Lewis University Top Questions

College life has been a very interesting and challengin experience in my live. The best advice I would give to myself if I can go back in time is to learn to manage my time. The way I have been managing my time in college is completely different of the way I did in high school. To succeed in college it is necessary to manage time well outside the classroom. There are more distractions in college and is important to know how to deal with this distractions and to have time to study and do other activities as sports. I feel in college I'm more independent to do what I want and spent my time how I want. Time is one of the most important facts in life and I think the college experience had makes me inderstand how important time is.

I would tell myself to study hard and not let myself fall victom to senioritis. College is where you get to live independent and away from your family. Nobody is going to tell you when to go to bed or study. Do not blow off studying for tests till the last minute because it will come back to haunt you when you fail the test. Try to set goals for yourself so you have something to work twords completing. Never tell yourself that something is too difficult because you have many teachers and professors who are willing to assist you in any way they can. Do not wait untill you are failing to ask for help because it will be hard to bring the grade up to a respectable A or B. Try practice problems to see if you understand the material, in math work on the odd numbered problems so you can check the answers in the back of the book. And finally, once you are in the college environment, be safe, work hard, and have fun. Do not hide in your room, go out and meet the other students. You might just make friendships that last a lifetime.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school senior self some advice, I would say that the most important part of transitioning into college and getting used to that new system is time management. Getting all your homework done, achieving high grades, holding down a job, and spending some leisure time for myself were all things that I had to consider in my new schedule as I moved into college. Not to mention, of course, the commute to and from school. Once I had a handle on all these new and different aspects of my college life, I felt like I was in a good place. Now, three years into my college experience, time management is still something I have to maintain a balance with each and every day. So, if I had the chance to go back into time to just before I was about to graduate high school, I would tell myself to keep a neat planner and budget my time well.

If I could go back in time, the first thing I would tell myself is going to college and getting an education would not be easy, but you would have a great outcome and it would be a life-time experience. Do not pressure yourself choosing a career. Just keep your mind open and explore different areas of study. College life is a lot different to high school. I believe it is a very important transition you would make in life. After graduation it is time to think about what you want in life and who you want to be. It will be the beginning of a new journey. You can start my setting goals for yourself by time periods. What do you want to accomplish in a month, a year, or three years. You will start learning how to become responsible and keeping in mind of the consequences of the actions you make. You will have support from friends and family, but you are the only person you can depend on to become successful. Keep yourself focused and dedicated to what you set yourself to do. There will be many obstacles, but you are capable to overcome anything.

I would tell myself to work as hard as I could to get my private pilot license as quickly as possible. I would tell my younger self to study the FAR/AIMS and to make sure that I do my Private Pilot bypass at Lewis as soon as I got my private pilot certificate. Finally I would tell my younger self to keep up on the studying and not be tempted to slack off just because others might laugh. I would say, "If you want to be a pilot you need to get serious and start acting like one."

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would first tell myself that studying and hard work is a key to success in college. You need to read your books, do your homework, and most importantly show up to class to participate. One of the hardest transitions is how long to spend on school work. When you are in high school you can get away with not even opening your book but college is different. Some teacher?s do not give out study guides and therefore you need to keep up with the material by reading the book assigned for that class. Other advice would be to act as a responsible and independent adult. In college you are responsible for going to class and making smart choices not only in your education but also in your social life because you are on your own at school. You have to learn not to be dependent on others and get help from teacher?s when it is needed. Biggest advice is that your education and your success is in your own hands.

The words I would tell myself would be as much advice as they would be admonishment. I would tell myself to stop dwelling on the past that plagued me throughout high school. I would tell myself to overcome the pain that I went through in my personal life. And I would tell myself to reach the potential I always had the ability of attaining. If I could tell myself those words, my transition into college life would not be half as difficult as it had been. My heart would have been open to others without fear and my mind would be sharper than ever in class. If I could tell myself those words, I would not be me. I would be a better man than I am today; there is no doubt of that.

