Carthage College Top Questions

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior in high school and give myself one piece of advice, it would be, ?you know yourself better than anyone else, so don?t let anyone fool you, but don?t fool yourself either!? As I have made the transition to college life I feel like I have had a hard time trying to find out who I want to be and where I want to go. It?s tough trying to maintain who you were coming out of high school, but fill your spot in the college puzzle. I have run into people who want me to be one thing when I know I?m really another. On the other hand, I have tried to tell people what I am, when in reality I know that I?m not. Its been said that college is a place where people discover who they really are. The part they don?t tell you is that it?s not that easy. My advice is just a simple guide that if I follow, I know that I will succeed.

I would tell myself to stay true to who I am, because it is so easy to get caught in the drama that comes along with college life. I would also advice, to brace myself for the emotional rollercoaster, because at times I really miss my family and it's a struggle to be one of the only African American students in class at times. Most imporatntly, I would remind myself to stay grounded and keep my strong academic legacy alive because, I still need money to pay this private college tution and making bad grades is an expensive mistake. But I would seriously just remind myself why I was going to college and the importance of begin a first generation college student in my family and also the imporantance of begin a young, African American woman in college. For those before me, roads that have been paved and moutains climbed that have made the journey a little more smooth for me, and that's more imporant than going to parties and blowing classes off. That would be the advice I would not only give to myself but to other people who plan on going to college.

I would tell myself not to worry about whether or not I'm going to make the transition easily. It's a lot better to just take it easy and let it happen, because as we all approach adulthood people have begun to care less and less about how you look, or how you talk, or how you carry yourself. In fact, I've found that in college, the trend has been a move from how you are, to who you are, and there are very few people out there who aren't good people. If I'd have known that, I don't think I would have been nearly as worried about living for a new life at a new school in a new state. But at the same time, I don't know if a younger me would ahve believed that no matter where you go, people are never going to be that different, because deep down, we all just want to be good people, and as our lives blossom into adulthood, people are finally starting to realize that being a good person is all that's really important.

A lot of pressure is put on the process of choosing a college, and I remember finding the decision very stressful as a high school senior. But even though it is important, what matters more is how you act when you get there. College can feel very overwhelming at first, but if you make an effort to get to know other people that helps so much. My school had an excellent orientation program, and I soon learned that everyone was in the same boat when they came to college. It is an experience like no other because everyone is a stranger and everyone needs friends, so the other students are exceptionally friendly. College is different than high school in that you are likely to have many different friends rather than a single clique, but that will challenge you to think about the world in new ways. The most important thing is to fully immerse yourself in the new environment, and figure out what it is that YOU want to get out of college. Chances are, you will find it.

Do your best. Thats all there is to it. Try your hardest, focus on your studies. Take a foreign language. Be sure you know what you want and what is important to you before you leave highschool. Because in college it is so easy to bend and fall to peer pressure. Be strong and secure in your own lifestyle choices and be sure you know at the end of the day who you want to be. Always think with a critical mind, because if you don't so many people will play you. Don't give into temptation when you know it will not help you achieve who you want to be. Do not fall because your friends fall. Be strong and secure even when you're alone. Because if you cannot survive on your own you will fail. And you will get hurt clinging to others just because you're afraid to rely on yourself. You're afraid to be alone. Conquer your fears of lonliness and rejection and you will succeed in anything and everything you do.

Choose one of the three: Great social life, Top student in your class, Good amount of sleep...When you enter college this list will be one of the main first things that you will encounter. When I was a high school senior, I saw this through one of the applications via Facebook and honestly, I laughed. I didn't think that it would be that big of a deal to handle all three of these and have all three go well too. So, to be short and sweet, I believe that I would tell myself to really think this through and come into college with a mind set, and my goals on turbo drive. There are so many different things that college has to offer and nobody can handle them all no matter what. When you enter college you are an adult, and as an adult you need to have your priorities straight. With this list, you are showing that you know where your priorities are at in life.

For me the most important piece of information to tell myself is start applying for scholarships and grants even if you think you have all the time in the world to finish the applications, you do NOT. Money is hard to come by and to obtain while in college so save the money you have and do not spend on things you think you need or want. Another helpful hint about saving money is to study for the AP exams so that you can go into school with some credits and jump start your degree-related classes. THis will save you months of classes and money. With the academic theme going, I would mention that college classes are similar to high school, but most of the learning is done outside of class through homework and projects. A lot of people I have met while in the first semester of college tend to get overwhelmed by the extended out-of-class work; do not worry, take breaks and relax nothing is impossible. Lastly, I think a Congratulations is in order because I made it through High School and have a chance to extend my knowledge.

