Drexel University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Elizabeth

I would tell my senior self that I should focus on school when I get to college but to make time for friends. You have to have a healthy balance of social life and school work.

Christopher

I would tell myself to do a lot more research because the college you choose can turn out to have a massive impact on your future. There are many things to take into consideration but it must be taken seriously. Also, don't be afraid to look around at a lot of different colleges before settling on one. Finally, look at rankings in the major that you plan on studying so that you are getting the best education that you can possibly get.

Ryan

Study harder

Chandni

Going back in time, I would advise myself to first thoroughly explore the different career paths and corresponding majors needed to pursue them. According to Boderzine, 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of college students change their majors 3 times which can be a waste of time and money. I believe students are not well informed before entering college as to what career/major they should choose. Deciphering this early on benefits students, for they have more direction towards what college will best suit their intended goal. In addition, I would encourage myself to go on as many college visits/tours and take time to speak with students already in the college, for they provide the most honest details and tips that are often neglected by the tour guide. Lastly, I would strongly suggest fully becoming aware of all the resources the college provides, and take an initiative towards utilizing them. These resources include advisors, career development centers, co-op programs, extracurricular activities, workshops, and more, which ultimately help students mold themselves for the real world and become excellent candidates for jobs/graduate programs. Therefore, college provides students with numerous opportunities; however it is up to the students to make the most of it.

Jonathan

Get in the habit to study almost every day, at least during weekdays. It's super helpful to not be forced to do all of the studying and writing Sunday night and into Monday morning. Keep yourself busy with clubs and a job so that you aren't so used to waste time every day. This way you also get used to having an actual schedule balancing your social and acedemic lives, which will become super important in college.

Amanda

In high school I was very aloof and followed the direction of others rather than going on my own path educationally. I feel like I wasted 4 years of education since I didn’t leave college with a career path. I graduated with a degree in biology but with no clear idea of what I wanted to do with my degree. After working for a bit, I realized that I was meant for a career in nursing. With all that I learned in both college and after college my biggest piece of advice to my high school self would be to shadow different careers in college and to not pick a specific major until you know what you want to do. I think I would have found my career path and goals during my undergraduate education if I hadn’t narrowed in on a major right away. In addition to advising myself to shadow different careers, I would also tell myself to be open minded to everything. You never know what will interest you and you don’t want to not try it because you’re close minded.

Daniel

You should apply early to all your colleges, and visit each college before applying to get a feel and taste of the academic and social environment. You know, you will be living there for the next four years of your life, so it's very important that you are satisfied with the college you are enrolling in. Make sure that the college specializes in your intended major and that they have an ideal program that will help you land a job once you graduate, since that's the ultimate goal. There's a lot of things that goes into transitioning from high school to college, from leaving your home and family to what new laptop you need to buy. Making a list and following it is your best bet for moving in and adjusting successfully. Join clubs, make new friends, go to fun events hosted by the college or even outside. College work may seem like a lot especially for an engineer, but if you study hard you will be very successful. Balancing your studies and social life is key to having a great college career.

Dominic

The most important thing I would tell myself if I could talk to myself as a high school senior is to study. In high school I never studied for any tests whatsoever and was 3rd in my class. I took many AP Exams which I never studied for. If I had studied I could have been a higher ranking and scored the required score for Drexel to count it as college credit. That would have made my Freshman and Sophomore Years much easier at Drexel if I had just studied back in high school.

Michael

Overall I am happy with the way I made the college transition for the most part but a few things could have been done different. Fisrt, I would save even more money for college then I did becuase books and just living are expensive. Also, I would tell myself as a high school senior to join more student groups and intramural sports, to meet more people.

Tyler

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to not slack off freshman year. I was under the mentality that college was going to be like high school and that it would be easy for the most part. I quickly learned that I needed to step my game up. I would have told myself to work harder freshman year, because how you do freshman year is what really sets the pace for the rest of the time until graduation. Also, I would emphasize to myself that organization is key and that writing everything down actually does help. I have learned that doing the little things count just as much as the big things in college and life.

Meredith

You have to study and keep up on your work. There are not a lot of assignments handed out so you have to do each one. Time goes by extremely fast. Don't forget about your friends at home. They still want to hang out with you just as much as they do now.