Knowing that nursing is such a difficult and demanding program, I would say to myself to take college courses before classes started to keep up with general education requirements because once in the nursing program, it is very hard to take classes along with nursing. I would also tell myself that I should always stay positive as I always do and to make new friends that will last a lifetime. I should not be as hard on myself if I do not do well on one test because nursing is very difficult and few students are straight A's or B's for that matter. College is a time for learning and growing while preparing for a future career. It is also a time to spend with friends and to have fun.

I would tell myself to just keep focused, and to take it one step at a time. There is honestly nothing to worry about, and as long as you have a clear mind and determination, there is nothing about the transition you cannot handle.

Because I am a nursing major that requires to study an awful lot, I would go tell myself to learn how to study efficiently and start to study more often than I was used to. Therefore, I would get used to studying, and already know the best and most efficient way to study. Knowing how to study is very important and can make or break a student. I would have also told myself to take some advanced placement classes in high school so then I would not have to take as many classes in college, and I would already have some credits out of the way.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would tell myself to put more effort into finding and submitting more scholarships. Also, I would tell myself the transition from my home town to college is different, but with time it will get better. Within the first few months of school, first impressions are everything. The key to meeting new people is confidence and kindness. Positive personalities are contagious and other people remember the student with a smile on their face who starts a friendly converstaion.

As my freshman year of college was about to begin, I only knew little of what to expect. Knowing what I know now about college life and the transitions I have encountered thus far, I would tell myself to manage my time wisely. Throughout my high school years, I had the time to work, go to the health club, and have some "me" time to relax and watch tv. In retrospect, I felt like I had no time to do the things I wanted to do because I was constantly studying and doing homework. Granted, I got my homework done before ten o'clock each night, but I was so drained that I constantly wanted to sleep. Another thing I would tell myself is not to procrastinate the slightest bit. In high school, I used to study for exams the night before the exam took place. I thought that my bad habit from high school would work in college, but I was not too pleased with my first exam grade. After finishing my first semester of college, I now know I need to strategize better for my second semester to come and am ready to do so.

If I had the opportunity to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself not to go to college right away. When I was a high school senior I was not mature enough for college. I did not understand the amount of money it would cost and the amount of responsibility and effort it would take. Although I knew I did not want to go to college I went anyway to please my parents. It was the biggest mistake I ever made because I did not do well in school and I eventually dropped out. When I look back on it now I am sick about the money I wasted. I would tell the high school version of myself not to worry, that with time and maturity I will want to go to college, and when that times comes it will be the biggest priority in my life. Lastly, I would tell myself that it is okay not to do what people think you should do or expect you to do. People need to do things in their own time.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior the advice i would give would be: to start my search for the right college early, to remember to still concentrate on academics through my senoir year, and to not stress over little battles, college opens many new oportunities. For each peice of advice I have a reason for why, and how, it has impacted me. I started my college search very late in my senior year, I feel that had I started sooner, perhaps applied to more schools and taken more visits, making the final dicisson would have felt easier. Nevertheless, I dont regreat any of the steps I took on my way to finding Lewis. You know its the right choice when you can look back and say that the hard choice was the easiest one of your life. I would remind myself that academics are still important! Many seniors tend to not focus as much on school, this can make the transition very difficult, the college workload is twice anything in highschool. Finally i would remind myself to not stress over little things, college has opened so many doors!

If I was able to go back to high school and speak with myself about college life I would tell myself to make sure I took as many writing classes as one can becuase you will do a lot of report writing in college. I would also suggest getting involved in school activities such as school government so that when you move on to college and you enter into a new school you will feel more comfortable speaking with new people. Taking a speech class is another lovely idea, it will help prepare you for the massive amounts of speeches that most college classes require. I would tell my high school self that I need to apply for scholarships starting right after midterms and not a minute later because there are millions of people applying for those same scholarships. The most important thing however is to enjopy your senior year and not to stress to much because you can't go back and redo it, you need to just have fun being young, once your in college you enter the real word.