My advice to myself would be simple. Listen to your elders. You don't know everything. At the age of 16, I thought I knew everything. At the age of 18, I thought I knew everything. Finally, upon entering college, I realized that I had a lot to learn. Not to say that I screwed around in high school or rebelled at every chance I got, but I wish I had stepped back and accepted my ignorance. People have a lot to offer, regardless of if it benefits you. By listening to others you can learn more about who you want to be and maybe even more importantly who you don't want to become. Fortunately for me, I have realized this with time to change....but imagine how much more I could have learned if I had known this in high school?

In evaluating my current situation at school, I feel that I should have done more prioritizing and made a logical self-evaluation of what I was looking for in my college experience. I would tell myself as a high school senior to take a leap of faith and move to the city, where I can help myself to discover more independence as well as help my potential career in music and theatre. I would also tell myself that I can't be afraid of what the possibilities are, and that by devoloping more confidence and a thick-skin, I can't go wrong. I truly feel that confidence and independence are the keys to a successful college experience, and an even more successful future. With that said, I wish I would have pushed myself to my full potential, and never let meaningless obstacles bring me down. I have found that in high school I didn't give myself enough credit. Therefore, I would have told myself that I am capable of anything that I put my mind to; and I truly believe that.

Throughout high school, whether you have liked it or not, you have not had to make all your decisions. Most of the difficult decisions are being made by mom and dad regardless of what you want. Once you are in college, those tough decisions are yours to make. The most important decisions you make will weigh between doing what you have to do and what you want to do. Please choose wisely. These decisions will help you prioritize your schoolwork, sports, social life, and lifestyle. They will help you earn great grades, make exceptional friends, and provide an all around fantastic experience. You need to look back on the decisions and lessons learned from mom and dad to succeed in college. I have seen many people struggle adapting to college life because of their new independence. I see them take the ?easy? road, or the ?fun? road when there is work to be done. It will be easy to settle in to college life and be successful if you maintain the course that has been set for you. I think that you will already know what the ?right? decisions are, you just need to be strong enough to make them.

College is not just the time to fill your brain with knowledge, but it is an opportunity to become independent and broaden your horizons. Find what you are interested in by taking classes in different fields and finding what is most exciting and fascinating before narrowing in on a certain career path. Take advantage of opportunities offered by the school, especially study abroad trips. Definitely continue your passion for swimming by joining the team. But don?t become too serious over all the training and competing; remember to have fun! Take in every moment and really get to know your teammates because they are the ones that you will spend countless hours with and will turn out to be your closest friends. The friends you meet in college have a huge significance on your experience and will help you through the tough times. Keep an open mind when meeting new people and trying new things, but don?t lose sight of your values and goals. Study hard, but make time for fun too. Managing your time is key to success in college. Be yourself, find what interests you, work hard, and take it all in because it goes by quick!

Talk to people right away, they are all just as nervous as you. Everyone is living with a roommate for the first time, so there is a learning curve for everyone, don't let your roommate walk all over you. Use the resources that you have, your RA's the dean of students office and your freshmen advisor they will be able to give you tons of great advice and be there if you just need to talk. Dont be afraid to try new things and join new groups you will only regret it if you don't. Dont think that sororities are a big joke, you can get to meet some of the most amazing women you will ever have the chance to meet and you will make friends that will change you life. College is amazing but you need to take advantage of all the opportunities that are given to you. Go new places, meet new people and trust your gut instincts. Remember the people that you meet because networking is key for your future and you never know who be able to help you out when you need it.

The transition from high school to college can come easy to some and harder to others. To make the transition easier is to start college with an open mind and the willingness to do anything new like making new friends and trying new activities. College is very different from high school. In high school teachers ask if you did the homework and if you did not they will ask you why, but in college no one will care if you turn it in or not. In college you do things for yourself and by yourself; it is up to you to do what needs to be done for a successful college career, for example: completing assignments and understanding the material. If you feel like you do not understand the material talk to the professor and ask for help. If you have any questions about financial aid or classes you can always go talk to your advisors they will help you out in whatever they can. Get as much information about your school as you can from club and sports, to financial aid and classes. "These will help you live your college life to the fullest."

