California State University-Sacramento Top Questions

If I were able to go back and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot valuable of advice to give myself. I would tell the senior version of me that I should ignore all the negative advice given to me by those older, self proclaimed "experts" who are already enrolled in college. I would remind me to ignore all the people who insisted that I change my major, and possibly my dreams; many majors are impacted and will continue to be, it doesn't mean one should give up or settle for what is easier and faster. I would tell the high school me that partying and being social may seem important now, but in the long run they are just some of the many moments in time. I would tell the high school version of me to work really hard in the first years of college, so that the last years will fly by with ease. If I were to give my high school self some very valuable advice, I would remind her to save money, and apply for all the scholarships possible, because money does not grow on trees.

Throughout my college career I have acquired some useful tips to help an incoming freshman. The transition varies in difficulty with each person but there will be some getting use to the college life. The advice I would give myself is take advantage of your resources, seek a counselor immediately, and ask for help. The transition is difficult because you are thrust into a world of independence. But this new world comes with help from faculty, and peers. An important tip is to know the campus or go a day prior to find a successful route to all of your classes. Investing in a planner, is a must because teachers will not constantly remind you of your assignments and they may change deadlines when necessary. Counselors are the most useful resources on campus because they help you find the courses needed to graduate. The professors are willing to give you individual help if required and answer any questions. The computer lab and library are tools that are extremely beneficial with assignments. Your peers are helpful because they have their own experiences and advice to give. Most importantly, find a schedule that works for you and use the resources available.

Familarize yourself with your campus, your professors and your classmates. Putting the extra time and effort into discovering the ins-and-outs of your college will make you feel more involved with your school and give you the confidence that your educational career is on the right track. That added weight of not knowing if you're missing out on a golden opportunity effects your performance as a student (disagree now, but you'll agree with me later). Develop a personal relationship with your instructors. Visit their office hours and be active with your homework. Instructors appreciate it and are more willing to help you out in times of need if they know your character and trust that you take their class seriously. You will also receive some of your most valuable education here. Professors are more open to talk about how their classes relate to the real world in their own office. You also can't receive a letter of recommendation from a professor that doesn't know you. Know your classmates and participate in study groups. Competition and the fear of letting your professors down have a strong impact on your self-motivation. Remember: Your GPA matters.

If I could go back and prepare my highschool self for college, I would tell myself that dorming with someone you already know is probably a bigger mistake then being randomly paired with someone. I would also tell myself that being away from home is hard, but it isn't as hard as I make it out to be, and I'll be fine. I would say to get involved in everything that sounds remotely interesting, because bowing out of a club is easy, but joining after the join date is hard. I would reassure myself that the food, while not being gourmet, is not as terrible as it sounds. I would also remind myself that Mommy and Daddy are just a phone call away, and they will always be there for you, even on your worst days.

High school is just the beginning of the adventure. After high school there is no room for huge mistakes, because mommy and daddy will not be there to clean up the mess. Make sure that you have a set study schedule so you do not fall behind in classes. Do not give up when things get tough because then giving up will become a habit. College is a whole different jungle then high school. The only person in control of your life is you. Do not let others decide what you want to do. Be free to try new things, meet new people and step out of your comfort zone.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a college student so far. The year has had ups and downs, but everything has been a learning experience. I would tell myself to do more research and apply for more scholarships. Any little thing helps financially, and the more you set out your plan of attack for college, the easier it is throughout the year. I would also do more research about what I want to do as a career and which colleges have the best courses and programs to accomplish my career goals. People change what they want to do as a career all the time, so even though I've changed my goals I know I'll still be able to accomplish them. You just have to roll with the punches and learn from everything.

If I were to talk to my high school senior self the first thing I would say is "choose a major quickly". I would tell myself to not dabble in classes, but formulate and stick to a plan. To always get a classmates contact information is very important because you will always for some reason miss class. Always go to the available counselors, and get a second opinion on your choices. Never doubt your choices. Do your homework period. Volunteer in the field that you think you would like to persue early on. Place school on the top of your priority list. Try to bring a lunch since it's healthier and more cost efficient. You don't know everyting so ask questions and ask for help if you need it.

In terms of doing well in college in the academic sense, I would tell myself to give 100 percent of my effort into studying and doing my classwork for college. You see in highschool I was one of those kids that didnt really have to try that hard to get good grades. I wouldnt study for tests but I would still get the best grade in the class. But that all changed in college. I was barely passing and even failing most of my tests because I wasn't taking notes and studying properly. I would definitely tell myself that I needed to change my whole attitude when it comes to takings college courses. In another sense, I would warn myself about the high costs of going to college. Not just the high cost of tuition, but also of textbooks and parking. Paying $306 per year for parking at college seems a little steep to me. I would warn myself no too worry to much about finance but to focus on my education.

