Grand Valley State University Top Questions

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

Justin

If I could go back in time I would not go back to senior year. I would go back to freshman year because going back to senior year would be a waste of time travel. If I wanted to make a difference in my future I would tell myself that I need to actually try to get better grades. In high school I attained all A's and B's but I did not have the motivation to try to only have A's. If I had gotten better grades I would have more of a chance to get scholarship money to go towards my school. The more scholarships that I have means that I need to work less to pay for my schooling.

Andrew

The best advice I could give my high school self, is that the key to college is time management. There is going to be a lot going on around campus, and you will have a new sense of freedom, but the primary focus should be on academics. Although college is all about experiencing new things and self discovery, there is a time and place for this to happen. One of my favorite sayings is that there is break like a break earned. Knowing that your academic obligations are taken care of, makes eveything else more enjoyable. Take care of business and the fun will take care of itself.

Lindsay

Dear Lindsay, Stop taking life so seriously! The IB dipolma program will help prepare you for college, but the individual assignments wont matter anymore. French? Don't worry about it! So what if languages aren't your thing? You have many other skills! You are a great student and a great writer, continue to build upon those and just get do get through the other stuff. School is a great distraction when things aren't going well at home, but there are other good distractions too, so dont get so stuck on one thing. Spend more time with friends and doing things you love because you are waaaaaay too stressed out. I know you are shy, but dont be afraid to talk to people. You will be so much happier when you have people in your life who can support you when you ares struggling Things are tough right now, but college will be better, you are almost there! You got this girl! Love, Lindsay

Courtney

I would enroll in college level math and english classes while in high school so I could focus on the classes I need now in order to get my degree and possibly take fewer classes each semester to help keep my GPA up and be able to work more hours.

Abby

If I could go back, I would tell myself to spend more time with my family. In college they're the people you miss the most. I wish I would have realized that it's cool to hang out with them, even if your friends don't think that it is.

Angela

College is serious. This is the start of your independent life. You have to make good choices. Mistakes have consequences. You don't need to have to deal with consequences. You have to use your time doing important things. First, you need to worry about school. Then you need to worry about work. Everyhting costs money, and you are going to need it. Then work on getting involved. You need to build a variety of different relationships. You need to make connections. You need to discover what you want to do as a career, what you want to do with your life. Don't be shy, don't be anxious. You can do this, you need to do this. Lastly, breath. If you do the best you can, everything will be great. You are intelligent. You are capable.

Paige

You need to prepare! Take those extra hours at work! Find another job and begin saving before it's too late! You don't want to end up without money for school. It's very stressful when you do not have money for school or your future. Plan. Plan. Plan.

Taylor

Since I could remember, I always had my life planned out for myself. I knew what career I wanted to pursue by age eight. I knew what I wanted to go to college for and what I was going to do with myself once I graduated. I never had to worry about my future because I planned it all. I came into college confident in myself and my educational goals, yet that quickly changed after my first two months of college. I began to question the path I was taking. Am I satisfied with want I want to do and who I want to be? College is filled with various programs, organizations, and opportunities, and I began to overwhelm myself. I told myself to forget the future and create moments here at school. If I were to go back and time to my high school senior self, I would say to forget the future and enjoy the ride. Take new paths and explore different interests. College is about finding yourself and it is okay if your plans change. College is not just about making the grades, but making the moments

Megan

Megan, This will be a lot harder then you thought. I know those words sound scary, but they are true and we need to accept it. This isn't the kind of hard that we've been facing. This isn't about hospitals, doctors or health. This is about studying and retaining knowledge. This is the stuff that we've missed the past two years, so it's going to be difficult. I wouldn't ask you to change anything you're doing at this moment, all I would want to say is to be prepared and when college comes around. The first week, pay attention to the classes. Pay less attention to the new faces you're meeting, the stories and backgrounds you're taking in. Listen to the professors, learn how to take a college test because we haven't been taking high school tests in a while. Things will work out, enjoy your senior year. Regards, yourself.

Olivia

Live in the moment. This single phrase is what I would tell my senior self over and over again. I would scream in my face, "SLOW DOWN." There is nothing I wanted more than to get out of high school. I hated it, boy did i hate it. I funny thing happened to me the other day, I felt a longing for high school and simpler times. In college, you either do or you don't. No one will come looking for you. What you do and how far you succeed is all on your shoulders. Ultimately, you and only you can make the choice to succeed.

