University of Portland Top Questions

The best thing about college is that you have the opportunity to be who you want to be, with no preconceptions. Everyone in college is new to the experience, and new to you. You get to define who you will be. You get to know and become friends with people you might not have ever hung out with in high school. My favorite thing about college is getting to know people who are from different backgrounds than me, creating unlikely friendships and learning from each other.

I would give myslef the advice to just keep going and don't stop. Throughout the past two years of attending a community college, I have made quite a few mistakes. I have slacked off in classes, given up, not taken enough classes, didn't talk to my counselor... I made a lot of errors. But because of those errors, I have learned and I have grown. I believe that if I hadn't made those mistakes, I wouldn't be the young woman I am now, so I find it silly that if I had the opportunity to go back in time that I would give me advice on what to do and what not to do. I would tell me to roll with it. I would say to work as hard as you are able because that is what my parents told me then. I would tell me to breathe and that this transition is the easy transition. Other than that, I wouldnt give any hint for what is to come because that would change me, and I wouldn't change me for the world.

As a high school senior I was very much concerned with making that final decision on where I wanted to attend college and the financial aspect of looking for a college. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to let these things stop me from making a decision on where to go. Some very good universities and colleges are very expensive. However, due to the fact that they are such good schools they are willing to offer you so much more money than you would think that they would. Also, although it may seem scary to leave home and go off on your own adventure, unless you leave home and experience life on your own you will never know what it is truly like to live. When away at college: you form your own opinions, find out who you really are, find out what you want to do for the rest of your life, and make friends that will last a lifetime. If I could go back in time this is what I would tell myself.

Be prepared. College environment is totally different than high school. College is twice as hard and so study hard and you will succeed.

The advice I would give myself now as a college freshman would be to live in the moment and cherish the memories. I would tell myself to enjoy my time at home with my family and friends, because college is a whole different experience, and not a lot of people are ready for that much change all at once. I would tell myself to manage my time wisely and be sure to get to know my professors as well as my fellow classmates. I would tell myself that college is a whole new and different life experience that comes around only once in a lifetime.

I would go straight into college without taking time off.

To my high school senior self, Beginning the first day of senior year, tell mom you love her every day before you leave for school. Each time she sets a clean pile of laundry on your bed make sure to thank her. Take advantage of the seemingly endless supply of snacks in the pantry while you can. As inconvenient as it may seem, be thankful for the nights that dad forces you to stay home and play board games with him. Relish in the days that you come home to a mysteriously tidy room. Celebrate the nights that you can have dance parties in the room you have all to yourself. Prepare to live in a room with another person and understand that you will have to think of their needs as well as your own. Think about your study habits and where and when you will study once in college. Tomorrow when you go to school, talk to someone that you never have before; soon you will be doing a lot of that. Live in the moment but anticipate the change on the horizon. Be thankful for all that you have and be excited about your future.

If I were to go back in time and give my high school self any words of wisdom, I would tell her to be confident. When I was a senior, I knew I had a passion for helping children because I had worked in children's ministries and co-created a mobile children's outreach program. I was unsure of choosing to become a child life specialist because I knew I wouldn't become rich doing it, and that was the sole desire of my graduating class. What was wrong with me? I waited four years to start school, and now I have more life experience and a stronger desire to work in the child development field, my grades reflect that. My passion for making a difference in children's lives has grown, and I would love to continue my education, to gain as much knowledge of how I can be the difference in a child's life. I plan to help children and their families nationally, and internationally. Our world is in need of helpers. I would like to use my passions and education to be a helper of children and families in need.

There's always that ONE cliche that everyone gives: Don't procrastinate. The fact of the matter is that it's ultimately true. Procrastination is the leading cause to stress in college, because you'd always rather watch an episode on Netflix rather than write that 6 page Psychology paper. Another thing is: Don't think that you can get away with poor study habits (like you've done in high school) and expect to get good grades in college. I was also naive and thought I didn't need to study, until I got those test scores back. When they tell you that you have to study more than 10 hours a week, THEY MEAN IT. During orientation, be the charismatic person or you'll end up alone for the rest of the semester. That weekend of orientation literally makes or breaks you in your social life. Don't worry about not going to parties during freshman year. There's reason why you're never informed about them, mainly because you are a FRESHMAN. Besides, parties just involve getting drunk, and I'd rather stay at the dorm eating pizza than having embarrassing drunk pictures on Facebook.

College life is different, very different. You are expected to do everything yourself, and study more than you ever did in high school. This is because you spend less time in actual class. The transition academically can be surprising, especially when you get your first midterm grades. Grades are lower because of learning new study habits, and the shock of how different college is from high school. As far as the transition to being on your own goes, Skype and telephone calls are your best friend. Sometimes you may feel like you made the wrong decision, and will want to go home, but it is normal! You will survive!