"Stop having low expectations." That is the most important thing I would advise myself as a high school senior. Continuing with, "Your future is worth more than you think, so stop doubting and go for your dream school." I would sternly explain that high school is not all there is to life and now you get to choose the quality of your education. Having an open mind, yet a strong sense of who you are is key to making the right decision. Also, there is truth to the quote, "you don't have to change friends if you realize that friends change." Yet, you should never be afraid to begin new friendships. Keep your papers organized and create a workspace, it reduces your stress level. No more throwing on whatever is clean, plan to look professional and represent yourself. Oh yeah, and start saving up for the gas money you will need every week.

If I would go back in time, I would tell myself to be completely open to any and every expereince. College is a time of growth, not only academically, but is a time in which you learn so much about yourself. Don't be afraid to get involved because the easiest way to transition to the college life is meeting people who are in the same place you are. Yet in meeting people, befriend those who are going help bring out the best in you, and often its those who have similar goals and aspirations. As well, don't doubt yourself in achieving the best and keep setting goals. Jump at every opportunity because you never know where they will lead you and what wonderful experience can come from it. Lastily, enjoy each and every day because life is truly beautiful. Don't get completely caught up in work and school work because you may let the most exciting four years of your life pass you by.

According to what I know now about college the advice I would give to a high school senior would be excellent.I would advice a high school senior to score fairly high on their Sat's and really practice their test taking skills. Exams can be over half your grade at times in college, so If the student can test well it would be very beneficial. Along with test preparations, work loads will change quite a bit from high school. Considering most freshman in college take 4-5 classes,the amount of homework can be overwhelming if not expected.In addition to the exams and homework, its important for students to understand when registering for classes certain grade levels have priority. For example, freshman are last to register and seniors are first. It can be frustrating because its likely the student wont get all of the classes they want. But despite all of the above the most important advice for a high school senior is to stay focused and try not to get distracted. You are in school to get an education, an education that can and will guide you through the rest of your life.

If I was staring at an 18 year-old version of me, I would tell myself to do more research and not pick a school simply because it is close to the beach or by the looks of a campus. I would remind myself the goal I set out for when I was in middle school and be sure to throughly research and plan to attend the best college for me and my needs as oppose to what will look best on a degree. I would also tell myself to look outside my comfort zone and explore my surroundings with an open mind. I would encourage myself to take all the opportunites provided by my highschool including college tours and workshops to be better aquainted with the process. Lastly, I would say to relax, that it is not as scary as many people make it out to be and it WILL be the best time of my young adult life.

Dear High School Senior Self, Please figure out a better idea of what you want to do with your life, before committing to a college. Please take into consideration the majors offered, the types of people that attend, and the competitive nature of the college you select. If you are not ready yet, take a break. Or try a junior college first, where you will have more freedom after two years to THEN select the appropriate campus!! It's okay to go far from home, but keep in mind the extra time and effort you will spend getting home for holidays, and you may miss out on small family gatherings. And of course, should you decide to move closer to home afterall, you will have two completely separate lives and sets of friends. Coming from a simple small town girl (or Woman, now), college is an experience in itself, friends, dorm rooms, parties, and all. But please don't forget to remember your professional growth, while your emotional understanding soars. Sincerely, Your self, College #2, age 26

I would tell myself to do my best in school and apply to more colleges. I have missed my chance to apply to as many colleges as I could, maybe I could have gotten into UOP which is a private Pharmacy college. I would also warn myself about the acceptance letter that I may be receiving from a college. Last summer I logged onto My Sac State and discovered that my admission status had been withdrawn. I later found out that, because I did not answer the acceptance letter (which I didn?t receive) the college assumed that I had changed my mind about attending Sacramento State. I could not reach the counselors? office by the phone so I had to go to the university and talk to them in person. I?m very glad that everything worked out because that was the only college that I had applied to. I would motivate myself not to miss the opportunity to go to college. I have been laid off for more than half a year and it?s getting even harder to pay for school, I would advise myself to apply for scholarships in the beginning of my college career.

