Western Governors University Top Questions

If I could turn back time, knowing what I know now about school and the impact the lack of a degree would have on my future, I would definately tell myself to go to college instead of entering the work force right after high school graduation. The advice that I would give myself would be to enjoy the college life, where my only responsibility would be to study and make good grades. Do not put work above school at this time in your life, because returning to school is much harder when you are older and sometimes never becomes an option because of family and work obligations. Enjoy being in school and learning new things, thus preparing a better future for yourself. Enjoy meeting new people who share your interest, and when this time comes to enter the work force be proud that you can apply for the job of your dreams because you chose to go to school and earn that degree.

Don't try so hard. It's not as hard as it seems, just go with the flow.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is this. pretend college is your job. From Monday morning till Thursday afternoon, devote yourself to your studies, then you can take Friday, Saturday and Sunday to do the fun things and enjoy your college experience. I understand that you want to go out and socialize, do that, but do it on the weeekends, use the week days to study, learn and work. If you can do this, you will succeed in school and in life. If you dont, you will regret it when you end up in college when you are married, working, and have kids. Beleive me, its much easier to do Monday through Thursday when you aren't caring for other people and working a full time job. Take the opportunity while its there.

I will tell myself to keep focused and don't full around. It is better to start college later in life than to still be thirty trying to find a scholarship or someone that will give you a student loan because you have exhausted all federal funds to pay for your education.

Stay the course and focus on school. College will provide plenty of distractions that you have a lifetime to explore. Work hard, then play hard, that's the motto. And try not to get discouraged when the plans don't go your way. Instead, embrace the changes life brings you. Oh, and start locing your hair a bit sooner; it makes life so much easier.

That this is a college and you must be a self starter to really succeed. Although, the course mentors and student mentors help keep you on track.

I would tell myself to stay focused and to ask for help. There's no shame in asking for help when you need it.

Take advantage of the every opportunities that is presented during the high school year. Participate in much as possible, especially scholarship opportunities because the more scholarships you have the less debt you will be in. Be very attentive of the course work and do the best that you can to get the best grade that you can get, so that you get many college opportunities upon graduation. Seek as many clubs, after school activities, sports, and tutoring that you can to assure that you stay focus and don't let things that don't matter, get the best of you. High school will be some of the best years handed to you, so take advantage and do your best because there are many opportunities that are out here for you to be successful as you are trying to be at an early age.

If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice regarding the transition into college it would be “nothing is as bad as it seems”. When I moved to college, I had to work and provide for myself. I had been working all through high school but it was much different being in an unfamiliar place, on my own. Not long after my first year started, I was overwhelmed financially and academically. I was always a straight A student in school, so the fact that I was struggling in my college classes made me feel like I was failing. The stress of providing for myself financially didn’t help. I was constantly panicking about how I was going to pay my bills. It wasn’t long before I gave up and vowed that someday I would return to school when I was more stable both mentally and financially. I am now thirty years old with a full time job, a husband and three children. If only I could have told myself that it wasn’t that bad and that I would get through it, I would not be starting school now, with more obstacles than I had originally!

As I take a seat next to my high-school self on a bus, I find myself giving this advice: Be confident in who you are. Right now it feels like everyone is competing for attention, for looks, for being cool. We both know you are only revealing parts of yourself because you want to fit in. A wise person once said, “Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, and magical person that you are.” Secondly, you don’t need to have a perfect plan. Imagine you are in a car at night. You may only be able to see the next 100 feet in front of you, but you still know your final destination. Make decisions that allow you to graduate in four years with a degree that will help you move on in life. Finally, you will learn as much outside the classroom as you will inside. Find mentors and take leadership opportunities. Make mistakes and learn from them. Use moderation when it comes to all things. This will help you create a balance in your life that is sustainable and prevent burnout. You will change the world for better!

The end of my senior year in high school was when I first realized that I had to have a sense of drive and ambition. My honor roll streaked ended in tenth grade; from then on, my grades continued to drop. I developed a “who cares” attitude. I would appear to her before she graduates high school. I would show my high school self the consequences of not trying. I hope she would find strength to excel through adversity because I shared with her the benefit of never letting go of her dreams. That “kick in the rear” would lead her to push on to earn an Associate’s at a two-year school. She will spend some time after that working in her field before she re-enters college to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. She will be a capable and resourceful member of her academic field and an inspiration to those who know her.

