West Valley College Top Questions

I would go back and tell myself to persevere towards your goals no matter what obstacles stand in your way. I would tell myself that there will be times when school does not seem to matter as much as it should, but continuing on and getting good grades is very important, because your horizons will be broadened with an education. Work and friends may occupy the majority of your time if you let them, but making sure classes get completed with good grades will make life a lot easier in the long run. Establishing an impending goal that you truly care about is also essential. I would have told myself to continue studying psychology even when changing your major to something more practical seems like the best decision. Studying a subject that you feel passionate about is extremely important, because it will determine your career in life which will determine your happiness in the future. Lastly, I would have told myself that it is important to have fun as long as it is balanced with school, because planning for the future will help you obtain a successful life.

I think that if I could go back to my senior year of High School I would give myself the advice to keep pushing forward. No matter what stumbling blocks you encounter is just one more thing that you can be proud of yourself for accomplishing. Keep looking forward and aiming for your goals and don?t let anyone get in your way of achieving what you want.

This is an easy question for me to answer. Like most highschool students, I did just what I needed to get by. I took the easy classes, when I should have been taking Physics, and A.P. Bio. I never took A.P. classes (Which is basically a college prep. class.) They are harder classes that prepare you more for college. Now that I am in college, I have to take physics and all those classes that would have been easier and cheaper to take in highschool! I also regret not joining the student body. Number one, it looks good on your college applications, and number two, it looked like so much fun! Thank you so much for your time, Taylor Slotte

I would advise myself to take the SAT, ACT, and SAT2. I felt defeated by bad grades as a high school student, and felt like giving up on going to a university. Looking back, I can see that I was smart enough to get into a state univesity and maybe even a UC based solely on test scores. I have made friends at SJSU, the local university, and I see that their quality of life is much higher than mine has been for the past year and a half. I also would have told myself not to move away from Los Angeles, or at least not to such a boring place as the Bay Area. The moving process wasn't easy, but it never is. I handled it as well as possible. Socially, however, the move was an utter failure. I moved to the wrong city for me. I should have picked a more cultured and lively new home. Moving out of my mom's house was a smart move though. It helped me mature. I also would have pushed myself to get my driver's license and to start working. Socializing has been difficult without independent mobility and money.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work harder and not take the easiest classes, because college classes aren't easy and it only hurts me if I don't try my hardest. I would tell myself to go into the office and start working on scholarships and grant applications or ask the councelor for information I may need to apply for college. I would also tell myself to not take a couple of years off of school and start going to the community college as soon as possible because I regret it now. Basically, the best advice I could give myself is to be proactive and work hard and do my best in school, because it really does matter, and I'll one day be a better and more rounded person for going.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to relax and live in the moment. After spending time in college and adjusting to several transitions, I have come to realize the importance of living in the moment and putting faith in the future unfolding on its own. In high school, I spent too much time worrying about whether or not I'd get into a good college that I forgot to enjoy being a senior. Although a high school environment stresses the importance of going to a college, college does not have to be the only focus of high school. Instead, high school is an environment structured to prepare students for the future. I would tell myself to take advantage of all the opportunities students and teachers alike provide for students in order to prepare themselves for the road ahead. If I had rather lived more in the moment, I would have enjoyed senior year more thoroughly. I have little regrets about high school but looking back, I think that I would have enjoyed myself more if I didn't force myself to grow up too quickly.

find a club or a group to join. Something social besides partying. Also, pick your major based on what you're interested in and not based on what you have time for or what you think others want you to do.

When I was a senior in high school, I was your typical Miss Know-It-All. Since going back in time to talk to myself would be no easy task, I would concentrate my efforts on two primary points: put in the effort required not only to pass, but to succeed, and take responsibility for yourself. First, it's easy to figure out how much work you have to do to pass a class and get by. Doing enough work to 'get by' might have made the cut in high school, but now you've got to really work to succeed. In college, you want to be proud of your work and proud of your grades, so it's time for you to put in all the effort you've got. Second, school is now your responsibility, no more hand-holding from teachers and parents. No more "I forgot the due date," and "the printer broke," excuses for not doing your homework. None of this will be tolerated, so you'd better take responsibility and get the work done. College is the biggest step towards your future so make it count. Finally, do your best to not procrastinate on essays!

Your friends are going to be heading all over the country soon so enjoy them while they all live minutes away. Bring a blanket to school and lay down on the lawn at lunch just because you can. Stop worrying what people think of you. Do not ever be ashamed that you're going to community college because you're going to come up with some pretty great plans for your future--plans that will make all the people that looked down on you rethink those rude things they once said. Take more pictures, laugh more, and I mean it when I say save as much money as you can because books are ridiculously expensive. On the first day of school, don't carry a map around for everyone to see. Go to school the day before and find all your classes so you'll be less stressed that day. When you start school keep up with the reading, get some study buddies, and don?t be afraid to ask lots of questions. But most importantly: breath. Enjoy this last year and when college comes just face it head on. It'll be tough but you can do it!

High school... Looking back it is a fun care-free place with a lot to do. Yet, at the time, it was suffocating. I would like to let my younger, more impetuous, self know that sticking to a goal is what will get you through. Your dream job really does exist, just stick to your major and everything WILL fall into place. Do everything you can to expose yourself to the career of your dreams. Take the time you have now to gain as much knowledge as you can. You never know when your life may change, and your freetime may disappear. So - focus, stick with it, and always do your best.