University of Hawaii-West Oahu Top Questions

The adivce I would tell myself is to learn how to be calm an not panic. I would let myself know its okay to not know everything thats going to happen and that I can not control everything. I would learn how to love myself and not be someone I'm not. I would be able to accept the fact that I can not be good at every subject but as long as I try my hardest then thats all the matters. I would say to myself "cherish the time now you have with your friends because as you get older you start drifting apart". The most important adivce I would give myself is its okay to cry every now and then but always remeber to be greatful and learn how to have fun and not worry so much because life will go by fast and experinces will shape the person you are becoming.

I would tell myself to make the most of the whole experience. It is important to really be there, not make a half fast effort. I was half there and half somewhere else. If I could find a way to escape, I did. I think it is important to really absorb the knowledge available, the discipline to study and to go the extra mile in every endeavor. My study habits have now proven, how to gain the A's I always dreamed of. I believe the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. I would tell myself that you are as good as the next person and you deserve to be able to get just as much help and consideration. I would also tell myself to get involved and to have friends I could be accountable to. Extra curricular activites and sports are there to expand the person, you really are. It is important to take advantage of your school years, they are what designs your future. I would also tell myself that I have enough time to be a grown up. Then we hit the real world and have to earn a living. Savor your time.

Dear High School Self, College is not what you're expecting it to be. It's more liberating, in a way. You get to choose the classes that you want on the days and times that you want. You can leave campus when you want, and you can even skip classes (though it's not recommended, so don't do that). You can wake up later and only go to one class a day if you want. College is great. You may be confused about what you want to do. You're thinking about psychology, which is good, but don't forget that you love music. You are IN love with music, so keep that in mind. But ultimately, it doesn't matter because you'll figure it out along the way. What does matter is where you go. My advice to you is to apply for scholarships, financial aid, loans, grants, anything you can. That way, you can stay in California and go to school there. UH West Oahu is great, but your heart is in California. Don't underestimate yourself. If you work for it, it'll be in your hands. Never stop working. Signed, Your College Self.

Keep your eye on the prize. What seems like a lifetime now is only a second in time. The more you learn , the more you earn which will affect your whole life. Only you can determine what you will get from the experience, make the most of the time and soak up the knowledge and experiencing as if you were a sponge.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, the advice I would give myself would be that I should have taken more advanced classes. I should have taken more advanced classes because I would have been more prepared on college and I would have a sense of college work. Going into college not knowing what to expect really freaked me out a lot because teachers assigned tasks that made me really think and work hard on.SSo college really intimidated me and really pushed me to the limit where I wasn't use to. In high school, I didn't really have those kind of classes because I chose the easy way out by taking regular core classes that don't push you as much and doesn't make you think deeply. So if I could go back into time, thats the best advice I should have given myself.

Since I had experience the first year of my college life this year, I realized it wasn't easy at all as I expected compare to high school. There's a huge difference especially when it comes to the level of class works & homework. It takes a lot of responsibility & effort to complete each of your subjects. One thing that I had struggle during my first year in college is to maintain a high gpa & received a high grades in my classes. In fact, college is all about being a self-directed learner student; its all about being an independent person where you cannot depend on someone else. Apparently, the most thing that I hated doing in high school is to read an A.R book because I dislike reading books especially when its not an interesting topic at all. So throughout my semesters in college, I had to work really hard & put a lot of effort to do well in my exams, which allows a lot of reading comprehension. In that case, If I can go back in time, I would probably read more books & take the time to actually understand the main ideas and concept of each story.

If I could go back in time I would encourage myself to be more active. My senior year was not what it could have been because I was not that active in campus life, something that I am working hard to make up for in college. I was a part of the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp but I did not make any real friends and I did not take advantages of all the opportunities I had. The thing I regret the most about my senior year is that I didn't make any solid friends. I have grown a lot in college and now enjoy several strong friendships but I can never make up for lost opportunities in high school. I would also tell myself not to be so nervous about the future and what I planned to do with my life. Things worked out well and I can't spend my life regretting past mistakes. All I can do is keep moving forward and keep from making the same mistakes again.

I'd advice myself to be better prepared for the academic challenges and expectations at the college level and to take academics more seriously. I'd recommend a small school like University of Hawaii West Oahu because individual attantion is a focus on this campus.

Don't allow the fear of Math learning disabilities to hold you back from achieving your goals. You need to just push through the pain and frustration because you are going to have a successful life. Start at the community college level and work your way up. Study and apply yourself because the future is bright. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how you get there just reach for the stars because you're going to make it. Don't worry about getting into a relationships; just concentrate on the goal of the journey . Friends won't always be there. Money can come and go, but no one can take education away from you. The struggle to get the degree will be worth it. Just walk one step at a time and believe in your ability to succeed because you will succeed. Your life will be whatever you choose. Good or bad. If you believe you can...you will. Just put one foot in front of the other and walk fearlessly into your future.

Out of my college experience I have gotten that it is more than just a piece of paper. After completing my AA this last semester, I was surprised at the amount of pride I felt! For me it was aknowledgement that I had followed through with a commitment that I had struggled to complete in the past. I also learned the value of ceremonies, and am looking foreard to walking in the spring for my AA. Education is valuable for self-esteem, to open doors (sometimes you didn't even know you wanted open), and to open the mind (by literally changing the way the mind fuctions). I truly enjoyed the personal experience at Windward Community College, and am excited to be attending University of Hawaii - West Oahu for the Spring 2011 semester. I picked West Oahu because it was smaller and wanted to maintain the small community feeling that I felt at Windward. I am proud to finally be at a university after many years and can't wait to have my bachelors in my hand. Regardless if the degree itself is used or takes me elsewhere, I am looking forward to the sense of personal accomplishment.