Biola University Top Questions

I am beginning to learn how to think for myself. I have more oppertunities in college than I ever had in high school. I am finally starting to like who I am. When I leave college, I will have the degree that I need to have a job, but I will have much more than just that. I will leave with friendships that will probably last forever. God does a lot of amazing things daily, but sometimes we don't realize it. My relationship with God is tronger than ever. Priase Him! !

•My eyes have been open to all the potential that God has given me and appreciation for the diversities of His creation. I’ve faced challenging moments of time management, and hurting moments realizing my own hypocrisies, or loving myself deeper for my past, my race, my now, and all the wonderful ways God wants me to succeed in life. I have learned that my voice is important and that I am worth being loved. I have also found that I don’t have to choose to put stresses of the world on myself. I’ve given my stresses to God, and now I have joy complete that I have to pursue daily. At Biola, I’ve gotten awesome encouragement to find my passions and think toward the future about job careers that could fit me! I don’t feel alone here, because I’ve formed significant relationships that I will have forever, and gained an education that helps me learn about the world, my faith, and live in freedom to love and discover the possibilities ahead. I feel like I’m getting properly prepared in mind, spirit, and body to be an active citizen in adult society.

My experience at Biola University has afforded me time and opportunity to grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually. My professors and peers all have high expectations but work with and for each other to meet those expectations. Biola is a "family," and though students are expected to compete and be successful, there is also support and commaradarie. There is great balance and blend in all things that both push and pull students to succeed at the highest levels and yet reminds us to value each person as unique, created by God for a purpose. I have grown inmeasurably by attending college. My view of the world has been expanded, and my desire is take what I've learned and use it to help others grow in immeasurable ways as well.

I have gotten friends, knowledge, and growth out of my experience at Biola. I have spent a lot of money and will continue to spend a lot of money, but it has been worth it. I see how God's goodness is manifested in many different ways.

My Grandpa has always encouraged me to strive hard in school and work hard, ever since I was in Kindergarten. I knew when I applied to Biola that his words were going to be the motto of most of my time there. I not only had chosen one of the toughest academic majors, but also the major that happened to be the most highly competitive and compact in California; Nursing. College is not an easy place to buckle down and work hard like my Grandpa had always advised. There is so many experiences and so many 'firsts'. I learned what it was like to have to study almost all night, to run out and get a late night snack with friends, lay on the grass waiting for a class to begin, debate issues with classmates, and make friends again. College challenged me to spread my wings, branch off from the comfort of my parents and become independent. I have become more proud of who I am and the choices I've made that have enabled me to look at life with optimism and faith knowing that I truly can succeed in whatever I put my heart, mind and soul to.

Even though I have not gone to college yet, I do know how valuable going to college and getting some type of education after high school is. Both of my parents attended college and then later on dropped out. I also have two older sisters that have not attended college. Knowing from my expirience living with my parents, I know how hard it is getting a decent job that pays well and will pay the bills, finding a job that you enjoy, and finding a job with stability really is; especially the way the economy is. My parents strive for me to have a better, easier, and happier life than they did; as do I. Knowing that I will be attending school this August is so exciting to me; it's beyond words. I am so ready to prove to my friends, famliy, and myself that I can do it and make them proud.

I have gained much through my college experience. I have learned responsibility and dedication to a higher purpose than my next grade. Learning is a life-long process and college has set the foundation for how I tackle all that life has to offer. My wisdom and preparation are only as strong as my own dedication to them. Thus I must have a vision of what I am driving toward in order to wade through seemingly irrelevant material in search of the treasures of knowledge. College has laid the foundation, and now it is my responsibility to pursue an ever deepening understanding of the world around me.

Well I'm not done with my college experience yet but what I have discovered so far is that they're a lot of people in the world that are learning sharing and growing for the lord. My school, the faculty and staff concentrates first on developing that aspect of its students.

