Trident Technical College Top Questions

Not going to college immediately after highschool, I can admit that at one time I did not have a complete understanding of the importance of education. I was stuck in my comfort zone with my great friends in my great hometown. Everything was great and i was never stressed out. I lived like life doesnt change and i did what i wanted to whenever i wanted to. I lived like an immature adult and thats exactly what i was. My teachers knew me as a smart underacheiever that could get by not taking his bookbag out of his vehicle. I showed up to class everyday simply to socialize with friends and show the teachers that i have a weak understanding of the lesson but am present and engaged. I treated school like it was a popularity contest. Life changing events like a friend dieing and totaling my car greatly influenced change and made me a stronger person. Had I been aware of my destructive lifestyle earlier and able to guide myself out of it I would have much sooner. I am well on my way to becoming a more effective human being and this scholarship would help significantly.

Listen kid, life is going to get difficult unless you change right now. Get help for your depression soon so it dosen't hurt your ability to funtion as an adult. Go to every class. Get the homework done. Don't go to FMU first, go to trident. Then go to CofC and follow your dreams. You aren't goin to want to be a history teacher when you get to where I am. Take Japanese and work for the county parks. I know that seems crazy, but i promise it will make you happy. No matter what anyone tells you, you matter. You matter to me. WE will be something one day and WE will show everyone that we were worth more than we were given crdit for, but I just need you to be responsible now. I love you dude. WE are going to be ok. Trust me.

Don’t pick a college just because your friends are going there. Think long and hard about the college you want to attend. Pick a place that has classes and programs that interest you and are going to benefit you down the road when it’s time to pick a career. Start applying for scholarships as soon as you can. The more money you have for college, the less debt you will have to pay back when it’s all over. Imagine having the career of your dreams and nothing to show for it because of all the school loans you have to pay back!!! Think smart. It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what your career path is. College doesn’t have to be rushed. Knowing your career path comes with maturity. Also understand that college is supposed to the best time of your life. You will meet friends you will have until the day you die; friends that will be in your wedding. You may even meet your significant other there. Enjoy this time while it lasts because it’s going to go by so fast. Make lots of memories.

I have asked myself this question many times, i could go on-and-on for hours about what advice i would give myself. Life as I once knew it in high school has completely changed. Although it was the end of something good when high school ended, it has been the beginning of something great since i've started in college. I would first tell myself about college so that i would have some sort of idea of what to expect. I was nervous as to what I would encounter and the challenges i would face in college. The thought of going to a new school with a higher curriculum and a one hundred percent different learning environment made me nervous and intrigued at the same time. I would tell myself to just "take it slow" and go day by day without over-loading yourself. Don't let every little problem or issue get to you, just focus on what you want and what you need to do to accomplish that. I have faced many hurdles so far. This would be my advice to my high school self boiled down as short as possible.

I would say, "Kimberly, contrary to popular belief, you do not know everything! Don't go to that University just yet. Acclimate yourself slowly into college life. Stay home with Mom and Al and attend a Technical School. Utilize your scholarship when you know what career you want to pursue. Stay in touch with your High School teachers; they have valuable advice to share. Don't use drugs or alcohol. You are not invincible. If you substitute parties for classes and studying hard, you are going to become an alcoholic and addict and waste twenty years of your life. Quit playing the victim. It happened, it's over, move on! Don't use past hurts as an excuse to give up. You are capable and you are worth it. Study hard, believe in yourself and get the education you deserve. Choose a major that you're passionate about. If you enjoy what you do, it's not work, it's living life and getting paid to do so. YOU CAN DO THIS!! And by the way...You are special and you are loved. I believe in you.

Dear Heidi, My advice for you? Oh, where do I start! The most important piece of advice is don't worry about what other people think! You spent too much time worrying if you were dressed right or you were saying the right thing. Stop. Most people are concerned much more about themselves and not paying attention to you. If you do this one thing alone you will feel the pressure is off for perfection. Perfection will never be attained so stop trying. Relax and have fun. Sleep. Get more of it! It does wonders for your mood and you will get more out of your studying if you are well rested. Sleep is underrated. Use sunscreen too! All the time. Even when it is cloudy outside and you think you don't need it. It really is not that hard to put on. Last but not least. Trust your gut! If you have a feeling about something or an instinct to do something. Follow it. Most of the time it will lead you in the right direction. If your not sure about something. Get quiet. The answers come out of the quiet. Enjoy every moment, Heidi

