The University of Montana Top Questions

Advice that I would give myself would be to not feel rushed. I started my first year of college feeling like I had to choose a career and that was it. I would let myself know to have a general idea about what I wanted to do but not feel like I had to choose right then and there. These are actually the most important years of your life because they are establishing your education for your later career. The most important thing however would to just take it day by day and try your hardest so you can at least say you gave it your all and know inside that you did. oh...and GOOD LUCK !!!!!

If I could travel back in time, and talk to myself as a struggling Freshman, I would tell me self to concentrate on school more, save my money and accept myself for who I was. Throughout high school, I was just trying to be accepted, and was struggling with accepting my sexuality. Senior year, I came to the realization and accepted I was gay, but hated myself. I woud say to stop trying to change yourself for others, and be yourself and see who comes to you. Also, I wasn't the most dedicated student. I know I am very bright, but lack the motivation, which somewhat messed me up for any scholarship opportunities. Since I did not receive any help with school, I would have also busted my ass for spending so much of my money on unecessary things. Overall things, I think I would just say to relax, do what's best for YOU and not others and to set your priorities right.

The only advice I could give to my high school self would be to just stay true to myself, don't lose focus, and don't lose heart. I look back at my somewhat spread out college career and realize that if I had really stayed focus and not lost heart after getting denied from a program a few times (not because I wasn't qualified, but because of limited space), I would have stuck to it and be done with everything by now. I have learned a lot being out in the real world, though, but I definitely am regretting not having persisted. The other advice is just to stay true to myself. Nobody else can tell me what I want or how to do it. During the transition, I think a lot of people, including myself, just start listening to everyone else around them, doing what everyone else does, and so forth. On that path, you lose what you really want for yourself, and instead start doing what everyone else around you wants. With those pieces of advice, I don't think myself, or anybody for that matter, could go wrong or have a hard time in college.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself one word of advice: relax. The transition from high school to college was not nearly as scary as I made it out to be. Living more or less on my own, as well as sharing a bathroom with thirty other girls, seemed like a natural progression as opposed to some horrible new experience. I never got as lost as I feared I would, and the larger workload was never so much as to be unmanageable. That word of advice also would extend to my remaining time in high school. I could have relaxed and had more fun my senior year instead of praying for it to end so college could begin. Having classes in the same building, home-cooked meals, and being taken care of when I'm sick are definitely things I no longer take for granted. It is also too bad that my laundry no longer does itself. Had I known these things back then, I believe my senior year would have been more pleasant, with my focus on the present and less anxiety for the future.

Dear Breanne, As you near your graduation day and the day that you will be leaving home for college, keep in mind that you have plenty of family and friends that love and believe in you! You are an amazing person with a future as bright as the sunshine outside your window. Hold your chin up and wipe the tears away, everything happens for a reason. As you begin college in the fall, constantly remind yourself that you are beautiful. Be yourself and stay true to yourself. Follow your heart in everything you do and never be afraid to be yourself. When college life, dorm life, family life, and all the other aspects of your life collide, remember to stay level headed. You can become anything you want to be because you are capable and devoted. Never let others put you down because you are better than that. Stay true to your dreams and never be afraid to reach for the stars. Life will not be easy and you must understand that with every challenge there is also a victory. Stop trying to please the people around you and live your life for yourself only. I love you - Breanne.

If I were able to go back in time I would advise myself to relax. College is a major life change that is confusing and stressful but the more a person worries about the future and the changes at hand, the less they will be able to enjoy the path. Once college begins and some of the fears are eliminated, one realizes that the stress beforehand was only holding back from possible experiences. College is a place of discovery. I would love to be able to go back and tell myself to set those fears aside and enjoy the ride.

I would tell myself to relax about going to college. The transition is easier than I expected it to be. I would tell myself to be confident in the knowledge I acquired during high school and congradulate myself on taking the more difficult classes. I would want to tell myself to look at the colleges in my own state and to not be so dead set on going out of state to school. I would tell myself that I was going to meet the best friends I have ever had and that I was going to find exactly what I wanted to do with my life; all within two hours of home. I would also tell myself that everything works out the way it is supposed to, even if it may not seem to be exactly as I wanted it to be. I would also tell myself that Missoula feels more like home than home does.

since i have been out of high school for nearly six years and am just beginning college, i would go back and tell myself that in these rough economic times that you need to go to college and get a good job because without a collegedegree it is really hard to find a well paying steady job. don't be scared to go to college, it will help you and you will feel better after getting that degree. be the first one in your family to go, it will be fun and there are lots of new things to discover like meeting new friends. the hardest part is starting the process. there are grants and financial aid so you don't have to worry about money. you never know, this decision could change your life for the better and will probably be the best decision you will ever make in your lifetime.

I would go back to tell myself to go have some more fun during my senior year. Go out and do more things with my classmates. If i don't learn to spend time with my classmates it will make my college life dull and boring. I would, also, have myself not be so boxed up and just be more willing to try things. I would try and convince myself to step out of my comfort zone so i could find more things that interest me. One thing i would have myself so is pursue playing football in college. It will bug you for the rest of my life that i did not try to see if i could play college football. The last thing i would do is tell myself to find my true friends and then get along with them, not just talk to everybody, but not really spend time with any of them.

Do the big college experience. Community colleges are great for what they are, but you are looking for "The College Experience." Dive headlong into what you really want, don't hold back for anybody cause it's your life. Work your butt off this last year and take as many AP classes as possible. Do some community service and get involved in clubs and organizations. Look around for scholarships. College isn't cheap but it's completely worth it. Don't be afraid to apply to all of the colleges you want to go to. If they turn you down it's not the end of the world and if you get accepted you'll feel much better about yourself and you'll have your pick. Don't be afraid to move away from home it will still be there when you get back. When you get to college talk to your instructors and your peers you don't have to do it all yourself, there is help out there. Advisors are AWESOME utilize them. Remember you can change dorm rooms if you need. The college wants you to be successful take advantage of all it has to offer.