Alexandra

I had to learn more about time management. I wish in high school I was taught more of how to organize my schedule enough to where it wouldn't stress me out during the school year.

Kimberly

I would tell myself to be more outgoing and talk to more people during the first week of school. Everyone else is just as nervous as me and I should not expect others to approach me.

Lindsay

Going back to High School days, I think of how scared I was to begin a new chapter of my life. Moving from familiar faces and the comfort of my own bed would be a challenge. However, if I could go back I would tell myself all the wonderful blessings that would await me going to Grand Valley State University. Have an open mind, get involved and allow yourself to find the inner strength to accomplish goals. I would also tell myself to believe in dreams and know that hard work can take you so far. Such an amazing experience and friends that will last a lifetime.

Jaclyn

Change. This is going to be a hard and fast time for you, but do not worry because you will get through it and it will make you stronger. I know right now, you feel like you have it all, and then when you leave home you will feel lost. Being lost is part of being found for if you were never lost you could never then be found and on the right track. Do not worry about the people you left behind, because trust me, there are more wonderful people waiting for you on your path. The best thing is, they're on the same path as you and can help you along on your journey. College is about finding yourself, and becoming a stonger person. Now this strength is not physical but mental, throughout college you gain information that you can use in every situation. Creative problem solving is not a pain anymore but a joy. So remember, you will get through the first couple months and come out new and ready to take on the world. The world is waiting for people like you to make a difference.

Elizabeth

Change is difficult, but it’s also what keeps things from being static. Without change there would also be no progress. High school provides us with a foundation of skills within a framework based on routine. Upon graduation, that framework is taken away. Change is scary when you’ve become so comfortable with a framework. Now, you’ve graduated high school, earned your associates degree, and transferred to a four-year university. I’m telling you, you can do it. It takes time and effort, but you have it in you. You are capable of change, you are capable of progress, and above all you are capable of becoming the person you want to be in all facets of your life. School is just a tool that you can use as a catalyst for that process and you should’t be so afraid to use it and try your best to reach your full potential. It’s not there for competition, or to emphasize the things you are good at versus the things you are bad at. It’s there to help you grow. Hold yourself accountable, and don’t be afraid of change, because change is necassary for progress.

Colby

Your high school really didn't prepare you to do well on the ACT and SAT or to handle the rigor of college level academics. Take a little bit of time out of your social life to study more. It will prepare you more for college so you have more opportunities to socialize in college, which is much more dynamic and fun then hanging out in high school. Focus on your math skills so you don't fall behind. Most importantly though, don't sacrifice yourself. Stay true to who you are and what you were taught growing up. It’s those morals and that character that will get you farther than any college acceptance letter or GPA. Also, don't forget to make friends as soon as you get to college. Otherwise it takes a much longer time to integrate. Everyone during your first weeks will be in the same position as you with not knowing anyone. Prepare yourself and when you get to college focus, study hard, stay true to yourself, and have some fun.

Kirk

The advice I would give to myself would be to not take it easy senior year and to take as many advanced placement classes as possible. Passing the AP tests save lots of money and they are definitely worth taking. I saved over three thousand dollars alone by taking advanced placement biology, so work hard while you are in highschool because it will definitely pay off, literally.

Anna

I remember senior year in high school as being the most stressful time of my life. I didn't know what school to go to, I didn't have money to go to that school, I didn't know what major I wanted to choose, and I was afraid of moving away from home. My life was essentially a mess, and the funny thing was - I wasn't doing anything to fix it. The main thing that I found out through all of that was all that worrying was useless. In fact, if I would have spent half as much time preparing myself as I did worrying about my future, life would have been much easier. If I had to tell my high school self one thing - it would be to slow down for a second and think about how to make things work out, instead of being afraid that they're not going to. Everything has worked out just fine since then despite the fact that I knew nothing, but a little more preparation on my part would have been nice. I have this same advice for any highschooler. Stop worrying, get preparing - and everything will work itself out.

