Lane Community College Top Questions

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

Amanda

When giving advice to my senior self I would tell her she can succeed and reach her goals. Advising her that time is valuable, don't waste it. To start looking for scholarships now, don't let them be intimidating because they're there to help. I would make sure she knew to enjoy this last year of home school and not to fear college, but to look forward to a new adventure. I would tell her to be bold when she gets to college, speak in every class, and to get to know her teachers and peers because they are kind, helpful, and will give advice or help based on their experiences. Most importantly, I would joyfully give her the news that though spelling, reading, comprehension, and writing are difficult she will be one of two students in her Writing 115 class to get an A+ and will then go on to get an A+ in Writing 121 as well. This is important to me so she can go to class with thoughts of success and not of C-s, to show her it is possible, it just takes work and a little bit of belief in herself.

Enya

Hey, so, a bit of advice to miniature me, Stop focusing on every bit of your future. Stop telling yourself you're a failure, that the only few friends you do have won't be your friends anymore when you go to college, and that you won't make friends, because none of that happens. In fact, you make a ton of friends. You do really well. You are what you think, Enya. So stop thinking so negatively! For the love of all that is great, please do your homework. Chemistry sucks, but if you actually pay attention in class, you learn that you actually will do well. Oh, and make sure you make a good impression on teachers. Don't freak yourself out too bad, though. Just participate more, do as much work as you can, and stop overdoing things. You'll save yourself a lot of stress, and gain a lot of awesome rewards in turn. Keep working hard. Stop taking your computer to school. It's a distraction, really! Get healthy. We still don't eat well enough in college. And sleep more! Just take care of yourself. Just keep moving forward.

Devon

Quit stressing, college is so much better! High school is about who has the most money or knows the right people in our tiny home town. College is about who applies themselves the most and is determined to reach their goals...you will shine! Don’t compare yourself to fellow students in the same way as high school. High school attendance is required, college is an academic choice. Life isn’t a competition and you can build fantastic friendships built on helping and being helped. Seek tutoring or admit when you are struggling to understand a concept! If you don’t understand something stated one way, try to think of it in different terms, or try to explain it to someone who has a better grasp of the subject matter. You will find people in college who are driven with goals and aspirations similar to your own. Enjoy dating and relationships, but maintain your focus on getting good grades and becoming your own person. High school social standing doesn’t matter in the real world!

Carrie

I would drive home the importance of taking studies seriously and prioritizing coursework over social activities. At 18 I was not fully aware of the impact that my choices then would have on my future. Hasty decisions in youth wield incredible formative power over life's trajectory. I would also emphasize that it's perfectly fine to take a few years off between high school and university. Work, travel, and discover yourself. Don't rush into something you aren't ready for, and take time to find the subject that you are truly passionate about. That will make all the difference.

Elvia

I would tell myself to focus on myself. To not worry about what other people are doing, cause in the end they're not the ones who are going to be there with you. I am the only one responsible for my future no matter what opstacles get in the way, what matters is the way I get passed them and not stay behind because of them. Yes there are going to be people who try to bring you down and destroy what you aspire for, but you don't have to be better than anyone else only better than the person you were yesterday. You are your only competition so always make yourself better. Change is going to take time you're not going to accomplish what you want in one big jump you have to take careful baby steps all the way up there. Learn from every step you take cause every little thing you experience is something that can change your life and who you are. If you just rush into something it may turn out to be something you don't want and after it'll be hard to turn back. Let your mind explore.

Joshua

I would tell myself to pick a better major so that I can make better money and have a better quality of life for myself and my family. In High School I injured my knee that prevented me, at the time, to finish my senior year of football. Over the years I graudually wore my knee down to the point of needing reconstruction. I maintained a job, married the girl of my dreams and pursued a degree in what I love, what I know, what my family business has always been. Every day my knee injury causes my family and I more pain. Because of my lifestyle and my job my knee is beyond repair. Because of my choices I now have to change my career. The easiest transition is to go back to school. Maybe, if I made my career choices a little better, life would be a little better.

James

Assuming I was a senior, I would say to myself, try to save a little more money. You're going to have nicities that you want, but the means to fund them will not be available. Take the year off, going to Costa Rica was an amzing experience, and don't mind the other people in your group. When your Girlfriend tries to get you to get rid of your computer, don't. You will regret that. Otherwise, you're on a great path. And try to get Financial aid turn in quicker for work study.