Fawzi

Dear high school senior, You only need 3 peices of advice to succeed in college. 1. Find an internship during your summer prior to college- learn a technical skill (excel, vba, etc...), and this internship could put you way ahead of your peers. 2. Find a Mentor- Find someone you aspire to be and begin with asking them questions and asking for advice. Someone has been in your shoes, find them! 3. Be confident- Confidence can take you very far in college. Confidence allows you to perform well on tests, make quicker connections with people, and can make or break your college career. Best Regards, Future you

Alyssa

Retrospect usually gives people 20/20 vision. I wish I could have seen what was truly important to my future. I would have told myself to not invest too much time into my high school social life, which faded as soon as college started. I wish I wasn't obsessed with perfecting every assignment and killing myself to get straight As. At the same time, I know it is that large amount of effort that made my college experience possible. There are more important things in life that I wish I set aside time to experience. Since I will be turning 20 years old tomorrow, I have realized I am leaving childhood. It is a hard adjustment to transition into adulthood, but it is one I am prepared for, and one I wish I had worried less about.

Kevin

After everything I have experienced in college, I would recommend to keep doing what you are doing. The opportunities you will have in college are very rewarding and the classes will prepare you well. My only recommendation is to not spend too much money on unnecessary expenses. Your friends are everything. Spending more time with them, both on academics and not. The connections you will make will definitely stay with you for the rest of your life. Currently, I am writing this from Tohoku University, Japan, on a year-long study abroad opportunity. It is easily the best decision I have ever made. I did not decide to study abroad until well into my first year of college. I recommend that you take more time to prepare for this opportunity, from taking more Japanese classes to studying more about the culture and language. There are plenty of opportunities waiting for you here. Be very careful when looking for a place to stay, as many places are very costly. Don't end up picking the one that will hurt our wallet the most, but do remember to love wherever you end up.

Joseph

I would tell myself to think more carefully on scholarships and financial aid, and to also be more open minded to other school options. When I went to college I did not have a back upplan and it almost ruined my college experience fortunately I have been able to reorient mmyself and to continue my education, however, I am constantly battling with finances rather than dealing with classes.

George

I would tell myself that the class grade isn't everything. There are resources on campus that must be taken advantage of. Students can build their own companies, engage in activities with people of similar mindset, or go outside the comfort zone and learn about students with different backgrounds. Studying abroad is probaby the main thing I wish I did more as a student. The world is large and you can't confine yourself to the classroom.

Cuong

Be prepare and know what exactly major you interesting. Build up your knowlegdes as strong as possible join more events to gain more experiences and latest news.

Daniel

College is very different from high school; it is much faster-paced than anything you have experienced in your life. No matter which school you apply to, stick to your coursework and do not fall behind. You may feel daunted by the sheer number of colleges that are out there to apply to, but just pick a couple that really strike a chord within you and pursue it with all of your heart. Enjoy the free time that you have now, because it won't be so easy ever again. Your work will be very challenging, but you must fight to stay on top of it (seriously, do not fall behind.) You will learn so many fascinating new skills and techniques; you will make new friends wherever you go; you will learn so much about the world around you, and, most importantly, you will learn so much about yourself.

Conner

If I could go back in time to my senior year at Council Rock North, the advise I would give is don't take anything for granted. It goes by so fast. Listen to the advise of the counselors who want to prepare you for the college you have choosen. Study, and study harder, get up your GPA so you won't have to go to the summer program. Or maybe do make sure you go to the Drexel Summer Program, it prepares you for what college is all about.

Nicholas

Dear Nick, You need to stay committed to learning something new every day. Learning is a strong percentage of what it is to live. As you learn you will be able to adapt to things easier and that will help you a lot in college. Understanding how to learn is a very important thing to have in your life. You will be able to make friends easier, get things done easier, and will overall be more knowledgable in a lot of things. I can list a ton of examples of how learning something every day will help you but I know that isn't what you want to hear. Take my word for it and think it over with yourself. You will soon realize how good of an idea it is. You will be able to acheive your dreams with a strong commitment to learn new things. It is a changing world and employers are not looking for the ability to do a task, they are looking for an ability to learn how to do the task. There is too much information in this world to not want to learn at least a little bit of it. Regards, Nick

Staci

I would choose not to give my high school self any advice at all. I found that the best way to grow as a person is to learn from your experiences and your mistakes. Although I could give my younger self some very helpful advice on how to approach college the "right way", I would not have experienced certain challenges that have shaped me into the person I am today.

