University of Montevallo Top Questions

Don't be afraid. College in real life and college in movies are not the same. People are really nice and they're not vicious as portrayed on films. It's okay to ask around for help if you don't know anything. You can always call Angie and ask for advice if you're not sure what you want to do with your life. You're probably not going to know for sure what you want to do until your junior year and that's okay. People figure out where they want to be at different pace so don't rush into a major just because you feel pressured to. Most people here don't know what they want to do but they're following their heart. You should do the same thing. Do what make you happy and the rest will work itself out.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior and knowing what I know now about college, I would tell myself to keep doing what I am doing. I feel like I made the right decision by finishing high school as Valedictorian of my class, going to a junio college for two years to finish my basics, and then transferring as a Junior to the University of Montevallo. Going to a junior college as a Freshmen taught me how to handle college without feeling overwhelmed like most 18 year olds their first time in college.

I would tell myself that college is such a short amount of time, relatively speaking. Make the most of it and don't put so much pressure on myself to be perfect at everything. Having a few close friends, a decent GPA and most of all, a healthy self confidence about myself is worth the most.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself several things. First, I would tell myself to never sweat about the small stuff. Who you are is not determined by which "click" you belong to or whether you were a cheerleader. Second, I would tell myself to not rule out ANY career choices. Not many 18 year olds truly know what they want to do with their life. Just because it sounds cool to tell people you are a pre-med major doesn't mean you would actually like the job. Third, I would tell myself to choose a school and major based on my own strengths, interests, and investigations, not what my parents expect or want me to do. Last, I would tell myself there is a reason schools have books. Most of them have some pretty valuable and interesting information in them. Reading makes college so much easier!

I would tell myself to prepare myself better and take some things more serious. I would also tell myself to enjoy that time more and not rush growing up so quickly. I would tell myself that I have to be organized and know my schedule every day for majority of the time if possible because you will always be busy, but make sure I still have time to be with friends and enjoy myself every once in a while. Most importantly, I would tell myself that at times I will be very overwhelmed but as long as I hang in there and keep trying I will get through it and it will all be worth it.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take college seriously. I would tell myself to not take anything for granted and to try my hardest at all of the classes I was taking. It is so easy to become distracted while in school surrounded by temptations and freedom. I would tell myself to stay on tract and to try and recieve scholarships.

I would tell myself not to worry as much as I did initially. It is different than being in high school for obvious reasons. You can not see your sister or mom all of the time, but it gives you the chance to grow as a person. Being on your own is not a bad thing. You make amazing friends along the way and learn new things about different subjects and yourself every single day. There is no need to worry. Just work hard and get things done. Do not hesitate to try new things with your artwork and most importantly remember to believe in yourself. You can be and do whatever you want to do. Just do it. Always strive to create amazing things.

I woul advise myself to simply hold on and enjoy the ride. Providence has taken me through so many different experiences and they have all proven to be essential in my development as an individual. I am a returning student so my experiences are very different from my peers, but our differences allow us to learn from one another. It seems as though you learn each lesson at the exact time that you need to. I woul advise myself to be patient and strive for excellence, but to also realize that I am continually learning. Enjoy the ride, seniors.

Don't be afraid to be pushy. When you need something and you need it bad don't worry about other's feelings and their problems. Being a nice guy will always be a better choice but when it comes to college you have to think about yourself, and that means cracking a few skulls if that's what it takes to get them to listen to your problems. If you don't do this you're going to end up with loans that you have no way of paying back, the minimum amount of classes possible, the scary possibility of having to drop out, and losing your dream. They have thousands of kids pass through the financial aid doors, make them listen because they're too numb to the pain to pay you special attention. Oh also, definitely keep your major that you wanted in the first place, you end up with it anyway.

In all truth, I would tell myself,"it gets better". High school was a depression, you have to conform to the statusquo. I would say "it gets better, you can be yourself, and they can help you at Montevallo" . " Dont worry so much about High School, you tried your best with what little resources you have, you dont have to be ashamed of living in poverty. Just be glad you get to live the experience, you will look back one day, and just laugh" " you will find your nerd and geeks, that will be best friends forever. you will be friends with a Athlete, yep a Athlete, and a musician, and you will be the best buds. not to mention a Artist and a Politician in the making" I can see it now, Laughing at myself back then.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to pay attention to everything that the teachers are teaching inside and outside of the classroom. I would also tell myself that what you invest in life is what you will get out of it. Forming a good study habit is crucial to performing well within the classroom and becoming more active within the community is the key to becoming a well-rounded student. Also, never procrastinate when things are do and keep your priorities in order.