I would tell myself to take class serious, do all my work, and don't play around because from what I know now college is no joke. In college you will think its going to be all fun and games, but its not you have to set goals and remember them. Your going to have to seperate school life from social life just like in high school. I will tell myself that college is hard and that high school is suppose to prepare you for college and if its not then prepare yourself. I would say Melvetta don't spend so much time hanging out with friends. While you watching the freshman and sophmores plays volleyball, you can be doing your work. Mel I just don't want to see you give up on yourself and not do your best. Melvetta do your best and try hard don't let anyone take your focus from you. Be smart.

At my high school, we were able to make up test and quizzes that we may not have done well on. With this, I found myself not having to study and as such didn't learn as much as I possibly could have. I would love to go back and study more, so that when I came to college I would have a study routine down and also have more knowledge in various subjects. Also, I wish I would be able to tell myself to enjoy the experience of school. Often times I get too caught up in having to type papers or catch up on work I put off that I wish I didn't procrastinate as much. Similarly, I find myself as shy at some times and this only hinders the experience of college. I wish I was able to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior and tell myself all of these things. It may not make for a perfect college life, but it'd help lead me on a straight path.

Looking back from my freshman dorm I would go back and instill some advice to myelf. I would tell myself to look for scholarships early. The counselors may have badgered us about them but they were right. It is never too earlier to look for scholarships. Scholarships will benefit you in the long run for they will be there when you don't want to take out anymore student loans. Those loans seem little and simple at first but they add up in the end plus interest. Scholarships can also help to make your decision on a school easier. Money is a big issue nowadays and it could be the decidin factor of going to your choice school or settling for the second or third. I know part of my decision to go to Lewis University depended on the financial aspect of the total equation. So start early in looking for scholarships. There are many out there and you don't have to pay them back. It's practically free money they are giving away. All that needs to be done is filling out a form.

When you get into college be prepared to be more responsible. Proffesors put more on you to get your stuff done. Teachers in high school remind you when things are due and are really easy on you. In college it is a lot different. Sure, the Proffesors are great but they are teaching you to be able to do things on your own. Don't procrastinate because you need to be able to put effort in all of your assignments so that you will be happy with your grades and deserving. I would also tell myself to never get discouraged and to try my hardest and to not ever slack off. I would tell myself to pay full attention and to learn as much as I could. What we get out of it is our choice. I would tell myself to look at assignments as opportunities to grow and to learn. It really helps shape who you are going to be and what kind of life you will have after school. I would tell myself to get good learning habits so that the transition would be a lot easier for when a big work load is given to me.

I would advise myself not to get lazy and to keep up with my hard work. Make sure that I have lots of good friends that can help me make it through the years.

As a naturally introverted person, I would tell myself to not be so scared of new experiences and new people. I always had friends in high school, and I never had to venture out into anything new to have fun; however, as soon as I got to college I had no idea how to make friends. Friends had always come easy to me, and it was awkward for me to go to social settings and be outgoing. I was always unhappy about not having friends my freshmen year, and then I finally realized that I wasn't going to make any friends by sitting in my dorm pouting. So, I would tell myself to be more active, go to more events, talk to random people, go to more parties, and not be so afraid of making a fool out of myself because thats how you make great friends and great memories.

Dear Nicole of 2003, You are getting ready for your first semester of college, so I wanted to share some wisdom (if you can even call it that). I am a junior and I have learned a lot along this journey towards adulthood. First of all, stay on top of your work. I know that you are a smart girl, but in college no one is going drive you towards success harder than yourself. It is easy to push work off, but do NOT procrastinate?it?ll be the death of you. I was really bad with this until I learned that I had to review classroom material almost everyday; not just if I had an exam or quiz the next day. The next biggest issue besides the work is the freedom to play. You?ll meet some of your best friends in college, but remember that you are still in school for YOUR future. Have fun, but be responsible. I would suggest making friends in different organizations on campus. It?ll get you involved in different campus activities and you?ll meet people with the same interests. Good luck! I know you?ll do well! Love, Nicole of 2009