It?s the moment you?ve been anticipating: college. Uprooting from one part of the country to another will enable you to experience an entirely different environment: perfect for burgeoning into a woman. You can start fresh. Every new place is grayscale and brand-new memories color vibrant hues. This is refreshing, yes. However remember, everyone has a story. It?s as if it?s entrenched in our DNA; it?s what makes us unique. You cannot escape it. While you start new experiences in California, beware, those ugly memories of your abusive alcoholic father you fled in Milwaukee will seep through your new life. Accept this, not as a sign of shame but resilience. Your life as a foster child will equip you in ways unimaginable. You will be fierce. A go-getter. Unstoppable. Your passion for writing will overlook the absence of owning a car in Los Angeles and every internship will bring you closer to your writing dream. Even so, your passion is a result of your story. In those lonely moments, when the world has turned against you and you?re alone, hold on to your story. Not the tragedy, but the triumph that ensues.

I would tell myself to be more ready to embrace life. College is a whole new world that I was not open to at first. The opportunities here are endless. I would say that I should be more willing to reach out to people, instead of waiting almost a year to really branch out. I would say to not worry about being someone I'm not. College is one of the few places where you can really learn about who you are and who you will be. The people here won't judge you by your movies or music. They respect authenticity, and while there are pretenders here, they aren't the ones worth being around. Be willing to laugh, to open yourself up to others, to be crazy, to stay up all night, to go out anytime, to have an adventure, to learn new things, to make new friends, to be honest. Be willing to be yourself.

Dear past-self, Remember these four things and you will thrive in your academic career. One, it never hurts to ask. Questions are the keys to answers and endless possibilities. Two, take smart risks. Ruminate then act; congratulations, you've just avoided future regret. Three, learn to say "no". You cannot and should not please the whole planet. If you can't keep a promise, don't make it. Four, you're going to college to learn how to learn for the rest of your life. Lifelong learners have more fulfilled and happier lives. Regardless of whether you actually heed this letter or not, you will learn the truth in these soon enough. Love your future-self, Hudson

If I could give myself advice, I would tell myself to try harder. I let school become a "whatever" thing to me and I didn't really go to class or pay attention if I did go. I would tell myself that everything I do matters and that I should be as involved as I can be so that it would give me a better chance to get more scholarships and give me a better chance to go to a better college and such. Don't get me wrong, Biola is a great university but it was not my ideal school. Another advice I'd give my self is to make a lot of friends and try to connect with more people just because of what could happen afterwards. Many of my brother's friends seems to be stuck in a place where they can't really move up on the ladder in the work environment because they don't know how to socially interact with others. So, self, let others into your life!

Besides the practical advice your mom will give about laundry and eating habits, here are three broad principles that can enrich your college experience... 1. Make every minute count. Constantly hone your time management skills; procrastination lowers your chances of surviving college with your sanity in tact. Even when you set aside time to relax, make it quality time spent with friends & family. 2. Communicate with your teachers, especially those in your field. Learn as much as you can from them. Their professional experience can make your own more fruitful & perhaps even lead you to choose a career path that excites you. 3. Find what you love to do. Since most college students change their majors several times, explore your options by taking electives, join a club, volunteer, and attending school functions hosted by various departments. Get in a group of students who share your major and work on extra-curricular projects together: discuss your favorite classic novels, compose and perform a song together, attend a math & science seminar together... your options are limitless. Enjoy this season of your life as time to discover what you have been created to do and to forge life-long relationships.

I step into the coffee shop where I, the college sophomore, am meeting with my high school senior self. I see her there in the corner, holding a mug full of aspirations, anxities, and chai tea. What am I going to say to her? A jumble of overused cliches spin inside my head as I take a seat. Stale advice is just about as good as decaf at six am. Thankfully, inspiration joins us. High school senior self, you need to be flexible and forgiving. Flexibility will allow you to take the challenges of college and turn them into positve experiences. Room mates will have different life styles, and your class schedule or professors might not be to your taste. With an attitude of flexibilty, these potential bumps can provide opportunities for growth. Forgiveness will help smooth over moments of inflexability. Make up your mind to extend grace to others, and yourself, when mistakes are made. My high school senior self smiles and takes one last sip of chai. "Thanks", she says. I smile too, and wonder, why didn't someone tell me these things? Then I stop and realize someone just did!

College is alot of work but also alot of fun, make sure to get a mix of both, especially studying. Make the most of your friends and family before you leave, you have know idea how much you miss and rely on them until they are gone. Be confident in yourself, you got into college and thats more than half the battle. Have faith and courage in yourself to step out of your comfort zone, it will teach and benefit you in more ways than you can imagine. Stay true to yourself. Even though college is full of new experiences of trial and error, don't be afraid to say no, no matter the scenario. You can gain the whole world, but if you lose who you, are all that you gained is nothing. College much like life depends on how you handle it, you can make it as good or bad as you want to. Just accept the fact that you are going to fail at some things (hopefully not classes), but what matters is if you pick yourself back up, just remember its a learning process, also remember you're a freshman again, its a brand new start.