Curranty I am studying to be a music teacher. I am looking into implementing a music program into a juvenille detention center when I finish school. This being said, it would have been helpful for me to know more about the requirements of detentional teachers before I started college. Looking back I wish I would have known more about "running start" programs so that I could have gotten my general requirements out of the way. I find it quite difficult to complete all my "general requirements" while learning to be a teacher myself. Completing my generals early is definately something I would have told myself. Being homeschooled gave me time to be involved with my community through vounteer programs. However, I wish there would have been opportunities to help at the local juvenille detention center. Being able to spend time with the teachers there, and to work in the facillity that I will one day be teaching in, would have been irreplacable. Hands on expirence will give a person knowlede that no book learning could ever do. Therefore that is the last thing I would have told myself, "to get more expirence in my field of study before starting college."

If I could go back in time I would tell myself that college is something that I thought I knew about going into but really had no clue. As a freshman I came in expecting it to be non stop school and hard work and nothing else. As the year got started I realized there was a lot of time thats given to you that is for anything and its something you don't want tot ake advantage of. Instead of using time between classes as a fun time I would take the time to use as a break/study time because yes you have to work hard but theres no one there anymore that will tell you, you need to study, you need to do your homework, and you need to go to school. So going into college the biggest thing you have to be ready for is being by yourself and taken control of your life.

I would tell high school students to learn to study and to take classes to help them be prepared for college. I would tell them to rearrange their schedules so that they get the best teachers for each of their classes so that they are sure to have the opportunity to learn so they are prepared for college. If they aren't prepared, they have to take non-credit (expensive) classes so that they can learn what they should have learned in high school. I would also tell them to get involved in their high school. That makes it more fun.

College may seem alot more expensive and stressful than you realized, but if you work hard and get a good education, that education will be priceless.

If I could go back I would tell myself to study extra hard and take everything in. I noticed that I missed out on some skills that I should have learned in High School. With pushing myself harder in my High School years it would have helped me to transition into the college academic level easier.

I would first tell myself to become organized. A desk calendar will be a great investment so you can write down all upcoming projects, exams, readings, etc. so you can look at what needs to be done during the week. Having different binders for each class will also help, so notes will not get mixed up or misplaced. I would also say sit in the first two rows towards the middle. This will limit distractions during lectures and allow you to pay attention better. On the first day of class, I would recommend introducing yourself to your professors so they can match a name with a face. This way if you have any problems or questions, you will feel more comfortable approaching the professor and s/he will be more willing to work with you as the semester progresses. The last thing I would say is GO TO OFFICE HOURS! This is a chance to get help on homework or anything else class related. If you become familiar with the professor, s/he may be more willing to meet with you if his/her office hours do not fit your schedule.

There is no better time to start your life than now. Even though you are tired of school, ready for a break, just keep going on with your education. You are unsure of what direction you want to go and that is okay. Explore different fields and always remember that this is your life and you should go after the type of life that you want, not what other people want for you or what is expected of you. This is your life, live it. On a more acedemic stand point, schedule time for studying, writing papers, and doing homework. Setting up time for that is much easier than trying to create time for it after the fact. Never hesitate to ask for help from the instructors. They are there to teach and want to teach. Don't be afraid to make friends. Friends can make a great support network. Lastly, enjoy college, it goes by faster than you think.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would warn myself about what lays ahead. I would warn myself to be financially prepared. Since I began college my loans have run out twice and I have had to pay my tuition and pay for my books out of y own pocket. I would warn myself that even though school is going to be hard in both a mental and financial sense that I should not give up and continue school. I would tell myself that life outside of school is going to be rough as well. In one year I lost my grandfather to cancer and only a few days later my girlfriend of almost three years left me. And although I thought about giving up I didn't. I knew that later in life I would regret not finishing college. So I would make sure that my senior self would know that although times would be hard my family and both new and old friends would help me through even my darkest days.

I see myself as teenager. I have only been away from her for a few years, but she is bright eyed and curious of what is to come. If I could tell her how things were going to turn out, I don?t know if I would. It is only because I have lived through necessary trial, that I have become the person that I am and who she will be. Words are fair warning, but the voyage through the wilderness is the only way to enlightenment. The mark of a true scholar is the application of the lessons that have been imprinted through a most certain crash course through life. These are my remnants from just such a journey; Do things with integrity. Compete gracefully. Always say thank you to the people who guided you. Remember the things that made you happy when you were a child, for they are good therapy for the difficult times you will inevitably face. But most importantly, remember that tough times will pass, but you will never forgive yourself if you forget your dream and starve your soul.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be several things I'd advise myself. The first advice I'd give would be to be outgoing. Many college freshmen struggle with homesickness and miss their old friends and family. The best way to overcome this is to meet people on campus. Joining extracurricular clubs, for example, is a great way to meet people of similar interests. The second advice I'd give would be to take academics very seriously. Though there can and will be several distractions at college, academics should be top priority. While I graduated college with a 3.39 cummulative GPA, there were a few semesters where I didn't do as well as I could have. Looking back, I would have advised myself to spend more time in the chair and less time goofing off. The final advice I'd give would be to not stress out so much. College is an enriching, memorable time of one's life but it can become stressful and busy. I'd advise myself to take a deep breath, relax, and focus on one thing at a time.