Franciscan University of Steubenville Top Questions

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

Brigid

I would tell my self many things. First, I would tell myself to study more. Second, I would tell myself to join clubs, meet more people, and go to the schools sport games. And finally I would tell myself to try to be more out going, and to get out of your comfort zone. If you never leave your comfort zone, then you will miss out on many many things. Some of these things you might really enjoy.

Zachariah

I would tell myself not to worry and take it easy and enjoy life. I would continue to tell myslef that you will succeed in everything you do based on the effort you put in (and you've always put in 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}) so dont; worry and live life to the fullest. You have to take time to enjoy life as well as doing the work required to graduate and move on in your schooling. So goodluck and rememnber to always be yourself, if people can't accept you for who you are then they are not the people you need to associate with. Just keep working hard and making yourself and your family proud.

Morgan

Morgan - pursue your dreams. Do not let practicality get in the way of your decision when it comes to your future. Ask yourself: "What would I do even if I wasn't paid to do it?" Whatever the answer is, go for that. Fight for it, give it your all, do not back down. Even when well-wishing adults, friends, mentors, or family members advise you against a career that may not be "practical", know that years down the road, you will regret the time that you have wasted. When you realize what it is you should have studied or pursued from the beginning, you will wish you had thrown yourself in right from the get-go, despite what people had said. Take a leap. You know what you love. Grab on to that, and just do it. Trust your passion; trust your heart.

Wendy

Dear Wendy, It has been 12 years since graduation and the time just seemed to speed by. In 2001, you said that working would be better than attending college, but I know the truth: You were afraid. You did not think you were smart enough. Part of the problem is that nobody in the family went to college and we were not college oriented, although deep inside you wanted to go. Wendy, you have to put one foot in front of the other and move forward. Make choices that are going to invest in your future; education is the most important one you can make. When you do not know which direction to go, just begin walking; it is easier to redirect your steps than it is to pick up your feet. Stay focused, motivated and determined. You have to be your biggest motivator, others can believe in you but you have to believe it for yourself. You CAN do this, I promise! I can look back and tell you that you have everything it takes to be the successful woman you doubt yourself to be. Trust me: college is the best decision for you, do not be afraid.

frances

Grit your teeth and hang on. Don't ever give up. God will provide, so do what he says -it will be worth it.

Dakota

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take school more seriously, slow down and take things one step at a time, and that going to college isn't going to magically fix everything. In high school I didn't have to try very hard in order to recieve high grades, so I spent little time studying. I would tell myself that I should learn how to study properly before being thrown into an environment where I would have to work hard and study multiple hours a week. Also in high school I was constantly trying to get ahead by graduating early and finding jobs. I'd tell myself that I would feel less anxious in college if I learned how to slow down and take life one step at a time. Finally I would tell myself that the belief that going away to college would solve all of my emotional and familial problems is incorrect. That leaving is the correct decision to make, but that it is not going to change everything immediately. I would say that change is a process, and not to get discouraged.

Gregory

Our hindsight always wishes for better foresight. I spent that first year just trying to figure out what college is, so the best advice I can give is to tell what college is (and isn’t). It is: a place to learn who you are as an adult. Stand for something true, or you’ll be swept away by mediocrity and deception. It isn’t: highschool. Seriously. So many people, yourself included, think that college is supposed to be a second highschool, but without parents. It’s not—it’s the place where you work hard to find who you are going to be. What is your calling? What do you want to do with your life? How will you raise a family? A quick tip: PARTIES. 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of imbeciles think this is the reason for going to college, and it is… unless you want to stay in college longer than 3 months. You’ll never reach your full potential by partying. Parting words? Find and nurture relationships with people you can trust. Lasting friendships aren’t built over swigs of booze—they’re built by helping others, sticking it out through troubled times, and shooting for the stars together.

Megan

If I could give my high school self advice, I would tell myself to be more confident in my ability to make friends. I left for school not knowing anyone and not having any confidence in myself in the way of making good girl friends. It took me a while because of this lack of confidence but once I gained confidence, I was able to make the best friends I've ever had. Making these friends earlier in my college career would have been so much better for me and is something I would tell myself to work on at the beginning of college.

Zachary

Be ready! Do not goof off in high school and make sure you pay attention and ask questions. When you do start the college life make sure you give yourself more then enough time to study and do your homework. Just commit yourself and you will do fine. Also make sure that you have a good support system around you. Good people and good advice equals good life. Be patient and good things will follow. Just stay strong and never give up!

