University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Top Questions

study hard for everything. take great notes. if you ever feel depressed go get help. you are a smart guy do not let anyone tell you otherwise

I know you're scared to follow your dreams. You think that because you don’t want to work in the medical field or be a teacher, that you cannot make a difference in the world. And in the back of your mind you think that following your dreams is selfish and that you cannot possibly get job in the real world with a History major. This isn’t true. There is something to be said for those museum professionals who take the conventional museum practices and flip them on their head to reach new audiences that in the past have been overlooked. I know in the back of your mind you have a passion for fashion and textile history that you feel you can't possibly pursue because, what could you do with that in the real world? However, don’t overlook the fact that passion and sheer force of will can propel you to make the effort to turn your dreams into reality. This will take lots of work and you will have to live a modest lifestyle but I’m telling you, happiness and fulfilment in your career will give you a purpose that nothing else could.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, just a year ago, there is alot that I would say. College is exciting, new, and interesting. But it's also hard emotionally and academically. As a high school senior all you hear about is all the good times you are going to have. Everyone makes it seem like it will be easy. It wasn't until my orientation weekend that people were finally straight with me, but of course having two sophmores lecture you for two hours about how they almost failed their classes is kind of scary. The biggest thing I would want to tell myself is that things are going to be different. And it's not the amazing good different you expect. But it's not bad either. It's just different. You have so much freedom and independence which is liberating, but you also are far away from home and it can get very lonely. Work as hard as you can on your academics because ultimately that is what you are in college for.

Don't jump right into college, take some time off. It is okay to not be in the same graduating year as your highschool classmates. Use that year or semester to travel, or do something you have always wanted to. For example, that road trip around the globe. Take the time to do serious research about the college you want, more specifically one which has a varity of majors you are interested in because otherwise you will end up transfering a zillion times and racking up alot lot of debt in search of your dream(s). Go with your gut, don't question your heart. This goes for both academics and social life. When you do get to college, make yourself a solid schedule and stick to it. I know, it will be annoying because you are a free spirit but trust me when I say it will up your GPA while having an equally great social life. Most of all: have fun. Explode out of that shy shell. Take risks. Of course, avoid underage drinking, but 'take risks' means not letting your epilepsy take control of your life, and who you are. It does not define you. Live, Shine.

The honest advice that I would give my high school senior self is that I should of took studying more seriously. My study habits are horrible and I wish I would of changed them in high school, because after having them for so long it is going to be hard to change and my grades have already found that out. I barely ended with a 3.0 gpa with my first semester in college.

If I could talk to my former self in high school I would tell me to truly appreciate all of the sports I was playing in high school. In college I wasn't as athletically able or competent to play varsity sports.Some of my best memories in high school came from sports and most of the friendships that I made came as a derivative of sports. Also, I would tell myself to apply to the Eagle Apprenticeship for Research at UWL. With this oppurtunity, incoming freshmen are able to start their career in the laboratory and gain well endowed connections to the scientific staff at UWL. If I would have known this I would be a step ahead with my research progress.

I would like to tell my high school senior self to not sweat the small stuff; there is no sense in worrying about all of the little details that most of the time you do not have control of. I would tell myself to not be afraid of going out to talk to new people or worry about what they might think of me. Go get involved in extracurricular activities to meet new people that have the same interests as you do. Attend more sporting events and on-campus activities. I would tell myself to get to know my roommate sooner and make more of an effort to talk to her. I would tell myself to take more pictures of everyday life living in the dorms and hanging out with the new friends I made in my hall. I wish I would have known that although the transition is hard; leaving your family to go to school three hours away is difficult at times but the friends you make and the experiences you are going to have will be so much fun and an exciting new chapter of your life is going to sweep you off your feet.

After attending 2.5 years of college there are many things I would tell my highschool self. I believe that I have matured greatly since my time as a high school senior. If I could talk to myself as a highschool senior, the most important thing I would tell myself is to take advantage of AP classes. In highschool I did not realize how beneficial AP classes would be to me in college. Advanced Placement exams allow students to earn credit for college classes. As a senior I only took one AP class, which was Spanish. I recieved credit for SPA 303, which allowed me to get retrocredits for all the previous Spanish classses my college offered (20 credits!) I would tell myself to take AP classes in other subjects as well. Also, I learned that AP classes are more similar to college courses than regular highschool classes. The amount of course work my first semester was definitely a shock. I would tell myself to take more AP courses in order to make a smoother transition into my first semester of college.

Several times throughout the past two and a half years of my college career I wished I had a time machine to give advice to my high school self. Everyone makes mistakes, but in order to graduate and get accepted into graduate school, the mistakes must be kept to a minimum. First, get involved, join clubs and volunteer. You will meet people that have the same interests as you. Plus, these activities will look amazing on your resume. Most importantly, you will discover your passions. For example, I decided to declare an emphasis in Pre-Occupational Therapy studies after volunteering in various settings with people with disabilities. Second, smile everywhere that you go on campus. You never know if that person you pass in the hall or sit next to in class will end up being your best friend or even your future husband. Third, do not merely tolerate something that annoys you; tell your roommate immediately so the conflict can be solved.

Given the opportunity to talk to the high school version of myself, I could write a novel filled with advice. Forced to pick a place to start I would say, “Breathe. I know that everything feels like it’s changing so quickly and you have to grow up so quickly, but I promise you it will be okay. Turning 18 doesn’t mean you can’t call your mom to help you make a doctor’s appointment or tell you how to get the stain out of your favorite shirt. For right now, make sure you take high school seriously, it really will matter when you want to move on in schooling. I know it seems like a small stepping stone that will get you where you want to go, but you will miss it. Start learning how to study, because when you get a C on your first college exam, you’ll wish you knew the right way to study. Take a lot of pictures, because you’re going to want to tape them to your dorm wall. Most importantly, stop trying to grow up so fast, you’ll get there, and it will be great. Just breathe.”