University of Arizona Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say, "Procrastinators unite right now, rather than tomorrow." Procrastination has always been my personal downfall during my college career. If I had been more dedicated to time management, I would have saved myself some long all-nighters and coffee binges throughout my journey as a college student. After attempting to change my procrastinating ways, I would tell my senior self that although there would be some hard semesters where the work load seemed impossible at times, the hard work would all pay off in the end. Pulling through and getting all of the hard work done would be better than leaving it for the end. Next, I would warn myself to be in charge of my 4 year plan because my academic advisor would have no idea of what she was doing to help me stay on track anyways. For the most part, all my advisor has done is give me problem after problem, therefore I resigned to do my own scheduling so that I could graduate in 4 years rather than the 5. Lastly, good luck and enjoy college senior self!

Naturally, the actions of one's past are much easier to assess in hindsight. If I could go back to visit my high school senior self, I would probably try to encourage myself to do better in my classes. In contrast to my present-day attitude toward school, I didn't always used to be one who took school very seriously. When college started, however, I found that one isn't baby-sat by the teacher as sometmes is the case in a high school class. Secondly, I would tell myself to get mentally prepared for long periods of separation from my family. I know how college bound senoirs are always busting at the seams to get out of the house and live out from under mom and dad's gaze, but I must admit that I am a bit of a baby when it comes to family. I am very close to my family, and although I was somewhat excited to get out of the house, it mostly has been kind of tough. Lastly and on a lighter note, I would inform myself that 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the campus population is constantly text messaging and to always be alert!

Now that I am a sophomore in college there are a few words of advice that I wish I could give my younger self. I wish I could have told myself that no matter what you will find the perfect college for you. When I was in high school I was so worried that I was going to make the wrong decision, and now that I am at the UofA I realize that it doesn't matter where you go, it is all about how you make your college experience your own. I could have gone to any college and I think that I would have had a good time; it is all about how you approach college. I also think that I would have told myself to make sure I get involved in the many different activists that my school has to offer. It is a great way to find people that have common interests with you, and a great way to get involved. The more time you spend on activities is the less time you spend procrastinating on homework!

Don't blow off your homework; it really helps during tests. Don't overload your schedule. You don't need to be doing something every minute. Find a better job, especially if it will let you quit Fry's. Get involved in something you love sooner. Make at least one new friend in each class the first day. They can help get you notes if you get sick and have to miss class. Don't take your Dad for granted; he only wants to see you succeed. Don't let boys get in the way of studying. You have plenty of life left and they'll always be there. But most importantly, take this seriously. This isn't something you get through without passion.

Learn to study!!!!

So many things ran through my mind as I read this question, but the most imortant is time managment. I would have a little sit down with my younger self and tell him not to waste time and apply for as many scholarships as possible. I did not realize how hard it would be to provide for myself. I got little money from local scholarships and no help from my parents and underestimated just how much i really needed. I would expain to myself that I really need to figure out and nderstand what was most important to me and devote myself to that one thing. In this case it would be to get money for college, and work a little more then i did. I also might tell myself to sit out of a certain basketball game so that I would not get hurt. The difference between high scool classes and the college lifestyle is vast and I would really try to help myself out by explaining that I can not procrastinate, or I would end up in a very deep hole after the very first semester.

I would tell myself to save as much money and look/ apply for as many scholarships as I could. This would help in covering the many expenses of college and give me less to worry about while attending college. This would also give me more time to focus on actually getting my degree and succeeding in the various classes. In addition I would tell myself to learn money management/ budgeting skills: if these skills are learned I can better manage the money I do obtain and spend it wisely on materials that are needed. I would also encourage myself to practice time management techniques and skills. This would help greatly in college, considering I have much more free time than in high school, but also more work. With these few tips, I could make myself have a better college experience.

The first thing I would do is pat my senior-self on the back. It was a tough year, filled with application after application for colleges and AP tests and so much more. Then I would tell myself would be to cherish sleep and relish in ridiculously long, hot showers every morning. Between classes, homework, clubs, volunteering, reassuring my mom that I?m okay, exercising, building connections and everything else college offers, sleep is more seldom that I would like. Showers, as gross as this may seem, have also become few and far between. I have a roommate that practically lives in the bathroom. I even had to move my toothbrush to the kitchen. The last thing I would tell myself is that everything is going to be okay, even though that first day will be terrible. You?ll feel like the dumbest one in all of your classes, you?ll get lost multiple times and you even fall down the stairs in your dorm, but it will get better. You?ll make friends and even end up with a 3.8 GPA after first semester. College is challenging, but you will do fabulous!

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself would be to have confidence. Although I have confidence now, I don't think I have the confidence to strive to be the best I can be as far as my future is concerned. If I was a freshman again, I would work harder in my classes to get straight A's because I think good grades can open a lot of doors with professors as far as possible jobs and internships go. Also, I would get more involved in the business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, I joined my freshman year.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson of my college career is one in which I learned the courage to create--the courage to fail. As someone aspiring to a fine arts degree, I am called on everyday (if not in class, then inevitably in the secret smithies of my heart) to put my creativity on the line, to bare my heart and soul for the sake of art and for the sake of the progression of humanity. And nothing is more terrifying than this responsibility, guaranteed to provide failure. Not only as an artist, however, but simply as a human being, do I find the search and attainment of this indescribable courage the most basic and most brave aspect of my individual life, as well as my greatest accomplishment. For as you set out into the world, my past self, you will invariably find that life is fevered with failures of many kind--but it is just these failures that give birth to hope, and change, new ideas and new prosperity. And if we ever hope to make our own lives different, better, and in so doing affect the world, then we must face failure proudly; and then rebuild.