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself not to be such a worry-wart. I had been so scared to leave high school. I thought that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would struggle to keep my head above water. I was afraid of failure, afraid of not getting along with my roommate. I felt that anything that could go wrong, would go wrong. Yet, I had enough confidence to give it a shot anyway, dispite my fears. I would tell myself that no matter what, don't worry. I would say, "Amanda, you'll be okay. You are an intelligent, loving, charismatic girl, and you will d owell no matter what comes your way." As I write this response now, I am reminded of the John Michael Montgomery song, "Life's A Dance." There's a line that says, "Don't worry about what you don't know. Life's a dance you learn as you go." If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to listen to that song everytime I had a worry about my future. I would learn that no matter what, everything would turn out fine.

Leslie, there is a time and place for everything in life. This is your time to complete your education and have the opportunity to open new doors for women of color in four to six years from now. You are a strong young woman that is born to lead. As a future leader, you must learn history of former leaders and the struggles that affected all men and woman. Having your degree will open opportunity that don't exist to people without degrees. The process introduces educational knowledge that you might not appreciate at the time, but when the opportunity arises, you will be well prepaired and diverse on multiple level and able to lead others who lack that mental awareness. It is your destony and the history of women in the Ford family. Don't hesitate this journey and allow anyone to deter or redirect your attention. Your are truly a star and all stars shine. If you have to get a student loan in order to make it happen, then do it. Most important, don't allow the lack of financial aid to stop you. Keep going no matter what, never stop, you can and will do it.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take a little more time in high school and work on those grades a bit more. I did pretty well in high school but a few semesters could have been better and they really could have helped me get more scholarships at Lewis. I would tell myself to go with my gut instinct and pick the school that I think is amazing in every way, shape and form. And that is what I did. They day I saw Lewis I fell in love, and I knew where I wanted to go. I look back and think about where else I could have gone, and I really picked somewhere that I wanted to be for college.

Dear Self, I know you are nervous about college, but take a minute, calm down, and breathe. You've done excellently in your high school classes and have proved that you are ready for college. As you begin next fall, remember that while grades are important, so is the rest of your experience. Do your best in your classes, but don't kill yourself trying to be perfect. Some professors won't hand out any As, so don't put the pressure of getting straight As on yourself. Work hard, but play hard too. As you move into the next stage of your life, you are bound to meet many new faces. Be open to what each person that you meet has to offer you. Just because you haven't heard good things about a person doesn't mean that you shouldn't meet them and have the opportunity to form your own opinions. Remember that not everyone is in your life for its duration, and that it's ok to grow apart from old friends because you'll be making plenty of new ones. Enjoy college and make the most of it. Love, Yourself

Dear Karla, I know you enjoy worrying, but relax. Be very confident and trust yourself. Don't worry about what others are doing or saying, concentrate on yourself and take care of yourself only. You will get accepted into a college, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to get financial aid. Life is hard and it will bring you numerous obstacles, but it will be up to you whether you see them as obstacles or stepping stones. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Don't be embarrassed. Please make sure you plan things out, do not procrastinate it will not get you anywhere. Pay close attention during lecture, take neat notes and if you need any clarifications on anything ask for help. Study for a test with days of anticipation. You are a smart young woman, whether you believe it or not, you will do just fine. Leave the boyfriend behind this is your once in a life time opportunity to succeed, don't make anyone your priority when your one and only responsibility should be school. Time flies and you will have a lot of work to do. It 's up to you to succeed.

