University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to my old self, I would of told her that I should just go to a 4 year college and start my pogram right away so that I can finish earlier. Getting an Associates Degree at UW-Sheboygan was a waste of time because UW-Milwaukee wants specific classes to be enrolled into their program. She would also need to know that money is not a big deal but you should also work part time as well as take out some loans. I would also tell her that no matter the problem, there is always a solution. You are going to go through a lot of problems that may want to tear you down and break you. But, be strong and keep your eyes on the prize - you are achieving your goal little by little every day. Hard work pays off.

I would tell my self, make sure you do very well you first semester of school. it gets harder to bring up your gpa after you screw it up the first time. also get involved with research and a student organization right away, it will help you to creat connections that could land you a job or other placement opportuintes. Finnally the more proactive you are with this campus the better there are many things not utilized by the students the stuff is just there for the taking.

As a teenager of color who was terrified of his sexual orientation, I spent most of my high school years dealing with the emotional stress that this caused. Having a group of friends that consisted of mostly “jocks” in addition to coming from a conservative immigrant household, I had little outlets to express my identity. Similarly, in college, I was still not able to be myself as I my freshman year dealt with individuals who would not tolerate my identity as a Latino gay male. Nevertheless, as I began to succeed in my major, I began to find confidence in who I was and what I loved. Ultimately, giving me strength to be myself and come-out to my friends and family. This allowed me to understand that by being patient and by holding my career goals first, confidence as well as people of substance will eventually begin to flow into my life. Coming to this university, I expected my life to change dramatically and disregarded the time and effort needed. If I could give my high school counterpart any advice, I would say be patient and focus on what you love. Everything else will fit into place thereafter.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say "Aren't you glad that you did not drop out of school in he 10th grade? Now that you've graduated, it won't take you eight years to go to college. You still have familiar friends to experience college with. Now that you are a high school senior, you have the best possible head start on your career. There will be no dead end jobs leading to nowhere in your future. Instead, you can use them to pay for school before you have to lease a car, rent a home or apartment, or even move to another city, seeking better opportunities to sustain yourself. That way, you won't have to worry 'How am I going to pay for school, AND, rent, AND car insurance, AND pay for gas, all the while making sure that I have enough to keep my lights on, food in the 'fridge, and clothes on my back. I'm proud of you for making it this far and good luck.". That is what I would say to myself as a high school senior. The truth.

I would tell myself that senioritis is bad. This is the time in your life when how you perform in school makes your future. I would tell myself that it isn't scary and it isn't hard to learn how to take care of yourself. I would also tell myself that you don't need to drink or smoke or party to be accepted and have fun. People don't judge you at college, everyone's too concerned with themselves to care what you are doing. Finally, I would tell myself that you have the power to control your future, you can chose anything you want because its YOUR life. Not what your parents want, or your friends, just what YOU want.

Like most other people in high school, I cared way too much about how others thought of me. I was always worried about how they would judge me. Every little thing I did, I would think to myself would I get made fun of for this? Will other people like me? Will they think I am conceited? My first semester of freshman year in college, I slowly began to stop thinking about how others really viewed me. I can thank my roommate and my other friends for helping me to see that I don't always have to be like that. That would be something that I would tell my senior-high-school-self. It doesn't matter how other people look at you, as long as you are happy with who you are then everything is fine. The most important thing right now is to focus on school. My academic life is more important than my social life. School is more important in the long run.

After attending three colleges in five years trying to figure out what I truly have a passion for, I would certainly have advice to give myself back in high school. First I would advise myself to shaddow all types of careers. I was always told "You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do," but I think that advice hindered my ability to commit to a specific major. Shaddowing sooner would have allowed me to decide for myself what I like, and not what others told me would be a good choice. I would tell myself to do what I love, even if it doesn't pay well. I would have quickly decided to be a physical education major, even though it doesn't come off as prestegious as other majors. Once I chose my major, I was so content and actually looked forward to school. There is so much truth in "doing what you love." Not everyone is meant to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I should have seen that as a good thing, not an "I'm not good enough" thing. There is worth found in every career and in every person.

If I could go back to my high school self, I would give myself a few words of advice. First of all, you are on the right path! Keep on volunteering at the hospital, it comes in handy later when applying for scholarships (not to mention the great friends you will make, and different people that will change your life). Next I would suggest to myself, to hit the books a little harder. High school will be fun and exciting and so will college, study earlier and don't procastinate, it will pay off in the long run. Finally I would tell myself to take more AP classes by the time you graduate and enter college, it will literally pay off and save hundreds of dollars in tuition and books. Other than that, I would just tell myself to have fun!

Do not live with someone you know. It'll just get weird. Don't go to college too close to home, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Also, it lowers the chances of your high school classmates becoming your college classmates. Don't drink too much coffee too early in life. You are going to need the extra caffiene buzz that comes from not drinking it all that often, especially during finals week! Make sure to look at four-year graduation rates for colleges, no one wants to be here longer than necessary. Look for jobs early and often and stay professional. There is no need to party on the weekends, not everyone does it. The reason people think that everyone is out partying is because the people who party are the people who talk the most and the loudest. There is nothing wrong with watching a Disney movie in your dorm on a Saturday night with a couple close friends to take the stress away during midterms. Stop worrying about the future and live in the now, and remember, just because you have time to work on a project later, doesn't mean you should put it off.

If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to my highschool senior self, I would tell myself to get involved in as many organizations the campus has to offer. I say this because the more organizations a person is involved with the more opportunities arise. By doing this you are able to connect with new people who can help you transition better if you are struggling. You are also able to help the community at times. Lastly, organizations on campus can offer students numerous skills that can help them in their daily lives and may also give a competitive edge when it comes to looking for a career after college.