Coming from a family with very little education I was encouraged as a high school student to drop out of school and take up a trade. I wish I had known someone that encouraged education when I was a high school student, but there were none. If I could go back tin time and talk to myself I would tell myself how important a secondary education is. I would encourage myself to look into the future and understand the implications of not having an education. I would tell myself just how smart and inquisitive that I am and that going to school would give me the tools to think critically and to be more tolerant of others culture. I was afraid of the transition from high school to college because I thought that I wasn't smart enough. I would definitely tell myself that I am an intelligent guy and worthy of college. We can't go back in time but we don't have to live in the past either. I chose to endure hardships now so that my future will be brighter and so that I can join in conversations that I couldn't before I started college.

In high school I had a wide variety of interests, but I went to college to study nursing with persuasion. I was taught a career in the health professions was guaranteed stability. By sophomore year, it was confirmed, this was not the path for me. Now a junior and anxious to graduate, I changed my major to one most compatible that would allow me to graduate timely. I graduated a year later and found myself in student loan debt and in a career I had no interest in. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say, tap into your interests. Follow your heart and not what everyone else wants for you. I would stress the importance of scholarships. When it’s time to repay student loans, you then realize how much debt you are in. At this time, I am elated to have been accepted and starting in the fall for a degree in film and production. I measure success on experiences and personal fulfillment. This time around I am following my dreams by doing things that will bring personal fulfillment and allow me to live my best life!

Looking back, I would tell myself to not give up at the first sign of hardship; I feel like I failed myself briefly by waiting so long to begin my college journey. My high school self needed to hear that college was invaluable and hard work at the beginning would have saved a lot of money, heartache and late nights later on. Being able to focus solely on your education rather than cramming it in at the end of the work day is an amazing oppurtunity that should not be easily passed up. Finally, while college looks terrifyingly expensive, there is help out there. There are people and organizations that want to help you achieve your dreams so that one day your children won't have to worry about paying for college.

Education is the most valuable thing that you can obtain in your life. Do not forget this. You've learned a lot in high school, about distractions and more distractions. College is the time to kick those bad habbits and transition into high gear. Whenever you feel that you've given it your all, push harder. Do not ever procrastinate. After all, can you really think of a better thing to do with yourself other than learning? Be the master student that I know you can be. Now is the time to think of your future. Do you want to be a leader? Yes. Do you want to provide the most that you possibly can for your family and children? Yes! Well, it all comes back to this. Education. Do not ever jeperdize your education for anything because, in actuality, there is nothing that is more important. Transitioning from a high school environment will not be effortless by any means. This is serious work, and serious consequences. Sometimes things may seem overwhelming. It isn't easy, but, it is very possible, and the ability to do it is within you. Never doubt your capacity for greatness, and never give up.

High school is undoubtedly the most important time in one's life to make major decisions for their future. It is the time to fill out college applications, take standardized tests and bring up that grade point average. As for me, I sadly did not do any of those things. If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self about what I know now, I would tell myself to be more committed. Even though I did graduate, I would tell myself the decisions I make in high school effect later life situations such as being a successful student in college. Taking the time out of my day to study and grasp the information the teachers were teaching, would have set me up for a greater success rate. In college, its all about time management and dedication. Taking the time to study and complete assignments is a must. There is no hand-holding in the adult world. Although I am proud of my achievements in college so far, completing assignments with concern and concentration in high school and having the will-power to finish out strong would have been better preparing myself for the college life.

If I could give my high school self advice using the knowledge I know now I would say, "Cassie, you are so much smarter than you give yourself credit for, take those honors courses, challenge yourself, and have faith." I was so afraid to fail, and disappoint myself that I did not challenge myself in high school. I would definitely tell myself that if I try hard in high school, it will make the transition to college so much easier. Life itself would be so much easier. I never thought I was going to be capable of being on my own right out of high school, but now that I look back, I was a lot more mature than I could ever imagine I was at the time. I would encourage myself to be more independent and go away to school, because I know now that I could have done it. There is not a doubt in my mind now, I was ready for the transition then. The best advice I could give myself would be to just take the leap into the real world head on with no fears because failure was not on my path.

