University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Do you remember when Ms. Milne made you read A Thousand Splendid Suns earlier this year? I know you’re probably too busy to recall vague details about some silly little book, but hear me out. There’s a line you really should remember, and not just because it’ll be on the final: “You see, some things I can teach you. Some you learn from books. But there are things that, well, you have to see and feel.” Got it? Good. Now read it again, and never forget it. You know, I could easily tell you the secret to making friends in a school of more than 20,000 students or how to stop missing your family, but what good would that do? I know you’re not the adventurous type, but you can’t just sit around waiting for someone to tell you what to do next to make it through life’s problems. So take a deep breath, go into the dark, and find your own way. Sure, you’ll stumble now and then. Wait, who am I kidding? You’ll stumble a hundred times a day, maybe more, but you’ll survive and you’ll learn.

One of the biggest things I would tell myself would definitely be to not worry as much. Up until the point of applying for colleges and through completing my senior year of high school I had worked and studied to the best of my abilities. There was nothing else I could do at that point and I should have been more content with the effort I had put in. After completing my first year of college I know now that all the worries I had were kind of silly. Of course I was going to make friends, and of course I was going to meet people who already have their lives planned out. Even if I didn't make friends and if I wasn't able to decide on a major, why would it matter to me as a high school senior who wasn't even in college yet? Throughout my first year in college I really concentrated on staying in the present. Of course I still have concerns, but now I can look back and evaluate that my high school worries, while valid, were not as threatening as I had previously thought.

I would suggest: spending more time in crowds and becoming more comfortable with being independent. Applying to more scholarships. Doing more in high school to get my research career going. Reaching out to professors in different fields to get a better understanding of what their field consists of. Spending more time researching and mapping out the Grounds. Making friends before the first day of class. Taking harder high school courses.

Don't stress too much about college. You'll figure it out after a week or two. Homesickness does go away, and you will make new friends. It feels like a huge step, and it is, but you'll get used to it. Relax, meet new people, and learn.

Live. It doesn't matter that you got straight A's, perfect attendance, and a perfect SAT score if you didn't grow as a person. College is about experiencing things, and transitioning to life as a contributing member of society. You don’t get that by keeping your nose in a book, you get that by meeting people, and doing things. Be in the moment, and do what you love, because that’s how you grow into the person you want to be.

My biggest piece of advice for myself would be don't stress going into college with the perfect major for yourself already discovered. I was dead set on majoring in Environmental Thought & Practice upon entering UVA and was resistant to anyone changing my mind. I attempted to sign up for classes soley based on my major requirements, thinking that I would get ahead. I, however, quickly discovered that environmental science was not for me, and instead made the great change to business, or commerce as we call it at UVA. I wish I had allowed myself to explore different options as a first year, instead of diving straight into a major. Another piece of advice that I would give myself would be that time management and personal responsibility are key for success in college. I was used to having teachers or parents as a fall back in case I made a mistake, but in college I'm completely on my own. I would tell myself to start learning how to take care of yourself and be responsible for all aspects of your life. I would also make sure that I would have learned how to do laundry much sooner.

There is truth in brevity.

College is a dream. You have expectations, desires, and hopes rather than certainties. Many of these expectations, desires, and hopes will not come to fruition. Instead, you will experience hardship as well as some expectations mixed with surprises. Do not listen to those that say that your first year will be the best year of your life because now, you have the expectation that the following years of your life will be miserable. Rather, open your eyes for not only the certainty of difficulties but the possibilities of joy beyond what you could imagine. Take the difficulties as places to grow and treasure the surprises-the developing friendships, midnight study parties, conversations with professors, etc. Lastly, allow yourself to fall in love with your environment. If you expect to be disappointed, you will be disappointed, but if you allow yourself to acknowledge the disappointments then revel in heart of your university, you will fall in love. No how matter cliché it is, I truly believe that where you end up is where you are supposed to be, meaning that you have the opportunity to have a wonderful four years wherever you go.

Dear Heather, I know you're stressing out about college, about leaving Hong Kong, about choosing your major. Trust me: I've been there! Don't box yourself in: don't categorize yourself by your race or your interests. Take a step of faith and try new things. Audit an African drumming class; join the Classics Club and read Ancient poetry; go on a Sunrise hike. Be brave. If you have a question, ask. If you want to know professors better, go to office hours. They don't bite! Chances are that they want to know you just as much as you want to know them. If you miss your parents, tell them. Don't let pride get in the way of life! Most importantly, don’t compromise your beliefs for anything, not even for your grades. Be kind and think of others' needs. Generosity isn't a sacrifice; it's a kind of power. Lastly, hold onto the fact that your family loves you very much. No matter what they say or do, don't forget this. College is four years that will change the way you live so make the most of it! Love,Future Heather

As a freshman, I realized that the decisions I would make throughout college would shape the rest of my life. This realization overwhelmed me because every decision felt like the most important decision of my life. After all, choosing to study Political Science meant I wouldn’t be a doctor, but studying pre-med meant I wouldn’t be a diplomat. Every decision seemed to close a door that I might want to go through someday. I graduated from college six years ago, and in that time I have learned that there is a path for everyone who studies what they love. Despite a lifelong interest in medicine, I decided to attend the Naval Academy and study International Relations because I wanted to serve my country after 9/11. I traveled the world in the Navy for five years, but this fall I will once again follow my childhood dream of attending medical school. This is certainly not a traditional path, but I have loved every detour along the way. Because of these experiences, I would tell myself to relax. Every decision might be important, but the journey can be much more exciting when we make a few unexpected turns.