Truckee Meadows Community College Top Questions

As a high school senior, I would have told myself that college is an option for everyone who wishes to go. I would have told myself that it may not be easy, but no matter what happens, you press on and learn from the experiences that may not have felt as successful as you may have wanted them to be and know that it is a long road for better future success. Each year or even semester is a further opportunity to improve you as a student and person. Furthermore, I would also remind myself that I would be investing in my future and that it is imperative to save as much money as you can while still in high school since I would have a little more free time than I would in college. Lastly, I would tell myself that there are bigger and better things in this world and that I can do anything that I set my mind to, so have fun and go for it!

If I could to back to my senior year and give myself advice, I would express the importance of geting more involved in my college and the work completed there. I started off college getting in and out of classes as possible and it was reflected into an ineligible GPA. It wasn't until I took the time to meet new people and to get involved with my school that I was able to regain eligibility. I've come to understand the scholastic rivalry I once scoffed at and took my side amidst the school rivalry because I now take pride in my work and am confident in my college in ways I could not have understood without my experiences post-graduation day of '08. I would also express the importance of financial aid. It is something that I didn't pay much attention to until recent and I ended up paying for it far more literally than I could have afforded to. Without scholarships like this very one, the time to focus on school is wasted maintaining living expenses. Having this advice earlier on I am positive I could have avoided both my financial and academic troubles.

If I could go back to my senior year I would tell myself to get ready. I had so much stuff to get done that I needed to start ASAP! But I didn't. I slacked like no other. I wish there was somebody that would have smacked me against the head and say pull it together. I would have filed my FAFSA, got another job, filed for my Milennium on time, and sign for the classes I needed. It was to the point where I couldnt get into any classes and couldnt afford it that I had to take the first semester off. I wish I would have got my head on straight and do the things that I needed to do. If I could go back, I think that I would be in a better place now.

First off I would emphasize applying for sholarships and grants. I have foumd that the financial part of college can be very stressful and overwhelming especially if you are serious about your college career. Having the extra money for your courses, books, room and board and other college expenses makes it alot easier to focus on your studies rather than worrying about if you"ll still be considered a college student in the near future. Another key thing I would inform myself about is creating good study habits. In college you will find that you will have to be alot more independent and responsible. Unlike in highschool teachers aren't going to run behind you to make sure you're doing you're part they will just do theirs. If you study you are able to stay on top of your academics and when its time for the finals, which are a critical part of the course, you wont have to cram. Cramming opens the window to failure. If you have commited to good study habits your grades will reflect it giving you the confidence you need to excel.

I personally felt highschool was a breeze! I was able to attend school, keep good grades, participate in many extra curricular activities/sports, and keep a part time job. I wasn't worried about college being too much to handle. I took 15 credits my first semester however, I wasn't expecting life to intervene. Shortly after school started, I was keeping up my grades, and the rest of my life was falling to pieces. My relationships were becoming rocky, and the pressure was becoming overwhelming. Even though I had gone to orientation, and heard about all the oppertunities, I didn't think I needed help. Half way through the semester I dropped all of my classes. Not because my grades were slipping, but because I was slipping into a deep depression and anxiety disorder. I ended up getting help from my advisors. I was having so much trouble in life that they actually advised me to drop my load and take some time off. They helped me stay in school activities so that I would return the next year. If given the chance I would say take time and enjoy the college experience, don't go too fast!

Be wiser with your money don't just spend it on stuff you want, and apply for scholarships when you can. Ask lots of question get all the information you can.

Given the oppertunity to revisit a newly graduated, freshly minted me, I would grab the chance to say to me, "Get to know yourself first! Don't just enroll and take classes because everyone else is. Find your passion. Find a passion. Figure out what you want to do in this life." I would remind myself that doing what you love, finding something to do that means something and isn't just about the paycheck will make all the difference in the world when the time comes to make sacrifices. I would say that money is never the path to happiness. And while it may make the path more comfortable, ultimately, the happiness I have always sought will come from a sense of purpose and accomplishment and the feeling that the work I do in this life, means something.

If I could go back in time and advise a young, freshly minted me, I would tell myself not to take everything so seriously! I would say that the most important thing is to find something to do that you love, that you're talented at, that you feel passionate about. To be great at anything in life, you have to have a passion for it and be comitted toward giving the best of yourself. I would say, "Don't just take classes to take classes. Figure out what unique qualities you have that set you apart. Are you creative? Do you like helping people? Do you want to make a difference in this world?" I would say that as time goes on, what matters is that you find something that has meaning and purpose, even if doesn't re

The biggest thing I would tell myself is to apply for more scholarships and grants. I have known that I would have to pay for school by myself due to my families financial situation but I didn't expect it to be so hard. I would tell myself to save more money just to have as back up for school incase I hit a hard spot in which I couldn't afford my tution. I don't want to take a semester off from school because I know how hard it would be for me to get back in. I have heard a number of stories about people taking a semester off and never going back. I would tell myself that no matter how rough it gets there are always ways to get through it and get school paid for. I would tell myself to never put school on the back burner and to keep it as my number one priority when it comes to paying for things.

IF I could go back and talk to myself a a Senior, I would have told myself not to drop out of high school and would have got a diploma in 1991 (instead of a GED in 2001). I think to myself everyday that I go to school and see all these young kids getting ready to graduate and start their futures and wish it was me. I am now a single mother who has to work full time while juggling two kids(4/5) school full time and home work! If I would have stayed in school as a teenager, I could be on my way to retirement right now instead of trying at age 36 to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life? I hope that with all my hard work and dedication in the future, I will be able to be a role model for someone that may be walking in the shoes I am wearing today?