When I was a high school senior, I didn't focus too much on my homework. I was able to finish all of my homework, but there wasn't much thinking involved. After attending college for about two years now, I understand that college requires not only analytical thinking but also being able to understand the importance and relevance of it all. If I can go back in time as a high school senior, I would advise myself to pay attention to all the lecture and activities we perform in class instead of simply doing the activities. I would tell myself to ask questions no matter how silly I think they may be. Asking questions is so important in college life towards achieving a career, but because I didn't get a head start in high school, I am only starting to face my fears. I realize only now that I have to push myself more than twice as hard to face my fears in time to obtaining a successful career as a nurse. Life is coming quick. At least now, I understand what I must do: face my fears, ask questions, and pay attention.

I would tell myself to make the most out of my college experience. I would advise myself to experience everything that I can and take it all in. Most importantly, I would tell myself to give 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} in everything that I do and make sure that I find something that I enjoy.

I used to be very bad at organizing my work and speaking with school counselors/advisors. I know I could have done a lot better in my early highschool years so the advice that I would probably give my self is: 1. Buy a cabinet and a set of folders, label them each with your classes and put your work in correspondingly 2. Take notes in pencil. Expand the notes and write them down cleanly with pen, after class is over. 3. Get over my counselor phobia, they are there to help and care for your success. 4. Make study and homework your highest time priority, if possible. 5. You will meet a girl in junior year, say hi to her.

The first thing I would stress to myself would be to stay focus. When I was coming out of highschool I was doing well and I thought I could handle a job on top of the 6 classes I had signed up for in college, but I was wrong. I would tell myself to focus more in school and if I didn't need a job than to quit, or if I did need to work than don't take as many classes because it is too easy to lose focus while trying to balance those two. Another thing I would tell myself is to save the money I was making at the time. In highschool I was working and thought I had a spot at the company for as long as I needed so I did not save as much as I should have. I would warn my past self that nothing is written in stone and one day you might change schools or get fired and it would be good to have money saved up in case you can't find a job right away.

I would tell myself to stick to the Physics and Advanced English classes I was taking because they were the kind of classes I could expect in college. I would also mention that college life gives you the freedom to show up and be a part of it if you choose to participate; you get out of it what you put into it. Extra hours spent on projects will get you a much better understanding of the subject matter and a much better shot at a job after graduation. Good grades and good attendance are a must as well. Helping out fellow students in a study group will yield better understanding of the material, and put you in a position that you can use later on the job as a leader or instructor. Also, any classes that teach basic life skills like budgeting, time management, memorization and learning techniques will be very useful both during and after college.

First I would tell myself to stop procrastinating. Because it may work now, but when you get to college, it won?t. You will end up making yourself work harder than necessary. Secondly manage your time wisely. Make time for studying, extracurricular activities, working, sleeping and all other things that you have to do. Of course things may change from time to time, but make sure that you are putting enough time and energy into ALL of your classes. Don?t be a slacker! Thirdly, get plenty of sleep. You need to develop good sleeping habits so that you can be alert and awake for class. If you don?t, I guarantee that you will be kicking yourself for falling asleep during an important lecture. Fourthly, make sure that the housing department has received your confirmation letter/ e-mail. If you don?t, you may not have a dorm to stay in or end up with a roommate that you don?t want. My fifth and final piece of advice is, try to be healthy. Eat less junk food and find at least one activity that you enjoy so you can be active and release some stress.

The very first thing I would tell myself is to stop turning my nose up at community college and just plan to go to Chabot for two years and then transfer to wherever I wanted to because in the long run, as I have seen in retrospect, it was great and cheaper. I would tell myself that community college gave me the opportunity to figure out what I wanted to do in life. That brings me to the second thing I would tell my high school senior self: Just major in either business or music, it doesn't matter which one I pick, but choose one and stick to it for the two years, don't change my mind becuase it throws everything off. Thirdly I would tell myself to not only relax and stop being so serious about life, but to go straight to my college counselor, make a two year plan, choose a school I want to go to and plan on being at that school in two years, and ask my mom to be my life coach so I can accomplish all I want to in the short time I have for my education.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself during my senior year in high school, I would tell myself to write a goal sheet. Writing down everything that I would like to attain in a realistic manner, before I am 25 then one for 30. That way I can focus on attaining those goals that I put out for myself and knowing that with every goal that I achieve gives me great pride and a better since of self, knowing that I have completed something. Also I would really encourage myself to make sure no matter what happens going to college right after high school and not putting college off for a couple of years because it is the most successful way to go. That was a mistake that I made and would love to correct it if I could. Telling my high school self that even though you have a good job now doesn't compare to completing my bachelor's and master's degree and starting my career before the age of 30. I am glade that I made the choice to go back to school and I am more determined now than ever before.