Knowing only what I knew before beginning college, I expected it to be much more difficult to meet people and succeed in my classes. These things, then, were remarkably easy when I arrived here. Everyone is so nice, and the workload is nothing I haven't dealt with before. I absolutely love being in Carthage, and though I didn't know much about it coming in, the transition from high school to college was extremely easy. After knowing what I know now my love for this school has only grown exponentially. This is my new home.

Never sit still. There is too much to do and too many new people to meet to spend any time at all stagnating in your dorm room. When you sit in your dorm room, you leave yourself open to everything that can and will destroy you, if you let it. You invite in self-doubt and longing and misgivings, things that will poison your first semester. If you sit still, you begin to wonder about the workload, about whether you'll be able to handle it, if this will be the moment everyone finally finds out that you're not really smart, you've just been lucky this entire time. If you sit still, you begin to think about all the people you've left back home, about the friends you'll never see again, about the parents and the safety net that now seems frayed and far away, and about the long-distance relationship that you know deep down won't work out. You wonder if you're in the wrong place. You'll have to face all of these doubts eventually, but you need to build up a head of steam first. So move. You can do this.

WARNING. That is what would preempt anything I would tell my high school self about Carthage College. Academically the school is very good (although it probably touts itself in this regard more than it should--but what school doesn't). However, when it comes to social activities, community involvement, and other important aspects of a well-rounded college education, Carthage fails to provide substantial or meaningful support. Carthage College is solely focused on "the student", when they--or any institution of higher education should be focused on "the person". Further, the College fails to treat students fairly, instead standing blindly by their status-quo. I would specifically say to my high school self, "Go to a state school. There are more social activities and much more diversity. Almost any state school is more broadly recognized by future employers too." I would add, "any private college like Carthage cannnot offer the well -rounded, complete education that a large state school can offer". Knowing my high school self however, I likely would have shrugged off this advice and made the decision on the basis of what school offered me the biggest scholarship--despite its tuition rate (I've already done it once).

Knowing what I know now about college I would tell myself as a high school senior do not waste so much time arguing with my mom about filling our scholarship information, it is definitely worth it in the end. Stop stressing so much about what my classes will be like, they are not as bad as everyone makes them our to be you do well, and the professors are actually helpful and not intimidating. Be open to new experiences and don't overthink things once you are in school, let people see who you turely are instead of just being shy and not talking. The people you meet will become great friends and you will have many new and interesting experiences. And always always make sure your alarm is set before you go to bed, professors definetly frown upon you running into class after you are late. But most of all absorbe everything, take it all in, and love every minute of it. These will be the four years that bring you closer to realizing everyting you want in life.

The first thing I would tell myself is don't be afraid to be yourself and meet new people. Then I would say, "Mitch, you need to get involved with organizations and clubs. Don't sit around in your room." My next advice would be to exerscise regularly since the ladies like it :). Also, I would encourage to not try to find my soulmate within the first couple weeks of school. I still got 4 years of college to date and find the right person, no need to start on day one. Finally I would say do every task given to you. The ones that seem tedious do first. Although some assignments might seem pointless and easy to finish, do them so you don't have to cram to get them all done the day before.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the main advice I would give myself would be to get involved in college. Doing what you love to do helps you to accomplish your goals and dreams as well as making new friends in the process. By being surrounded by activities and new friends, the transition will go much more smoothly and naturally.

People put pressure on high school students to make the right choice about the so-called next step: the right college, the right career, the right path of life. The truth is that--for most people--the first two (or even three) years of school will pass by and the answer will STILL not be clear. There really is no "right" path, because, at the end of the day, college is college, and there will still be awesome professors and great classes and awful tyrants and morbid classes. The only thing that truly changes is us: how we adapt to new situations and how we cope with challenges. The college experience is not dependant on the right place post-high school graduation, but rather on our willingness to accept changes and make the best of the worst. And we must remember something very imporant: our generation has the wonderful gift of opportunity. If we make a mistake--say, if the college we attend turns out to have nothing that could benefit us--we can try again. And this time, we will at least know what NOT to do.