If I was able to go back in time to talk to my senior high school self, I would tell myself to slow down and just enjoy everything that is infront of you now. I was so focused on getting out of there and going off to college where I thought I was going to play college hockey and just live the typical college life. When talking to myself I would say that your hockey career will not workout the way you hoped it would, but don't focus on that so much because there is so many other things out here in this world that you will enjoy. I would tell my past self that I need to not push away from everyone so much and to spend more time with the family because the day you leave high school time begains to move faster than it ever did before. Lastly I would just remind me to live in the now. Every moment you live will not be a memory you will hang on to forever, but its the small ones I often think about and laugh at. I would tell myself to slow down and enjoy it.

Take it seriously and don;t look back. Follow your heart and do not make choices because other people want you to, do it because you want to.

Make your college education a priority - not work, or boyfriends, or going to the bars. College education is the most important thing at that time, and if you work hard, study, and do a good job, you will be a better person for it.

If I could back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior and give myself advice I would tell myself to get a 4.0 and take as much honor classes and AP classes as possible. I would say, "If you get a 4.0 it will a pay off in the future. You will be able to go to any school you want thus you will be awarded many scholarship and grant oppurtunities. You wont regret it, TRUST ME! It all seems boring now but it is really not hard to get a 4.0 in your classes. Just do all your work and you can have fun after school. The better the grade point average the more more you will recieve that will go toward your tuition and other living expenses which will make your debts much lower. Do not think about now, think about your future."

There are many things I would tell my high-school self if offered the opportunity to go back in time. One of the main things I would tell myself is how important a good education is. I would also tell myself that I should work harder on my studies so I might have had other options upon graduation from high school. My "first love" died prior to my senior year in high school and I thought my life was over. I would tell myself the pain will subside and your heart will mend. Don't take things so personally, because life can change at a moment's notice. I would also tell myself that I should be happy with how I look and not be so self-critical. Most of all, I would have told myself to enjoy life and take one day at a time. Things will happen in life that you have no control over, and stressing over it will only make things worse. Live, laugh, love!

I would tell myself to start at Western Governors University right after highschool. I went to two other colleges before this one and always felt like I didn't matter to the staff or anyone else around. This school is so supportive that I feel like my family is the staff and students. Also, the schedueling and how grades are done fit better with me.

I would tell myself that it's all right to be overwhelmed, but it is how you deal with it that counts. Use the campus couselling center if you need to and do not be ashamed. I would tell myself to calm down and breathe slowly during those times when I felt like I was holding my breath out of fear. And I would try harder to get involved in organizations because making friends is difficult at the best of times,but when you are in a place where you do not know anyone, a campus organization may just be your one saving grace. A campus is what you make it. Any campus can be a party campus ,if that is what you want you will find parties and booze, if you want academics and good friends, you will find academics and good friends. It all depends on what you want your experience to be.

If I could give myself some advice, it would be to stay focused on your goal. When you get to college, you can lose that accountability that comes from high school. Your professors do not require you to do your homework or even attend class. However, without attending class or doing your homework, you will not learn. See college as an opportunity to learn new things. For the first time in your life, you are responsible for your own decisions. College is expensive. Make sure that you are learning everything you can learn. Show that you are ready for that kind of responsibility.

It has been a long time since my high school graduation in 1974. I have already attended a Technical School, a university to complete nursing classes, and of course nursing school. But that was then (1974-1979), and this is now, along time from being a high school senior. Yet there are always things to be learned no matter how old or experienced you are. My high school voice would be cheering me on, for wanting to go back to school at age 57, and simultaneously delivering a firm. "You can do this no matter how old you are." From past experiences, I know I have the knowledge, focus and perserverence to complete anything I start. It is the uncertainty of todays technology that causes me hesitation, since I will be doing online classes, and being distanced from that competitive edge for so long. My "senior" self would advise me to "Do what you have always done in the past, but now your eyes ARE wide open, to continue the path you have begun so many years ago."