When I was in high school, I wrote a report for a class about becoming a massage therapist. It was one of the careers I was considering. I wasn't sure what I wanted to be "when I grew up" so I decided to take a year off from school. One year turned into two, and soon it had been about eight years since I had graduated from high school. I was stuck in a job I was starting to resent, working long hours for little appreciation or pay. Then I heard there was a new college opening near me; they offered a massage program. I just started my second quarter of classes, and I am SO HAPPY to be back in school! If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to go back to school right away. If I had, I could have been graduated and working in my chosen field for several years now. I am so much happier in school than I was stuck in my dead-end job, and I can't wait until I graduate from school so I can start my career, and kiss my retail job good-bye for good!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student, I would have told myself not to declare a major. Going into college I have always thought that your possible future career must fall into your major, but after attending school for one semester I now realize that it was not true. Although I have declared a major, a big part of me is really unsure about my major. I would tell myself to just go to college and explore different majors, and not declare one because by declaring a major it gives you an extra worry. You have to worry about if you want to change it or not, and also the required classes for that certain major.

Committing to a University, I had no idea how much time managment and organization I needed. I would tell my high school senior self that I needed to always start my homewok right after a class, so they facts would be fresh and instilled in my mind. I would need to have two three ringed two in-a-half inch binders to seperate my classes based on the days of the week. Based on the days of the week, I would need to pick my schedule accordingly to the classes available. When picking your classes you need to check out the professor ratings on rateyourproffessors. com, because some professors may or may not work with you or care. With all the time you are studying, you need to get out of the dorms and class rooms and have fun. Go out and party, but party with maturity. You need to balance your work schedule, friends, and partying, and when you do, you will have wonderful memories to last you a lifetime, along with friends that will be in your life forever.

After making a transition to college after attending high school, an advice I would give for my past self as a senior in high school would be to keep up with all the work and to never procrastinate. I learned that reading ahead of each lecture is the best way to be able to understand all the materials that are being taught in colleges/universities. In addition, I would tell myself that taking school work in colleges/universities seriously will help benefit those who will succeed in the future. Not only will taking school seriously benefit smart and intelligent students, I also learned that being a part of a community and volunteering to help them can help boost my own self confidence. This way, I will be able to learn what kind of responsibilities each individual will have when they are playing a role in a community while being a student at the same time. In the end, taking advantages in colleges/universities will help benefit me and other students in the future. Benefits will be awarded to those who are willing to take steps toward it.

Manage your TIME !!! Don't procrastinate.. ALL THE TIME. Be organized. Write down what you need to do, JUST IN CASE you forget. DO set aside time to have fun with old friends and new. Have an open mind.

Well this is an ideal question the advice that i would give myself is that i have to be prepared for all sorts of situations. Example not falling behind during class, be ahead of the class in order to understand the materials more easily. The other situation is to be organized keep all my work until the term is over never throw away an materials because it might be used towards the class portffolio. Finally one more piece of advice i would give my self would be to be openminded ask more questions to fully understand the course. Spend more time with my highschool counslers to discuss my college options and see which schools would be ideal towards my collegiate experience. The Final options would be stay ahead of the game from now on.

You are going to go off to Sonoma State and experience life away from home. The freedom will be sweet, but the dining food will be horrendous. You will love your roommates, but they will annoy you. Just relax and try to enjoy it. The experience you gain from Sonoma will let you appreciate home more, and the friends you left behind. When you transfer to Sac State and move back home you will be in heaven. Sac State parking is a pain, but if you get there early in the morning you will have no problem. There is a great computer lab in Mendocino Hall, that always has an available computer. The Union is a great place to relax and do some studying. See a counsler as soon as you can, they are extremely helpful. Do not take Bio 5, and take Bio 10 instead. Trust me it will save you some time. Last but not least, talk to your professors and get help, it can make all the difference. Good luck!

If I had the chance to speak to myself as a high school senior, I would give the advice of choosing the perfect major. The reason being is because as of right now, I am still undecided as if whether the business program offered for me is the perfect major that suits me. Therefore, the time I am spending now as a freshman to think could have been done at the time when I was a senior. Thus, I would motivate myself to pick a major as early as possible.

If I could go back in time and tell myself anything my senior year it would be to enjoy the simpicity of high school and to not get so worked up over petty things that in a year wont mean a thing. Also, I would tell myself to be confident in the gifts God has given me and not to let my fears and insecurities hold me back from living a fulfilling life. Lastly, I would tell myself to not waste another moment not being the person that I want to be. Be strong and get out into the world and share the love that was put in my heart.