Brenna

I would LOVE to be able to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior. I would say, "You better kick your butt in gear and raise that GPA so you can be admitted directly into the nursing program, or else!" At least that was my first thought. I'm actually conflicted. On the one hand, I want to say things like work harder than you ever have, keep developing good study habits or your going to be failing real quick next year, and senioritis is a real thing but pushing yourself will pay off later! On the other hand, I've realized college is a lot more stressful then most make it out to be. So, I also want to tell myself to enjoy this last year, make lots of memories, and don't worry about things in the future because I can't control them. Transistioning into college life isn't the harderst thing I will ever have to do, so don't stress. I guess I can narrow it down to one thing. Nobody has life figured out so just do the best you can do always, and don't worry about the rest.

Taylor

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to be more courageous. As a young girl, I was always extremely shy, especially when it came to talking in front of a large group of people. I was the worst at public speeches. I never even liked having much attention brought to myself. I usually knew the answer when a teacher asked a question, but I was just too shy to raise my hand for fear that my armpit sweat stain would show from how nervous I was. Up through my senior year, I had learned to gain confidence in myself, but I still was scared of taking risks. Now that I have spent over a semester in college, I find myself even more talkatvie and outgoing that I used to be. I don't mean to say that being shy and not wanting to talk all the time is a bad thing, I just mean that being confident in yourself and not being afraid to say something that you want to say can open up so many doors. I've joined new organizations and made more friends than I thought I would.

Cheyanne

Check out other colleges along with Grand Valley, just to see if there are other colleges that focus more on your future career instead of taking extra classes you don't need. Join the rowing team your freshman year and stick with it; it's excellent exercise and you will miss it if you quit. Also, while you are on the team, talk to and get to know your teammates more, they will be a positive support group for you. Work hard to do well in school, but don't forget to take time to have fun and relax.

steven

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, I would change a lot of things. I would emphasize the need to not get so absorbed into extra curricular activities that was at risk of burn out. Additionally, I ended up changing my major which I now regret. I would enourage my past self to perhaps look at keeping the major I had origionally picked and perhaps changing my concentration or even consider transferring as I was not entirely happy with the degree I had origionally picked. Most of all though, I would emphasize the absolute need to avoid missing classes at all cost. While college provided a much greater degree of freedom, I feel that I took advantage of that somewhat, and missed more classes than I should have. Even in courses with no direct penalty for being absent, you are at risk to miss pop quizzes, important announcements, or even just critical course material, if you are not present 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time.

Emily

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself would be to stay focused and enjoy life. Having gone through two and half years of College already, I have begun to realize that if I study hard and dedicate myself to learning that everything will be a breeze. There are times where it becomes stressful, and there are days where I seriously consider quitting and running off into the woods, however, once I sit down and think about what I have and where I'm going, it all becomes worth it. If I could let my 18 year-old self know that it's okay to freak out sometimes and everything will work out, I think my freshman year at Grand Valley State University would have went a lot smoother. The experience was different and unexpected, but I am most definitely grateful for it.

Ronisha

I would tell myself that life is no joke and neither is college. Go above and beyond and apply for scholarships you will definitely need them. Study for ACT that's free money. If you're not satisfied with your score the first time don't give up take it as many times as you can. If you're not good in a subject get a tutor now. College is around the corner get more serious, buckle down. It's so many scholarships out there for high school seniors that I wish I would have took advantage of. I'm telling you this because you still have a chance. Don't get discouraged by test scores or the scholarships that you don't get. Focus on your career goals and what you want to succeed. Nothing in life comes easy it takes hard work and dedication. Don't let up; because remember when you're not working someone else is. Keep in mind that your education is priority and if you want to be successful you have to work for it. I hope what I'm saying hit's home because I see potential in you to be the greatest.

Heather

There I am, a high school senior, excited and nervous to attend Grand Valley State University. I'm anticipating all the what-ifs-- what if I don't have enough money? What if I'm not smart enough? Assuming I could go back in time to talk to myself during this stage of my life, there are a couple things I would tell myself. The first thing I would tell my senior self is to make friends. "Yes, Heather, you actually have to try and make some friends." It has taken me an entire year to begin making friends, and it hasn't made coping with the stresses of college any easier, that's for sure. Secondly, I would order myself to kick the habit of napping. With a packed schedule, there comes a time where you ask yourself, "Should I take a nap, or work on all that homework?" While taking a nap seems like the best thing one could do to reduce stress, procrastinating hasn't helped me one bit. Lastly, breathe. When you're stressing about deadlines and everything looks like it's falling apart, stop a moment and breathe. "God has a plan, Heather. Trust Him."

