Brigham Young University-Provo Top Questions

I would try to help my younger self understand that: "College is a preparation for the rest of life. It is important that you identify skills and interests that would actually enable you to begin a career. Since so much of our lives are spent at work it makes sense to find those areas that you have a talent for and that you actually like! It is important that you accept the personal responsibility for creating your own success. It is up to you to get out of bed in order to get to class on time. It is up to you to do your assignments and study for your tests. It is up to you to ask for help if you need it. There are resources available for that. Seek out new ideas and experiences. There is a world to explore. Strive for excellence. It teaches us self respect and gains us the respect and regard of others. This is one of the cornerstones of a successful career. Cultivate a dedication to ethics and values that you may grow in integrity. Most of all, learn to love and to share that love with others. You will then succeed."

Dear Junior/ Senior Self, Way to GO! on graduating early as a junior in highschool. You will not regret going to college a year early. College is hard, but its so refreshing and exhilerating compared to High School. In college you need to get more sleep and eat better cause the studying and fast pace of classes will take a toll on you. Learn to enjoy your classes. Some are small and some are really big, but always strive to make a group of friends in each class so you can work together and get more out of the course. Professors in college are there to push you to your limits, but not to break you. They want you to see how smart you really can be, so listen to them and always ask for advice. Professors know that you are in class cause you want to be, unlike high school classes that were forced. So sit up front, be assertive, and push yourself to new heights. If you show your professors that you are interested in gaining as much knowledge as possible they will show interest in you and strive to help you do so.

Learn to apply yourself and work hard. Don't wait for the last minute to do homework. Do all of the reading that is required as it will help you do well in the class as well as give you additional insight into the subject matter. Don't study to make the grade; study to understand the subject. Don't depend on your parents; learn to be independent and do things for yourself. Get involved in all you can while not overwhelming yourself. Get to know the people around you; some of the greatest people remain strangers because you don't take the initiative to talk to them. Take the time necessary to learn the subject matter and not to just regurgitate information for the test; understand the subject and be able to apply it. Learn the skills that are necessary to make it on your own. Knowing how to do the basic housekeeping things will be helpful with roommates as well as later in life. Be willing to try new things while still making wise decisions. Get to know your professors and they will get to know you; this will help when you need help.

Listen up Byron: You have prepared for college very well, but don't get comfortable. You are going to have to stretch yourself a lot in these next few years. You need to be positive and optimistic and put people first. The people that you meet at college are going to include business partners, lifelong friends, and possibly a wife. So live your life with no regrets. Don't look at your colleages as students, look at them as what they will become in the future, and that will help you stay focused and become your best self. You have 4 years to meet people, figure out the direction you want to start taking your life, and prove that you have the gusto to acheive what you want with your life. You can do it, and you will do it. Make sure to enjoy yourself as you make a name for yourself. Remember to stay involved socially, and keep your life balanced as much as possible. Don't get too caught up in the books that you miss out on everything else that college can do for you. Your life is up to you, so make it rock.

Lesley, don't forget how much you love this world; the sounds, the colors, the feelings. You will need to remember this love, it will help you get through the difficult times. Remember your father, and how he cried as he dropped you off at the doorstep of the college dorms. Lean upon his legacy until you have the strength to make your own. Don't be afraid to believe and have the courage to doubt, here lies your spirituality. The world is your oyster, lay foundations so you can discover who you are and where you stand, education will help you see the vastness of this landscape. Really love, I mean, really, really love. Give people more chances. Be vulnerable. Be hurt. These experiences will enlargen your heart. Focus your mind on those things that can fill your heart with peace: art, music, literature. Find out how to express yourself with those mediums. Build stronger chords with humanity through this pursuit. Never forget the person next to you. Never forget the half truths of life, even when people say you're wrong. Study harder. Work until you are exhausted and then some. Here is where your personal empowerment lies.

Study hard. Life is harder in college. Learn how to cook balanced meals, learn how to grocery shop, and stay away from the frozen food section. Learn how to say no when friends come over late at night, sleep instead so that you can get up for classes and actually be able to pay attention. Don't work more than 20 hours a week, but make sure that you are keeping track of your finances. Don't take too many credits, and talk to your TA right away if you don't understand something. You'll get lost really fast, and then you won't understand anything else from that point on. Go to the devotionals, they're amazing and they keep you in perspective. Focus on your studies, but don't forget to have fun and make memories with good friends.

