Ivy Tech Community College-East Central Top Questions

Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20 and even having a chance to go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I am afraid that it would be a difficult task to explain what college life is really like. My perspective at that time was one of a younger person whose surroundings dictated my actions. I was very much involved in sports, school and friends and I always thought about pursuing a higher education but I truly think the only way to really understand it is to experience what college can bring to you but if I had to talk to myself I would say, "You can be anything you want to be but in order to be successful you will have to plan, work hard, and strive to do a great job in school, in your job and in your life. Start now planning what you want to become and if you don't know it yet then start planning on the foundation that you can build the best possible life ever!"

I would tell myself to try harder in school, work, and at home. In high school I had a very low GPA my freshmanand sophmore year. I would tell myself as a senior to perservere through that and don't let it bring me down. I went from a 1.8 GPA in high school to a 3.66 in my freshman year of college. I gave up in high school, and I would tell myself as a senior any and everything that I would try at would benefit me greatly. I would tell myself not to be discouraged and nervous about college, because all of the people are no mean, they're nice. I was scared to death of college; getting in and getting along. Finally I would tell myself that anything that I put my mind to I can achieve with enough effort. I would hope that I would listen, because all of this advice is true.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself I would have plenty to say. I graduated from high school in 2003 and life and my views on life were very different back then. To start off my Mom moved to Tennessee while I was in my senior year and I chose to stay behind to graduate. Living with a family friend and working was not easy but I did it, school not being my number one priority. Therefore, if I could go back in time and talk to myself I would strongly encourage my younger self to go to college sooner instead of taking that one year break from school, like I had originally planned, that actually lasted seven. Life is not only about living in the now and supporting yourself but also planning ahead for your future. If you are constantly trying to work to support yourself you may not get as far as you would if you had gone to college and received a degree. I would definitely encourage my younger self to find the resources to go to college now instead of facing the challenges that I am currently facing.

Amanda, listen to your elders. Go to college and finish it right away. I know you think that you have all the time in the world, but life has a way of creeping up on you when you least expect it. Going to school when you are a wife and mother of three is a whole lot more challenging than it is when you are 18 and only have to worry about yourself. You are a very intelligent individual with many opportunities available to you right now. Do not let those opportunities slip away, they may never come again. Once you do get into college, know that four years is not a long time. Also, step out of your shell and get involved with your college community. The more people you know, the better off you will be when you are trying to find interships and jobs. College is a while new world and is very exciting, take advantage of that. Don't ever stop learning and never settle for second best, you are too smart for that. Make your high school and your parents proud, I KNOW you can do it!!

All of a sudden, you go from having your parents telling you what to do, helping you get up, making your meals for you, paying your way for you, to doing everything on your own. It can be a difficult transition for you. I would have said to myself to not let my parents do so much for me, to let me fall on my face a little. I went from allowing my parents do everything for me, to moving into my own appartment, make my own meals, have my own budget to adhere to. I feel I did pretty well with this transition. I believe my success for the most part is my strong desire to stay fit, and healthy. I will not allow drugs or alcohol into my life, or that of the people I choose to be around. I have always felt this way, and will continue to live my life this way. There are many, many distractions that await you from attaining your dreams, and you must stay focused and true to your goals. Make sure you are finding friends that are like you, never giving into peer pressure to be liked.

As a high school senior I was focused on what my peers thought of me. Once I went to college I realized that it doesn't matter so much how your hair looks, what designer you are wearing, or who your boyfriend is. All that mattered is if you could hold a converstaion with a peer. In high school we are told to think one way, but in college we were able to have are own opions and beliefs. So my best advice to myself is to use your brain the way you want to, not the way the person next to you is using theirs.

I would simply just be more motivated in school. Instead of be an ave. student i would be the best I could of been. Not a slacker.