David

If one day there was a machine invented that would allow me to only go back in time to the point where I was a high school senior, there are a plethora of things I would give myself advice on. For starters, I should have done a lot more research on the major I chose, which is electrical engineering. I have always had an interest in electrical engineering, but back then I only had a general concept of what it was, so when I got to college I was extremely dissatisfied with myself to see other students in my age group that were more experienced than I was in the major. So the first thing I would tell my high school senior self is to start learning and getting more familiar with electrical engineering. Aside from being more prepared, I would also advise my former self to always remain positive. There were many occurrences where I felt down between that time and now, but as I look back at it, those instances do not seem as serious as I once thought they were. So having a more positive attitude through it all would have helped tremendously.

Caitlyn

I would not settle. I had a great senior year and took a wonderful backpacking trip, but I settled. I didn’t apply to my dream school in my dream city because I didn’t like their application, so I just settled for a similar school that is also wonderful. I also settled when I felt I was in adequate shape for my backpacking trip instead of striving to be better. Once you learn to settle for things not as great, or better, you carry that into college and then it will be carried into the real world. I settled for my first internship because I was scared I wouldn’t get a better position. In high school you’re still a kid. Take chances, do things that scare you, say yes, but whatever you do, don’t settle.

Joseph

If I were able to talk to my 18 year old self I would tell him to wait and consider. College is certainly a great venue to explore yourself and get a great education, but it is more of a fools errand to go just for the sake of going. College must be more about realizing your full potential in what you want to do, not a destination of peers. College should be something you choose to go to after you have had time to get to know yourself more outside of the classroom, apart from pure theory and the friends you grew up with. Finding who you are takes time, and is worth the investment, but to spend an exhorbent amount of money on a hybrid of finding yourself and finding your vocation is a costly venture. I would strongly urge my younger self to absolutely go to college, but to spend at least a year unplugged from the rat race of getting the degree, and plugged into real life. Take a job doing something you have never tried before. If my younger self is so insistent upon going to college, I'd recommend community college for your cores.

Brad

My study habits were good in high school, but I was worried that they would not translate well into college. I would tell my past self now that having good study habits from high school are very important. Without good study habits, your grades might not be that bad overall, but the individual grades might be very unpredictable. One week you might get an 80, and the other week you might get a 50. With good study habits, you might not get 100's all the time, but you will not need to worry as much at the end of the term to see if you will pass with a good grade or not. I would also tell myself that being able to balance your social life and school life should come naturally. You will know how much time you need to study and how much time you can spend with your friends, don't try to change your study habits so you can hang with your friends. The reverse is true too, don't over study when you need to relax, it really won't help all that much.

Marc

If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice my high school senior year, it would simply be to diversify the scholarships I applied to and increase the volume of scholarships I would apply for. I underestimated the difficulty of getting a scholarship awarded to you as well as the general cost of living on campus at Drexel. There are plenty of scholarship opportunities out there but you cannot pick and choose them based off of which grants the most money. Every dollar counts and even a small $500 scholarship would help.

Melissa

If I had the opportunity to give advice to my high school self, I would stress the importance of prioritizing school assignments versus having fun with friends. My biggest regret has been that I spent too much time feeling sad and lonely while being away from home and feeling left out of college cliques. I would tell my high school self not to worry about the “college experience” and to listen to everyone who says to just focus on my school work and that the fun and friends will follow. Having a difficult freshman year of college has created a steep climb to come back from. I would explain that college courses, especially in my accepted college, are harder than in high school and require a lot more study time than high school did. My high school self was overconfident and unfocused because I thought I always had plenty of recovery time for grades without realizing the long path to reclaiming my GPA after a few bad grades. Above all else, if I could say one thing I would tell myself to stop being stubborn and naïve about school because it is very different from high school.

david

I would tell myself that that you should not push of assignements until the last minute because the more time i work on it the better it will end up, even if i think that i can do it quickly. I would also tell myself to start lloking for scholarships sooner because it would make things alot easier for the future.