First piece of advice would be: College is what you make it, not what your family, relationships or friends want it to be. If you want to join the Greek Community, you should definately join, even if you're not sure if you'd like it. Because its always better to find out than to never know at all. Secondly: Don't take it too seriously, but try not to lose your focus. While you like may like to party, there are limits that are here for your safety and well-being. Knowing when you've had too much to drink and saying "No" may not only save your reputation; but it could save your life. Keeping your grades up is vital, because the whole reason you're in college is for a degree, so don't get side-tracked from the chaos of your social life. Lastly: College is a time where you might make friends to keep for the rest of your life. Be a social butterfly and connect with people. Networking yourself helps build a foundation for future jobs, opportunities and careers. Never hurts to have too many friends!

There is a great many things I would do differently. First of all, I started school when I was 18 and then took a break after two semesters to travel and help open a business. My greatest mistake was that I didn't stay enrolled in classes. There are so many opportunities for travel as a student and there is the still ways to fit in a tough work schedule. Now I am 28 years old while most my classmates are 23 or younger. As a 28 year old, I am normally the oldest person in class. I am known as to many of my classmates "Blue" as in the character from the movie ?Old School?. Another great piece of advice I can offer is don't settle for community college. Do everything in your power to get into a university. The campus life, opportunities for travel, and chances of meeting lifelong friends is infinitely better. Whether you thought high school was ridiculously fun or just ridiculous, college will be one of your most memorable experiences. Do it right, take it seriously, keep your GPA up, and good luck too all.

Don't be afraid to try something new. When you step onto that campus for the first time you will be bombarded with new people, new places, and invitations to try new things. Don't be afraid to make new friends. They won't take the place of your old friends, but they will be one of the best things you receive from your years in college. This is your chance to live a little, to make memories, to grow and change and become a better person. Make the most of it! Join a club, play a sport, go to that party. Don't let shyness and fear control you, learn to take control of it!

I would tell myself that with enough studying, I would be able to take on any subject, even those outside of my scope of interest. Also, I would tell myself that attending all classes is essential to understanding what is on the test, no matter if the professor takes attendence or not. I would also expand my knowledge base and take more diverse classes for my general education, as it builds character in a person.

If I could go back in time to tell myself about college life the first thing that I would tell myself would be to prepare for the future. I would make sure that I spent my senior year taking more than the minimum required classes to graduate in order to prepare for the courses I would enroll in for college. That way I would have a head start and take less units as well as pay less tuition when I got to college. Next I would tell myself on the social side that college is not too much different from high school except that there are more opportunities and options. I would tell myself to take advantage of all that college has to offer, be it sporting events, collegiate clubs, or study groups. These social networks help to keep a student happy and focused while in college and can form great friendships that may last a lifetime. They also allow a student to be more independent. Also, I would tell myself to take my time and enjoy the moment so that I can plan for the future. Lastly, I would tell myself to stay focused.

I would tell myself to make sure the college I choose, is the right college for me. Also not to just rush the situation of picking colleges just to get out of your parents house.

Have your planner ready Natasha! College life requires you to be more self sufficient and driven in order to get the grades and knoweledge you want. Unlike highschool, teachers do not constantly remind you of upcoming assignments and events, nor are there severe consequences for not completing work or assignments such as calls to mom and dad. You truly are the only person responsible for yourself. Nevertheless, do not despair! If you put the time and effort into your classes, you will get the grades you want and deserve.

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!! Complete assignments early go to office hours. I would also advise first year college student to inquire about internship opportunities as soon as possible. I would probably have started applying for scholarships right away to help fund some of my education and avoided taking out student loans.

If I could go back and tell myself anything about the college life, I would tell myself to go see a counselor earlier on so that I can map my courses for the years to come. I'll also tell myself to make myself accessible, go out and network as much as possible with people who are shooting for the same goals as me so that I have people who can relate to what I'm going through.

Based on what I have learned from both the application process for college, my advice to myself as a high school student would be to try hard to get good grades and to paticipate in extra curricular activities and volunteer work. Many schools, especially the well-known and academically-accredited schools pay close attention to these things. Also SAT/ACT and college prep courses is something I did not take advantage of during hight school, but I wish I had. Based on college experience, my advice would be to practice independence and responsibility. Having a job and practicing money management would be helpful in being a successful college student because you will be away from home and may not always have the help of parents and family. Financial aid disperses once semester which means if you do not have a job or another source of income, you only have financial aid money to pay for rent, bills (phone, utilities, car note, etc.), food, school supplies, clothes, and social events. Finally, maintain good study habits because school only gets harder from high school on.