If I could go back in time and tell myself as a high school senior a piece of advice, it would be short and sweet, "Go to class!". Especially at a perfectly located school like Biola, I found myself near so many activities and places. The beach, disneyland, L.A., Malls, Concert Halls, and Museums were all really close to me. Sometimes they even seemed more appealing than class, however, it was not worth it. My freshman year I chose to go to the beach and disneyland over class numerous times, and as a result I lost my academic scholarship. I wished more than anything that I could take that back. I worked really hard the next couple semesters to try and get my GPA back up, but it was too late. I continued to work hard at my grades full-time while working up to three jobs to help pay for school, and I now have my GPA back up. If I could go back and spare the loss of my scholarship, I would. It would be as simple as those three words, "Go to class".

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, the first and probably most important thing I would have tried to explain to myself would have been to not procrastinate on homework assignments. That was probably the biggest challenge that I had to overcome. Tests were never a problem for me, but waiting till the last minute to do an assignment dug me into deep wholes during my first years of college. I can recall many sleepless nights due to pulling all-nighters for research papers due the next day. The second advice that I would give would be to remind my high school self that school comes first. This means that if you have to stay in and finish an assignment and miss social activities, there is nothing wrong with that. Social functions will not help you pay for school or help you graduate. Having good grades will help get more scholarships to pay for school. There is nothing wrong with hanging out after all of your work is complete and if your friends cannot understand that, then maybe it is time for a new set of friends.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise me to never let anyone or anything discourage me from my future goals and dreams and what I feel God is calling me to do. No matter what life may throw at me, I must not give up. God will never put me in situations I cannot handle because through Him, nothing is impossible. I may go through difficult times with family and relationships, but I must keep my faith strong in the Lord Jesus Christ.

College and high school are two completely different worlds. If you are seriously thinking about going to college, I would suggest that you take the most difficult classes in high school. Don?t go the easy route. Challenge yourself to be all that you can be right now. If you want to experience what college classes are like, Advanced Placement classes are a must. You must be ready to fail at something. I know that this doesn't sound like very good advice, but it?s going to happen sooner or later. During my high school career, I received excellent grades. When I went to college, I discovered that getting the same grades was much more difficult. I?m not failing or anything; I still received good grades during my first semester. You have to realize that you are not in high school any more. It?s important that you learn how to study and take tests differently. Seek advice on setting a new foundation and build up from there. And don?t forget to take time for yourself. Getting your mind off the pressures of school by hanging out with your friends is all part of the college experience.

Hello senior-in-high-school Madison, this is me talking to you as a college freshman Madison. Yes, you do get into your dream school. Yes, you do survive your first semester. But, I have some advice to give you. College life is wonderful. You'll feel like you're swamped some days and barely floating others, but you will get through it. Until then, keep those grades up! Believe it or not, you can apply and receive scholarships, you just have to go for it. Don't be afraid of rejection, or failure, your Mom and Dad will still love and support you, they just need to know that you have tried to help them carry the load of your tuition. This summer, don't work yourself dry. You're just saving up for frozen yogurt, shampoo and the works to help your parents out. Remember, God is the Provider. He may not give you exactly what you want, but He gives you what you need. Remember to dream big. You have big things ahead of you and you are beautiful. Don't let anyone calm you down. Live radically. Remember to breathe. Keep that head held high.

Don't worry about the future that is ahead of you. God has a plan and He will continue to work it out in your life. Getting into the top college is not the most important thing in life, focus on God's plan and have fun with your life because you only get one of them.

Before I entered college, I was extremely nervous about moving to a new state and living among strangers. I felt scared that people would not like me and that I would not make any friends. I started to think that I would need to change little things about who I was to be accepted more. I did not feel confident in my identity. If I could give advice to myself, I would say that the best way to make friends who really love you is to be yourself. If you try to change yourself, you will have friends whom you do not feel comfortable around, who do not love and accept the real you. As I became more adjusted to college life, I revealed more of my true self, and as I did, I became friends with people who liked my quirky personality, who truly liked me. I enjoy being with these friends far more than I enjoyed being with the friends I made while I was trying to be someone else. If I could change one thing about how I started college, I would be myself and let people like me for who I am.