Learn how to actually study and apply information that you learn. It will greatly help you.

I thought I was hot stuff in high school, but what I didn't realize was that it's easy to be hot stuff in Oregon City, OR. I came out to school with a few suitcases and an ego the size of Texas. It took me about two weeks to realize that I was attending a school with 30,000 undergrads that had done just as well on the SAT as I had, and I was just background noise now. The demotion did not bode well for me. I was intimidated by my peers, I overextended myself and, over time, I became discouraged. Here is the fatal mistake I made, however: somehow, in my head, I decided that if I couldn't be the best, I might as well give up, and that apathy was somehow cool. I started cutting class. I didn't try as hard. Luckily, I snapped out of that phase, but I'm still picking up the broken peices of my shattered GPA. If I could travel back in time, I would tell my younger self, "Don't compare yourself to others. Do the best YOU can do, and respect yourself for it."

Be prepared to study hard but also have some fun. Learning is the most important part of school. If you focus on learning than you will naturally get better grades and be better off for it.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would tell myself to try harder and do better cause you know you can. I didn't have to try very hard to make it through high school with a GPA over 3.6 but I know I could have done better to help prepare myself for college. My study habits lacked in high school and even though they are better now, they still could be better and if I started trying harder my senior year then I know I can and would be doing better now. Education is important to me and I don't want to abuse my right to have an education by not having to teach myself how to work harder when I could have started doing so in high school.

First, I would tell myself to get to know professors really well. Working closely with them and getting to know more about their fields has been crucial and I wish I had started earlier. Next, I would tell myself to exploit campus resources! There are so many great programs, counseling centers and activities that really make going to school worthwhile. Lastly, I would tell myself to buckle down and realize that school is real preparation for life. The better you prepare the better off you'll be.

Senior year was very hard for me, I moved to a new state and a different high school. If I could go back in time and talk to myself, the advice that I would give would be to focus less on first impressions and focus more on lasting relationships. I would also tell myself to study harder, form study habits, eat healthier, and get enough sleep. These are all hard lessons that I have had to learn here at college. I wish that I could go back and improve on these aspects, so that life on my own would be a lot easier and healthier. The last bit of advice I would give myself would be that if I put my mind to it and put the effort in my work, I can succeed and do better than I could imagine. Over all, I would give myself advice on healthy living habits, study habits, and positive thinking. This is what I would tell myself if I could go back in time and give myself advice about transitioning into college life.

First of all quit worrying about to wear, what people will think of your hair, if you are too fat or too thin, if you should buy a new wardrobe, etc... NO ONE CARES! And you shouldn't either. The beautiful thing about college is that each and every person is unique and adds to the college in different ways. Those that do care are not worth worrying about anyway and you can suceed regardless of what they think. College is a time for opportunities. Bask in them, scoop them up, take advantage of the many opportunities that you will face. These opportunities might be good or bad and this is where you will perhaps learn the most. Sure you will learn loads in your classes, and its going to be hard work and lots of studying, but life lessons are learned outside of the classroom. Be tolerant of others and expect it in return. Surround yourself with people that you respect, look up too, and have the same standards as you, as they will push you to be the best person you can be. Don't live your life with regrets, read the opportunities and embrace them. Buena Suerte!

If I could go back to my senior year, my advise would be to shape up first of all. I left high school with a low GPA that I neglected to care about too much. But I spent my entire college career trying to bring my GPA back up. Also if I had a higher GPA at the end of my senior year, I could have been able to fulfill my next advice: go away to college. I did eventually go off to college, out of state, but only have 2 years of college in my home town, living at home. Being at home was such a big distraction for me and I struggled those first 2 years. Only when I went away to college did I finally shape up to be on the Dean's List and to graduate with a specialty degree.

I would advise myself to start looking at careers early on in my freshman year so that I could take advantage of all of the services, club, internships, and knowledgable faculty in order to be the best prepared for my career as I could possibly be before graduating. I would also focus my learning more on preparing me for my career and trying to make every little assignment that I am given apply to my interests and future career. I would also focus on learning the material that I am presented for myself, in order to really learn it and get an education rather than just to get a grade in a class, because in the end, you'll only have what you learned, and grades won't matter. I would also focus on having fun socially and building social groups in your classes that you can study with.

Dear Sheng, College life is the prime time of a person's life. with that being said, do whatever possible in high school to better prepared that prime time, such as taking AP classes, involving in clubs, and getting a good GPA.