I would have to give myself the advice to go for the Civil Engineering degree with a full head of steam. I have learned with difficult classes that it is not necessarily the material that is taught but instead it is the thought process you develope while solving difficult problems. CSUS developes the mind body and soul of young men and women graduating from high school. There are many things to do on campus and off, both academicaly and socialy. I originally attended Sierra College and transfer to CSUS. I believe that was the right choice. I would suggest to my high school self to be more open to different opinions. there are a lot of deep conversations with faculty at CSU Sacramento. Education is valuable, but being able to creat social networks is invaluable. You do not get to meet potential bosses by handing in an application, however going to ASCE Club Meetings and talking with professors is how you begin to get ahead of others. all of this is accomplished at CSUS. I would tell myself to meet and talk with as many people as possible to create more relationships.

As a new student to Sacramento State University I was facing many challenges. There were questions on what classes to take, what major to choose, where to live and how to make friends. The greatest lesson I learned going through those challenges is that there is always a solution. Do not take no for an answer and especially do not compromise for things that you really want. They don't have the exact major you want? They more than likely have an application for a special major. You did not meet the requirements to be in this class (but you are really interestested in this class)- there is exceptions, for instance a probationary admission into the class. You do not meet the scholarship requirement but would like to have that company be your sponsor? Write them anyways- I have seen companies create special scholarships for students with passion. And finally, GO AND MEET your professor- they are your greatest resource, mentor and opportunity. If they see your passion, they will take it upon themselves to help you realize it! Remember, if there is no path, that only means no one has tried it yet . Believe in yourself- follow your passion.

Attend college earlier and chose one that is a more residential campus. I would love to go to an older college that is in a downtown area and has a lot of character.

Focus and work hard. Do not give up and do not procrastinate. It is not going to be easy but it is possible with determination. Time management will be one of the most important things if you want to succeed in college.

I would give myself the information I now know about scholarships and financial aid so that I couldget the most possible money there was for me. Also, I would have contacted the softball coach alot sooner and seen if there was any way that Icould get a scholarship to play softball there. For my I have two older brothers both in college and it is has been tough on my parents to pay for ll three of us. I tried getting a summer job, but what I should have done is start that search earlier forImight have mad emy chances better if I started earlier. Now being apart of the university for a semster I need to remind myself that I need to always be looking for ways to get free money. Another great thing is that I have made so many friends in the dorms and by getting involved in a few clubs and being a part of the softball tem that I have made a great first semster.

As you are getting ready to graduate, you will have many differing opinions presented to you and many different options available. You may feel like you are so unsure about what you want to be "when you grow up". Do not let life, or any person, choose your path in life for you, you know what you need and want to do. Go with your gut. If your mind is clouded with so many options, fascinations, and inspirations, choose the one that you find that you have real passion for. After a while, you will realize that the seemingly unconnected paths of all of your interests and values will converge and that you will be thrilled to know that you have formed a strong, confident person. Prolonging the transition into college is only delaying the inevitable desire and need for you to absorb all that you can that encompasses you, forming this world of information into a structured, well organized repertoire of skills and abilities, and the overwhelming need to mentor, and shape the lives of bright, open minds.

Work harder at your school work and apply to more scholarships for high school seniors.

Be patient. I have come to find the truth in the idea that the only constant is change. Make plans about the future, but also accept the changes that inevitably come with it. It can be intimidating to look at your future, ripe with possibilities and dreams and ambitions, while not having a clue as to which road to choose. Given this situation, you can only make the best possible decision with the information you presently have. This decision may seem foolish after you travel down that path for a while, but you must forgive yourself for not knowing how it all will unfold. No one knows. It sounds like common sense, but if you made a decision to the best of your ability then you must accept that there was nothing more you could have known or understood at the time. This self forgiveness is vital. You must also recognize that choosing one path does not always and necessarily mean you can never choose another path again, or that you must continue down it until it ends. And just so you know, no one else has it all as figured out as you think.

I would tell myself to be more focused on school and finding out the things that I would enjoy doing as a career possibility. I would also explain to myself the importance of furthering my education and how crucial this time in my life is to setting and pursuing those goals. In addition to these, I would finally tell my past self to not be afraid or doubtful about colleges and not being accepted to the ones I want, and that it's better to try and fail than to never try at all.