College has become the place where I am finally discovering who I truly am, and who I am meant to be. No one can do this for me except myself. It is up to me to start a journey, follow it, and slowly begin to understand my full potential. If I could go back to the high school version of me, I?d remind myself of this. I?d tell myself that things will go wrong, I will be heartbroken, and I will be disappointed. But, that is what comes along with the transition into what I truly am. Experiences, good and bad, are beneficial to my growth. College will be hard, I would tell myself, and some days I won?t know where to turn, but I must continue to push forward, be happy with who I am and eventually fall in love with who I am becoming. Overall I would tell this younger version of myself that college is the point in my life where I finally need to let go of inhibitions, open up, and receive everything in a way in which it can contribute to my growth as the adult I always hope I?d become.

I chose my college based on my best friend and boyfriend because I wanted to keep them both in my life. If I could go back into high school and be a senior again, I would have dumped my boyfriend to prevent the future complications in my college life. I didn't take the college application process seriously enough because I never realized it was so intense and time consuming, I waited longer than I should have to make a decision because I was scared so I put it off. I would go back and tell myself there is no reason to be scared, just reasons to be excited and happy for a fresh new start.

College life will be the best four years of your life as long as you take charge of it. When you walk on to campus the first day smile, and talk to people. Everyone wants a friend be that friend. Get involved on campus sign up for everything and attend four organizations. This will help you to network through campus and give you things to do for fun. When you go to classes get to know your professors, they want you to succeed but that doesn't mean they will spoon feed you. Also try Greek life, even if it doesn't seem like your thing at least rush, and see if they pick you. You can always say no. Most importantly set up priorities with your school work and budget your time! Time managment is something not many college students have but it makes your life that much easier.

If I was able to go back in time, and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to do things very differently. Firstly, when applying to colleges, I would advise myself to apply to more than just one school. I ended up attending Carthage because it was the only university I applied to. When applying for colleges, I would also advise myself to look into colleges away from home. The fact that I am living at home while attending college takes away many of the aspects of college life that I would have liked to experience. Living on campus away from one's family is an important aspect of college life, and without it I'm concered that once I \ live on my own, I will have much difficulty. I feel that if I had made the decison to live on campus rather than off of campus, I would have developed a larger social group, thus making school more enjoyable for me. Finally, I would have urged myself to apply for more scholarships, to ease my debt.

Julieus, before you decide on where you want to go to college dig deep into your heart and forget the costs because you will find that going to a school just because it's more affordable will make you unhappy. When you go to college take your medicine everyday and take your illness seriously because you will miss alot of classes in the hospital if you don't. Remember who you are and where you come because you will meet people in college who are constantly demanding that you concede to their expectations of you. Cherish those you have in your life now because they will likely not be the same as you remember them. Lastly cherish your family because they are all you can rely on in this world and you will need them more than you ever knew. Good Luck.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry too much about the transition into college. I would say that friends are easy to find, school staff members are friendly and helpful, and people in general seem to be nicer than they were in high school. As long as you don?t procrastinate, study, and keep yourself in shape, you?ll be fine.

I would tell myself that, college isn't that scary. Sure there are finals and papers...but thats with any learning institution. I would also tell myself that I don't need to be nervous about meeting people, there are tons of people who are just as anxious and nervous as I am. I would say to myself that professors are not scary stuck up people (most of them anyway), they are great people and have tons of knowledge and experiance and life stories and lessons from that experiance...the they are just waiting to tell you. I would also tell myself to stop worrying so much , enjoy college and freshmen year, and enjoy every experiance...thier can only be bigger and better thing in my future.

Chris Beaumont If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself one piece of advice using a quote from the gospel of Mark about the parable of the sower. Jesus explained to the people about the seed which had fallen among thorns, saying: ?Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." (Mark 4 18-20) I would advise myself to detach from selfish and material things. Now I know the only things containing true value are acts of humility, kindness, and compassion. A person will ultimately be judged by their thoughts, character, and demeanor not by social, financial, or physical means or boundaries. I would give myself this advice because it is a lesson that although grasped by some earlier or later in life, still must be comprehended since it is the promising essence of humanity.

The advice I would give myself would be to take college classes while still in high school because I know that I could have passed the classes and the fact the classes would have been cheaper. Not only would I have took college classes while in high school, but I would have took more college preparatory classes so that I would just have the college class experience. I also would have applied for more schools than what I applied for instead of settling for the school that is close to my family. I should have took more of a chance so that I would not have regrets about not making the right choice, but I have no regrets because now that I stayed close to family I was able to get prepared for my next college because it will be bigger. As a high school senior I did good, but I just should have applied for more colleges.