If I had the opportunity to talk to my self as a senior in high school I would have much to say. Three important things I would tell my High School self would firstly be, thank and appreciate your parents for the time and energy they have spent in raising you into the women you are becoming. I would also tell myself to try your hardest in High School so that you can learn good study habits and discipline skills for completing assignments. The last thing I would tell myself is that High School only comes once in your life so befriend the people who are struggling to enjoy their High School experience. Try to make people feel accepted and happy. Along with enjoying your High School experience I would also tell myself to get involved in clubs and sports. Although it may not seem like it, I think this last one is important for making a smooth transition into college because in college you are surrounded by people that are different from yourself and it can be a shocking transition. Becoming friends with a wide variety of people can help you to accept and appreciate different types of people.

Assuming I could go back in time I would advice a younger Ruth to retake her SAT and ACT exams. If I had retaken these tests and received higher scores the results would have significantly influenced my financial aid opportunities at the college level. I would have also recommended that I work harder at passing my AP history exams for although I graduated from high school with a GPA over 4.0 I wish I had passed my AP history exams in addition to my previously passed Economics, English Literature, English Composition and Calculus exams. Despite my dedication to academics during high school I wish I could go back in time and push myself harder toward fulfilling academic goals.

In high school I didn't give so much emphasise on AP classes. If i could go back in time and talk to myself I would tell myself to take those AP classes seriously and hold on to what I learned. Every little bit of knowledge is a difference. I would motivate myself to take a few college courses, while going to college. College is nothing like high school and understand that the road would not be easy. High may have been a walk in the park, but college is a different scenerio.

My advice that i would give to myself would be to start looking for well-paid jobs both on and offcampus of Biola. Get ahead in Financial Aid and do not put it off to the last minute or else you will not be enrolled in Biola. Be prepared to take on the adult world because it is tough and you need all the luck you need to survive.

I would tell myself to be ready to write lots of essays as well as to be more independent. To get my scholarships and grants instead of having to take out so many loans. As well as to be more self confident in myself and my abilities as a student as well as making friends.

If I could go back and advice myself in my senior year, I would first tell myself to fill scholarships. And lots of them. That way I would not have to worry about tuition and all the other college expenses. Also because most scholarships are for high school students and it would be easier for me to be rewarded since I was well qualified. I would also advice myself to maintain an excellent G.P.A, not only in high school but also in college. To talk to the professors if I needed help and to strive for excellence in every class no matter how hard it is. If I could to that then things will change for me now.

Bernard, I am your future self... please take heed. My first request, take as many AP classes as you can and pass them. Then you won't have to waste time and money retaking classes for GE's. My second instruction, don't waste time playing video games, "6-2-5 or running", and different activities that are materialistic, but save up your time and money and use it to help others. Don't be selfish, but do as Jesus says, "What you do to the least of these, you do unto me." Read the Bible more, study it, meditate on it day and night because you will realize the secret to living a non wasted life and won't have to discover it a year later. My third advice, when you meet people from now until college, especially females, don't think that you have met the "perfect girl" because she has same interests or goals as you. Just continue to maintain the relationship as friends or as a brother or sister in Christ, but nothing more. This will save you from "dramas". Lastly... think about living each day as if it were your last and enjoy it. Goodbye...

It's difficult to figure out what I could say to my high school self that would have actually helped. I think it's not really possible. You just have to learn as you go. I had the right priorities in high school--good grades, good friends--but I was timid. I was scared. I wasn't completely confident in who I was. My insecurities still cripple me sometimes, but what can someone say to change that? I'm still developing myself, and it's only because of my past experiences that I can be who I am today. Adjusting to college life was hard at first, but has been a blast the whole way through. I've had some of my most difficult experiences at college, and yet that is exactly what is helping me. I couldn't just tell myself to be more confident or force myself to be more comfortable in my own skin. Perhaps what would have helped my highschool self would have been just to know that none of my experiences, past, present, or future, would be wasted--and that the university I chose was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior about college and making the transition I would tell myself that taking those few college classes during high school was a great advantage that made the transition a lot easier. The high school that I went to didn?t offer all the classes that were required to graduate. To solve this problem they partnered with the local junior college so that the students could meet their high school requirements while getting early exposure to college life. This set up allowed students that might not have been considering college to see what it was like and what opportunities were open to them. For me, going to college while still being in high school allowed me to learn about other subjects like psychology and ceramics. These subjects were new and a way for me to branch out from the typical high school curriculum. Being around college students showed me to see that higher education was the best route for me to be able to meet all the goals and dreams I have.