Luke

Stay calm about the college search. Don't fret, because eventually you'll find the right school. I wish I could have known this piece of advise when I was looking at colleges--because the search and decision-making became very stressful.

Kristin

I would tell myself not to worry about fitting in and being accepted. Be yourself and be strong in your own identity and you will find your place. Don't bother comparing yourself to others, everyone has a different journey in life that they must follow. Don't be scared as you begin a new chapter in your life. Yes, there will be challenges and it will be hard at first to be so far away from home, but you will be stronger for it and prove to yourself that you can do it! Don't be afraid of the future, there are many happy times to come!

Katherine

Katherine to a Katherine. There is so much out in the world for you. What you see now is not all there is. Apply yourself in everything you do so that when it comes time to face difficult challenges, you will have the strength to overcome them. Although you think you know where your life is going, although you have planned every step of your future, realize that you don't have all the answers. Be open to change. Hope for the future, it's going to be amazing. Trust God, not in who you think God is, or in your own capabilites. You're just a little girl, relax and grow. This new ride will be exciting and challenging. You're going to struggle, you're going to grow. Study when your tired, the knowledge you'll gain is worth it. Remember that everything you do, even homework, is for a reason. Don't give up when you're frustrated, keep pursuing knowledge, friends, life, God. They're all worth it. Fun is important, too. Sing! Laugh with friends and enjoy life. Meet new people and learn from them. Embrace what is ahead freely. Be at peace.

Allison

The advice that I would give myself would be "live in the present moment". By living in the present, you are able to address the current worries and enjoy the present joys. If you are constantly worrying about "what if" situations, you are worrying for nothing. It just distracts you and makes you more stressed than what you need to be. So long as you do your best, you can't go wrong. Study when you need to, but also relax when you have to--you'll go insane whether you over-study or procrastinate. There is a time and place for everything--a time to work and a time to relax. Living in a balance between the two will give you the best college experience, one that is sucessful and full of fun memories.

starkeshia

I would go back and take away the fact that I got knocked up, not regreating the fact that I love my daughter with all my heart, but I would have waited until I had a college education so that I could have had a beeter job to sussport and take care of her. I am a christan and I believe God has aplan and purpose for all our lives and even though things happened the way they did God still has a plan for our lives and now its to attend college and do all the things required og my Lord as well as myself. Thank you for taking time out to listen. God Bless~

priscilla

The most important lesson I have learned in life is that Education has never been more important than it is right now. Besides the obvious educational development, the educational experience creates an environment that allows many skills that will be useful later on in life, and maybe pick up on talents you never thought you had before. While still high school my biggest advice to you is to stretch your brain. Take a class that intimidates you. If you can face those challenges, work hard and enjoy them, you will succeed. Also, do not be afraid to approach your teachers and ask for help. This experience will make you a stronger student, prepare you for future academic challenges and help you in a future job and/or grad school. Education gives you enhanced skills that you already possess and brings out skills you never imagined having. Even if you are a pro athlete, actor or musician, someone could argue that getting an education is not as important. This may seem logical; however, they are wrong because education gives you lifelong tools that will help your journey in the real world be more pleasurable and profitable.

Elizabeth

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would just tell myself to relax and enjoy the high school experience before it would be gone in the blink of an eye. I spent the last half of my senior year really worried about where I was going to go to college, what would be the best choice, where was the money coming from to attend school, was I going to pass my AP classes.....the list went on and on. I just needed to breath and realize that it was all going to work out ok. Other advice I would give myself would be to apply to a ton of scholarships, no matter how much the money was that was offered, because every little bit helps. Lastly, I would encourage myself to shadow more people at their work places of careers that I was interested in to help me figure out what to major in college.

Shawn

I would tell myself to stay focused. You have to make your education priority one. You have to complete all assignments and study for all tests. Most of all, keep a positive attitude. How you feel about doing things plays a major role in how well you will complete them. Set a schedule and goals and stick to them!

Nicole

If I had the oppurtunity to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to make sure to perfect my study habits because you need to be able to stay focused and study on your own in college without your parents telling you to do so. Having to actually sit down and study was a big struggle for me in the first semester of my college experience because it was not something that I was used to because I did not study regularly during my time in high school. Also, I would tell myself to treasure all the time I had with my parents and younger sister because now that I am gone and do not get to see them as often I wish I could have taken advantage of that while I was still living at home.

