University of Hawaii at Manoa Top Questions

If I could go back, I would tell myself to take school more seriously. I have had a hard time keeping my GPA up in college because I did not gain a good study ethic in high school. I used to breeze through classes and only do what was required of me. I see not that it makes school a lot harder if you don't really try in school and work hard. My first few years of school my GPA dropped significantly because I was not focused and cared more about my social life than my school work. I have been paying for that mistake for two years now. You don't realize how hard it is to get your GPA back up until it drops. I also see now that the harder you try in school the more opportunities you have in life, whether is it financial help with school costs, internships you are really interested in, or a dream job that you are working towards. I would tell myself to remember that the hard work will all pay off in the end and not to forget that throughout college.

I would tell myself to be confident and not to fear the future. Life may seem uncertain and daunting but with the help of family and friends you can do it. In addition, stop comparing yourself to your classmates who are on a different path. Everyone has a path to follow and there will be choices that are to be made at crossroads and intersections. Follow your own path because it is unique and make wise choices so in the long run you can be happy. Take advantage of the college experience because you will learn far beyond your dreams and will meet people that will help you get there.

If I knew what I know now, I would go back and tell myself to study harder the first time around, because sometimes when you get to the point you realize that this matters it is a longer struggle to get back to that place. I would also say that make sure that you create a good group around you that can understand what you are going through, and you can support each other. And last make money when you can, everything is expensive.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. For me, the transition from high school to college was smooth, and looking back on it now, I didn't need to stress as much as I did. My high school prepared me well for life at college, and at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, kids are friendly and laidback. Making friends was easy. It is a beautiful place, and the best advice I could give would be to stay focused at all costs! Not having a parent or teacher constantly reminding you to go to class or do your homework, especially when the beach is down the road, can make concentration nearly impossible.

I would have given myself the advice to learn different ways of studying other than memorizing. I would have told myself to learn my critical thinking skills more in depth, I'd tell myself that waiting till the last minute isn't a good option. I would given myself the advice of paying more attention in classes and to never throw away essays or math homework, because it would help me in the long run. This is what I would tell myself if I was a highschool senior once again.

My experiences as an undergraduate have made me a better person. Had I known of the personal, academic and professional challenges that awaited me, I may have done things very differently. However, hardships allowed me to truly appreciate the opportunity that was in front of me, and along the way I met some amazing people who helped guide me to success. Now as I prepare for graduate study at a new university, I am facing many of the same uncertainties as when I was a wide-eyed high school senior. If I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would emphasize the importance of focusing on the process and not on end results. Constantly looking for shortcuts will lead to an unfulfilling college experience, leaving you with no more than a piece of paper and a handshake. Business school offers countless opportunities for career sampling, internships, student organizations, networking events, and curriculums that target all careers. Despite working fifty hours per week as a parking attendant, I was active in clubs, completed an internship, and attended every school function available. I ended up meeting an important contact, who recruited me for my first post-college position.

What I have gotten out of college is disiplin, the ability to try new things, and I've learned people skills. The reason why it valuable for me to attend this college is because of those three skills. While attending college I have learned disipline by desiding, when I can or can not have a particual luxary simply because I dont have money. Two I have learned people skills by being an RA and by being part of our students activities board. The reason learning this has been so valuable is because it made me come out of my shell and put myself out there to try new things I normaly wouldn't do. This college, or college just in general is important to me, because I wish not only to further my education, but to also further myself.

Being so far away from home has been challenging. I came here not knowing a single person, and I have made so many friends so far. It has been a huge learning experience being able to balance life socially and academically, and during that process I have learned a lot about myself. Sometimes I need to remind myself how hard I have worked to get here, and what I need to do to continue my success. I am really following something that I love, and I have learned so much academically as well as emotionally about myself through this first semester in college. I am looking forward to getting my degree and finally being able to be the successful person I have worked all my life to be. College is a big step, but it is worth it. An education can take you a long way.

My college experience has given me a variety of opportunities to take responsibility for myself. It took me longer than I expected to fully adjust to college life, especially when it came to walking around campus, and the large classroom sizes. Once I became accustomed to everything, things were a lot better. I found it challenging that most, if not all, of my classes do not assign homework, just the exams. This was a challenge because it meant that I had to review my notes regularly to ensure that I retained the material. I found that this was a valuable experience because it has prepared me for classes that I will take in the future. Additionally, I joined the Residence Hall Association (RHA), which is a Registered Independent Organization of the university. RHA is similar to student council in high school, except we plan activities for the students living on campus. RHA has allowed me to meet new people and get involved with the campus community furthering my college experience. I can't wait to see what else will come from my college experience.

I have learned to be more appreciative of the simple things I had at home, for example: a working water heater, less bugs (mainly roaches), easily accessible food. But I have definitely met people who I can call true friends that I would have never met if I never took the courage to attend a college out of state. If I stayed in California, I feel like my circle of friends would remain the same and I would not be able to learn anything new about people and society as a whole. Attending college has opened my eyes to what the world has to offer, whether that might be a different culture I have never heard of, meeting new people, learning about cloning animals in class, many things that I would have never learned if I just sat around at home staring at the computer. College is an experience that is completely worth it because it is the beginning of the many life lessons one will learn.