Colorado Mountain College Top Questions

Doing what you love is more important than just going along with the program. It is said all the time but rarely taken seriously, but the saying "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" is the truest statement when you're choosing a career. Be adventrous and don't worry about being a millionaire in your 30's. You create your own definition of success, so if you feel like you're doing well, then you are. Live your own dreams.

If I could talk to my younger self, I would probably start off by telling myself to live my truth. To always respect my body and mind, and respect others. I would tell myself that outer beauty is not what matters, but inner beauty is what counts. Love madly, passionately, and deeply. Do what makes you happy. Have hobbies. Loose yourself and find yourself, every day..but don't loose yourself in others. Be gentle to yourself and others. Follow your gut. Listen to others. Don't judge. Have compassion. Never loose the spark in your eyes, and don't EVER let anyone take that away from you. Be who you are and do not conform to the world. Fear is a teacher, not an enemy: learn to work with it. There is no right or wrong, there just is. We are all divine, and we all have flaws. Keep your chin up little girl, because everything is going to be ok. Even though it doesn't look like it right now, and you've been hurt, you will one day see the pain as a blessing. Bring love to the world, and understanding.

If I could go back and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would say go and get involved. "Amanda, go join as many clubs as possible and meet as many people as possible." Also, I would tell myself to focus on getting the best grades possible freshman year because that will be your foundation for the rest of your college career. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be ask for help. The professors and graduate students have office hours for a reason; get on their good side and be humble enough to ask them for help on your papers. Along with the idea of getting involved, I would tell myself to be more proactive and search community out at such a large school; everyone is in the same boat as you and they all want to feel involved and welcomed. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and be a light for others. Be invincible and on top of everything be genuinue to others. As Plato once said, " Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Read What Color is your Parachute. Stay in the dorms for the first two years because that is where your most valuable relationships will be formed and you will carry them with you forever. Read books other than your texts for class. Enjoy the freedom and the experience. It is not as easy to return later in life, but you can do it.

I WISH I COULD TELL MY SELF TO BUCKLE DOWN AND JUST FINISH.DONT WASTE YOUR TIME TAKING CLASSES TO SEE IF YOU?RE READY FOR THE HARDER CLASSES. JUST TAKE THE CLASSES YOU NEED AND BE DONE WITH IT. BUT I REALLY WISH I COULD GO BACK TO WHEN I FIRST STARTED HIGH SCHOOL AND ENSTILL IN MY SELF HOW TRULY IMPORTANT GRADES ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, ALSO THAT YOU TRULY CAN GIVE YOUR SELF A GREAT HEAD START BY WHAT YOU DO IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Throughout high school, I was most involved with my school?s music department. Junior year, I was introduced to drum and bugle corps through an instructor and auditioned with several corps for the upcoming season. At the time of that commencement, I made a life-changing oath: to be a non-traditional student. My college experience would not be like my friends? who have just graduated and moved on to start working in the real world ? nor like most students enrolled now. While finding myself amidst a wave of students years younger than I, my involvement among the ranks of drum corps provide credit to my personal beliefs, outlooks, and morals in life. Beyond recognition of these life lessons, the underlying beauty of drum corps falls in the members? hands. The individual, albeit alongside fellow corps members, learns and demonstrates time management, commitment, individual responsibility, teamwork, leadership, goal achievement, and a strong work ethic. Members seek to understand their life?s limits and I think any veteran corps member can attest to having none. The only advice I would offer myself those years in past would be, ?Follow your heart and work on your single-left-handed-flam-drags.?

Don't stress yourself out if you don't know what you want to do. I started pursuing a degree I wasn't even interested in because someone else told me to do it. I am now 28 and finally sure what I want to do.

If I could go back to high school and give myself advise it would be to beleive in myself. Back in highschool I felt like everyone was simply waiting for me to fail, they would tell me all the time how I would never pass and I was not going to do anything with my life. After hearing this for so long it is easy to succumb to that line of thinking. However if I could do it all over I would let myself know that I could do it. I would explain that the reason for my bad grades in highschool is all because I didnt beleive in myself, instead I beleived everyone else around me. I would explain how detrimental would become for me. I would show myself what I could do when I beleive in myself, and have the determination to prove everyone else aound me wrong. How much believing in yourself can change my life for the better.

I would give myself several pieces of advice one would be not to worry about everything. That trying your best is as good as it gets and that as long as you try your hardest you will do well. That worrying all the time only makes you stressed out and this is a time to take life in. The experiences through college help make you who you will be one day, so chose your choices carefully. As you make your choices don't worry about them but make them from your heart so you always can trust them. Sometimes your choice might be very very small but it could make a huge difference in who you become. As many things continue to change through college try and always look at something to give thanks for it will help you appreciate all that you have. It will also remind you that your not alone and that you have support. So please don't worry, enjoy this experience as one of the building blocks in your life.

Having been through some college and spent time away from home, my first bit of advice would be to apply for scholarships to help pay for the cost of school. The price of an education has become ridiculous. Next, I would advise spending the first year of college in the dorms instead of an apartment. Living in the dorms gives students an opportunity to make friends and find others who have the same drive and interests. I would also let myself know that it is very important to keep an equal balance of school, work, and play in order to keep from getting overwhelmed or burnt out. Lastly, I would want myself to know that travel is just as important as schooling. A semester abroad gives students the chance to experience firsthand another culture and hopefully give them the ability to communicate with others in another language. These are the things that I believe help to create the most well-rounded people. These are the things I wish I would have done and done more of.

Givin the chance to talk to myself as a high school senior there are a few things I would say. First, I would say respect and interact with your teachers as much as possible. Teachers choose their profession for a reson, that reason is usually to help students becaome educated. Allowing these people to become a legitimate part of your life will make that job much easier on them and on you. Secondly, practice on a regular basis how to study. In high school I didn't have to study to pass my classes because it was easy for me so I didn't. I found, once I got to college, that if you don't study you don't pass the test and if you don't pass the test in college, you've paid hundreds of dollars for no credit. The transition between highschool and college is tough for somebody who had it easy in K-12. College is demanding but if you know how to study and how to interact with your educators your ride will be much smoother. The most important thing to remember is: you are doing this for yourself, give it all you have!

I would tell myself not to be so rash about my college decision and to truly consider taking the more cost efficient way of college rather than having the get-out-now mentality. Although my college experience at the University of Hawaii at Hilo was irreplacable and unforgettable, it had it's drawbacks and I think if I went back in time that I would definitely tell myself to consider going to Colorado Mountain College and look at that option more closely rather than blowing off all in-state options. I would have been able to live at home, stay healthy, and save money if I chose to go to Colorado Mountain College in the first place as well as have world-class snowboarding in my backyard, which I took for granted. All of this and Colorado Mountain College was under my nose as a high school senior but I failed to see it in my attempt to get out only to come back six months later. Although getting out made me learn and grow, I feel like it was a rash desicion and defintely would tell myself to consider the options right here as much as the others.