Dominic

If I could go back in time, the most important thing I would do is to reassure myself that there's no such thing as "THE" right college or university for me. No matter which school a student picks, if he/she has the right attitude and puts in the effort, then the futre is wide open & possibilities are just about limitless. I'd also tell myself to expect a wake up call as far as laundry, meals, etc. go and to try & to thank my family and friends for all they've done for me. I'd also tell myself how important is is to be organized about school work and not let things slide. Overall, at the risk of being repetitive, I'd make sure to tell myself that no matter what school I pick, it will be ok.

Nicholas

If I were to tell myself anything I would have to say getting ready for the change is the biggest part. A good tip would have been to visit the campus as much as possable. This would allow me to understand the school and how campus life works and would have allowed my for a bigger success on the transition. Also spending a day in the nearby town would be helpful; by visiting the local points of interest, it would show what I would do when I wanted a day off. Another point would be to view groups before coming to school. This would help me get an idea of what I wanted before I got to school.

Erin

Some things I would advise my past self about college life would be, to meet upper classmen, be more outgoing, and get to know your professors. It is a good idea to meet upper classmen because they know all about the campus and what there is to do for fun. It is also good to be outgoing, no one wants to just sit in their room and be bored. Go out and make friends! It is easy to find other freshmen who are in the same situation as yourself. Also, get to know your professors! the classes become a lot easier and more fun when you are comfortable asking the professors for help when you need it.

Nicole

I have been able to grow in both my knowledge of the world at large and in my faith. I am also learning so much about my future career field of mental health. I have also met some great people from across the country that I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet any other way. Franciscan University claims to be "Academically Challenging, Passionately Catholic." These were two things that were most important to me when choosing a college and in the two-and-a-half years there, I have found it to be true. It has fulfilled its promise and has helped me to grow in so many amazing ways.

Jenelle

I transferred to Franciscan University last fall. If I were to sum up the experience in one word, "overwhelmed" would fit it quite nicely. In the midst of being swamped in a marshland of unfamiliar faces, which was tagged to a seemingly endless list of names, I trotted around campus, attemping to familiarize myself with the new surroundings and acadamia. My wild disorientation was eventually tamed by my fellow classmates. By the end of my first semester, I had gleaned an education that had been both challanging and rewarding. Being Catholic, I also found the campus permitted my spiritual life to flourish and thrive. The authentic joy I experienced is exclusive among the Franciscan students and shared with all who happen upon them. I was indeed overwhelmed... overwhelmed with change, challanges, and authentic fellowship that made my entire experience invaluable.

Shane

To be a man is to be endowed with an intellect. But to be fulfilled as a man is to have this most essential of human faculties realized. The pursuit of knowledge exercises the intellect, and sharpens and refines it. This is the wisdom a college education has thus far imparted to me. It is in the pursuit of knowledge that one acquires true intellectual fulfillment. In order to know a thing, a man must exert his intellect over it. He must ponder it and mull it over in his mind. He must discover it, and still rediscover it, until it is etched deep into the hollows of his being, like some ancient engravings on the wall of a cave, to be discovered and rediscovered eternally. This is the great paradox of knowledge. It is not something to be had, it is something to do. The artist does not become an artist by acquiring art. Rather, he is called "artist" in his act of setting his brush to the white canvas. And in its most basic and ideal form, this is the college experience. It is the chance to set an intellectual brush to a white canvas.

Krystal

I have actually learned quite a bit from coming to college. I have learned the value of education and where it can take me in life. I have also come to realize that it really is not who you know but how well you can show yourself to others through your schooling. I have made many new friends that have the same goals and asperations that I do. I have learned to value myself with pride because of the things that I am striving for in school. I also really enjoy the fact that i have worked this hard to come to the place that I am. I like the fact that since the first day I have come back to college I have not wasted any of my time will classes that i did not need in order to get my associates while being able to tranfer out at the same time. By doing so i leaarned the valuable lesson of time and will be able to transfer to a University coming the following Fall.