Do not wait too long to go to college. Jump right on it and do not stop. Do not allow your decisions to be determined by anyone else but yourself. Be honest and true to what you want and have faith that no matter what comes in your way you will be able to overcome it. You are stronger than you think. You can do great things and greater things have yet to come. Brace yourself because the ride is going to be bumpy; but, it will be well worth it when you get off.

The advice that I would give myself would be to be responsible. Most importantly, you are the adult now, and everything is your responsibility. Getting up in the morning and making it to class on time, making the grades, and keeping up with your classes is up to you. Also, it is important to get involved and meet people. I know you're shy, but you need to make good, wholesome friends to make your college experience the most it can be. Another important piece of advice is to not dorm with a friend you went to high school with. I know it's easy to dorm with a friend, but don't go down that path. It will most likely lead to conflict that won't end well. Lastly, don't forget how to have fun. In between all of your studying, remember to go out and have fun with your friends. Don't let college pass you by, studying in your dorm room. Go out and have a little fun, too.

Don't be anxious about being thrown into an entirely new community because it is really easy to find good friends with similar interests as yourself in college. Get either a mac or a webcam so you could actually skype friends without having to borrow your roomate's computer. Don't expect your first roomate to be your best friend, many people will graduate without being able to even recall their first roomate's name. Don't freak out about the future college workload, it's pretty similar to high school with a ton more reading. Trust yourself, most freshman are more prepared than they think they are. Don't feel the need to bring everything you own to your dorm if you live within a couple hours distance, it will not fit. Be open minded and expect to meet extremely diverse people. Seeing your roomate naked is not the most pleasant thing in the world but will not cause your eyes to bleed either. Be prepared to change in unexpected ways.

Relax! Everything happens for a reason, whether it be good or bad. This is what I would tell myself knowing what I now know about college life. I often got caught up in needing everything to be in order, and for each part of my life to follow a plan. Little did I know God has a sense of humor sometimes and he likes to mess with "the plan." Whether I was worrying about being in the top ten out of my graduating class (which was my goal all four years and I missed it by ONE spot...see what I told you about God having a sense of humor), or stressing about finances and money, I was quickly losing sight of life. A senior in high school should be cherishing that last year before college, holding on to every memory made, and I now know that worrying about a specific plan is not important because whether I like it or not, that plan WILL change. And guess what, it changes for a reason!

I would emphasize the importance of people to myself as a high school senior. Along with college comes crazy loads of homework and inevitable all night homework sessions. These things are part of the college experience. I would strongly encourage myself as a high school senior to not become so busy that I forsake people and the friendships that have been placed in my life. Although school and education are very important, people and relationships outweigh the first two. I would encourage myself to invest more into people?s lives and work on making impacts on those close circles of friends instead of focusing completely on education. I would than advise myself to not become too busy in programs and extracurricular activities where I am helping people that I stretch myself to thin and become ineffective. As a pastor once told me it I better to devote myself to a few activities where I can be fully effective than joining several and wearing myself out. Lastly I would encourage myself to enjoy college and take every class as a precious sea shell because college can pass in the blink of an eye.

I would advise myself is to meet more people. Making friendships and connections is a critical life skill that is best learned by doing it. However, I would not want to give myself any sort of edge over the transition. Going to a new place and a new life is bound to lead to all sorts of mistakes. Although those mistakes can be frustrating and embarrassing I would not want to deprive myself of the lessons learned by getting through those mistakes. If I spoke to myself as a senior I would congratulate myself for daring to take another step in growing up. I would also tell myself that people I am leaving to go to school care about me as much as or much more as I do for them and be grateful for the time you had with them and all the time that is to come.