Ashley

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self about college, I would tell younger self that the jobs will not last, and working two jobs and making a lot of money gets old fast. It is almost impossible to be successful without getting some college education under my belt. My younger self was determined to never go to college, my parents made it just fine, why couldn't I? I would tell my younger self that times change, the economy changes, and the job market will indeed crash. Your future family will depend on you to have a decent job, and working two jobs to make a living will be impossible. Go to school now! You do not want to be 28 years old and still going to college because you played around after high school, just go now, and get it taken care of!

tina

What I needed to hear would sound something like this: “Tina, listen up! It is crucial to your future that you stop letting fear run your life. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of change are really the only things that can hold you back and keep you from flourishing as an adult. It’s important you realize right now, you are smart and you have what it takes to be successful. Open your mind, and embrace your fear as a normal part of pursuing a higher education. In doing that, you would shed the weight of constant doubt that you carry, freeing you to build a future that you can take pride in.” I would explain that there are academic, financial, and personal resources to help each student along the way, to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and alone in the process. I’d enlighten her to the fact that she has a learning disability, then provide information about Disability Resources and the accommodations available to students with learning barriers. It would have been a lot to absorb, but I am certain my life would have followed a different path had I been given such profound advice.

Esther

Dear me,

Danielle

Looking back at the last two years, I would tell myself to really look at what programs the school offers. Don't just go into the Drafting program because it's what you know. It took me the last two years to find out that I really don't wasnt to be a Drafter. I have found a program that just looking at the classes required for the degree I am excited! They sound so interesting and I'm excited to begin fall term. I would tell myself to not just make decisions about my future by what I already know, trying something new is exactly what you need. Also don't be afraid of what people will say when you decide to do something completely different that what you've talked about for years! As long as you are excited about what you are doing and feel that it is the right choice for you, they will support you every step of the way!

Brian

The “simple” things like faith, hope, love, and child-like dreams, are really foundational because they are extremely important. Growing up doesn't by-pass these to learn “deeper knowledge”. Maturity causes us to move more deeply in our understanding and experience of them. Above all else, pray to hear God's voice, experience Him, feel His hope, love, grace, and goodness, and see His miracles. Don't be easily influenced by other's expectations for you, even well-meaning people. Try to see through motives of others. Understand that some people's support for you is based purely upon the fact that they have something to gain. Some will praise you and bend over backwards to help you, because it means that they look better or they are paid to do so. You will only sometimes be supported for what you do truly well. Do your best anyways. CLEP as many courses as you can just after you graduate, even ones you don't think will apply to your major, and use every scholarship available, even if you have financial support from family. Go to college in another culture and land – see the world and expand your horizons.

Mei

I would advise myself to take more AP credits and be more confident in everything I believe and not let outside negative soures affect how that way I view things. but at the same time also take in every information I can get. I have to be braver and better that the myself from yestarday, I have to fight for the best each mintute. No matter how painful the journaey ahead might be, I must hold on because time will ease that pain and replace it with a new expereince.

Bethany

I'd tell myself to take it more seriously, yes it's just highschool, but the scholarships I could have applied for would be really helpful right now. I get pretty good grades but I should do my best at everything, and not procrastinate or skimp on homework for a class I didn't like. I would talk to my teachers more and get their feedback before I turned an assignment in, and I think that would have been a helpful skill carried into college. Take my time on my assignments and make sure I get good grades on everything, because every essignment affects my grades. Practice all my math and english fundamentals so I score higher in hte placement tests and avoid paying for classes that aren't at college level, and get a head start on my pre- requisites. college teachers are harder than the ones in high school so make sure you set aside plenty of time to turnin an assignment the professor, they will grade you seriously if they see you took adequete time to complete their assignment, and put some effort into it and didnt just slap a paper together, senior year is important.

Natasha

Take college credit classes. Try in school and study cause it only gives you a head start. The harder you work in high school the easier college will be. High school is no just about the parties but is your first chance to get you prepared for real life and educate you.