Margaret

I did not discover the value of college until I overcame my stubborness and attended an institution last year. Originally thinking that I knew enough, I desperately avoided college, futilely. Now, after a year of college education, I realize that pursuing higher studies holds benefits. College taught me, first of all, how to live far from my family, make choice on my own, and live independently. The transition, though difficult, was necessary, and by going to college, I experienced the harship surrounded by peers undergoing the same change. My freshman year provided more than maturation. I realized that my knowledge was not sufficient. In just one year, I learned not only about the fine habits of a professional actress and the miniature parts of a microscopic cell, but I also discovered useful information in my area of study, English. From reading more critically to writing mroe professionally, I grew ever closer to my goal of becoming an author. All of this, I would never have experienced without college. University studies contain great importance and unimaginable value in shaping me into the adult I need to be.

Elizabeth

I have gotten many things out of college. The first and foremost is the education I have recieved at my school. Without this education I would not be able to do well in the career that I want to get into. The second thing is the lifetime friends that I know I have gotten, even after just one year. Most of the people I have met I foresee as friends who I will continue to talk to long after I leave the school. Also life on campus helps people see how life in the real world is: coed and work hard to achieve goals. I expect to get more out of college every year I continue to attend this school!

Brittany

From living on campus I have been able to mature greatly as an adult. I have learned about finances and about living on my own. I live in the dorms so I have also learn what it is like to live with another person. I had the experience of getting a job on campus which was also a learning experience. I work on the grounds crew and had to learn about all of the different types of plants around campus. I also took a year to declare my major. That was a tough decision, I declared Early Childhood/ Intervention Education. I want to help the mainstreamed and inclusion students in my classroom. I learned how important an education is, and am learning how to fund one. I have also grown in my Catholic faith, partly due to the Catholic environment at my school. It is a very supportive environment and my friends are also supportive.

Megan

So far I have only been here for less than two months, but in that time my life has been changing so much for the better. Being here has been allowing God to work in my life, and He has given me so many blessings. Also, being on such a small campus I am getting to know so many people. They are all amazing, and instead of being judged and stared at, everyone here wants to be friends! And even though it has just begun, my classes are teaching me so many things I would have never thought twice about before, and I am so excited to get to know everything I can so I can pass it on to the next generation.

Maria

Dear Maria, I know you are scared right now about what the future will bring. However, I have been to the future and have come to bring you good news and to give you some advice! First of all, STOP WORRYING SO MUCH!!! It is highly unnecessary. You are more capable of living on your own and taking initiative than you think. There are no cliques at Franciscan and no one is going to judge you on what you do and don't do. You will make friends, and the friends you make will grow closer to you in a week than your friends in high school did in four years. Maria, if I could only transmit to you how happy I am all of your doubts would melt away! I never knew that it was possible to actually WANT to go to class and enjoy every minute of it. Once you get here you will see that the major you chose is what you're meant to do and will interest you for the rest of your life. Enjoy the rest of your high school career, and then get out there and LIVE!! Love, Your Future Self

Maria

Dear Maria,

Casey

Making the transition from high school to college life can certainly be filled with anxiety, but my experience turned out to be much less difficult than I had anticipated. Some of my pre-college worries included homesickness, falling behind in classes, being lonely, and not getting along with my roommate. My greatest fear was that of the unknown: a feeling of anxiety at the mystery of college life and all its new trials. My advice to a high school senior is twofold: take your time, and get involved! The first couple of weeks at my new school were difficult, and I did worry a lot and I missed home for the first weekend, but after that I got involved and I was too busy to be worried about useless things. I realized that my friends were becoming as close as family, and that I would never be lonely without them. I made friends in classes and formed fun study groups to keep up with studies when midterms and finals came around. My roommate became my best friend, and all was well. Of course the unknown can be intimidating, but the best thing to do is jump in with both feet!

Matthew

This would be my advice. Be true to what you want to do with your life. Be open to the possibilities and focus on what you love. Don't worry so much about the money, you'll find a way of making ends meet. Work hard and stay on top of things and the money will come. Don't worry so much about what other people think or what they're going to do with their lives. You're going to make so many more friends who will be with you for the rest of your life. Be yourself and find something that you will love doing every day of your life. Don't forget what you believe in and never abandon your faith. It will steer you right when everything else seems to be going wrong. Remember how much you love working with people and know that the reward of doing that can never be measured in terms of salary. Look around and see what you truly love. Take it all in and then take a confident step forward. If you keep doing this, you'll end up where you're supposed to be.