I would tell myself to be ready to be flexible. Sometimes in college it's easy to get discouraged because you don't get as good of a grade as you expect. It's easy to get down and then completely let yourself go. Something I would tell myself is to just keep going and working my hardest no matter how much I failed. I would also tell myself to make sure to explore lots of different careers at the very beginning before I got into my major too much. Now that I am two and a half years in, I've finally figured out what I want to do, and certain classes were uncessary for me to take and brought my GPA down a little because I didn't perform as well in them due to lack of interest. So explore your options, pay attention to what you love, and follow your passion (and make it into a lifelong pursuit!)

I would tell myself that procrastination is not the way to go.

High school was a wonderful time in my life. If I could go back I would tell myself to form better study habbits. And prepare for college by looking at scholarships and also what I would like to do in life. Maybe job shadow a little more to find the right career for me or at least an idea. I would have told myself that getting good grades was good, but learning the material was even better. I wish I could start again and try my very best. Thing were tough, but are tougher now in college. I would have applied myself more to my studies and also my work. Becoming responsible at an earlier age is very helpful.

Dear Ryan, High School can be a percfect preparatory school for your future education. However, it is your choice to make the difference. Don't be afraid to take the advanced classes and obtain the college credit while in High School. This will be to you advantage. Look seriously into a profession that you would enjoy for the rest of your life. Once, this is acheived come to the realization that all of the other classes are part of your end goal. Don't slack off in any of your classes. It will be to your advantage to have a substantial knowledge of many topics and not just what interests you. This doesn't mean that it is going to be easy, but it will be worth it. You will not have regrets. There is a time and place for everything; you will find a balance in your life. For having done this, you and your posterity will be eternally grateful. Sincerely, One who knows

I would give anything to go back and talk to myself my senior year. The first topic of discussion would be a list of my regrets, I would then encourage myself to do all I can to remove these regrets from my conscience. I learned a lot from my mistakes, but that doesn't mean I couldn't learn more avoiding them. I wish I would have exerted more effort in High School, giving it my all in classes, enrolling in honors classes, and striving to be better in sports. I would't settle for mediocracy. I would strive to spend more time with my family to give my little brothers a better example than the one they recieved from some friends who engage in activities with drug and alcohol use. I would then encourage myself to maintain a disdain for mediocracy and to take this attitude into college and succeed. Just because the change from high school to college symbolizes leaving childhood and entering into the real world does not mean our careless attitude will automatically change into diligence. I have made some valuable changes, and will continue to move forward despite my few regrets.

If I by fortune became the Ghost of College Life Future and had the chance to appear to myself a year ago, I would probably be dead--drowned in a lack of discipline. I would tell myself, "There is more freedom in college than you've ever experienced before. While you will continue to depend on your parents for financial and moral support, your schedule will no longer conform to that of your family. Your time will truly be all your own to use in work, play, or however you wish. The important thing now is for you to know WHAT you wish. Good grades? Social time? Responsibilities fulfilled? What you can do will depend on how you use your time. Learn now to prioritize and see yourself through to the end of your to-do list. Avoid wallowing in an aimless mess of 'what seems fun.' If you can come to know and live this principle, you will be healthy and happy; your first semester of college life will be effective and empowering; and hopefully we can avoid going through this unpleasant little scene again." Then I would part ways, wiser, more focused, and at peace with my future.

I wish I had learned how to study in groups and talk to people I do not know. Although, I think I have those skills now, I wish I had not spent my freshman year developing those skills. Through high school, the average student can do just fine studying on their own, but in college one soon realizes the value of group studying. There is such a vast amount of knowledge students are expected to understand quickly. It cannot be done alone. In high school, most students are in classes with the same people; however, this is not the case at a large university. Therefore, inorder to create effective study groups in college, students should start by doing so in high school. High school seniors need to take advantage of the fact that it is fairly easy to get to know other students. Then hopefully, as a freshman, they will not struggle talking to people much older and more experienced students. As I have done this, my classes have been more enjoyable, I am retaining more information, and I have created a support system of people with common interests.

Remember that even though you are taking advanced placement courses right now that seem college level, they are nothing compared to a real college class. College is a lot different from high school. If you are used to getting straight A's, don't expect to when you get to college. College is a lot different and harder. Take your freshman year to adjsut to college life and try to have a good time.

I would definitely tell myself not to stress quite so much. School is important and should be taken seriously, but it is also important to spend time OUT of the library. Get involved, don't be shy, work hard and you will love your college experience.

