University of Houston-Downtown Top Questions

At 31, I look at this question as in indication to measure how much I have grown as a person. There are so many things that I would advise the younger me to do, but I have narrowed it down to the most important two things. The first thing I would advise myself to do in my high school years would be to LOVE myself more. Spend more time developing my character, because at the end of the day, that is how you are judged. So many young girls spend time, money, and energy on becoming someone else that they end up losing themselves. They lose their identity, their passion, and more importantly their purpose. Unfortunately, I was one of those girls. I ran myself ragedy trying to become everyone else, till finally one day in my 20’s I said.. ‘enough is enough, it’s easier being me’. Which lead me to second most magnified self-advice to teenaged me, practice living a healthy lifestyle. Over the years, I have become an Ambassador for providing a plethora of knowledge to kids and teens on how to live healthier lives physically, emotionally and mentally. Your health is your wealth!

Hello, Momena. I know the future is going to be tough on you. All I want to tell you is to work hard, stay strong, and study hard. Don't live off of what people tell you about college, you are you and you are different from them. They have their own challenges, and strengths and weaknesses, and you have your own. If someone says a test is hard, don't just go off of that, whether you are in college or in high school. Start studying hard for subjects you understand, and study harder for subjects that you don't know. Become close with your teachers in high school, and with your professors in college. I know you're shy, but if you want to succeed with straight As in college, don't ever be shy to ask questions , nomatter how dumb you think they are. Sometimes you will have to choose friends and college, and the smarter thing to do always is to choose college. If your friends are your true friends, they won't pressure you to choose them over your studying. Just remember, know your priorities and live life to the fullest. - Momena14 years later

Now that I'm in college, there are definitely a few things I would tell myself as a high school senior. One piece of advice I would give myself is to apply for scholarships as soon as possible. College is really expensive and scholarships are free money that's going to go to somenone, might as well apply. Another piece of advice I'd give myself is to not stress out about going to college. The transition was a lot easier that I thought it would be and college is not that difficult.

I would advice myself to continue expanding my education. I would focus more on learning and less time worrying about other things. I would have sermonized on how lucky I was to get to attend a university, how crucial the first few years after high school graduation are, and how valuable education really is. I would also deliberate on the fact that I will not know an answer unless I determine myself to find the answer. I would have better prepared myself for failures, reminding myself how my failures will ultimately become the best learned life lessons. In the end, what is most important is the fact that I was able to face challenges as I encountered them and if I could repeat without advicing myself I would, it has helped me become a better problem solver, a better thinker, and a productive being.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take more advanced placement classes, in order to put me ahead as I start my undergraduate education. I would also tell myself to get more involved in organizations and assume leadership positions. This would have helped me develop better leadership skills which come in handy in colleges where Team Based Learning is being used in the classrooms. Also assuming leadership positions in an organization in college helps you attain effective communication and organization skills that will help you be more succesful at your job in the future. Another piece of advice I would tell myself is to volunteer to help the community more often. Volunteering helps you see things in a different perspective and gives you a sense of fulfillent that you do not get from working. There are always ways to contribute to your community, and being part of something in which you are not expecting anything back not only looks good on you, but is also empowering in its own way.

If I could go back to my senior year I would tell myself to focus on school above anything. Boys come and go and if it's meant to be then it is but education is the most important and in order to go to college scholarships are an essential thing to have and apply for. Let go of all the petty girl drama because this is the time to become a competitive candidate for the colleges you're looking into and that's more important than petty high school things. Pay close attention to scholarship and college application deadlines and keep up with them. Gather all the paperwork required and turn it on time if not early. Schedule some campus visits and work on your study skills. There will be parties but learn when to prioritize because school comes first. Look into summer jobs and save up for food and other essentials and start figuring out if you'll live on campus or at home. Other than that enjoy your senior year and good luck in college.

When I graduated high school I made the decision to wait to go back to college. After all the strugles I have been through to pay bills, fighting to get a job in an office, and working toward a future if I could give my senior self any advice, it would be to start college the following semester and to not wait. I thought waiting would be a good thing since at the time I had no clue what I wanted to do. Now, I am having to take classes that I would have been exempt from as well having to relearn a few thigns. I would beg myself to not make this mistake. However, dispite wishing I had done this five years ago I am happy that I am finally working toward a better future for myself.

If I could talk to my high school self the most important piece of advice I could give her would be to believe in her ability to do anything she wants to do. I would encourage her to to develop a plan and make sure to keep working on that plan until the goal is accomplished, regardless of any failures or pitfalls she experienced along the way. College life is not designed for the faint of heart. I actually believe the curriculum is set up to weed out the weaker links. In order to succeed at anything you must first believe that you can do it. Once you believe in your ability to achieve your dreams, it will strengthen your resolve to fight for what you want in every situation. Self-confidence is key to struggling through the long study hours, grueling final exams, and even difficult courses and professors. Not every subject will be your favorite and a few of them will feel impossible to grasp. However, self-confidence will allow you to believe in yourself enough to exhaust all options in order to master the information presented to you.

Assuming I could go back in time and give my own self a pep talk, i would have first told my self to start taking things from senior year on more seriously. I would have explained to my self that applying for scholarships, raising my GPA, maintaining good grades in school, and appyling for colleges early was mega important. I would have explain to my self that the more I worked senior year, the less i would have to do in the summer twoard college. I also would have let my self know about how important focus would have been for the transition to college.

