University of Phoenix-Online Campus Top Questions

If I could go back as a high school senior and talk to myself I would tell myself to ask more questions. If there is something you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask. It might be something you need to know for later.

Go to college before you turn 30!

Danielle, you are much smarter than you realize. Ok smartass stop laughing and listen because you will thank me later. Do not worry about what your friends are doing tonight or tomorrow. Pay attention in class, raise your hand and ask questions. Stop worrying about what others think. Mostly start applying yourself. Spend more time with your family, they are the ones that will be there for you later. Life is too short to focus on today, think about your future and how much better it will be if you work now and play later. Do not get me wrong you can still have fun, have fun learning. Get some sleep and study more. Parties, boys, and all that stuff is not as good as people make it sound. The right man is no one you even know right now. You will meet your future husband sooner than you realize, but for now focus on school. You are the only one in control of your future right now so make it a great one. A few years from now you do not want to be thinking to yourself "I really wish I would have paid more attention in high school."

Dear Jennifer, Almost ten years have flown by since high school. I can still remember your stubborn personality. I watched you drop out of college. When it was mentioned it brought you down and you said that you weren’t going to college, that it was a waste of money. You also thought it was a waste of time you wanted to be with your “friends”. Where are they now? You said you could find a decent job, work your way up, and you would be happy. You’re really happy with the past ten years of your life? What have you achieved? I know you have been working hard. Do you feel accomplished? Do you have the things you need, let alone want? If you could change the past would you? Jennifer I have been here with you all along. I was with you every time you fell and was with you when you got back up. I am delighted that you returned to school. I am happy you finally see what you need to get what you want out of life. I couldn’t be more proud of you. Love, Yourself

The first bit of advice I would offer my long ago self and anyone in High School now is simply: READ! Then again read some more. Read everything, from the cereal box on the breakfast table to newspapers, books, magazines on any and all subjects. Fill your mind with information that will be there to mine as in prospecting for gold. The next item of advice is: Write, and then write some more. Write on any subject, whether familiar with it or not. Much of college education revolves around reading and writing, regardless of major. You are going to have to do it anyway in the future, so may as well practice now and develop two skills that will help you go a very long way.

College is a leap of faith. There will be no more mom to wake you up, no more mom to call you in sick, no more mom to make you home cooked meals or to do your laundry. You are on your own so prepare yourself. Second of all, stay true to yourself and do not be a follower. Do not do anything just because "everybody" is doing it. Do not do things to get attention from people. Your true friends will love you no matter who you are so do not change for anyone. Be a leader and learn to stick up for yourself, you are an adult so act like it. Never give up. There will come times where you will have to pull all nighters and times where friends abandon you, but it is okay. Lastly, If there is anything I have learned in my first year at college, it is to fight. Fight for what is right. Fight for what you believe in and what is important to you. But most importantly fight for the ones you love, and never forget to tell anyone how much they mean to you while they are still alive.

It isn't as scary as you think. You will not have all of the answers to life.

I would tell myself not to waste my time going to my local community college and to go straight to university because I ended up spending a lot of money at my community college that was essentially a waste because none of my credits was transferrable and I started over with University of Phoenix. I would also tell myself that panicking over grades and assignments is useless because I can do this without hesitation or much negativity. Finally, I would say that I need to start school immediately because I did not want to be graduating from college at 34.

If I had the chance to go back to my younger self I would tell myself to focus more on school work and less on silly high school drama, keep up those grades, you know you are smart enough. I would emphasize how important a higher education is at a younger age, unlike the age I am now. I would tell myself to stop being afraid of the unknown and go to college. I would say how much fun college life can be whether it is at a campus or online, although I would not know what online is way back then.

Truly consider going to college right after high school, it will be so much easier than waiting until you get older. Going to college will make your life easier and better. You will have a better quality a life, you will feel more confident and prooud of what you have been able to achieve. Not going to college is a mistake, the time for you to do this is now.