University of Delaware Top Questions

I had a really tough senior year of high school because I spent most of it stressing and worrying about my impending graduation and transition to college. My advice to my senior self would have been to calm down and enjoy the moment. I was convinced that I was going to hate college, that I was not going to make any friends and that I would be completley alone. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I wish I could tell myself back then that everything was going to work out and that there was nothing to worry about. I should have spent my senior year having fun with my friends and family and not crying fearing that I would never see them again. College is a great experience and a lot of fun, but the semester does end and then you get to come home to your old life again. It is the best of both worlds and nothing to cry over. That would be my advice to myself as a high school senior.

I would tell my high school self not to give up and keep going. Do not stress over little things and be careful who you talk to. The only person that you need to listen to is yourself. Do what you want to do, some people will be mad but this is your life not anyone elses. Everything will work out in the end. Always smile and work hard in class and pay attention. Make friends and get phone numbers and emails. College is a great experience and you will make life long friends. The bigger picture is that college degree with your name on it as well as the benefits that go along with it.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell my high school self that courses in college are nothing like the classes taken in high school. High school is a lot easier. To prepare for the challenges ahead, you need to get a head start in the summer before college. First, by doing research about common study techniques and practicing such techniques. Next, as soon as you approach a problem or feel overwhelmed in school, do not feel embarrassed about asking questions and getting help from the professors. Third, if you are having trouble with time management, contact an academic advisor as soon as possible to get feedback. Fourth, college is amazing and a lot of fun. However, it is very easy to get off track. Keep in mind that you are here to do the best you possibly can and earn a high GPA. Try not to spread yourself too thin by applying to too many extra curricular activities and jobs. Lastly, you are about to embark on the best four years of your life. Cherish every moment and good luck!

If we had the convenience of time travel, I think one of the first things that I would do would be to go back and give the high school senior version of me a little advice about college and the real world. All I would need would be enough time to utter the simple three word phrase, “Don’t Be Lazy”. Perhaps the biggest obstacle in college hasn’t been the calculus formulas, or the organic chemistry reactions, but simply fighting the desire to procrastinate and not study. Laziness and overconfidence made my freshman year of college more difficult than it should have been. I was leaking with overconfidence and a feeling of mental superiority based on how well I had done in high school without putting forth the effort. I was soon unprepared for the necessity of studying, and I struggled to come to terms with the amount of work that college would entail. I could’ve saved myself a lot of time and trouble if I simply buckled down in the beginning and developed an appropriate work ethic. While my sophomore year has been a different story, I should’ve stopped being lazy in the very beginning.

I would tell myself not to let the counselors discourage you from applying to the colleges of your choice, and not to sign up with vocational rehabilitation no matter how much they make you feel pressured.

Prepare to die. Do not worry; you are not going to stop breathing. I mean that the girl inside: your habits, characteristics, relationships and values. She dies in college and another person replaces her. Do not fight death. Prepare for it by embracing the new girl as she comes, but guarding enough of yourself that the new girl will who you want.Understand that you cannot make college like high school. You will not always eat familiar foods, talk to old friends every day, or maintain in all your regular activities. Do not be too sad. College overflows with opportunities to create new patterns. So explore. Eat new foods, build new friendships, and participate in untried activities. Welcome a new self.Be careful, though, not to let every bit of the old girl die. Guard your values. Know what your standards are and why you hold these standards. Be ready to defend them, because they will be challenged. When you can make this defense, you can die without losing everything. You are then prepared to die.

"Work hard to play hard." If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would make sure I understand this quote. As a senior in college, I have seen many students underestimate the rigor of college courses and misunderstand the ultimate purpose of attending a university. Many students forget that the main purpose of college is to get an education in a field that we are passionate about spending the rest of our lives in. Often times, students attending a university have never been solely responsible for their success and having the freedom of "no supervision" ultimately leads to failure. This being said, college is a time to find lifelong friends. I would encourage myself and any other high school senior to get involved in as many clubs or sports as possible. The time spent in school is finite and should be an experience to live to the fullest.

If I could go back in time and advice my high school self (Amira), having my knowledge and experience about college, I would make sure to sit Amira down, look straight into her eyes and give her the following advices that would highlight her university experiences for the good. These advices are: never be afraid to try something new or meet new people (they could be the people to help you in the future), never be afraid or embarrassed to seek help when you needed it, never wait until your grades are plummeting to get tutoring help, always attend ALL class, pay close attention and ask questions when you do not understand what you learned, because that might be the most studying you get before an exam, you should never be afraid to visit your professors and advisors during their office hours, never be afraid to try before you gives up, and also just because others are giving up doesn’t mean you should also. And most important of all, always strive to be different and take the path less traveled, because you might just learn something great about herself.

Had I the ability to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is more than just a GPA and work. It is about finding yourself, the right friends who will support you, talking to professors about careers that interest you, and feeling a part of a community. Not only will you learn information critical to your academic trajectory, but you learn about yourself as a part of a system, a community of people who are learning the same things as you. A very important point I would make is that nothing is permanent. One bad grade, one adventurous night out, and one loss of a friendship does not determine your future. It is not the actions and mistakes that we make, rather it is how we fix them and learn from them. Perhaps most important is talking to your family or support system. They may not have been to your college or attended your classes, but they have seen you grow up and know you to your core. Take their advice and never hesitate to call and ask for support. Learn from classes, parents, friends, and more importantly, yourself.

Looking back at my high school self I would not make any changes. I started attenting Chandler-Gilbert as a junior in high school which placed me a year ahead in college. Looking back it was a lot of hard work but completely worth it. I'm glad I was able to ease myself into the college experience since people have a hard time with the shock of more responsibility. Looking back at the classes I took, I wish that I would have considered trying to test out of the lower classes I was taking. I believe I could have been placed in a higher level that would have benefited me this year.