If I had the opportunity to give myself advice about attending college from what I know now, I would emphasize the importance of choosing a school based on meeting my personal needs over choosing a school for superficial reasons. After I graduated high school, I attended Auburn University. I chose that school for its popularity, and because I had always been an Auburn football fan. I also chose it because it was my mother's alma mater. I had dreamed of attending that school since early childhood. What I did not consider was whether or not Auburn University was a good fit for me. I have since learned that I am someone who needs to attend a smaller school, with a much smaller student to faculty ratio. I enjoy being able to easily meet with my professors one-on-one, and form a close professional relationship with them. I would love the opportunity to tell my younger self to make a more informed and conscious decision about where I chose to continue my education.

I would have studied more in High School and taken more college prep classes. I spent too much time in extra-cirricular activities...which were a lot of fun and seemed like the thing to do at the time, BUT everyone that I know that paid more attention to their studies in high school has succeeded more in college and in life than the students that played sports and spent time doing extra0cirricular stuff.

I would advise myself to just be me. Although learning how to do laundry, use a map, cook, and clean for yourself are valuable assets when attending college, the most important asset is the ability to just be yourself no matter what others think. In college, you question your own beliefs just as much as others do. It is a part of growing up, but never lose sight of yourself. Take this journey as a chance to discover what makes you happy and what you want out of life. Discover what motivates you, what you are passionate about and run with it. Use that passion to make a better future. Do not worry about what others think of you. I promise that in the thousands of people attending, you will find at least one person who admires you for just being you.

Dear College Freshman Self, You are about to enter an unfamiliar world of a broad variety of people. These people will be your mirror until you find yourself in the midst of all the college chaos. As you sit on the corner of your bed trying to add up the amount of debt you will have at the end of four years, I want you to keep a few things in mind before it all begins. Understand that no one has life figured out right now, not even the seniors so it is perfectly okay if you become confused. Remember that boys will come and go but your GPA will forever follow you even through the heartbreaks. There is no way you can be fully prepared for the tiny world of adults striving to accomplish this milestone in life but you can be different if you wish. Determine what your motivation is and run with it because some nights, it will be all you have to push you. Smile very often even through the long nights at the library because it will be worth it one day.

To trust yourself and those around you. It hasn't been a long time, but I have opened up and learned to trust people I've held at arm's length. This directly lead to depression when I was younger, and that is definitely a cloud of doubt that no one needs when you are apply for college and scholarships. I would also encourage myself to apply to many more scholarships. I'm not embarrassed to say I did very well in high school, and could have saved my parents a large amount of head and heartache had I really attempted to find scholarships. I was lazy, and I'm still growing. My lack of initiative in high school crippled my potential, and even though I know I would have come to Montevallo regardless, as it's the best fit for me and what I want to do, I could have avoided student loans entirely. The ACT doesn't lie. Finally, I would tell myself to do something that I managed to do without prompting, but had my doubts about at the time. Stay honest, and keep your clean slate clean.

Having the knowledge that I do now, if I could talk to high school senior me I would tell her to stop stressing so much. I would tell her that everything is going to get so much better. I'd tell her, "You're going to get infintely happier. Yes, you'll still have down days, but you'll have a set of friends who will always be there to love and accept you. Once you move, it's going ot feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Don't ever fear being yourself. College is going to be a lot easier and less stressful than you imagine, so loosen up and enjoy this last year. It's gunna go by fast." I would make sure she knows that she is loved and accepted and that she can and will make it through to a better side.

When you make a mistake, bad day, or don't do your best in a class, forgive yourself. It's not the end of the world and it doesn't define you. College is hard and it's a great time to find out who you are and what you're made of. Try new things but don't go party crazy, you can't always go back to how you used to be. Take each new day for what it is, a new beginning. DO YOUR SCHOOLWORK AND STUDY.

My advice would be to enjoy these years of my life because they go by so fast. I would advise to always study and make your schooling your top priority. I would also adivse not to give up. It gets hard and sometimes you think you will never make it but you will and it will make you that much stronger of a person!

In high school, you're constantly being told exactly what you need to be successful for that class. However, they don't teach you what you need to know in high school. They teach you that your test grades will always determine your success. In college, you're on your own. But effort plays a huge role in your college education. Getting up to go to class is never easy, but the rewards for showing up are worth every cup of coffee. Going to college is a choice, and it's up to you to make it worth it. Life isn't all about the grade you make on the test. Balance is the most important thing. College is a time to discover yourself. Between studying, partying, taking care of yourself, visiting family, and just trying to figure out what you want to do, there's a lot of room to mess up. But when you make the commitment to further your education, you're making the decision to further yourself and open up new doors.