Western Oregon University Top Questions

I have learned so much from college this year. Everything from being a leader with my peers and at the school through Hall Government to ways that will better me as a teacher. I have learned different teaching techniques, things to watch out for as a teacher and ways to get my students to be active learners. I have recently decided that I want to get my Bilingual Endorsement as a teacher, and that to me has been the most significant part of my year here. I have talked to people in the Education Department to help me get started with getting my Bilingual Endorsement. It has been valuable for me to attend here because the faculty here has made me realize I should get my Bilingual Endorsement and I'm not sure I would have got that from a different school.

Through my college experience i have realized that education is everything. In high school you can not wait to graduate, you think that you will finally have freedom. Honestly you do, but without furthering education it is almost as if you end up in a rut. Education not only helps you further your life, but it even helps you work in an environment you want to be in not just something to put food on the table. Attending college has given me a different aspect on how to live my life. I regret not sticking to it right after i graduated high school. Yet at the same time now my mind is set solely on improving the life I have made for myself. You may think you can not have fun while attending classes, but you can. When you find the degree that is really for you just going to class gives you a feeling of excitement, especially to know what you will get to be doing for as long as you want. Possibly help you realize how great your life will be after all the study and time put into the classes making it all worth it.

When I first arrived at Western Oregon University I thought "party it up" which I am sure is not far off from what some other incoming freshman think. However within the past two terms I have completed at Western, I have come to find that I am discovering myself and what I really want in my life. In my college experience so far I have learned more about myelf and my capabilities. I've grown up a lot in these past months at Western and I think the most valuable part of Western is the education I have recieved here. I feel so comfortable with asking for help and the professors want you to succeed because they are there for you. I would have to say another valuable aspect to attending Western is defiinitely the great friends I have made. I know that with both education and soon-to-be life long friends, a college experience couldn't be any better.

I have gotten so much out of my attendance at BSC. First, moving nine hours away from my friends and family forced me to become more independent, which is something every 19 year old needs to be in possesion of. Learning to befriend or at least work side by side with people from a different culture than my own, especially when debating politics with people who were completely against my own beliefs. I had to learn how to listen fully to another's opinions even if I disagreed and how to discuss politics without seriously offending anyone. I definetly think that along with independence the most important thing I learned from college is that I'm not a kid anymore, and no one is going to coddle me along. In college, many people go crazy with their new found independence but the most important thing to learn is a balance between having fun and being responsible, in terms of partying, doing homework, and managing money. You are over 18 years old, and it is time to grow up. Become independent but never lose sight of the goals you need to reach.

Some good advice I would probably give myself now, would probably be to actually go to bed when you get to college! I've been so tempted to skip my early classes so I can just catch a few extra hours of sleep because I didn't go to bed at a reasonable time. It's obvious when you're sitting in the classroom at 8 a.m. which kids got the right amount of sleep and which ones still have yet to go to bed! Sleep effects your mood, your note-taking skills and how you interact with the other kids in class. When I do get enough sleep I feel more alert and retain information better, my notes make more sense and my time management isn't suffering because I don't have to take a nap in the middle of the day. So if I was able to go back in time to give myself advice, I would tell myself to actually get some sleep! Everyone is still going to be there when you wake up, and your education will only benefit from it.

Dear Britney. Hello you are in your first term of college and what a ride it has been. I know that you are very stressed out about picking the right school but trust me Western is a great choice. If I could help you out in anyway and save you time, I have to tell you that you don?t need to pack up your whole room and attempt to shove it all in a dorm. I also know you are very sad about leaving home and your friends. Don?t fret everyone at school is in the same position looking for friends. You might even come to realize there are great people no matter were you go in life. My final piece of advise to you in school is to really work hard. The better work ethic you have coming out of school will really help you push ahead and succeed in the hard times. At school to be the best you can be. Having such a great work ethic working those three jobs with no days off in the summer to pay for school will help you financially and morally. Keep your chin up and face the day.

There is so much advice I would've given myself if I knew what I know now. First of all I would've repeatedly told myself to get good grades in high school in order to be eligable for scholarships. Most scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or 3.5. I would have told myself to prepare for financial stress because it happens to everyone. I would have told myself to take schoolwork seriously and not procrastinate because college is different. I would have prepared myself to save more money incase of financial emergencies. And to people like me, I would have told myself to prepare for separation anxiety because I love to be near my family. I would have told myself to start learning how to manage time wisely in order to get all work done. I would have given myself this advice and much more because it's not only obvious problems that go on while in college, you also begin to notice how things have changed for the best. I would've especially advised myself to begin with 200{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} commitment because there is plenty competition out there for which ever field you're going in.

If I were to meet myself as a high school senior, I would have an astronomical amount advice to give. Knowing what I know now about college, my most important piece of advice would be to take as many advanced placement classes as I could sign up for. It would have been so nice to have started out with more college credits. When I was in high school, the mind set was just to graduate and get out. Now that I am in college, I wish I would have stood out from the mindset of the crowd and would have tried to earn more college credits through advanced placement classes.

Knowing what I know now about college life there are a couple things I would tell myself. First I would say don't worry about living in the dorms and making friends. Living in the dorms is actually fun and you will make friends. It may take a couple weeks so be patient but you will find of group of friends that you fit in with. Don't conform to what everybody else is doing if your not comfortable with it, you only have to be yourself and if people don't like you for who you are then their not your true friends. Don't be afraid to try new things, step out of your comfort zone and get involved. This is a new school with new people, nobody knows how you used to be in high school, so show them who you are. Basically don't be afraid, it will all work out.

I would tell my past self about the struggles and positives of college life. Its all worth it, the problems you encounter and the drama you meet, as long as you are able to face it head on, not be scared and talk to someone college will be fun and wonderful learning environment if you let it be. The groups from high school of geeks, jocks, punks, delinquents, and poplar?s don?t dissipate however they are more open and willing to make friends and talk to people if you make an effort as well. Beware of student cafeteria's they can be the death of you and the clothes that fit; always take a physical education class since you never know who you will meet and its a great tool to burn stress, frustration, beating the "freshman fifteen," and it's fun. Always remember: this is your time, your future and your life, have fun with it.