I wish that I would have realized the importance of seeking academic advisement in high school. As a high school senior, I felt prepared to move on and to become independent, but when I entered college I did not feel confident in my abilities to approach teachers and counselors for advice. I had some idea of what classes I wanted to take and what I wanted to major in, but I did not realize how much of an impact others could have on my decisions. In college, I have learned to be more willing to talk to others about my decisions instead of holding back and worrying what other people will think. College gives every student endless opportunities, and there are resources available everywhere to help guide every student. It is up to each student to be proactive and seek the help that will guarantee their success and happiness. College life is incredible, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become any person that you want to be.

College is a lot of work! Don't slack off! When you decide which college you want to go to, they will be looking at what you have accomplished. Take the time to join other clubs, groups, and other extra-curricular activities apart from those you are already a part of. Don't make it through school just to say you graduated. Learn! Apply what you learn and enjoy the process, however difficult it may be. Believe me, college is worth the price of the time and resources required to make it through. Don't give up, and always help others and look for help from others. College is a team effort, though you are going to need to work hard!

Be involved. Having attended an out-of-state university with an undergraduate student population of about 30,000 it was easy for me to feel lost in the crowd. If GPA and academic performance did not carrry high enough pressure during high school, good grades in college - especially if you plan to attend graduate school later - are both harder to earn and put on a lot more pressure. Take it easy. Especially your first few semesters when most of your classes are general ed, take the easiest of the required classes first. This way, you can spend less energy on the rigors of college education while you are new to it all and more energy on making sure that you survive the experience. Join clubs, greek, intramural sports, anything to keep you consistently in touch with the same group of people. Don't overschedule yourself. Avoid working if possible. Part-time work has a high cost considering what you miss out on; take out a little more in loans and work full-time over the summer or between semesters to make up for it. Your whole being - academic, social, self, etc. - will thank you for it.

The first this I would tell myself is not to be worried at all. Instead of fearing the change, embrace it. Look at college as the beginning of a new chapter in your life and the time in your life where you will make some of your most important decisions and frustrating mistakes. Above all, go to college with a desire to learn. Have a love of knowledge and you will be open to things you never dreamed. Do the schoolwork and then go play. I would also council myself to work part time even as a full time student. It helps you manage your time more and eases some financial burdens.

Katherine, take college seriously but don't take yourself too seriously. Study hard, play hard, and live life to the fullest. Your potential is eternal and with God you can achieve any and all of your dreams. Enter to serve; go forth to learn.

There are many things you need to know and do before you go to college. First of all, don't be scared to take classes that may seem hard in high school, such as chemistry or physics. Take a broad range of classes and try to immerse yourself in each area of life because you never know what classes you might need to take in college. Even if you don't do as well in the class as you want it will still help in the long run because it will give you a base to start from next time. Another thing that is very important is to become involved in your school. Academics are important but it's also important to try new things like track, drama or debate. Just try out for things, if you don't make it that's okay at least you tried. You don't want to think that you missed out on opportunities to learn and grow. Get to know your teachers and learn as much from them as possible. Be friends with many people, form study groups and do your best. Remember it's okay to not be perfect.

I would tell myself to start thinking about what I want to do with my life and what sort of classes and experiences would get me there. I would encourage myself to take a broader range of classes those first few semesters to see what I was interested most in. I spent most of my first two years taking generals while deciding on a major, but I would have recommended to myself that I take some prerequisite courses for majors that sounded interesting, rather than generals. I would also remind myself to stay strong to who I am. I would tell myself to be patient and go with the flow. It is always an adjustment to live with new roommates, and to transition to a new lifestyle, but I would remind myself to always be myself, but to also allow others that same room to grow that I'm asking for.

I would tell myself to take every oportunity that life give you. At this time in your life the opportunities are endless. For people who work hard, have passion, and desire, anything is possible regardless of background, financial status, and natural abilities. I would tell myself to get involved with people. Meet as many people as you can and learn from each of them. Talk to professors and people who work in the feild you are interested in. Be involved in meaningful service. This time of your life is very self-focused, but you'll do so much better in your studies if you find opportunities to serve in your community. Giving back is so important and bettering the world around us is what it is all about. Stay busy and work hard. Dream big and you can do anything. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are people just waiting to be involved in your dreams. Take advantage of them. By doing all of things you'll form life long meaningful relationships and will be able to change the world around us.