Kristina

Apply for more scholarships. Smile and introduce yourself to people, because they are just as nervous to be there as you are. Thank your parents for helping you get to where you are and letting you sleep at their house. Bring silverwear, slippers, and earplugs. Work hard at the beginning of the semester, because it only gets harder. I would tell my high-school-senior-self not to be afraid of change because it is going to happen, the only thing you can do is make sure it's a good change. Also, I would tell her to get involved in activities, because that is the best way to find yourself and some great friends.

Roger

I would have told myself to take my classes seriously, to be myself and to not try so hard to fit it. I would let the high school senior me know that once I got to college I would find my own niche and I would feel welcome.

John

I would tell myself to take my studies more seriously. Many people consider a lot of what they learn in school to be a waste of time. They wonder what practical use it will have once they graduate. I would try to persuade myself that the main purpose of an education is not simply to get a job but to become a better person, to be able to understand myself and my surroundings, the reality which I live in in a more clear way so that I can know how to act properly and live a good and virtuous life. A proper education is one that teaches us how to be human. Sadly most students are expected to know how to perform in the work place as soon as they graduate so universities have become the place where you learn a job instead of the place where you recieve a rounded education and learn what it means to be human and lead a good human life, both individually and within society. I would tell myself to not just go to school to get a job but to become educated, to learn how to think and act properly in society.

Kristen

If I were to go back to highschool and give myself some advice I would start by telling myself to never underestimate highschool grades and standardized tests. Although I did not do terribly on them, higher scores would have made funding my education a great deal simpler. Next I would strongly encourage myself that if I was graduating from highschool early and did not know what major to pursue then go to a community college. There you can save time and money. Lastly I would tell myself to learn to manage my time efficiently. When I was in highschool I was very busy hence when I got to college and had "freetime" I went a little crazy. In addition boys should only be persude if and when time allows. I would most certainly warn myself that they take up a lot of time and when they don't work out it will make you feel like you have wasted your time, since that time could have been spent studying for a test. In the end I would say ultimatly have fun with college but be smart with the decisions you make.

Martina

I get into my Delorean (for what better way is there to travel back in time) and I punch in the numbers, 09/2005, and I'm off. Its the beginning of my junior year. I put a smile on my face and walk to my first class. As I peer through the doors glass pannels, it is like looking through the all seeing mirror. I see myself sitting in the second to last chair, my teacher loved the orderly manner of the alphabetical seating chart. I wait for my 16 year old self out in the hallway anticipating what I will say. The bells rings, such a familiar sound. I was the first one out of class, I chuckle to myself knowing that there is where the problem began. I begin talking to my 16 year old self. Stubborn as I was then I listened to the wiser me. Hearing that life isnt a walk in the park, it is difficult and bad things and hard times happen to good people. Never take anything for granted especially your education. Because when difficult times happen those grades you will be your saving grace and you will truly reap the benefits.

Jessica

Dear Jessi, Senior year's been rough and exciting all at the same time, I know, but you have so much ahead of you. The stress of finals and senior papers is catching up, but believe me, you'll need those skills at Franciscan. Don't give up. You'll study more than you ever thought you could, but you'll also be having the time of your life. During this year, don't forget about applying for every scholarship you can, even if you don't want to write the essay for it, or feel like you don't have time to get it done, do it! I know the parents and the counselors are talking to you about taking out the loans and being in debt for the rest of your life, and it's easy to shrug off, but you're going to meet the love of your life, and debt is going to get in the way. You'll also meet wonderful friends, and some that aren't so wonderful...remember, you have a BEAUTIFUL heart. Be yourself, love yourself and let yourself be loved, and true friends will come. Love, Jessi

Rebekah

I would probably tell myself not to worry. Looking back, I realize that my high school experience prepared me pretty well for college. The only thing that I might regret about back then is a lack of planning. If I could talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would remind myself to think about what comes after college. I love my maor, but my plans for afer graduation have never been very concrete. I wish I had planned better for real life. If I had it to do all over again, I would plan better.

Kristina

Leave room in your plans for deviation. There will be times when you may want to try a different major or take an easier class. Do not think that you will be able to plan out all four years of school and classes or even be happy or satisfied with your plans. Take the general education and required courses first; you will need them and they will be the best courses to transfer, be it to another major or another school. Be sure that what you take from college is what you want from college; it sticks with you for the rest of your life and affects your future.

