Western Michigan University Top Questions

Hey, it's me. Well, it's you, as close as you can get to your future self as you can be. I'm here with some advice. You know that thing you want to do with your life, it's good but remember your options - remember to give yourself the opportunity to have options. Give yourself a break, too; in other words, don't be so hard on yourself when you mess up. I know, I've been there, and I would have liked to not be so difficult on myself - call it subbornness, if you want. Give yourself some time to grow. Remember to grow. A piece of wisdom: whether you procrastinate or act in haste, you have made a decision in doing so. Now, about that thing you really enjoy, that hobby, that freetime filler. That thing that you always seem to have motivation for doing, even after you thought all of your energy was spent, what application can you find for that in your life? Call me crazy, but investigate the possibilities of using those skills and abilities in a career: you enjoy it, and that is an incredibly valueable quality during a career search.

I came into college thinking it would be easy. It is not. I had to try hard and study to do well. If i could go back though, I would not change a thing. The memories I have will last a lifetime. The mistakes I made, made me who I am today; I am proud of who I am.

Prepare yourself! High school is nothing like college and there is a reason for that. College is a different experience altogether. The people you associate with, the places you live, the food you eat, the groups you get involved in, and most importantly, the major and career you choose all make up how much a person changes in college. It's such a learning experience. Be open to new ideas and people. Be accepting of things that you might have otherwise ignored or were close-minded about. College is a time to really grow as a person both mentally and intellectually and as a high school senior, I would want them to be excited about all these new experiences that lay ahead of them in college. I also think that going away to school is very important. A chance to get away from your home and family and all the things you know, help so much in giving yourself the space to figure out who you are as a person., and who you want to be. Go to college no matter what. It's an experience that will change you for the better!

Never dwell on your high school relationships and focus on making new and better ones in college instead. If you aren't social or involved in a place you spend the majority of your year, it will be hard. You need to have fun once in a while and in college, those ties may last forever. Also, go to class even if you think you can get away with not going. You're paying to sit in the classroom and you'll never get that experience from copying someone's notes.

One of the very first things I would tell myself is to take chances. There are many times I can remember when I hesitated trying to make a decision or thinking of what to do. Fortunately, college has taught me to trust my instincts, and just go for it. If anything, whatever I'm deciding to do will be for the better. I would also tell myself to not be afraid to try new things. It's especially hard to think about putting yourself out there when you're in a new environment, but getting involved in student organizations and spending time on campus truly does make the experience that much more enriching. Lastly, do something to make a difference. Even the littlest things with a small time commitment help in the long run. Volunteering is one of the best ways to help others while you help yourself. Not only do you gain satisfaction from the work that you're doing, but you grow as an individual as well. Just remember, college is the time to be yourself, create your identity. So, don't hold back.

Cultivate appropriate and efficient methods of studying, be ready to manage time and money wisely, and be involved in beneficial extra-curricular activites to build a strong and healthy social as well as academic lifestyle.

I would tell myself a lot of things that I didn't know at the time. The first major thing would be to take campus tours. I only took one as a high school senior, and that one ended up being the university that I chose. I feel that if I had taken more tours at the time then maybe I would have ended up at a different college or university. Another piece of advice I would give to myself would be to look into the academic programs that the college or university has to offer. Make sure that it is what you are looking for and will help you a lot with getting a job in your future career. The last piece of advice that I would give would be to ask questions. When I was a high school senior I based my decisions off of other peoples opinions; I never asked questions for myself. I think it is very important to ask questions about what you are curious about when choosing a college or university.

I would tell myself to prepare better in high school and the real world. Entering college is nothing like they tell you in high school, and I would have taken things more serious. Also to tell myself to have as much fun as I could well keeping my grades up because 4 years goes by very fast.

Don't go to college to achieve the goals of your parents or your friends. If you don't know why you are there, perhaps you shouldn't be. It is important to know yourself. Get to know yourself, what your dreams are, where your interests lay, and then, focus on those things. Most of all, believe in yourself, and your ability to do what it takes to be the person you want to be.

From an academic stand-point, if I could go back in time, knowing what I know now I'd tell myself the importance of seeking help at the very beginning. I'd tell myself to reach out to my professors more, and reach out to upperclassmen and people in my classes who may understand things differently from myself. There are people here with information available to me that may help me perform better in my classes. From a personal stand-point, if I could go back in time I would tell myself to be on the lookout for people who do not have your best interest in mind, and trust your instincts because most of the time they are right. My experiences as of yet have taught me to recognize the people who are for my betterment, and the people who are not, but although I'd tell myself to be on the lookout, I'd also let myself know that what doesn't kill me makes me stronger, and everything happens for a reason. I wouldn't take back any of my experiences, good or bad, because I know they made me who I am today.