Seeing as to how I'm 10 years out of highschool, there are a lot of things that could be said. I think that most importantly, the advice that I personally would give is this: "Please don't give up!! Do not succumb to parts of the world that settles for a dead end job! Don't leave school just because of a stuggle that has been experienced. Follow through and get into college!! It will take you places you never knew existed. Above all else remember this, do NOT give up on yourself. Do NOT allow anyone's opinion steer you in a direction that you don't completely agree with, and most importantly, ALWAYS live your life with your faith first, yourself second, and then everything else after that." I made a lot of rough choices throughout my life, and this last year and the few years to come, are my steps to a new direction. I know now that had I chosen this path 10 years ago, my life would definitely be in a different place. Now, that is my new goal, to become what I didn't choose then, before it's too late. Thank you.

Youngster, I understand that at this moment in life what you desire most is to get that fancy new car, new clothes and take that beautiful girlfriend of yours out on dates. Your reasoning really isn't that bad on the subject of why you shouldn't go to school right now but allow me to provide you with reasons that even your guidance councelors couldn't. That new car you want, will impress your girlfriend but that education will inspire her. Those clothes will make you look good but you could buy more and better clothes once you become an engineer. Those dates you want to go on, imagine this, a cruise or maybe a plane ride. The destination of your trip could be overseas and it's all possible if you let go of your small time ambition and allow yourself to dream of a bigger brighter future. Also, college is as fun a place as you think it is. The work in college is as hard and rewarding as everyone told you but when you start using that knowledge it becomes priceless. You like being a know it and the first step is learning it all.

If I could go back in time to myself as a hight school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy the moment. Don't always be looking ahead so much that you miss out on what is right in front of you. Enjoy college the first time. Be active in campus clubs and go to school football games. Don't just rush from class to work and back again. Life moves to quickly and we are only young once. Once that time in your life is gone, you can't get it back. College is much harder the second time around when you have a family and a job. Work enough to pay for school and drive that old junker your parents gave you! Don't work so hard to try and buy a new car and insurance. LET THEM HELP YOU! There is no shame in accepting help form your parents to get though school. They want you to succeed. They love you. Don't be in such a hurry to be independant. Once you get there it's not always what it is cracked up to be. Breathe. Live. Enjoy the moment.

Dear Sarah, Please study for that test, put down the phone, do some homework! Fill out those scholarships before the deadlines instead of hanging out with your friends. Forget the petty drama, look into the future. Question your descions and your future career. Who are you? Don't follow the crowd, make them follow you. Be on time, wake up early, stop complaining! Knowledge is the key to great success. Take advice and don't be shy to share your ideas. Never give up on your dream, the time it will take to accomplish it is going to pass anyway. Don't be afraid of failure, it teaches you. Get involved . Show who you are to others, express yourself. Lastley, don't try to rush the future time moves quicker than you think. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw bowlines. Sail away from the harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

I would go back in time, and tell myself to attend college straigh out of high school. I waited along time to do what was needed for me to grow mentally as a person mainly because i never liked school. In my age i now realized its not about doing what you like, but doing whats needed. I would explain this to the younger me so he would understand you dont know everything, and to have the life you desire then attend college.

All I can say is try harder! Put forth more effort to make the best grades you can. College is expensive and paying for it while you attend is difficult. You're smart and you can get scholarships if you just apply yourself more. Also, take Spanish every year of high school and strive to learn every word of it that you can. It is a beautiful language that will be so easily learned by you, so start now.

I worked many jobs after I graduated highschool. If I were able to go back and offer myself advice, I would tell myself the following: "Focus on school and really apply yourself to your studies. Even if you work on the side, make sure you take the time to get your schoolwork done. You may hit some bad times ahead, but don't let that get you down. You've got a support system of family and friends that are going to be there the whole way through making sure that you accomplish your dreams. Your career choice may change down the road, but don't let that scare you. Make sure you take the time to figure out what you'll enjoy doing and where you believe you can help people best. The light at the end of the tunnel may seem dim now, but you'll get there! Take it a step at a time and all will work out for the best!"

If I could go back and tell myself what I know now I would have told myself to learn how to study, how to effectively learn the material instead of memorizing it just for a test, and how to follow the path that is best for me instead of what everybody else thinks is best. I would tell myself if you don't learn how to study now you are going to struggle so much motivating yourself to study when you get to college, going and hanging out with your friends is definitely not more important than that test, project, or paper, even though it may seem like it now, it's not. You can't just fake your knowledge forever by memorizing it for a few days because, it is all going to build up off of that one piece of information that you knew for a day. Lastly, don't follow the path everyone else thinks you should go for even when they say "you'll never make money doing that". Money isn't everything, don't make yourself miserable in classes you hate because someone told you that you should take them, make your own path instead.