I would go back and tell myself that college is a little bit more fun than I expected it to be. It is amazing to learn to depend on yourself and then to develop more responsibility. Transitioning to college is a learning experience, not only from the school stand point, but also to learn about yourself and who you are. I would also like to tell myself that while college is not easy, it feels so much more rewarding than high school. Lastly, I would like to tell myself that living on campus can be a little hard at first to get used to, but you can make some very good friends living on campus. Other than that, I would not have any advice to give myself when I was a high school senior.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a Senior, the first advice I would give is to study even more than I did then. Although I was a diligent student, college curriculums require more studying to ensure success. Also, I would tell myself as a Senior that the type of work in college is different. In high school, homework was mostly questions from the book or worksheets. However, college instructors expect that students will read the chapters that they lecture on. There is more research or formal papers required. Furthermore, I would explain that there is a contrast between how high school and college instructors give the information to the students. HIgh School teachers mostly put their lecture notes on Powerpoint. On the other hand, college professors deliver their lectures verbally. Moreover, college instructors demand that their students make group presentations. While I was in high school, most presentations were individual presentations. There are more individual presentations at the college level as well. Another piece of advice that I would give is to learn how to register for classes on your own since this is how students register for classes in college.

Going back in time, the advice I would have given myself as a high school senior would be to stop looking at the private expensive schools and look more into the benefits of community college. I should have listened to my mother when she started talking about community colleges. But being a high school senior and thinking I knew best I would just blow off my mother's opinion. I wanted to be like everyone else and go away to school even though I didn't like to party. I know now that I should have listened to her. Mothers really know what is best. Together my mom and I would visit the expensive schools but after the visit my mother would always tell me to think about community college. I never did until about April of my senior year. The advice I would have given myself would be to start talking to community colleges around my house earlier because they offered the best options for me. Not only could I run cross country which is my passion I could save thousands of dollars. I wish I would have known that earlier in my senior year of high school.

If the Doctor with his TARDIS suddenly appeared to take me back to my high school self, I'd have a lot to say. Since leaving high school I've learned the importance of planning ahead. I would tell myself to always have an eye on the bigger picture, and to try being more conscious of the impact that actions taken in high school will impact the rest of my life. Taking the easy way out, being lazy and unproductive... these are what make the difference between the college of your dreams and working retail. I would explain that not going straight through college meant paying for that decision with sweat and long hours, working twice as hard as college-educated peers for half as much money. My high school self needed to learn to stop daydreaming about a magic fix to all life's problems and to instead proactively work to solve them. I would also tell my high school self to save the money from part-time jobs and put it in a high-yield savings account instead of frittering it away. Of course, that creates a paradox in which I am no longer applying for scholarships...

Hello you know you remind me of my self when I was younger. My name is Dan. Here let me give you some helpful tips when it comes to college. First, as a freshman in a new place you wont know many people. The solution is to relax and be social and more importantly be nice, people like nice people and pretty soon yoour going to have more friends than you can shake a stick at. Second, this is college so act like it, do your work and turn it in when its due, so simple but as you will understand verry difficult. Thirdly, never cram the night before an important test spread the information out over a few nights, you will remember more and you wont be exhausted during the day of the test. Lastly, roomates, as a part of college expierence you get a roomate, something to remember is that there going to think your just as weird as you think they are, so no worries. But it is verry important to lay some ground rules early on to avoid awkward moments or mishaps. Most importantly just be yourself and enjoy college for its many joys and privilages.

I would start off by saying it is way different than college. College has more responsiblity and you have to be more mature in what you decide to do. Also I would say that college gives everyone a lot of work so prepare to read, write, and study a lot. In high school I didn't study like I had to in college. I would also say choose wisely on what college to go to because it is only important to make yourself comfortable. Also know what you want to do, be prepare and it will help you through college. The professors are really caring and want you to succeed.

After high school i spent four years working two to three jobs one of whcih throughout was the night shift as a courier. That experience makes college much more valuable to me. Who I am, and the motivation to become who i want came from those experiences. Therefore, I really do believe going without many things has lead me to appreciate what opportunities i now have. I would have to simply tell my high school self to find out what i had to, I truely know it was neccasary

I would tell msyself to stop worrying and take the time to enjoy the experience. When I was a senior in high school I was so worried and anxious about moving away from home and starting all over. Now I realize that there was nothing to be afraid of. I would tell my self to really enjoy the summer before college started and to start reading some of the course material. I would tell myself that the transition is not bad but there is a lot of work ahead of me. I would tell myself that the professors are nice and very approachable; and that they are willing to help with the adjustment.

