobodys going to make you. I would have also stressed saving money. I use to just spend money just because but now that im in college i cant afford to do that, whenever i thing i have money to spend other expenses come up like books, lab coats, ect. Im a freshman and college is really helping me come dependent.
Kenyada
"Kenyada, I need help picking a school to go to! I am so scared to leave home, but I do not want to stay here with mom and dad!" My younger brother, a high school junior, was asking advice for college. I was in my second year of college and loved every bit of it. He reminded me of myself only two years ago. I was so lost and wish I had someone to lead me through the entire thing. If I could go back in time the first thing I would do differently is search for scholarships. I initially came to Houston to attend Houston Baptist University. I had to transfer because both of my parents lost their jobs, and it was too expensive for me to continue going there. The second thing that I would do differently is to find a school my best friends and I could all agree on. It would of been so much easier with them here with me. Lastly, I would definitely add workstudy to my financial aid!
"Hello?! Are you listening to me?" I did not realize that I was daydreaming while he was waiting on an answer!