David

I would tell myself to go to college right out of high school and not wait six years. The transition would be alot easier while school was still apart of my everyday life. I would tell myself that there is alot more freedom and that the instructors are not going to push you to do things. The reason that your going to college is because you want to, no one is making me go. The transition isn't that hard, as long as you do everything as soon as you can and not wait till the last minute. I would also tell myself to not be intimidated. College is different then high school, but it is better and alot more fun. The best advice i could tell myself is just to go and give it everything that i had. The reward will be worth all the late night studying and the boring weekends spent at home prepairing for the big up coming exam.

Dee

Going back in time being a high school senior again, I would encourge myself to go to college even if I am unsure of what I would like to study. I would tell myself to take classes that would guide me along the right path to find out what interests me the most and how an education would benefit me to pursue those interests. Then I would tell myself it is easier to take classes, than job hunting until you figure out what you would like or wouldn't like as a career.

Ashley

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would let myself know these few things. First I would tell myself this. DIVE DEEP! Don?t be afraid of the new things you are about to experience, A lot of things will be changing but every step you take is a step closer to succeeding. When it comes to careers, it?s ok if you don?t know what you want to do, my advice would be to take classes in college that interest you because it Is possible that they could spark a flame in your future career. Attend EVERY class you can although most teachers don?t care about attendance it is vital to you passing. Some students also think that because they are attending a community college it means they are not good enough for a University, THAT?S NOT TRUE! Attending a community college your first couple years is a great way to save money and it?s a much easier transition from high school. Last but no least I would recommend wearing good walking shoes, because college campuses are quite a bit larger than high school ones.

Alicia

1 - Talk to people!! The most useful information in college is made available by advisors! They understand the college and can connect your ideas, desires and passions to the classes and teachers they think will interest you. Half the useful information I have needed to determine my degree has been given to me by advisors, one fifth by fellow students/ teachers, the rest I have found on my own. 2 - Take your time, explore all options, focus on your education and know that everything will always work out. Even our supposed failures take us one step further down the path we walk, showing us new options and teaching valuable lessons in the process if we take the time to learn from them. 3 - Academic life means freedom of information. College is a sanctuary of learning and guidance - if you don't feel free intellectually, find another school. 4 - The most difficult part of college life is asking questions; the answers will become clear, but first I have to ask! 5 - College is the doorway to the library of truth (as far as we know it.) We all participate in helping that library grow - even undergraduates have something to teach!

Rebecca

If I could go back, I would encourage myself to take a few more classes at the community college during the summer or during my open blocks during the school year to get a head start on credits. I would also tell myself not to get discouraged by the scholarship process and to continue to plug away at filling them out because you never know which application might actually grant you a scholarship. Another thing I would tell myself is to get more involved my freshman year of college. I missed out on quite a few opportunities and fun experiences because I didn't pay attention to the school's announcements.

James

You will be friends with the people who you least expected, and will come to find yourself more happy with solitude than going out with your friends all the time. You will start to see that time is very limited and you should spend a lot of time with the few people you really care about. You never know when that person will have something out of their control happen and end your contact forever. The last thing I would recommend to myself is going directly into college. I can save you 5 years of your life by telling you that even when you do get a white collar management position with your own office, it is only then that you will realize you have hit a glass ceiling. You are not educated enough to progress into administrative duties of cooperate management. You will feel as though you are going to be in the same position inevitably, until you resign from your position and dedicate yourself to education once more. You will succeed and do well in your future, believe me I know.

Natasha

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to waste any time. Taking time off from school to give yourself a break or work more hours isn't worth it. Get to school now, get your degree and get that career that you want, not just a job. I kept telling myself after high school that I didn't NEED to go to school. I did have a really good job, but when the job market went under and I lost my job the employers were hiring people with degrees because they can be picky about what they want. I am now getting into the health care field because that industry is not going anywhere.

John

If I could go back in time and talk to myself senior year I would say "John, keep doing what you're doing but whatever you do, when you meet a college girl at a bar in a couple years who wants to continue dating, DO NOT DO IT!" If high school senior John pays close attention to this advice and concentrates on doing things that only brings him closer to his goal of graduating college, than everything else will fall into place. Distractions and temptation are the toughest thing John will have to deal with in his journey to complete school, but if he can avoid these things, he is gifted and intelligent enough to graduate college and excel in whatever occupation he decides.