The advice that I would give myself would be that, everything will be ok and your new friends will be even better, and college isn't as hard as people make it out to be. College is just the next step from high school and you can do it, it's not impossible, you will succeed and figure things out and the teachers are helpful and understanding, not mean and distant. Also, even though the decision about which college you will go to seems impossible, you will eventually decide and make the right decision. Also, even though college will start a new life with new people, don't waste the time you have in the life you live as a senior. Be bold, outgoing, spend more time with friends and family, and don't worry as much but enjoy every precious minute of life you have. Go to your brothers basketball games, take risks, have adventures. Don't think what if, think why not. Don't be afraid, take risks, and live life to the fullest.

Work harder on your relationships with your friends in school now because once you enter college it's like you have two seperate lives. Your friends still love you and care about you but you left and have a different life so work hard at school and your job but not to the extent that you forget about your relationships. Also, save your money. The world is a very different place than you thought and even though God will provide, you still have to help and save. Don't spend all your money on stupid things but really think about what you are giving your money to. In college you find there is a lot more that you are responsible to pay for than what you expected, and the money disappears quickly. Don't rush this experience either, take everything in one day at a time and appreciate life for what it's worth because you don't know how long you actually have here and remember to keep on loving. Even if it's really hard and you are fed up with life, love the world with all of your being.

If I could go back to the beginning of my senior year, I would give myself this exact advice: don't worry about having a girlfriend, actually put effort into school, do as many AP classes as you can, concentrate on building up your friends and friendships, and football isn't going to be your future! College life is going to blow apart your ideas of the world you've grown up in, and it's going to change who you are. You're no longer going to be the son of your parents, but an individual who will have to face tough choices. There will be a lot of new friends and fun times ahead, but also times of feeling alone and exhaustion. Enjoy the next few months, because it will never happen again, but also don't forget that your future is bright. Don't add new things - work on the things you have going on for you right now. Above all else, as you prepare for the future (money, college classes, etc), don't forget to slow down and watch the sunset in the beautiful Northwest. It represents the current chapter of your life.

Dear Katie, These won?t be the best years of your life. The friends you had in high school will soon fade away. Just because he?s right for you, doesn?t mean you?re right for him. Don?t waste time sulking over Chad dumping you. Be patient, there is someone way better coming along! If your Mom tells you no, listen. Momma knows what?s best. Momma doesn?t really think your fat, she just wants you to exercise. Girls are vicious, but you don?t have to be one of them. Don?t sweat the small stuff cause it?s all small stuff. You are strong! Dump the clique. Be friends with people who value you. Don?t be such a butthead to your mom. Your speech class is not a joke. You will interview the average Joe to David Beckham, Pete Carroll, and USC football players on camera. Be different. Quit worrying what people think about you- it won?t matter! Spend as much time with your family as you can. The best things in life are really free. Cherish it. Don?t forget to call your grandparents. You are strong and beautiful. XOXO, Yours truly

College is a big step in a person's life. There are a lot of responsibilities to take on. As a high school senior, I did all my research about schools on my own. It is important as a high school senior to know what you want in a college because this is the place where you are going to be spending the next four or more years of your life getting an education about your future career. Knowing what you want and where the school places academics is the most important thing. Get a feel of the college life and make visits to colleges that you are considering. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Adapting to college life may seem harder. You are entering into a new phase in your life. There will be times when you feel homesick so developing relationships while you are at school is extremely important. It is important to make friends because they are the ones that will make you feel at home. They will help you get through all your tough times. These relationships will last a life-time. College is where you will find who you really are.

I would tell myself to take a deep breathe and take it one day at a time. Take your SATs or ACTs more than once for financial purposes. Be organized and get involved in community service projects and in my High School organizations. as much as possible. Get a job and a credit card asap! Build your credit so that you may qualify for your OWN student loans. As for the big college transition: Your a big girl now, ACT like one! Keep being responsible and keep the trust of your parents. Stay loyal to the family and they'll be loyal to you. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Be consistent in all that you do and remember, buy/get what you NEED and then, if possible, go for what you want. The sky is the limit!

If time travel-were possible, and I were given the unique opportunity to do so, I would have a few words of advice to give my eighteen-year-old self. First, I would remind myself that nothing in all of life will ever be as important as following Christ. Wherever that is and whatever that means, my life will find its ultimate purpose there. Second, I would want to impress upon myself the importance of people, and that nothing I ever study or do should be placed above or in compromise to the value and sanctity of human life. There is no room for negotiation on that issue. Third, I would want to tell my teenaged self to be diligent but also to relax and enjoy whatever situations played out. Living in America, and even in a so-called middle class, offers blessings to students unknown by most of the world's population. The best way to honor those blessings is to joyfully give my full effort, taking none of it for granted. Among the many principles I would have liked myself to know then, these three stand out most prominently.