Don't stress and just be yourself. It's scary going off to college on your own, but it doesn't need to be. Everyone is in a similar situation so you aren't alone! Don't change who you are in order to fit in with a new crowd, just be patient and find people who like you for who you are. There are tons of people here, don't worry, you'll be okay. The best advice I'd have for myself is to get involved in service projects sooner! I love being a part of the different service clubs at my school and seeing students can make a difference in the community. It is easy to be selfish in college- so get out and serve somebody!

Get ready! Remember, that sleep and good eating are important to being successful too. Learning to say no will be important in your future. Yes, it's okay to help others, but it's also okay to tell them no if you have stuff to do. Find a study habit that works for you. Just because your roommates study well in large groups doesn't mean that you will. Start budgeting now and learn to cook. These will both save you money in the long run. Don't forget to have some fun; you deserve it after all the hard work you've put in. College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, so don't miss out on it by spending every second of every day worrying about your future.

The best advice that I could possibly give myself would be to not give up. I have always been a bright student, but the further I get into my educational experience the harder it become to find the necessary motivation to keep pushing forward. I feel I owe this struggle largely to my lack of motivation to exceed expectations. As a young student I was very quick to do everything possible plus anything else I could find and I was engrossed in study and learning. However as time has passed, I have become in a sense disenchanted with the education process and try less and less to impress rather than excel. I have been able to force myself back into good study habits, but I am convinced the process would have been much easier - both mentally and emotionally - had I never lost those habits to begin with. You have to hang in there, even thought it may not seem worth it at the moment, and with time you will reap the benefits of your sacrifice.

Boost your self esteem up as much as you can before you go and keep yourself motivated and focused! It will be stressful to be on your own financially, but be frugal! Save your money and use it only for things you absolutely need. Don't take the summer sales job! That will be a distraction andand ruin your finances. Get a steady job and stay in Utah over the summers. Study and spend more time in the library!

You have to be your own parent. You don't have mom and dad breathing down your neck all of the time to do your homework, or even to go to class. You need to take the initiative to do well in your classes. Other than that, you've had plenty of experience moving around and starting over, so that won't be the hardest part like it will be for some of your friends. You just need to be responsible.

If I was able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to take more AP classes. Now that I am paying for my classes, I really only want to take classes that apply directly to my future career, or that sound enjoyable. That is to say, I wish I could be more selective with the classes I am taking. As it is, I have a lot of requirements to fulfill and I wish I had gotten more of them out of the way while I was in high school. I would also encourage myself to save more money so that I wouldn't have so much of a need to get a job while I am in college. I want to put most of my effort into school rather than a job.

I would tell myself to write out a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish in the following year. Looking back, keeping my eye on the prize would have been very helpful, and perhaps made things a little less stressful. However, I would remind myself that college would be an entirely new enviorment; some mistakes would come to pass, but they would be for the better because of all that I learned from them. College is a unique experience, difficult as it may be- I would remind myself to make a few memories that I could look back upon for the rest of my life, because in the future, I would never want to feel as though I didn't use everything I was given, and take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself.

Learn good study habits now Don't worry about popularity. That disappears in college, and the popular kids usually end up with drunk myspace/facebook pictures Be yourself Learn how to communicate effectively with people of any age and any level of education Don't stare at people of a different ethnicity Even if you don't mean anything by it, it can be seen as very rude Learn to cook now College classes are so much better than high school classes. Don't loathe the fact that you have to take more school.

I would tell myself that college is tough. Don't procrastinate or soon you will find yourself behind and drowning in stress. I would also tell myself that on the rare free day, don't catch up on sleep. Go out and do something you enjoy doing, like hiking, playing sports, volunteering or just being around friends. I'd tell myself to take care of my friends and don't let my best friend get hurt again. I'd tell myself that good grades are essential for my future so don't think that freshman year is an excuse to play and procrastinate school work. I'd tell myself to take tons of pictures from that senior trip to California because it will be the last time you and your 4 best friends will all be together on a trip. I'd tell myself to stick to my standards and remember what I stand for. I'd tell myself that I need to be a better example for my younger siblings so that I wouldn't be wear I am now, trying to save them. I'd tell myself to be grateful for my life.