My advice would focus on the challenges and obstacles of growing up and becoming an adult. When your're young, the world is finite, where any dream imagineable can be attained. This pure, rather naive ideology is utterly shattered when the transition from childhood to the teenage years occurs by which an individual is exposed to social expectations and pressures of the real world. Reflecting back on my younger self, the concept of going to college, getting an apartment and working a job seemed relatively straightforward and easy to accomplish; oh how I was in for a rude awakening! The society in which we live makes it incredibly difficult for students to balance a full-time job with attending school full-time and makes supporting oneself independently almost impossible. In conclusion, I would advise myself that the world is a cruel and oftentimes unforgiveable place that requires a strong-willed, independent mindset capable of balancing priorities and life's pleasures. Even though fate might not always play in your favor, you must always remember that any bad situation will only get better in time and that hope is man's greatest attribute.

As you prepare for college remember to take the financial aspects of college seriously. I understand that you and your parents put together a plan for paying for school when you started high school. However, you may not know where you want to attend college and the cost of attending a private schools can run up to three times more than in state public schools My advice to you is start the scholarship and grant search early. Having extra money does not have to be the goal but having ?enough? relieves stress and allows you to focus on your studies more fully. Even though your parents may be paying for the first year of college, your sophomore year may have a high price tag as well and the bill/loans will be your responsibility. Remember that the community service hours you are participating in high school opens doors for financial opportunities. Good grades, school clubs and athletic participation as well as hobbies may also make you eligible to apply for financial support from many different resources. Getting connected with a scholarship/grant resource possibly through your high school career center could be the most important step in your college planning.

Enjoy your time in high school, take advantage of every opportunity given and do not lose sight of your goals. Take your class work seriously and study hard so you can recieve more aid and hopefully some scholarships for college as well. Stay out of trouble also, college is a lot more expensive than you may actually think it could be!

Breathe. Plan for the future, learn from the past, but don?t be so focused on them that you forget where you are. Look at the friends you?ll be making and the things you?ll be learning! Actively engage them, don?t observe and wait, expecting that someday things will fit together better. Don?t live on a countdown to the weekend or to Thanksgiving break, to that moment when you can rest. That expected relief won?t come in the way you think. Wake up every day for the purpose of that day. That morning, that class, that conversation is important. Let it be important. What needs to be done will be done as long as you?re responsible. Worrying through this next conversation will not help finish your homework, nor will it bring you closer to your friend. I have experienced so many neutral moments, squandered with worrying or planning. Each thing has its time. Commit to the moment you live in. If you have chosen to give it your time, it is worth your complete attention.

Dear Natalie HS senior, Time flies. Live your senior year to the fullest and enjoy every moment of it. Although senior year can be stressful with applying for college, scholarships, and getting that final A to complete your GPA, know that everything happens for a reason and that college is a great investment towards your future. You may be scared to leave home, to make new friends, and to eat anything but mom's home-cooked meals, but just know that it is all part of the transition process and that everything will be ok. All you have to do is believe in yourself. Do not be afraid to make new friends, for you will keep in touch with everyone dearest to you. Do not be afraid to leave home, for your family is always there for you and will support you no matter what. And do not be afraid to apply yourself, for you will get far in life with a little bit of ambition. College may be the best four years of your life, so be optimistic, forget about all the high school drama, and get excited to start the next chapter in your life!

If I could go back in time, I would have five points to drive home. The first is to actively make friends. Being shy makes it hard, but once you go for it, people are open and willing. This will also provide a large variety of friends, and therefore weekend activities. The second is to be willing to try new things with friends. It'll expand your horizons and make you a more interesting person, while helping to grow the friendship. The third thing is to be more involved in the theatre department. Even if it's hard, be willing to try things you aren't sure you can do. It will open you to new people, experiences, and opportunities for all of your years. The fourth goes along with the third, and that is to take risks, especially in the theatre department. Volunteer for something, even if you aren't sure you're ready. The push will motivate you and help you in a way that shyness would otherwise prevent. The final thing is to get a job, by contacting people when they don't contact you. Shyness won't helpt to get you a good job on campus.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school I would give myself quite a load of advice about coming to college. The one thing i would have told myself would be to be more outgoing. In high school I wasn't shy at all around people that I knew and was friends with, but when I was around people I did not know I became shy. I was this way for the entirity of my first semester of college but then I realized that being outgoing and an active member of the community could only help me. Over past 2 semesters I have made more friends and also I have done better in classes because I participate more. If I had known this coming into college I feel like I would have been a lot better off from the beginning. I would also tell myself not to worry about the small things. Things will happen, that's life. It's not about what we do, but rather about how we react and solve problems and deal with consequences.