Gyorgy

If I could, I would get into that time machine and first and foremost freak out my past self. After I amm done with making fun of myself, I would tell myself three things. First, I would tell myself to be honest with myself. I'd tell myself that what I really want is adventure and hands on experience, not a brand name school. Then I would tell myself to chill out. I would tell myself that everything is going to work out. I would tell myself that while there is a long road ahead of me, I will find my place in the world and the college that is perfect for me. Last but not least, I would tell myself to value the people around me. They will be by my side when life brings out the worst in me, and they will smile with me when things are great. I would tell myself that human capital is the only thing that remains when times are hard, and therefore I should pay more attention to my family and friends. These three things would have made the transition much easier for me and for the people close to me.

erin

I would have worked a lot harder in high school. Money-wise, the biggest regret I have is not attending community college first to get my core credits out of the way before attending a university. I don't regret the experiences or the times I had throughout my college career so far. I am very fortunate and everything has been a learning experience and every single day I grow to be more mature and the person I want to be for the rest of my life.

Samantha

The first thing I would say to my high school self is to not worry about trying to decide on a profession because the time will come in college when you have a clearer idea on who you want to be and what you want to do in the real world. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to not get caught up in all the drama that goes on in high school. Most of the time, the people who you consider your “close friends” will lose touch with you half way through freshman year of college. The unnecessary amount of drama girls deal with in high school is a source of distraction from what should be your top priority: schoolwork and the SAT’s. The last thing I would say is to not worry about finding a significant other in high school. From my personal experience, continuing high school relationships into college has only caused additional stress and I believe doing this holds new college students back from experiencing their next stage in life.

Sarah

Have more fun, don't focus on grades and getting into college. You will get in. Don't stress.

Jeana

Do not be ashamed of where you came from. Don't worry that not all people look like you, or their parents made more money than yours. Education is a right and you have every right too take advantage of it. Never stop learning. Though education is invaluable, there is a hefty pricetag. Be more frugal, but don't let your finances get you down. Don't be sad when you phone home and your parent's don't understand why you went to college. They never had this experience so they don't understand it. They will be proudly sitting there the day that you graduate. Continue to work as hard as you can. Your internships will pay off in ways you have never imagined. All the connections, friends, and alumni you met along the way will be lifelong links to something special you will never forget. By giving the university your all, you will continue to succeed after graduation and tackle the challenges life throws at you head-on.

Caitlin

If I could go back in time I would tell myself this: Read more, sleep more, play more I would insist. Take more AP classes and study hard in school, Spend less time with the mean girls who are cruel. Hang with my family and cherish home cooked meals, Because the dining hall food makes me want to squeal. I would remind myself not to stress; that I am doing a great job And not to put too much pressure on myself that I make my head throb. I would spend more time with those that truly love me, Because I might be moving half way across the country. College is nothing to worry about, not in the slightest. I fit in just fine and know my future is one of the brightest. The cost of tuition is higher than ever, But I know my education is worth the endeavor. I've made Dean's list and have an internship in my field. Now I'm looking to put a dent in tuition with this scholarship's yield. If I could go back in time I would tell myself this: Enjoy every step of life and soak in the bliss.

Brandon

If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice as a high school senior, it would revolve around a simple concept that took me 2 years of college to finally understand: time management. Learning how to manage your time wisely is a skill that is not often taught in high school but quickly becomes an essential part of being successful in college. During my first year of college, I didn't bother trying to change any of my habits from high school and thought I could get away with using the same methods I used for the past 4 years to get good grades in college. I was wrong. In high school, it can be very easy for students to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still pull off good grades, but this perk is guarunteed to disappear in college, which most students wont realize until they've already made the mistake. Learning how to set up your schedule to balance study time, time spent with friends, and possibly time at work is crucial to becoming a successful student and living a stress free life during your college years.

Abigail

I always think to myself, “I wish I could go back to high school and do certain things differently.” When I was a senior in high school I certainly did not have the knowledge I do now. After completing one full year of college, I have learned a lot about myself. Many high school students do not necessarily know what it is they want to do down the road. Many people go into college looking to invent themselves and figure out what it is they may want to do in the future. If I could go back to my senior year I would have given myself one piece of advice. That advice would have been to figure out what it is I wanted to do in the future. Prior to high school graduation I knew I wanted to do something in fashion, however, I wish i had realized this sooner. I wish I could have known this was the path I wanted to take and be able to plan for my future a lot more efficiently than I had done back then. If I knew this piece of advice sooner, the present could be different, leading to a better future.