Hi, Betsy. I know seeing me now it a shock to you. I am you, 33 years from now. If you do not believe me, ask me some questions only you would know and I promise I will know the answer. We are in college now and doing good. You would be proud and shocked at us. Our dream of becoming a Medical Assistance is coming true. Betsy, you are not dumb. I am making A's and B's in my classes and have a 3.0 grade average. It is tuff, going to school and working also, but I am doing it. I am enjoying my teachers and making new friends. It took me a long time to decide to go back to school. I am going to ECPI in Concord, North Carolina. Yes, I live in North Carolina now. Betsy do not worry about your future. You will be okay. I love going to school again. Jimmy tried to get me go go back to school two years ago, but I was not ready. Betsy remember Jesus is always will you and He will kept you safe. I have to go, but remember God loves you.

High School is a joke. Don't think that because it was a cake walk that college will be a cake walk. Almost everyone in college will tell you that high school was the easiest time of their life. This is not the cases in college. You have to attend classes especially since there are no longer people always watching you, making sure that you go to class. Attend every lecture period. If the instructor says it, then do it. Remember that high school and college are completely different. Enjoy the easy class, live it up. College is coming and it will kick your butt, especially the first time you don't study for a mid-term.

Learn how to learn. Memorizing facts will get you an A but not information to carry with you through your life. College is about actually learning and being able to make connections and applications. Do your very best. The professor will work with you but you must go outside of your comfort zone to ask question and participate. Don't be shy when you don't understand something, always ask. Form study groups. It helps you get to know people and get notes that you might have missed during class. Take very organized notes. It doesn't help to have the notes if you cant understand them or find something specific when you need to.

I would tell myself to prepare a little more and consider taking other classes instead of some of the ones I took as a Freshman. I would also have told my younger self to practice cooking more so that when I entered a dorm I would be able to prepare more types of food. I would have also told myself to work harder in earning money or to accomplish a few toher tasks that might have made these few years a little easier.

If I could give my senior-in-high-school self some advice, the first thing I would mention is work hard. Expect college to be difficult and take it seriously. It takes a lot of effort; you won't get something for nothing. You have to work for it. Also, take advantage of all that your college has to offer. There are so many educational, fun, free activities going on every day. Don't waste your time sitting around doing nothing; take advantage of all the wonderful things going on around you. You may never have another opportunity like this again. Meet as many people as you can. There are so many friends you can make, and they'll become life-long friends. Don't let "schooling" get in the way of your education. Enjoy the learning; don't let the stress of grades ruin a class for you. Take time to step back from your GPA and think about what the classes means to you and how much you've learned already. Think enthusiastic and you'll be enthusiastic.

If time travel is anything like long distance flying, then I will need a few hours to catch my feet before I can give any meaningful advice to my high school senior self, but after I gain composure the advice I would give is simple: Tim, you can do it! College is a continuation of learning where you can apply the study habits that you have developed in high school towards narrowed fields of interest. Immediately after high school, do not worry about selecting a major for your undergraduate; rather, focus on learning in as many subjects as possible and then choose the one you enjoy most; college is not a race, it is a process of personal expansion which helps you discover your best contribution to the world. With a positive attitude and no reservations to learn, college is an enjoyable experience. A more immediate tip that will affect you more than uncovering which major you will choose is discovering what flavor of Top Raman you like, because unless you learn to cook, you will find yourself eating that and pizza all too often.

Heather, Brigham Young University is everything that you could ever dream of--don't take the experience for granted! Have fun in college, but all the same you need to work harder than you've ever worked before. This is your DREAM, Heather! Never let yourself take this lightly; instead, live it up! Experience all that you can at BYU. Make friends with everyone that you can, be an example to all of those around you, and most of all take time out of your busy school schedule to serve others. I'm not going to mince words for you: These next years of your life with be difficult. You will lose some things that right now may seem important, but as time moves you will realize that you have been placing importance on things that don't deserve. Most of all Heather, you will learn to love, both yourself and countless others! Don't ever let yourself close your heart off, even if it's been drastically damaged. You will regret it if you do. The world is an amazing place, Heather, and your experiences and growth over time with prove that to you!

I believe that the single most important thing about finding the right college for you is finding a college that has rules and an atmosphere that are on par with your individual values. If you're extremely conservative in your values, you will never be comfortable at a university near the top of the nation's biggest party schools list, no matter how good their programs are for you major. To make the most of the college experience, make sure you focus on school first and social life second. Set a schedule and make sure you do all of your assignments and studying on time. But once your homework is done, feel free to play! Be involved and make lots of friends. You'll never again have this opportunity to connect with people on the level that you do in college. Get your quality education, but then make sure you live life too. Life is meant to be enjoyed.