The advice I would give to myself as a high school senior would be to take a serious approach in obtaining an education and to strive to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher. I would have communicated with my parents by informing them of my interest in attending college so that we could have set up appointments to visit some campuses. This way, I would have had a general idea of what to expect. I would have taken advantage of volunteer opportunities that could have helped me explore my interests and talents that could have helped me make a decision as to which career would have been beneficial. Most importantly, I would have changed the types of people I referred to as friends. If I had choosen friends that had a sense of direction in life, then perhaps my life may have turned out differently. In closing, I would have valued all aspects of my educational endeavors by listening to the advice and words of wisdom from my parents, ministers, teachers, counselors, and the athletic coaches.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say a lot to myself. Personally, I would tell myself to keep applying for scholarships throughout college, as I did in highschool, anything and everything helps especially attending an expensive school. I would also tell myself to make decisions for myself, do not let other people make them for you or persuade you to what they think is the right decision. Also, I would give advice to always stay involved as much as you can. Not only should you just stay involved, but you should join organizations that would help you out in your future or do stuff that you normally do not do on a daily basis to stretch your boundaries and test your limits. Never give up and be the best that you can be are a few words of advice. An inspirational quote from Dr. Seuss is "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Growing up in Racine, a county over from the county which I am attending college, I was very family oriented. For this reason, I thought it best that I stay local in order to look out for my younger sibling and cousins as well as care for my relatives in thier old age. I now realize, however, that I need to make choices that serve my interests in order for me to be satisfied with my life path and that the satisfaction that I find will only bring benefiits back to my family. The time of my youth proves the best time for me to develop any and all adventures which will hopefully lay foundations for me to continue to explore myself and the world which surrounds me. There are innumerable cultures to be submersed in, mountains to be conquered, waters to float, people to interact with, but limiting myself to southeast Wisconsin does nothing to enable these explorations! Therefore, the best advice I could give to my highschool self would be to explore the world which you are in now because as time progresses, you should do best to explore more parts of the world!

Dear Self, College is going to be the best four years of your life so it's important to go into this new phase of life with an amazingly positive attitude but also the drive and determination to get the very most out of school. It's going to be an expensive four years so it's important to attend every single class and give it your all. Sports are going to be just as important as classes but it's essential to be sure that athletics don't overshadow school because in four years time NCAA athletics will be a part of who you were however your grades and classroom experiences are going to make your career. It's going to be a lot of work and one heck of a journey, get ready!!

If I could go back and give advice to myself as a high school senior I first off would recommend saving more money and maybe taking a class on budgeting and loans. I also would tell myself to just be myself and not worry about what others think, because I have made friends at Carthage I know I?ll have for the rest of my life. Organization is very important, both in the dorm room and for academics; life is easier when everything is easy to find. The most important piece of advice I could give would be to not be afraid to try new things. Not only is it a great way to broaden your horizons, it?s a great way to make new friends.

Knowing what I know now about college life, I would definitely reconsider my expectations. First and foremost, I expected the workload to be drastically different than that of high school. The workload seems very close to the same amount except the work is much more hard. The professors also are not as personable towards you unless you are a person who participates as participation is a big factor with grades. I would also tell myself to manage time better as school, social life, and work play a huge part in college, especially social life. Meeting new people is always a struggle and I would tell myself that you need to open yourself up more and meet as many people as possible during the first few months at school because after that people have their groups especially because Carthage is a small college. I have great friends here, but I would warn myself that people in your life will come and go, and you will realize who your true friends are and who actually cares about you because they are the ones who will keep in touch while others will just wither away.

Assuming that I could back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself about college life and making the transition would be make sure you choose the right college, decide your major and minor before you get to your first, take many deep breathes, make a lot of friends, get to know your campus, and just relax, it is four years! Knowing that you have four years to complete what you want to do is a relaxing feeling. College life is not everything you think might be. There is a lot of reading and work to do. If you get behind, you have to pick yourself back up. Some professors may be kind and talk to you about your work, but others leave it to you because you are an adult and should be able to accomplish the assignments. The transition into college is not that bad. Orientation helps a lot. Orientation explains every detail you will need to know for your first year, and you might even meet a friend. Being able to start new is not the challenge, but being able to accomplish the challenge is.

