Union University Top Questions

I would go back to my high school self and give myself the advice that college is an experience but you have to WANT to be there. Research different degrees and sit down with a counsilor to discuss options. Help figure out what a "specific" degree will get you in the real world. Do tests that offer perosnality testing to figure out what skills you are good at. Do as much intererning and job shadowing experience as you can get in to figure out different areas of work that are available. I would also tell me High School self, that college is expensive. Make sure to apply for scholarships, get good grades, and to go to a community college first if you are not quite sure which route you want to go? It is important to get good grades, because even though your young self can't see past the next year, 10 years from now you , just might want to go onto Graduate school and you will need those good grades to get into those programs.

"Enjoy this time; college years are the best of your life." This is probably the most common piece of advice people gave me before college. I never understood why everyone told me to cling to such a slippery hope, knowing it would pass away. Three years into school and I'm looking the end of these 'best years' in the face. I don't mean to say that college shouldn't be transformative. Or that you shouldn't come out of college bursting with new perspectives and lessons, filled with a desire to learn for a lifetime. Or that it shouldn't be a time when you learn more what it means to pour into someone and to be poured into. Because it should and it will. But that shouldn't be the definition of college, but rather the definition of a transformative and transformed life. If you continue on to college, may you enjoy it. But may you also remember that many are denied college and joy is only joy when it is shared. Learn with others. Everyone you meet is a teacher. Living with this perspective is the only way can you stay in 'college' your whole life.

Relationships of all kinds require intentionality. An overabundance of time is on your hands now, but this time will quickly dwindle. Make good use of the blessings and gifts you have been granted, and do not neglect pursuing friendships with unique personalities. Be intentionally kind, gracious, and forgiving. Be an encouragement to those who look up to you, and devote time to spend with those who need a listening ear. Establish firm foundations with friends you admire and respect for their character, and do not be bitter to those who have treated you with bitterness.

If I could go back in time, I would study not only because of GPA, but also becuase of knowlege, especially science courses. It was the basic which help me to study them again in college easier.

College classes really aren't so much different from all the honors and AP classes you've taken. The work load is heavier and the pace is much faster, but the environment of the classroom doesn't change. Don't wait until the last minute to do assignments because it will only cause stress and sleepless nights. When choosing your major, know that it will change a few times before it's really set. The most important thing is to pick something that you enjoy doing. Another important thing to consider is how available/easy jobs in that field are to get. Don't get too caught up in the social life of campus; in four years it will all be gone. Remember above all what you want to do with your life personally and in a career and keep with that. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get out and live a little, having fun is a great stress reliever, but don't become consumed with temporary things. Be considerate/compassionate to your roommates; they're the most likely ones to stick around for years. College is about figuring out how to do life on your own.

Caleb, You have just finished high school and will soon move to college. You have much reason to look ahead with excitement. The basis of this hopeful expectation is the element of the unknown that surrounds every new semester and year. We often speak of fearing the unknown, but I encourage you to embrace it. You know what classes you are taking and perhaps a few extracurricular activities that you will participate in, but everything else is yet to be seen. The year ahead is full of potential for God to shape you and alter the course of your life. One thing I can promise you is that no two years are the same. Some friendships will fade and some will be strengthened. New relationships will develop and new ways of thinking will change how you view the world. You have no idea what kind of person you will be at the end of this year, and that is why you should be excited. So go live in this new life not with anxious attempts to keep everything the same, but with eager anticipation of vibrant transformation.

Study hard, because highschool does not really prepare you for college. Have fun, and try harder to make better grades.

Since my senior year of high school, I have changed a dramatic amount. I would even say that I am a completely new person now, with good reason. Halfway through my senior year, I accepted Jesus Christ to be my Savior. Even though I had grown up in church, I had no real idea what it meant to be saved and to live for God. The first half of my senior year, I was focused on myself, my friends, and my boyfriend. I was absolutely miserable, and couldn't figure out why, until God made it very plain to me. The second half of that year, I was trying to figure out how to completely involve God in my life along with my social circle at the time. I was stressed about college, and tried to figure out ways to make my transition as seamless as possible. I know now that trusting God is all I had to do, instead of staying up all night trying to plan how to keep my life from changing too much. If I could go back and talk to myself then, that is what I would tell me: Rely only on God, not myself.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to study harder and cherish the high school years. When you enter college, it's completely different. I would tell myself to be more ambitious and do more community service as well.

You will have doubts and fears, but do not let them paralyze you. Allow yourself to dream and believe in yourself. After you have focused for so long on your goals, do not let obstacles deter you. You must also not create stumbling blocks to sabotage your future. There will always be people who will not share your enthusiasm, you must respect that and dig deep inside yourself for the correct path for your life. You will find that as wonderful as you hope it will be, and it is at times, you must prepare yourself to handle disappointment and unfamiliar territory. Know that the college experience is not like anything you have ever experienced. Be ready to enter into it with enthusiasm, an open mind and courage to try new things and meet individuals who would never have been a part of your life. Make sure you do not choose your college without a great deal of thought. It must be a place where you feel comfortable, and safe, as it will become your home and your support system for at least the next 4 years. It is much easier to be successful if you are happy.