Take your time in choosing the college that is really your best fit. Being a high school senior is tough and there is a lot going on, but making the right college selection has an enormous impact on the next several years of your life, and has effects for the rest of your life as well. When deciding on your college do not base your decision on one fact, but carefully weigh as many aspects as you can. There is more than cost to be weighed, though that certainly has its importance. Consider location (and relative location to your hometown), size of the school, extra-cericular activities offered, degree programs offered, living conditions (or commuting distance), mission statement of the school, and any feedback you can obtain from those you know who go there. Take the necessary time to make the right choice. It's worth the reisk, and you will be much more happy for the next few years wen you can rest knowing you made the right choice!

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible. When I was applying for colleges, I was not taking advantage of all the random scholarship websites that offered scholarships for the most random things. There were scholarships for people with brown hair or blues eyes or a relative that was a certain ethnicity. I didn't think that I had a chance at half the scholarships on those websites when I actaully did. When my friends got into their first year of college, they recieved all kinds of random scholarships that I could have applied for too. Now I regret that decision so I am applying for every scholarship I get a chance to do, including this one.

Knowing what I know today there are a million things that I would tell myself as a high school student. I would begin by re-assuring myself that college isn?t as scary as it seems. The looming buildings and well acquainted upperclassmen aren?t as intimidating as it seems. They are willing to help and show you around, even if you?re a freshman. The second thing that I would tell myself is that I should cherish the moments I have with my friends, but not to think that is the end. Just because some relationships change and evolve while others change and die doesn?t diminish what they were. IT also doesn?t mean that there won?t be great relationships in the future. The final thing that I would tell myself is to dorm. Despite the cost, the experience and ease of living on campus is unsurpassed. In high school the world seems to only reach the school doors when in reality there is a whole untapped world just beyond them. This plus reminding myself to be confident and focused is the message I would give my high school self.

If I could give myself advice as a high school senior with the knowledge I now have about college I would tell myself to calm down and take it easy. College is not as bad as I thought it would be. Don't be afraid to ask questions and take as many oppurtunities as you have to make new friends and to get help. Make time for homework and sleep, while still having fun. Don't get too stressed because everything will be fine. Just take college one day at a time and make sure to always do your best, even when you feel like you have already given everything you have.

Knowing what I know today, I would have made a few changes. As a high school senior I would have worked alot more to be able to go out with my college friends. I have heard the term "college kids are broke" and from my experience it is completely true. I also would have looked into living on campus. Currently I am a commuter, but I feel that becasue of that I miss out on the whole college experience. I want to live in a tiny dorm that I have to share with a complete stranger. I want to know what it is like to be on my own and not live in the same household as my parents. I want to know what that freedom and independence feels like, but for now that will have to wait for next year. I also wish that i participated in more campus activities, for example I think I should have gone to the events at SOAR weekend and hung out with my cross country team more. The students and courses are exactly what I thought they would be so I don't have any changes concering those topics.

Dear past high school senior, You will be going to a brand new school with many new people. It is a pretty big school, but don't be afraid. Don't be so shy as you were in high school, talk more, be open, make new friends! Take up offers to hang out with people, do study sessions. Don't forget to do your homework and study, you want to keep that GPA up as best you can, you never know what might happen in the future to cause you stress. Don't let the stress get to you, you are stong and you can succeed in your college carreer. Always, Your Future-Self

I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff... like boys that didn't like me, parties I didn't get invited to, and girlfriends that would talk behind my back. Instead I would tell myself to studier harder, attend class more, and be nicer to people than I was in the past. I would encourage myself to join more clubs besides the social ones, sports besides cheerleading, and stay in on the weekends. In other words I would say, be true to your self, don't stop going to church, and don't let people get you down. Because that was my downfall in highschool. I was too involved socially to see the bigger picture, and didn't care enough about myself to notice that I was failing myself. Upon entering college I would say to myself, just study, attend all classes unless contagious, and hold your head high because unless you are happy within your own skin, you won't be able to achieve your own dignity and self worth.