Kaylee

I feel that if I went back and talked to myself as a senior I wouldn't have that much advice to give me. During my senior year I preped myself for the transition into college life by talking with the college advisor at my school. Every visit I made with her I became more comfortable with making this transition. I can honestly say that college is everything I expected it to be. I am glad that I used my senior year to my advantage, it has made everything more easier than if I would of had to go into college knowing nothing.

Anna

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, the only advice I would give myself is not to give up on the idea without putting real thought into it. I'd tell myself to give the idea of college a chance, and perhaps I might even grow to love not just the thought or idea of going back to school, but the classes them selves.

Lori

Lori listen to your parents and and teachers . They tell you every day that you should focus on your rades throughout high school. Those grades are going to greatly assist you in obtaining scholarships instead of owing so very much in student loans that you struggle for years to pay off. Take as many language classes as you can as it will excel your college years and give you a jump start for university level entrance requirments. Develop strong and disciplined study skills now because when you get to ollege you will find that the structure is so very different and it is easy to fall behind causing undo stress and a strain on your grades. Your going to love college, the people are great and the atmosphere empowering. Enjoy your education and strive to learn. Lori be sure and plan your college future now, well in advance, it will save you time and money. Above all, if you have any questions or feel lost and confused, ask an advisor or a counselor for help. Do not be afraid to ask questions because teachers and staff thrive on helping students to succeed. Learn to dream and dream to learn.

Ronita

If I were back in high school, I would have applyed for more scholarships. Knowing that tuition keeps rising applying for more shcolarships would have been really helpful for me. Doing more volunteer work, and participating more in the clubs would have been a good experience for me. I would have started thinking about college earlier instead of waiting until i had graduated. Also would have started to look into colleges and finding the right one for me. Knowing what I wanted to become, and volunteering in such places would have helped me alot. Overall I believe making early future college and career path choices is a important part towards success.

Dustin

Focus harder on making your transition to college a lot easier. Sign up for more scolarships, and find a better job. Also, take more classes that give college credit, because in the end High School is just a buffer to get to College.

Victoria

The transitional period from high school to college was very hard to ease my way into. In high school, I had a daily routine which I basically followed from the earlier points through my years of education. Wake up, getting ready, making sure assignments were done; that was the basic routine. Everything else was easy to follow. We had easy assignments, handouts to help us study, and make up assignments which were great. Coming in to college, I did not realize how serious this world could be. You're basically on your own. Sure the proffessor helps you through the steps, but you have to go home and make sure you read the assignment or do the work, there is no making up of anything. If I could go back and tell the high school self how it really is, I would make sure to force myself to study. To not only rely on the handouts or the make up assigments. I would tell myself to be prepared for anything; that anything can happen and just because so I can at least be prepared for what to expect.

Dana

I would fill my head with the knowledge I now know. I would guide myself into the Biblical principals that are there to protect us and keep us in line with God's purpose in our lives. If I had been filled with this knowledge as a young person, I believe that I would not have gone in the wrong direction in relationships. I would have had a much more solid ground to stand on, and I would not have been as naive and gullible in my relationships with people. I would have prevented a lot of suffering in knowing and following the guidelines in the Bible, and I would have experienced more blessings, as a result. I would share the depth of my knowledge and experiences that have pointed me in this direction and share why I believe what I know now and how this has set me free, to a large extent. I would encourage myself to not "follow the crowd", but to follow Jesus. Also, I would educate myself about the enemy(Satan) and to know that sometimes things aren't good because people, sometimes unknowingly, follow him and his lies rather than Jesus.

Jennfier

If I went back in time, I would tell myself that I need to save money, keep on speaking terms with the rents (for emotional support--college is stressful), accept grants (and work study and deviate from loans), study hard (including reading ALL assigned reading and taking notes as well as studying alone and in study group), and get to know my classmates and teachers on a personal level (This makes the support needed easier to get). I would tell myself look at all the possible schools (in and out of state), apply for scholarships, grants, and financial aid much earlier.

Lori

I would have advised myself to visit the campus of the college and study the curriculum offered. I would have sat in on some of the classes offered so that I could gain a better understanding of the lecture style of the teachers. I would also have spent time on campus getting to know the different departments and programs offered to allow me a comfortable transition. I would also have spoke with faculty in the department of my major course of study to gain a clear understanding of what I could expect.