Galen

Start early! Research! Ask yourself if this college really has what YOU want and, if so, go for it regardless of what others say. Start looking into financial aid opportunities immediately because the money you've been saving over these last few years will be gone before you know it. Once you find the right place, get involved. Make new friends because you're gonna have to live with these people for the next four years. Keep in touch with your best friends from home, but be open to meeting the new best friends that will keep you sane. Volunteer on campus and in the community. Sure, it looks good on a resume, but don't be completely selfish. Get involved with extra-curricular activites. They're a great break from studies, you'll meet a lot of new people, they look good on a resume too! Don't forget to hit the books now and then. Studies are important, but what good will it do if you work yourself to death in the end? Keep up your grades by studying with friends, talking with professors, and remembering to RELAX now and then.

Reed

Take and retake the SAT until you have the best score.

Brianna

If I could go back in time, I would tell my anxious, nervous high school self that there is nothing to fear about going off to college. That if I go to Franciscan University with the mindset of conquering all of the challenges that come my way, and do not give in to the social pressures to drink, have sex, and use drugs, I will be able to easily stay afloat. I would tell the homeschooled senior that I was that there really is not a big difference between being home schooled and going to college, and that I still have to motivate myself to study, because I cannot depend on my teachers to baby me like in highschool. Most of all, I would tell myself to enjoy the next four years, because they will certainly be the best of my life.

Elisabeth

The best advice I could give is to carefully consider where you're going and what kind of life you want to live in college. Don't choose a college with a reputation of a student lifestyle completely contrary to your own, but one that you feel you will fit in with. Remember that college is your choice and will affect the way you enter your adult life, don't allow the influence of others to sway you from what you feel will be best for your success entering the adult world.

Machelle

Don't stress about what is to come. You will do amazing in college if you keep motivated during high school. God will provide everything you need to succeed in school.

Mary

There are things in life that matter more than fitting in. You don't have to learn to be passive about your beliefs for the sake of getting along or having people to be around. There's that song by The Fray that says "sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same," and that is so applicable here. It's easy to lose yourself or your values because of peer pressure. This message is said over and over and kids these days are bombarded with it all the time, but you need to know that it's true. The more you stick up for yourself and what you believe in, the happier you'll be at the end of the day. Don't compromise who you really are for the sake of someone else or other people. Dr. Seuss says it best: "Be what you are and say what you mean because those who mind don't matter and those who matter won't mind." I won't try to tell you that it is easy, because it's not. But remember after every agony of every trial, you will emerge stronger than before!

Anna

If it was possible for me to give advice to my former self, I would say that it is more important to make goals for your life and then to do whatever you need to do to achieve them. I would also say that it is more important to be happy in a situation then to perhaps choose the safer option for the wrong reasons. It is imperative to make conscious decisions in order to come to informed and mature decisions in situations that have such an impact with the future of where one's life is headed. But, at the same time, remember to have fun and to understand how important it is to pick somewhere that you will be able to become the person who you are meant to be. As Frost says, "Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled and it has made all the difference."

Tess

I would tell myself to push myself to apply for more scholarships, work harder in school academically, participate in extra-curricular activities, and learn time-management skills. I would tell myself to look at several campuses, paying special attention to cost (including travel expenses), academics, environment, and resources around th campus, and I would encourage myself not to be afraid to discuss such things with the admissions office. If I knew anyone attending the university, I would speak to them about their experiences (good and bad) and how they like where they are, and especially if they could see me being happy there. Also, I would talk to my teachers in regard to what they knew about college and to which schools I might want to apply. I would also let myself know that things will work out as long as I work hard and do my best, and do not stress about the little things in life. And if I don't know what major I will be, I will figure those things out later. There's no immediate rush to know the future, especially when I need to be focusing on graduating from high school.

Nancy

Seventeen years have passed since that beautiful June morning when at last I held my high school diploma. The four years that followed were filled with joys, sorrows, challenges and triumphs. Thrown suddenly into the world of unchecked freedoms, there were many lessons I had to learn the hard way... I can still see young and idealistic Nancy rushing into college life and I long to tell her, "Always remember... always remember that you can't do it by yourself. Even though you are 'on your own' now, the principles of honesty, charity and hard work that your parents taught you need to remain with you. Always remember that freedom is not a right to be squandered, but a privilege that allows you to choose goodness, justice, and love. Always remember that this life is not all there is. You are here for a reason, you have a mission, and your choices last for eternity. And most importantly, always remember the love of God. When all else fails, He is there with His unconditional friendship and mercy. Always remember these things, Nancy, and you will be able to give to the world what it is waiting for from you."