College is hardest thing you will ever do in life. I know you want to be a nurse Brittany. Let me tell you this is no easy program, as it should be. Be ready to work. You cannot drift your way along this program. You have to be willing to work harder then you have ever worked before in your life. You need to be disciplined. There will be times when you don't want to look at your notes for one more minutes, but you will have too. You will have to give up your social life for the next two years. There will be no time to go out to the movies with friends, no time to attend family parties. All that there will be time for is studying and possibly a little sleep, if you are lucky. Now that I've told you all this let me give you the greatest piece of advice I have learned. Research your schools you want to attend. Visit them! Don't just pick one that is making this decision more convenient for you. Re-take your ACT, because that number will follow you around for the rest of your life

If I could go back in time and tell my self how to transition from highschool to Lewis I would not change anything about how I did it. I remeber being nervous to join a big community but Lewis was able to orient me on success day to the campus and the community and now I know that Lewis prepared me for life ahead. Lewis successfully helped me transition from a highschool student to a college student with no problems. I am glad that I chose to come to Lewis and would do it all over again.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself better choices that school year. As a senior, i slacked off more than half of the time and procrastinated way too much. I lost a lot of my good study habits I developed in the past and I really struggled to not fall behind. If I went back in time, I would tell myself to avoid the mistakes I made in order to perform much better academically. Secondly, I would tell myself to not procrastinate applying for scholarships because I know that if I applied for them earlier, I probably would have gotten at least one, which would really have benefitted us financially. Finally, as a senior I would tell myself that I was meant to go to Lewis University. Most of the year I planned on going to a community college, but changed my mind in the beginning of the summer. At first I thought that it would not work out, but I think God took a bad situation and made it very good, because I really feel like I was meant to be here at Lewis.

If I could go back to my high school self, I would tell myself to relax and have fun my freshman year. I was so nervous about how people would think of me, that I wasted my first year trying to be what I thought everone wanted. College, to me, is about find who you really are and embracing it to the fullest. It's about not always having to fit in. It's about making those friends that love you for exactly who you are. I have learned all of this in my short time in college. I wish I would have went into school knowing this.

I would say that the biggest thing about attending college as a freshman would have to be continuing to be yourself no matter what. There are a lot of pressures, influences, and temptations that go along with college, and if you stay true to yourself during these times you will not give in and become someone you do not want to be. The goal in college is to not only find out what you want to do with your life, but also find out who YOU are going to be in your life. The college years are a major transitioning point in your life, and if you become a person that you do not neccessarily like, then college was all for not. I believe the most important thing about college again is to find your true self. There are so many different activities, classes, events, and gatherings that allow a new student to truly experience and learn who they really are on the inside. I believe you should take in as much as you can, learn everything you want, be as active and social as you feel comfortable with, and allow yourself to become your peak potential as a person.

I would like to have started college earlier. I am an older adult and I only have 20+ years to work. I think that if I had started earlier, I would be in a better paying job with some senority.

Since I'm a freshman I am still new to this college experience. If I could go back I would definitely tell myself to get into all the different clubs starting day one. I wish I would have gotten more involved with my university. All the different clubs and activities help you make new friends. Your larger network of friends can really help you out in the future. Through friendships you will meet more people of which some might be hiring for a job you might be interested in. Your knowledge of these people will really increase your chances of getting that job. You can never have enough friends, if I could just go back to beginning of the school year I would definitely get involved with those clubs that I was considering on joining but never got out and joined.

I would better prepare myself for the work load to come, and start practicing better organization skills.