I would run up to my younger self and emphasize, "prepare NOW!" Not only was I the only one in high school not worriyng about colleges, I was also not preparing for its complexity. Soon, everything concerned money. Because I did not apply early, I missed out on scholarship oportunities, making money a struggle every semester since I began college. I would also tell her to look at the people around her and to stop focusing on herself. I would tell her to focus on others who faced similar challenges and needed comfort and encouragement.

The cliche is true: college will be the most formative time of your life. That doesn't only apply to the obviously impactful things such as making career decisions, clarifying personal beliefs, and learning to live on your own. These things are important, but there is much more. This is the place where you will have to answer the question: how can I live well? Deeper than career decisions, you will have to develop the vision of life and happiness which will ground future career choices. Deeper than clarifying your beliefs, you will have to hone your personal character and set the patterns for your future habits. Deeper than learning to live on your own, you will have to learn to live with yourself, admitting to and coping with your shortcomings, owning your mistakes, and setting your own priorities. After all that high-minded talk, I'll tell you what you should do practically: find yourself at least two mentors to regularly share conversation and fellowship with. Choose people who share your values and who either know you or are willing to get to know you, but above all, choose people who live well and follow their advice and example.

Keep working hard in school, but take time to relax and enjoy your time too. Worrying will not do any good. When you get to college, you will realize that high school is so small in the grand scale of things. What you will remember most is the life experiences you had, and the friendships you made. Going to a college with a prestigious name is not important. Do not let what others think of you affect where you decide to go to school or what you want to do in life. It is fine to not know specifically what you want to do as a career. A large part of college is learning about yourself and finding out what you are good at and what you like. Be prepared to work a lot harder in college than you did in high school. Do not let the stereotype of college being easy and fun fool you. If you want to succeed in your classes and career field, you will have to work hard, and be willing to sacrifice other aspects of your life for what is important to you. Put God above everything else, and you will be fine.

I would tell myself to manage my time very wisely. School is not easy but it is for those who go beyond their limits to be competitive. Although, many say that once you apply for a job, the company does not look at your grade point average, even though that may be true I need to push forward and harder to obtain the best grades in order to get my Masters Degree. The first year does count a lot and if I begin to do bad then in the long run it will be hard to raise up my grade point average. Scholarships are very important to apply for, it will save me a lot of money in the long run and I wouldn?t have to take out so many loans. The last thing I would say is to get involved in the community, such as getting an internship to understand how a business works, because it is better to go into college having some background on what I want to do for the rest of my life, since there are many students who I am competing against that will be more experienced than me.

When I began my higher education, I clutched onto old friends, old relationships. I would let my former self know how to open up to new relationships with professors and friends. By waiting until this year to get in-depth and personal with the people around me, I missed incredible characters and time to invest in them because I soon found out they would leave the school due to financial issues. Never skip an opportunity when it not only builds your core but the friend you now care about as well. In college, having the edge on school processes is key. I would slip my high school self notes on how the class registration works and how to have a backup schedule of needed classes on hand. Once a class closes it is difficult to find out if transferring in is possible after other students drop out. The more I consider how my freshmen semesters stand as an example of my complacency and ignorance, the more I wish I went back and told my former self to, "get in the game", by going around to the closed classes and auditing until some students drop the course.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to be afraid of the changes and the challenges ahead of me. I think that my feelings of apprehension and intimidation prevented me from experiencing my first semester of college to the fullest, and that is something I regret. I would tell myself to jump right in wholeheartedly and not to hold back. It's true that the more you put into your experience, the more you get out of it. Very few rewards come without risk, and college is the time of your life to take risks; everything is a learning experience. I would also tell myself not to waste any time getting involved on my campus - whether working for the student government, joining or starting a club, or becoming an RA. While your education is important, college is about more than studying. I waited until my junior year to become involved at my school, and these past two years of involvement have been the best of my college experience. Leadership positions allow you to grow, attain new skills, meet new people, and expand your worldview. I wouldn't trade that for anything.