I wouldn't change a thing. I dropped out as a senior, but where I am today, I may not have made it this far without making those mistakes. Mistakes make us who we are. Right now, I'm attending Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and am hoping to get accepted to Lee University for the fall semester. Had I continued with my schooling, I made not have made it this far. True, it took me two years to be motivated enough to get my GED, but I owe a lot of that to my girlfriend and her parents. They pushed me to be the man I am today. So, I would tell myself to make those mistakes, but don't give up hope, because things do get better, as long as you can always remember to keep faith, and keep strong.

Going back in time amd talking as high school senior, i would advice to not rush in making decisions.

I would tell myself to take college classes early, so i would not have to waste 2 years of my life taking core classes. I would have waited through the summer before starting college and have a break in between my semesters.

If I could go back in time being a high school senior I would tell myself too study harder, and apply for more scholarships. Now I know the earlier you apply for scholarships the better. As they say “Early Bird, gets the worm.” I would have also told myself to strive to be better, to be the best I could be. Even though I was top 25 percent of my class I would have liked to be top 10. I believe I would have had a better chance at scholarships and grants. I even would have told myself to not let people’s cruel words get to me. As I was told many time that I should go, and now that I should have gone to community college because me and my family would not be able to afford my dream college. I let their vicious words get to me many times. Even though their words hurt and knocked me down many times I strived to continue and pursue my dreams. Even though I am attending my dream college, we are still financially having problems. I really do wish I could go back and tell myself to apply for scholarships.

If I had a chance to talk to myself when i was a high school senior, I would tell my self to start applying for scholarships, and stay focused on my school work. Keep getting more involved with FBLA, and DECA organizations to help make a difference. Better my self at becoming more organized to prepare for college work and my business. Help more students that seem to struggle and doubt themselves since no one gave me a motivational speech. Get more involved within the CROP(College Reach Out Program) by helping more students with their academic work and on field trips, along with finding ways to help better the program. And find any way I could start a positive movement within my high school, not to be noticed, but to give back to the community.

I WOULD TELL MYSELF TO REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT MY MAJOR AND WORK REALLY HARD TO GET DONE WITH SCHOOL IN A TIMELY FASHION. I WOULD ALSO SAY STUDY MORE AND PLAY LESS, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOUNDATION TO OPEN NEW DOORS TO THE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO!

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to pay attention more and that high school is only four years of your life that goes by faster than you can imagine. When I look back at my high school career, I wish I could have done more academically. I would tell myself to have fun and enjoy high school but I would also tell myself not to get so caught up with the social aspect. It seems when you are in high school that nothing you are being taught is relevant and therefore, it is easy to just learn what you have to learn to get by. I know now and would tell my old self if I could that it is a good thing to be a “nerd” who reads books and joins academic clubs. If I had known these things, I believe my transition from being a high school student to a college student would have been easier. Finally, I would tell myself to pay more attention in reading and grammar classes, and then I probably would not have to edit this paper ten times.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to take advantage of the opportunities afforded me and not wait to start college. I would also share the secrets of better time management. I think though that the most important thing I could say to my younger self would be that no matter what happens or how slow you have to take it, never give up. Taking your time and doing your best will always pay off in the end. I would still encourage myself to go into the military but I would push myself toward attending a traditional college right after Army training. Having missed out on the "college experience" I know now I would have been better off living at school rather than trying to keep up with school and a busy life on the side. Stay focused, never quit, and accept help wherever you can get it from; these are the points I would make to ensure an easier future if not also a brighter one for dear old me.

The amount of change that you will go through in the next 4 years is unbelievable. For the next 5 years, don't make any life altering decisions. You brain is still growing, and your interests will change constantly. If you want to know how much they will change; in just a couple of years mom and you will be best friends. Remember that your family comes first. With that said, love your sister even when you come to hate her. Remember who she is at heart, beneath the darkness that has happened to her. The best advice I can give you that will help you with everything I just said, is to keep your mouth shut and listen. You talk too much. Don't shut me out when I say, I know how passionate you are about things but being overexcited about those things is going to push people away. If you want them to see your side, listen to their side first. You think you're ready to handle it all? Wait until you are married and have your first child. You'll realize really quick just how much you need others.

I would tell myself to of actually taken the SAT or ACT and applied to a 4 year college. I would of told myself that being popular and having all the friends really didn't matter, because I look around now and where are they. I would of told myself to put my nose in the books and get what really mattered done. I graduated with a 3.42 but it was my freshman and sophmore years that really hurt my GPA. So i wouldn't just go back in time to tell my senior self but every year i attended high school. I'm sitting here watching all my friend graduate and here I am just barely transfering to a 4 year university. Don't get me wrong I had a fun time accomplishing all of this but if I could that the one thing I would change. I found what I did to be very educational and a life experience that I could of not learned anywhere else. I think it prepared me for my transition to the 4 year university that I am preparing for now.

Life during high school years seemed to be easy and less stressful than what I am having right now. I would certainly advice myself taking more AP and challenging classes in high school itself which I myself didn't take when I was in high school. If I would had done that, things would have been little easier for me right now. The first year of college was more like review from high school classes. I would definetly advice to take all AP classes classes related to major in high school itself and study very hard to earn those AP credits, so that i would not have to take it in college, and move forward.