Arianna

It's so difficult to pinpoint, or to know, exactly what I could have done differently to make things 'easier' on myself. But I think, if I were to make a list, time management would be at the top of it. There are, understandably, any number of things besides homework that a college student wants to be doing and experiencing. In order for the college experience to be ultimately fulfilling however, one must successfully balance academia with this craving for life experience. There are a plethera of ways an individual might go about scheduling their time wisely, but the most important, for me, is spreading the work out over the entire length of any assignment. This allows me to stay focused on what I'm doing and get the work done on time, while also affording me time to spend doing other things and pursuing other interests.

Brandy

If I knew as a high school senior what I know now, I would tell myself to go a little easier and take general education courses before picking a major. I would tell myself to go, first, to Lane Community College to figure out my course of study before transferring to the University of Oregon. I would tell me to be true to myself and to try not to feel pressured by the hopes and aspirations that others had for me, that I am the only one who can plot my true course, and I am the only one who can determine what is best for me in my life.

Brandy

Wow, this is the BEST question I have ever been asked in the course of a scholarship application!! As a non-traditional student, returning to college 12 years out of school, as a wife and mother of two, I would have SO MUCH to say to myself at 18 years of age!! I would tell myself to respect myself, my choices of activities, my chance at an education, my youth, my freedom, and my body. I would tell myself to associate myself with people who did the same. I would tell myself that an education is such a precious gift, and something to put my heart and soul into. I would tell myself that being "cool" isn't everything. Being popular won't put food on the table for the babies I would have in the future. I would be sure that I knew that fun won't be something for my mother to be proud of, and that mistakes cannot be forgotten or undone. I would tell myself that physical beauty is only skin deep, that it is temporary and it won't make the world a better place. Lastly, I would tell me to always love myself unconditionally.

Rachel

The advice I would give myself, if I could talk to myself as a high school senior, would be to let myself know about all the opportunities for grants and scholorships are out there to get help in paying for the my college experience. I would show myself how to find the resources and walk me through it. I would tell myself that it isn't that hard once you get the hang of looking for these grants and scholarships, and that if I had these opportunities I could concentrate on my educational and career goals. Also, I make sure that I knew that college is attainable with the help of these outside resources, so I could be the great me of my dreams. That would be my advice to myself.

Francois

I would tell myself to stay focused on school because the world is a really big place and it doesn't end once highschool is over. In fact it really will be just the beginning to a life long journey that will bring you to new places, new friends, children, and career decisions that we you will not be able to foresee from your current viewpoint. Broaden you mind and expand your horizons early so that as the transition into college and life takes places you will have the wisdom and experience to make solid decisions with positive outcomes. Life can and will be challenging but the more prepared you are now the better chance of success you will have once you enter into college. Don't be swayed by other people and short term outlooks. Look the future and always aim high. Never sell your self short and take risks. Rise to all challenges and be a good person. Francois Boulanger 32

Jessica

Well, as a senior i thought that the best thing I could do for myself was to take a year off school, so thats what I did. And now as a college freshman, iI know tht if I would have gone right out of college it would have ben an easier trasition. If you want to retain information and knowledge in your mind then you need to recall it on a daily basis. During my year off I never tryed to keep up on school work so all my retained information slowly slipped away. The best descision I ever made for myself was to go back to college and now I'm doig a great job where I'm at. So I guess my advice would be, don't wait, get your goals on course as fast as you can, and don't procrastinate.

Samantha

Dear Sam, It's me. You, four years in the future. Weird, I know. Stay calm. This letter won't change your future or anything. I just thought I'd give you some advice about what's coming up. I know you're scared about college. I've been there, remember? So here's my advice: Don't be scared. It's not that bad. In fact, once you extricate yourself from the paperwork and figure out how to pay for it, it's rather enjoyable. Yes, there will be classes you don't enjoy, subjects you can't quite wrap your head around, even (heaven forbid) a lower GPA. That's okay. It means you're learning, growing, and being challenged. Manage your time well, study hard, do your best. Mainly, relax. You have a tendency to take things seriously. That can work to your advantage, but don't let it control you. Work hard, but have fun too. It's all about balance. Remember that college is the means to an end, and, as Mark Twain said, ?Never let [your] schooling interfere with [your] education.? You'll do great. Best of luck, Sam