University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

Looking back and talking to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to be prepared. Not just in the material sense but in a mental, emotionals sense. Leaving home and going far away is hard and try not to expect anything because everything might get tipped upside down. It's okay to feel lost and lonely. It's okay to cry for mom and then be mad when she calls every 36 hours to check on you. It's okay to miss your friends back home. But it's also better if you make a life for yourself at your school. No matter where you go you need to find where you belong, find the people you want to surround yourself with. Those people will have a greatest effect on you. Also, form good habits, the first six weeks are the most telling. What you do then is the most important. Love your family, love your school, love your life.

College is a different animal than highschool. It's a time for you to grow up on your own with out your parents holding you accountable to every little thing. When you get to college make friends with as many people as you can but surround yourself with good peers who will influence you to study, go to class, and make good life decisions. Because you are in controle of your life now, you will get to reap the benefits of you success but also you will pay for you mistakes. You will make wrong decisions but learn from those now so you dont make the same mistake. Next, dont be affraid to ask for help beacause the faculty really want you to succeed that's why they have their job. Don't procrastinate just because you have more free time and make sure you read and do your homework. Finally, make friends with the "nerds" because chances are they will be your boss in the future and just maybe you will meet some really cool friends.

Looking back on my transition from high school to college life, I would tell myself to think about all of my positive involvement in my community and remember to continue those activities as I move into college. All of the freetime of college is so exciting at first, but bad habits form fast. Filling time immediately with great activities that I have always enjoyed such as volunteer work, mission trips, and club sports is something I would do anything to go back and start my freshman year. Not only would these things keep me productive and continue the great feeling I get after volunteering or playing in a sport for fun with friends, but they would also improve my resume for the future, which is invaluable.

When I first started college I did take a little bit of time to make the transition. But then I was used to going to school and what was expected of me. It's not something I had trouble with. The one thing I would tell myself when I was a senior is to be more serious about appling for scholarships. I must have thought that my bank account would never run out. But I was wrong because everything in this world is about money. Everything has a price. And now that tuition is going up its been harder to figure out how to pay off my student loans. I set a goal to graduate with no or as little debt as possible and I now have about four months to achieve that goal.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self I would let them know that college will not be as nerve-racking or scary as it may seem. I will tell them to relax and breath and live in the moments now as they will never be able to be returned to. I will also tell myself to come into college with an open mind and to know that by being myself is who everyone will enjoy to be around. Over the summer enjoy spending time with the people you may never see again because you will all make new friends soon and things will never be the same.

I would tell myself to fully embrace the college lifestyle! I think I was overwhelmed with the transition into the college lifestyle and I missed out on opportunities to join new clubs, go to events, and meet new people all because I was so focused on trying to fit in with one particular group. I would say to myself that I now know that some of my closest friends and most fun and rewarding experiences have been when I've put myself in a new situation, so I must embrace any and every opportunity that I possibly can!

My biggest advice would be: don't worry! I was so anxious about leaving home, hard classes, and making friends. Living on campus and away from your family is scary at first, but now has been one of my best experiences so far. I've gained a sense of freedom and responsibility that I didn't have before. Yes, classes are more challangeing, but if you learn to manage your time well, you will be fine. My biggest worry was if I would make friends or not. Everyone is in the same boat and worrying, too. I've made several friends who I have become very close with and I am not a very outgoing person. I would have to tell myself to trust that everything will be okay and to just enjoy the rest of my senior year and summer; it goes by too fast!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to live each day as if it were my last. To seize every opportunity with zeal and passion. To always remember that life is as good as you think it is. To learn to be thankful for the good times but also appreciate the bad times as they too help to mold you into the person that you are. I would tell myself to stick with the education that I desire, as that it the foundation that allows you the freedom to stand up and be independant. At 18 I had no idea how important every decision was and that the choices I made at that age absolutely impacted my future. My advice would also be to stand up for myself and remember that I am an important person. To protect that vision of myself and to not listen to others who whould try to tear it down. Above all else I would stress to myself that truth and honesty are the pillars on which a happy and successful life is built.

Work harder in classes to get A's. Look at schools and not just at playing football.

If I were given the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior. I would tell myself to change my study habits because once I did the transition to college; I was a disaster in organizing myself and focusing on my priorites. I would also tell myself to take more advance classes like AP classes which would have prepared me more for college; the problem was that I was very lazy in high school and I did not want to challenge myself in that way. Which narrowed my college options very much which forced me to stay home instead of being able to leave home for college which has always been my dream. Now that I am reflecting on my pass I realized I wasted alot of my time on useless thing like watch tv and socializing on the web; when I should have invested my time in studying more than what I was asked to do. All I can do is learn from my mistakes and not make those same mistakes as an adult; I can see now the consequence of my actions and how much they have affected me in now.