The University of Texas at San Antonio Top Questions

I would tell myself that college is almost exactly how adults explain it- lots of work, people, "friends," distractions, and trouble. I would encourage myself to keep a list of goals, which is what I do now, as a reminder of what I am in college for. I would remind myself of everything that I've been through, saying that my past accomplishments should not go to waste in college. I would also tell myself to save the money that I was earning from working during the summer, because it is much harder to find jobs and money when there are 30,000 other people to compete with. Money is good for entertainment in high school, when there are no real expenses to worry about. In college, however,when there's tuition, books, and other charges, parents cannot always afford to spend extra money on entertainment. My most important advice to my high school self would be to remember who I am and where I came from. It is extremely easy for people to lose themselves in all of the distractions in college. Stay close to family, remember to go to church, and study as much as possible.

Slow down. Enjoy this year, and embrace the memories. You will have a lifetime to explore other cultures and see the world – but you cannot relive your senior year. The act of going to college, in itself, does not make you mature or intelligent. If you are fortunate, those are attributes that you will gain during your matriculation. Four years of college is not “forever”, and it will be much harder to try to return if you quit. There really will be other boys. They will come from other places – and some of them will be smart and cute, too! On that subject, please understand that sex does not equal love. You will find many people who want to have sex; do not confuse them with people who value you, your opinions, or your future. Physical gratification is great – but it is no match for a friendship that builds to love. Finally, be nice to your parents. Yes, they can be annoying and overbearing – but they worry about you and it makes their day to hear your voice. There will be a time, down the road, when you would give anything to hear their voices one more time.

A degree confers a specific sort of social legitimacy in America, the kind that states, "You've made it." Don't aim for that. Get this degree for yourself, and not to prove to others your capabilities. You're capable and able of achieving set goals - the kind that rise constantly, no matter the occasion. So set some goals, whether that includes college or not, and achieve them.

If I could back in time and talk to my high school self I would encourage me to presevere and continue on to complete my high school diploma. I would explain to myself that this would be highly benefical in the long run because of the difficulty this has caused me presently in finding jobs. I would also encourage myself to establish positive relationships with my counselor and teachers. It would of made it a whole lot easier when things transpired when I was in Highschool to have a positive network of people I could turn to. I would encouraged myself to get involved in something at school because studies show that when student get involved in extra curricular activities that they are more likely to stay complete. I would encourage myself to stay focus no matter what types of things come my way because it will be worth it in the end to endure.

If I could tell my high school senior self I would say to remain calm. College life is really stressful with the tests and multiple assignments back to back and things seems to pile up really fast. I would also make sure I told myself to come out of my shell already. I entered college a tad bit too shy. I could have made friends a lot quicker if I had just let loose a little bit more. Thankfully I have plently of good friends now. Another thing I would advise my self of would be to save money and manage your time. When you leave your home and go to college, life hits you pretty hard. I've had to make a lot of different life style changes to go along with college. I've gotten a job and found time fore leisure and school work. It took me a while to get adjusted but luckily after a semester of college I got it down pretty well.

If I could travel back in time and speak with myself as a high school senior, it would probably sound something like this: “First off, you can do this! I know there is a lot out there that seems to keep throwing itself in your path, but you have always been capable of great things. Don’t give up on yourself now. Trust me on this, the biggest thing stopping you right now, is you. Don’t go through with withdrawing. You can make life so much easier for yourself now if you just finish what you started. Dropping out now will only hurt in the long run, and delay the greatness that you can be. Ten years down the road, you’re going to regret doing it and go back. It’ll be too late for high school, but you’re going to shine in college. Just a little effort now could mean that success comes much faster, and things will be so much easier for you. Realize it earlier than you are going to. Trust me; you’ll thank yourself for it.”

If only going back in time were possible, at least to change the important decisions in life, not to change who your ex-boyfriend was, I would make more time for college preparation. I’m going into my third year in college, and the most important steps I wish I would have done different relate to money and happiness. First of all, It’s never too early to apply for scholarships; I’ve seen some scholarships that request for high school freshman! Most scholarships are leaned for college freshman, straight out of high school. If only I would have paid more attention, it would have been easier for me to find scholarships. Secondly, I would have told myself to take the leap into independence. Lifelong friendships, troubling experiences, appreciation for the loved ones, and much more is gained when one lives away from home. Commuting daily from home to school can become a nuisance, and coming from a large family, it’s always difficult to find a quiet place with so much commotion surrounding me at home. I can’t help myself anymore, but I can help my one younger sibling who I plan to drown with my advice.

Do not take things for granted and live your life without regrets. Set a goal and follow through with it. Getting your degree is important and is much easier to do without having the added resposibilities of full time work, a home, a spouse and children. Take care of yourself now so that you can help secure yourself a good future. Remember to use all the resources available to you. Strive to achieve your best in everything you do, and you will be rewarded. Lastly, have fun, fall in love and be happy, your journey will be well worth it!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I do now about college life, I would tell myself to take filling out scholarship applications more seriously. When I was in high school I think I filled out maybe one scholarship and I didn't get it because of all the applicants vying for the same scholarship as myself. If I would have filled out more, I believe I would have gotten at least one. I would tell myself to start saving now. College is not cheap. Especially when you are trying to pay for it now. I would also tell myself to take time and effort to get into the school that would provide the best learning experience to myself.

don't get married until you have finished school