University of North Texas Top Questions

As a high school senior and throughout my first two years of college I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be and I was desperately afraid I would never figure it out. The anxiety was so overwhelming that I often skipped class, abused drugs, and just flat out didn't try. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that fearing failure only ensures that failure and to put the highest effort into every course. It is much more difficult to raise a low GPA than a create a high one from blank slate.

I was inclined to say that I would tell myself to buckle down and study harder during my first year, or to forego my dabbling in the arts and instead start a degree in merchandising immediately. However, I do not think that the values that I have now should have been on my mind then. Instead, I would tell myself to revel in my creative freedom during that year, to enjoy my friendships and to become fully immersed in the culture of Denton. I would tell myself to go ahead and live in the dorms, deal with the crazy roommate experiences and enjoy the stories that surface as a result. It is too easy to become inundated with the balance of work, school, internships, and other obligations as the college experience progresses. Students coming out of high school need that first year as a buffer, in which they can find themselves and establish their identities as members of the university and of the city around them. Essentially, I would tell myself to embrace my artsy, bright-eyed first year at UNT, and brace myself for the transition into more rigorous studies.

I would tell myself that it's not imperative to have everything figured out at this point in your life. College is a learning experience and a place to help you figure out what is the best path to take--it doesn't matter if you don't know what you want to do going in. I would tell myself that I'm my own worst critic and being that won't let me truly succeed. I would say that I should get out more and try to find the groups where I fit in on campus and to build any connections you can. Networking is essential for the future, but it's also incredibly important to find friends you can rely upon and relax with. And most of all, I would tell myself not to worry so much about the big picture, but just take things as they come and experience college life.

As high schoolers, many of us couldn't see past the plans for that weekend. I shrugged off responsibility as if it had nothing to do with me, rolled my eyes at my mom's lectures. Her catchphrase seemed to be "You shouldn't dream if you don't invest!" Oh, what did that workaholic know about dreams? I thought. It wasn't until I began my first semester of university that it slowly dawned on me that instead of spending weekends at the movies, I could have been studying hard enough to boost my GPA. I could have been investing. The time I wasted having fun could've meant better grades, and better grades equaled college money. However, at age 17, I only cared about an imaginary social status. If only I could time-travel to that girl and teach her some basic economics. At that age, I decided my future. I invested the exhaustible resource of time into something that didn't help me aspire to my dreams. As a result, "should haves" and "could haves" plague me in my adulthood. See, dreams don't come easy kid. You gotta spend your time wisely, just like mom said.

I went to college straight out of high school and then had to take a four year break before going back. I needed to learn who I was and what I wanted to do. I'd tell myself to never give up. The horror of life I had was a learning experience, and it does get better. I'd tell myself to learn to relax and breath. I'd tell myself to trust what I wanted and stop doing only what others wanted me to do. The passion that lays deep in my soul to the core of my exsistance is what I'm going to school for now is one I resisted in high school in order to please others. I'd tell myself to only please myself for a minute. I'd tell myself life is valuable and I am worth it. I'm a great person that will do amazing things. Last but not least, I'd tell myself that my time is now!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get involved in anything and everything I possibly could, it is a great way to make friends, as well as make career connections for the future. I would also tell myself to sit in the front row of all of my classes, and get to know my professors, especially in my bigger classes. College professors, unlike high school professors have hundreds of students, and do not have the time to learn the name of each student individually. But if your teacher knows who you are, you stand out from the rest of their students, which could make the difference from receiving an “A” or a “B” in their class.

The advice I would give myself would be to study hard becuase all you are able tyo learn in high school will prepare you for college. Academically speacking, many of the topics and things within topics that we learned in highschool were not full truths. However, those who dont have any basic knowledge at all have a harder time adjusting to the lesson learned/ taught in class. I would have focused harder one acutally learning the material.

Looking back I wish I was more focused on priorities and the inportance of my education. For a better qualty of live for my self and my family.

I would tell myself a few things. First, I would instruct myself to do better in my literature readings, for I am sure that there were wonderful pieces that I did not read as fully as I should have, and that is something that I cannot fix now. Second, I would instruct myself to ponder Duty, to ponder the ideas of things, and to remind myself of my weakness, the nature of my existence: a being in flux. With this knoweldge, I could have likely grown at a more expedient rate, learned certain lessons faster, been less arrogant, been less presumptuous, and been less of small-minded individual as Confucius would say. Third, I would instruct myself to interact more intensely with my teachers, for there were likely more wise than I, for I am certainly not wise, and the goal is to follow my nature and logos.

Growing up in a small town outside of Seattle, Washington, as a high school senior I was a big dreamer, as well as incredibly naive. With a graduating class of about 200, by the time I entered my senior year I felt in charge and untouchable in regards to my ability as a student and musician. While this attitude lent a certain confidence and motivation to my enrolling of UNT and leaving behind Washington, it also led me to a difficult year of depression, academic struggle, and a lack of motivation. If I could give myself advice, it would be to stay humble in the journey of learning and growing. That I should actively practice my musical craft, and make academic studying and dedication a number one priority. I let my confident attitude overshadow the reality of my ability as a student. Consequently, I was quickly shown how little I knew, and how hard other students worked in comparison to myself. I learned the hard way that being a humble and hardworking student often makes the difference between success and failure. Especially when dealing with the competetive nature of the UNT music program.