Marlee

Dear Marlee, I know you are obsessed with getting straight As and being as invisible as possible, and that's not a bad thing, but you need a sense of balance in your life. It's not about the facts all of the time. Loosen up! Friendships are just as important as grades. You think the world is a dark and mysterious place, where you grow up to hate your job, divorce your spouse, and struggle to feed your child. It's true that this is the example you grew up with, but it doesn't have to be that way. It is a choice. You have a unique voice and a beautiful spirit. Don't let others' idea of the world influence yours. I've come to learn that we are all connected, and it may seem like it's all about you, but it isn't: the energy you put out into this universe affects others, so make that energy positive and motiavting. You always wanted to make a difference, and you will. Try your best, always find the good in every situation, and spread joy in every way possible. I am proud of you. Love, Marlee

Candace

Looking back on my senior year of high school, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I hung out with friends, gave little effort into my work, and dreamed about my future at Oregon State. However, if I could go back in time and talk to my former self, I would advise myself to work harder. I would emphasize that working hard means utilizing the strengths and gifts that I have, and it is one step in the journey to success. I would tell myself to savor every moment living with my family, seeing my friends every day, and having a close knit school community. I would remind myself not to sweat the small things because sometimes, in the big picture, the small things don’t really matter. In ten or twenty years, we will have all forgotten who got an A on the English test or who dated who. College will be about discovering and challenging yourself, and that’s what you should be preparing yourself for in the year leading up to it.

Laurel

Hey ! Laurel, remember me? Im your intelligence,.. well really your more experienced self calling out to you. Laurel, you are currently attending highschool, and guess what …. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes. These mistakes? You can bounce back from them. You are so smart and anything you put effort into you can achieve, not without a little sweat on the brough. So.. Laurel, stop doubting yourself, stop giving up before you even begin and stop putting your homework aside. Where was that 4.0 girl that sprung up sophomore year?.. Oh yeah, she is still in there. Your friends will take alot of your attention, but its time to avert to something called.. your future! You are so young and have so much time.. but time will race you by if you dont take a hold of it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or be afraid to fail. At the end of the day, no matter what the expectations fall through.. you are still Laurel Reese. Someone with character, drive, and personality to make any still water bubbly again. Question now is, are you up for it? I know my answer.

Tabbitha

If I could go back in time and give "highschool me" college advice, I would tell myself "Apply yourself as much as you can now, this is the time that everything counts." I would've applied for more scholarships and grants when they were more readily available. I also would have taken the time to apply for all of the 2+2 credit class, because I took AP classes but never paid for the college credits I could have gotten out of them. I would tell myself to focus less on guys and focus more on books and making myself happy. I would tell myself that I am good enough, and that things are going to get better. If I wouldn't have known all of this, I definitely would have mad different decisions. However, I don't regret my past. I believe everything happens for a reason and I know that I WILL succeed without the ability to advise "highschool me."

Amanda

The advice i would give to myself is to work harder to get better grades because i am fully capeable of doing so. I would also tell myself to actually apply to colleges even though i didnt know what i wanted to do. Apply for scholarships so that money wouldnt be an issue of making my dreams come true. I would really want me to understand how important school is and that the little things i thought mattered the most didnt actually matter at all. I would also want me to consider doing sports in college a little bit more. Most importantly i would want to get myself motivated to get an education and get better grades in college then i did in high school.

BRENDA

Take school seriously. You will have enough time to have fun and party, but for this moment and time study hard and maintain good grades so that you could be accepted at a very good school and earn scholarships. Life will only get harder and the best way to make it through life is with a good education. Make sure you plan on your career goals. Be realistic and follow through and if your not decided on what you want to do make sure you are enrolled at a community college and get your generals out the way and sign up for programs that could help or guide you to a career choice. Join clubs or groups around the school that will direct you to a better educational plan. Get to know the college you enroll in activities and programs around the school and ask questions. There is a lot of people that are willing to help you. Don't be afraid of asking questions, a lot of people don't know what they want, it's ok not to have and idea of what you want, the important thing is that your are trying to do something about it.

Jonathan

Jonathan, you are a smart and talented young man and you can never forget that. You deserve to be happy and you have to go after your dreams. No matter how many times that inner voice tells you can't do it, I know you can. You are going to hit many hurdles along your path, but the best people do. All the bumps in your road will give you life experience that cannot be bought. Everything bad or good happens so you can learn from them and become a better man because of it. You deserve your dreams and never stop chasing them.