I would encourage myself to take high school a bit more seriously. I would tell myself to work harder and get my GPA as high as it possibly could be. The higher I can get my GPA, the more opportunities for financial aid and scholarships will open up and become available to me in college. However, in college my GPA is a 3.8 cumulative and growing by the semester. I would tell myself to just be the same person I have been all along and to enjoy everything college has to offer. I would also say to make sure to take a look around every once in a while because before you know it college is over and your out in the working world.

Dear Self, It is human to fear the unknown but wise to confront the challenge. I write to encourage to aim high to accomplish greatness on the next stage of life. Enjoy the family that is the structure of life, and remember that the roots is what nurtures the tree of life. Challenge yourself and don't take no for an aswer, after all you alone are what makes or breaks the now and the future. The key for success is determination and those who persevere are the ones that achive it. Brake and don't conform to the patterns of life and the norm. If they cover your mouth scream so your voice could be heard, because no one can step on your liberty. No one could stop you if you have faith. Work hard without a mesure and don't stop believing. But if you forget everything that has been writen always remember not to stop dreaming, because that is how everything starts. Do not fear to spread your wings and fly. Don't make barriers in your heart, because everything should be done with love. Get ready to be transformed! Dream Big! Irma Rodriguez

There are several things I wish I could tell my Senior self in highschool! I've always been a good student, but I wish I had learned to study better, more efficiently. I never had to study in highschool, the knowledge and learning came so naturally but college taught me fast that the textbooks were required for a reason and note taking was more than words on a page! I also wish I could tell myself to lighten up a little bit and have fun. I always worked so hard and was very competitive. I put school and extracurriculars first, I didn't get the chance to develop solid friendships that would provide me with the neccessary people skills that would carry me through my adult life. Lastly, I'd tell myself to just simply enjoy the experience, more than anything. You'll never get the chance to repeat these years, so make them worth every minute and every breath! Be a kid, a little reckless, enjoy the times, go where life leads you, and absolutely take every opportunity available no matter how crazy it sounds and make the most of it! \M/>.<\M/

Fear had always been present in my life. The fear was internal. I feared that people would react negatively to me; in what I would say, how I dressed, the way I presented myself. But today because of college and the wonderful experiences that I have had, with new friends I have made, I have grown out of this fear. I have found that I am not the only one who feels insecure about who they are. What others think about me does not matter because I live for myself, not to be controlled by what others think. If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself all of this. I would encourage myself to go out and get involved immediately, don't wait to see what others do first, because it is likely that they too are nervous. Be strong and kind, following your heart, for the true friends will stick by your side in the good and bad times, so there is no reason to be afraid. Most importantly, put all of my fears and insecurities with God. Trust Him, he loves you beautiful and will be there for you always.

When I first came to college I was sheltered. I had previously always had to come home before midnight and be in bed by One. My parents always had a very strong presence in my life, so it was hard to be without them for the first time in my life. Because of this, I did not know exactly what to do with this new found freedom. My social life became more important that my studies and as a consequence i ended up on Academic probation after my first semester at college. After I realized that i neeed to have a balance i fixed my GPA and learned how to balance my social and studious lives. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that I cannot let the freedom that I will experience in college get to my head. I would tell myself that I need to have some sort of plan in order to create a balance between the social life and the Academic life. I would also remind myself of my heritage, and advise myself to remember where i came from because it is a big part of who I am today.

Go out and have an adventure. I had the opportunity to take a class in India last May/June and was able to hike in the Himalayas and study the religions of India. It really was an invaluable experience. There will not be too many opportunities for me, or anybody else above college age, to travel after they have settled into an adult life. But before one reaches that point, they need to live their life to the fullest. There is no time like the present to explore the world. Your life is what you make it so if it is mundane, there is nobody to blame but yourself.

During my final years of high school my family and I found out that my Dad had been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease called scleroderma. This was a traumatizing time in my life as I began to witness my Dad/best friend?s health slowly wither. If I could give me some advice while I was in high school it would be to do everything to your best ability and try everything while you have the option. You never know how long you will be able to participate in activities that you can easily participate in high school.