Lauren

Roll with it. Your life is going to go in many different directions in the next 15 years. Do you remember how you decided to join the Marine Corps based on your list of pros and cons? Keep doing that. Don't listen to the advice of anyone who has the potential to take over your position, but make sure you listen to those who have your best interest at heart. When you start to doubt yourself, and your path in life, just sit down and make a list. Your logic and reasoning will prevail every time. Because, it's not what everyone else wants for you that is important, it's what next step YOU want to take. Don't be afraid to take risks, it's always better to have those embarrasing memories than to live in regret. Don't worry if you think you're not good enough yet, you can always learn more on the job. And, whatever you do, don't let your pride get in the way of asking for help. You're gonna do great, kid.

Jen

To my high school self: 1)Work harder. High school is not really that hard as you thought it was, well compared to college anyway. Pick up better study habbits and try harder. You could of definitely been Valedictorian if you didn't slack off. 2) Also, grow some confidence. Be confident about the way you look. 3) Be confident in your faith because its the only thing that is keeping you going here at Drexel. 4) Stay in touch with your high school friends during the summer because you will lose contact with a bunch of them once college starts. 5) Appreciate your family more. They are all you have and are the only ones that will have your back no matter what the situation 6) Apply to other colleges so your options are more open then just choices between a few schools. 8). Try to get more patient contact hours so you aren't freaking out now when you have to apply to Physicians Assistant school in 1 year and don't have enough hours. 7) FInally, don't worry and be happy. You're doing the best you can and that's all anyone can ask.

Jemise

The first thing I would tell my past self is to apply for as many scholarships as you can and save money now! College is so expensive nowadays even though it is worth it. I assumed that I would get all the money I needed through the government, but that did not work out. So here I am telling my past self not to make that assumption. Also, I would tell myself not to worry. Besides the finances, college is not that hard to master. I would congratulate my past self for already being independent and focused. That being said, I would tell myself to keep up the good work because I am going to need it in the future.

Kathrine

Take advantage of the courses specific to your major. During my high school experience I did what was required to graduate not necessarily what was going to help me in the future. Explore your options more instead of just doing what the majority of running start students or regular high school students do. Utilize all the tools the school provides for you; counselors, advisors, course catalogs, class syllabi, tutoring centers. All of these things will help you do better and they are designed to help you. Get involved do more than what is required of you. You can learn from every experience!

Tommy

Trust yourself. Be open to legitimate advice from others (friends, family, enemies, etc.), but remember that every aspect of your life should be and is your decision in the end. If you think you are making the right choice about something, think it over a little more before you completely commit. If you know you are making the right choice, then do it. Others may think they know best, but only you know what is best for you. Also, know this: everything will get better. It may not seem like it right now, and this may be rather difficult to believe, but trust me (yourself), everything will get better as long as you continue to give life a chance. Some things are not easy, but that does not mean that they are not worth it. It is cliched but true: what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. You will come out of this mess much stronger than you ever could have imagined. So you know what, accept it, be proud of yourself for it, cross that river, and hit the reset button on our life and turn these bad past experiences into truly useful, personal experience.

Jonathan

The advice I would have given myself as a high school senior would have been to be prepared in all aspects. What I mean by all aspects is asking myself, what is it that I want to major in, what kind of career do I desire, and more importantly, which school do I want to attend to lay foundation for this chosen profession. In addition to asking myself these questions, having all my bases covered including being financially stable would be another aspect. If money is an issue, like it is for most students, applying for employment is a critical step. For example, to become an executive chef, I would apply for internships or employment at a fine dining restaurant, a 5 star hotel, or a reputable hospital. Furthermore, I would work my way up as a dishwasher to gain that essential experience that's needed. In the meantime, I would apply for as many scholarships and grants, as I can. Once college begins, I would embark on establishing connections and networking with students in various types of majors. Knowing all of this, when I was a high school senior would've assisted me in numerous means.

Brean

I would make sure to save money for books and to have a secure financial plan. Hoenstly, one of the toughest situations that I am facing right now is the financial situation because I do not have a plan for paying for the next three years. This has caused me a lot of stress not only in college in general, but also in my social life becuase I have not been able to spend money without feeling guilty about it. I would also suggest know what you want to major in and trying to take AP classes revelvant to that major. I ended up taking all the AP classes not relevent to my major and only recieved general education credit instead of credit for my major.

