University of Arizona Top Questions

Dear High School Self, Stop worrying about those little boys, and pay more attention in class! Stop taking naps and do your best! Break out of your shy coma; meet and connect with different people. Join a club or group; get involved in more activities. A new and interesting world awaits you; make it your own. Make it your best! Love, Me

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to clamp down on procrastination, as soon as possible, because what was acceptable in high school, will more than likely never be acceptable again. Due dates are due dates, regardless of any circumstance. I would also tell myself not to over stress or worry too much, because everyone has a rough transition. College is the part of your life where you begin the journey to find yourself, so embrace every moment because you will never get a chance to live them again, even if you wouldn't want to in the first place. Be yourself and do your best, then you cannot fail.

While friends (and boyfriends) are there now, they are only temporary. Start putting more time into studying and making an effort to become more involved in class because when it is all said and done, your future depends on this and the decisions you make will effect the rest of your life; it is so much easier to attend school while you are young. It really is not as hard as you think it might be, especially when you put your mind to it.

If I were able to go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior there would be serveral words of advice I would give myself. For starters, I would tell myself to not be so shy in the classroom and get involved. The more involved you are in a classroom setting the more you are able to learn and to retain vital information. I would also tell myself not to be shy and meet new people. Anyone you will run into is just as nervous about meeting people as you are. Bite the bullet and you won't regret it. You need to be able to interact with people not only in high school or college, but in your career. Lastly, I would tell myself just relax and have fun. College for many is the greatest years of their life. Make sure to take it all in and embrace the moment. Not everyone is lucky enough to attend a major University.

I would go back and tell myself that my future education is more important then "testing" out my knew found 18 year old freedom and that this freedom would drive me/you into a negative and dangerous situation. I would also tell myself and explain that a "school break" is not needed and this break would come once I graduate with a Bachelor's and Master's degree. Staying in school, working on my/your degree in family studies would eventually lead me to finding what I truly want to do, be a victim's advocate and counselor. The transition between High School and College/University may be difficult to get use to because no one will "force" you to do your assignments or make you study but the most difficult transition is getting back into school. This was extremely difficult trying to get back into the pattern of having assignments, research papers, and homework. I would tell myself, as a high school senior, to keep moving forward and get a degree and do not let your "new found 18 year old freedom" take over.

Enjoy being able to eat whatever you want at your parents' expenses. Seriously. It's a huge change having to count pennies when it comes to something you (most of the time) take for granted; eating. I've always liked going out to eat a lot, so I would tell my high school senior self to savor every meal, as in the not-too-distant future he will be forced to dine on unsatisfying cheap macaroni and ravioli. I can, without a doubt, say that I took for granted how much money it really costs to feed myself. I wish my parents could still buy every meal for me, but it's time for me to grow up now. So high school senior self, enjoy your meal! I know my college freshman self sure isn't.

I would tell myself to not be afraid of dropping or swapping classes. If the class doesn't seem interesting at the start just choose another one. It's not worth wasting your time in a class you hate.

If I could have a conversation with my senior self, I would tell myself to keep up the hard work in school but not to be such a perfectionist and have some fun too. I would reassure myself that I will be well prepared for college and that it is nothing to be afraid of. I would tell myself to keep in touch with all my friends in college, even if they are elsewhere.Most imortantly though, I would tell myself to enjoy senior year and not try to rush throguh it because it will be over before I know it. I will have great memories but, in college, friends will be in other states and I will have to get out of my comfort zone in order to really enjoy the new experiences I will have. I would tell myself to cherish every single moment of senior year and not take a single thing for granted; every laugh, every conversation, every hug because I will miss it once it is all over.

I would tell myself to focus on school, and that the obstacles that I'm feeling I can't overcome, I can and will. During high school I suffered the death of a loved one and I also moved from Kansas to Arizona halfway through the school year, it took so much growth for me to get back to being the optimistic person that I am today. I remember feeling like it was the end of the world, I only knew a few people, none of which I relied on to help me with the situation I was faced with. Sometimes I don't give myself enough credit for all that I've made it through, coming to college made me even more independent than I was before. In high school I had no idea the person I would become in two short years. Although I've been through some experiences I wish I never had to bare, I made it. I would remind myself in high school that the opportunities from then on are endless, that I can overcome and achieve anything I set my mind to.

As a senior you should have already taken the SAT's and started applying to college. You should be filling out scholarships and grants everyday till your fingers hurt. You should be planning a trip to take a tour so you can see the campus and get comfortable with how things work. Once you get accepted, apply for housing and look for a roomate. Other than that, you should know this is going to be hard. This is going to the hardest thing you've ever done. You will have your highs and lows. You will doubt yourself almost everyday. You'll miss home and the simple way of life in a small town where everyone knows everyone. You will eat alot of Ramen noodles and bagels. You will lose a lot of sleep and make a lot of new friends. You will learn that every hardship is worth it because this is your dream and this is where you belong. You will learn so much in so little time. Just like in high school though, time will fly by. Always remember to enjoy the little things, live for today, and always be thankful you made it here.