Aubrey

Don't worry. It will all work out. You'll get into Grand Valley. You will get a scholarship. You will figure out that darn FAFSA and you will learn how to take out loans. The first semester will be hard, but you will do it. You need to learn to STUDY, which I know is not something you do so often now. Go to class. Set about 85 alarms to make sure you get up in the morning. Most importantly, enjoy your time with mom and dad, because you will miss them a lot more than you think.

Victoria

I would tell myself to relax. Everything will turn out alright, even if at the beginning things seem out of control. A little chaos is good sometimes; it makes life interesting and worth living. Also, I would let myself know that the pressure's not all on me, I should have gone to talk to professors more often when I had questions; it's okay to be wrong and make mistakes. My highschool self also needed to know it's definitely okay go against the crowd. During my first week here, no one wanted to show up at the transitional activites the university had planned for freshman. Everyone was talking about how stupid they were, that they didn't want to get up early and go, or they didn't want to put the effort into meeting people that they would never talk to again. I decided to attend any way, and I'm so grateful I did. I met a friend there that I've become close to, and she introduced me to the group of individuals I now spend large amounts of time with. Interestingly enough, I found out some people are actually worth the effort.

Alyssa

If I could time-travel and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to apply for more scholarships and to more schools. I didn't apply for very many scholarships and the one school that I applied to accepted me. I think that I would be better off financially if I had sent in more applications and looked at more schools. I would tell my past self to really go out and take part in more resume-building activities as well, and to take part in more school clubs. I think having more of a social group than just a very close-knit group of band students would have made the social transition easier. I wish I had gotten more out of my senior year experience. I was really active in the music program but didn't take part in many activities. I would tell myself to make the most of my high school experience. I would also tell myself to focus more in my first semester of college so I could avoid the academic problems I encountered at the beginning, and to take advantage of the resources supplied by the university.

Lauren

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to be prepared to say goodbye to freetime. I did not know that being an art major would be so time consuming, therefore I was quite overwhelmed with the ridiculous amount of things I now have to do every day. I would also tell myself to be open and ready to meeting a lot of different people who have backgrounds and lifestyles that are not similar to mine. I was very sheltered growing up with the same group of kids for my whole life because I went to Catholic schools, but in college you will be exposed to people with different religions, races, and morals. Another aspect of college life is the long distances you have to walk to get to class, and at Grand Valley they can be really brutal, especially with the harsh weather from the lake effect. Consequently, I would advise my senior self to bring a lot of warm clothes and to get ready to dress in layers because I see a lot more snow in Allendale than I was used to back at home.

Julie

If I could go back in time (1997), I would tell myself to reconsider my major. I would remind myself to think of job stability in the future and what careers / degree programs will get me there quicker. I would also tell me to do my best to earn good grades and do as much as I can to get financial aid to finish my degree in 4 -5years. I would tell myself to do whatever is needed to not quit until I have earned my degree and obtain a good job in my dream career. I would remind myself that "The secret to success is consistency of purpose!" EVERYTHING happens for a reason!

Angelette

I would tell myself to try to do things on my own. Try not to depend on others for so much and learn to succeed with little help. I would also tell myself to learn how to study because that is a big part of college. Test in high school are easy so you may not have to study but I should learn the skill so I can use it in college.

Jessica

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self I would advise myself to listen to what others have told me. I'd tell myself that college is a place where you have to get involved in clubs in order to make friends and that staying in my dorm all day won't get me a social life. I'd convince myself to join GVTV in my Freshman year rather than waiting until my Sophomore year because it is definitely worth it. I'd say, "don't be shy, just show them who you really are!"

Kim

With my current knowledge, I would have told my high school senior self to apply for more scholarships and to not be as shy. Thanks to my wonderful groups of friends and associates, I had an amazing four years, but I wish I wouldn't have held back so much. Though I was very active on campus and knew many people, there were times I hesitated. For instance, I participated in The Vagina Monologues and volunteered during Make A Difference Day, but I regret not joining a sorority. Likewise, I also would have told myself to focus more on external internships. This way, I could have possibly saved myself from unfulfilling opportunities after graduation. I would have also told myself to dance harder as a member of my dance team. Lastly, my greatest advice would be that college truly is a life altering experience, so stay smart and enjoy yourself.