Rachael

Knowing what I know now about college and the transition, I would tell myself, "Work hard, play hard". There is no guilt in going out with friends or binge-watching Breaking Bad on Netflix if you have worked as hard as you possibly can. This goes for high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and even those who have already started their careers. If you work hard in high school, you will have no problem continuing your strong work ethic in college and beyond. The sooner you adapt to a hard-working lifestyle, the sooner you will be more effective and efficient at doing so. Work hard, play hard!

Natahlia

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to focus and be a lot more determined than I actually was in high school. A few tips I would offer would be to master the art of studying because it never goes away no matter how old you get or however many grades you get promoted through. I would remind myself to take my time and not to be in such a rush to accept adult responsibilities, as I wanted to before I took a glance at a university tuition bill. I would make a note to take advantage of the people who are willing to help me through the education process, so that I may exert my full potentials to the best of my abilties. The best thing I think I am recognizing while experiencing the transition from high school to college is that there is so much to explore. In highschool, some students may find themselves subdued to one way of living or one way of thinking, but in college you are opened up and introduced to so much more than that.

Claudia

Apply to as any schools as possible. If you already picked, do a lot of research on the financial help the school provides to students. In the first year, join groups you know you'll stick to for more than one year because after the first year, you don't see the same people anymore and you should maintain a steady group of friends. As the years go on, it'll feel harder to make friends because people already established their groups. Make friends in different majors, colleges, etc., because you shouldn't depend on people in the same classes. You may not see them again and the quarters only last 11 weeks, counting finals week. Do try to speak to a few people in your classes at the beginning of term though because you never know when you'll be sick and unsure about what you missed in class, especially if the teachers don't know how to use the online system and won't be placing their notes/powerpoint slides online.

shabon

I would advise myself to search for scholarships to pay for school. It was extremely difficult financial to complete my undergraduate degree. I am now back in school to recieve another BS degree in nursing and financial assistance remains the same. I would also advise myself to choose nursing as a major instead of biobehavioral health. I was able to work in the health field with this major but was not able to do what I really wanted like assessing patients.

Megan

Dear high school senior, You are about to begin on an amazing journey in your life. It will have high points and low points but do not worry, you will be able to get through everything you face and be proud of your accomplishments. As you begin this journey, you will need to remember to breathe. It may sound silly now but you will see just how important it is. Everyone needs to take time to just stop and listen to what their body is telling them. By breathing, you avoid stress which can consume your college self if you let it. While you will discover quickly how important GPA is, do not let a number define who you are. All of your life accomplishments can never be summed up by two numbers. Above all remind yourself that you are an amazing individual who has overcome so much to get to this point in your life. It will not always be easy but you will be able to keep pushing through because that is what you know how to do best. Be confident in your knowledge and enjoy this wonderful chapter in your life. Good luck and you got this!

Jasmine

If I could start my college career over again, I would have pursued a nursing degree after graduating high school. As a freshman in college you are unsure about what area of study you want to concentrate on. I knew that if I did not attend college, my parents would have been disappointed. So here I am today, pursing a second bachelor's degree in nursing because my first degree in business management and marketing has not given me much opportunities. Working in a hospital setting for five years has shown me how much job security nursing has. I've always been interested in how the human body functions and I'm great at comforting others, so I know that I'll be a fantastic nurse some day. I want to help educate patients on taking preventative measures to a live a healthier lifestyle. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and join in on the on-going development of raising awareness on health issues. I have a kind heart and a courageous spirit and I want to change lives and impact the health-care world llike never before!

Aaron

Dear High-School Me, I hope you are having fun and enjoying your last year of high-school. There are a few things I would like to prepare you for as you make the illustrious journey to your first year of college. I know you didn’t make it into your top school, but trust me when I tell you that everything happens for a reason. Your first year of college is a huge transition. While all of your surroundings change, I ask that you stay grounded and do not allow your new environment to shift the person whom you are. You have worked harder than most of your peers attending this university and you will continue to have to work harder than them. But I promise you, the payoff will be extraordinary. Go into every situation with an open mind with no preconceived notions of what something will be like it. Prepare to be confronted with challenges you have never faced before, prepare to be tested in ways you never have been. Your first year is tough; “embrace the grind” don’t try to run from it. And remember even in the big city, A County Boy Can Survive.