Kendall

If I were able to go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, there would be two pieces of advice I would give him. First would be to forget everything you have learned. Not literally, but to be prepared for how much you haven’t learned about the world around you. To become a blank slate, ready to receive a myriad of topics and information which might not be readily germane to your major area of study, but in time, will contribute to the wholeness of your education. The second piece of advice I would give my past self would be to commit to organization, to practice being organized every day. Organization is an art form that needs to be perfected; it should be approached with reverence and rigor in order to fully reap its rewards. With these two pieces of advice I would that the past me would to become a better now me.

Audrie

If I could go back in time, before starting college, I would tell myself not to be nervous. That starting school is a new beginning. A time to make new friends and find out who you really are without major influence from your parents. Classes are harder but there are people around going through the same thing. Living on campus there are always other students willing to form study groups. Just have fun. I will also tell myself to save all my pennies. School is expensive and part time jobs while you’re in school and summer jobs aren’t enough to pay for everything.

Kelsey

The end of high school almost seems like the end of the life you once knew. You are comfortable here in a school of 1,000 students, you know exactly who you are and you know exactly what you want to be , no one is challenging you here, it is safe and secure. In just a few short months you will learn that you do not know just who you are, your life plan is going to come undone, and you will be in a whole new world- but it is nothing you cannot handle. The comforts of high school are gone to make way for all that is new, exciting, and challening! I know that you do not like change but how else are you going to grow and learn? In college you will discover that not everything is black and white and life is what you make of it. I know you are afraid but staying in your shell gets you no where in life, college is all about taking on life's challenges and saying yes! It may be scary but just remember, life shrinks or expands in amount to one's courage.

Sarah

My grandparents are from Scotland, and in Europe, young people take a gap year. I would tell myself to take a gap year to discover more about who I am and where I am going before I head off to college.

Sara

Get involved, challenge yourself intellectually and socially, remain open-minded, and talk to new people! This isn't high-school anymore. You have a lot to learn from those around you. It may not seem like it, but you're going to grow up a lot in your first year at college. Also, if you wear your high-school t-shirts, lanyards, and a head-to-toe GVSU outfit, we can tell you're a freshman.

Sara

Get involved, challenge yourself intellectually and socially, remain open-minded, and talk to new people! This isn't high-school anymore. Humble yourself. Also, don't wear your high-school t-shirts, lanyards, and a head-to-toe GVSU outfit. We can tell you're a freshman that way. Also, realize that you have something to learn from those around you--don't show up in class and think that you're the best person there. An arrogant freshman is the worst. Just chill out and go with the flow.

Sara

Get involved, challenge yourself intellectually and socially, remain open-minded, and talk to new people! This isn't highschool anymore. Humble yourself. Also, don't wear your high-school t-shirts, lanyards, and a head-to-toe GVSU outfit. We can tell you're a freshman that way. Also, realize that you have something to learn from those around you--don't show up in class and think that you're the best person there. An arrogant freshman is the worst. Just chill out and go with the flow.

Sara

Get involved, challenge yourself intellectually and socially, remain open-minded, and talk to new people! This isn't highschool anymore. Humble yourself. Also, don't wear your high-school t-shirts, lanyards, and a head-to-toe GVSU outfit. We can tell you're a freshman that way. Also, realize that you have something to learn from those around you--don't show up in class and think that you're the best person there. An arrogant freshman is the worst. Just chill out and go with the flow.

Angela

If I could go back and counsel myself in highschool this is what I would say. I would introduce the student to a method of which has worked for myself once I put it to use. The method to begin practicing is the SMART method. S: specific goal: keep a specific goal in mind and when you find yourself straying away from the path you are taking think about your goal. M:Measurable-one should be able to measure their own progress throughout your college experience. A: Attainable: ask yourself if your goal is reachable, set up a beginning and an end. R: realistic-is your goal within your reach? If so follow it. T:time bound-create a time line of when and how you will achieve your goal. FOCUS! I can not stress this enough. When one focuses they can get through even the most difficult challanges that may arise.

Stephanie

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say to take my general education requirements first and not worry about the major classes or finishing "on time." I would emphasis the need to join social activities/groups on campus and to hang out with people in my dorm common area. I would tell myself not to think they only reason I was there was to attend class but to also grow individually.