North Carolina State University at Raleigh Top Questions

Fun, memories, and a great education

I graduted in 2007 from Sonoma State University with a Bachlors Degree in Communications with emphasis in Radio Broadcasting. This degree opened a few doors for me because I was finnaly on the same playing feild on a vast majority of the work force. However with little work experience it was hard for me to find a job in my feild. Last semester I took a Music Fundamentals class at my local JC and found out that they added an Audio Production for Digital Media Certification Program. I belive this program has the tequinical skill my degree is lacking. My current job is outside of my feild and aside from paying my bills, it doesn't make me happy. Finding the dream job is a high priority in life and nothing could make me happier. Education at the formal level (college) is the only way I know how to achive my dream. I am thankful that I went to college straight out of high school because what I learned no one can ever take away from me. I want to go back for this vocational degree at my local JC to do what I love; record music and sound.

I have learned a great deal about my major and about myself. I have always wanted to be a doctor, but I never thought it was an attainable goal. Attending NCSU has helped me realize that I can and will become the doctor that I have dreamed about becoming since I was six years old.

My journey from high scool dropout to Student of the Year early high school graduate and concurrent community college (starting at 16) student to Honor's Student of the Year (among many other awards) Mount San Jacinto College graduate to UC Berkeley undergraduate has been a fascinating education unto itself. In my short time as a college student I have found my path in life, found what it is I can devote my life to. If all goes well, within five semesters at most I will have a B.S. in Society & Environment and a B.A. in Political Economy which will lead me to a PhD. in Environmental Science, Policy & Management. All of this will (hopefully) lead me to the United Nations, using my education and experiences to help solve the greatest crises man has ever faced. In short, my experiences have shown me what is most precious to me, and exactly what it is that I can do about them. I have seen global poverty, inequality and environmental degradation of an epic spacle. Not only has my education allowed me the capacity of such vision, it has also equped me with the tools to solve all these crises.

I have always known what I want to do with my life, so I decided to graduate from high school early. I was immediatly accepted to North Carolina State University with a major in Biology. The claasses of my first year were absorbing and informational. They taught me so much and allowed me to be succesful scoring a 4.0 GPA and ranking first in the freshman class. The clubs that I joined further confirmed my decision to become a doctor and have provided support and assistance in reaching that goal. College has been a wonderful experience and I think I will love the next few years to come.

I have become so much more independent because of my college experience. Especially because it is over three hours away from my home. Every time I wanted to go home, I would have to ride the train by myself to and from school. There are so many little things as well, such as; doing my own laundry, deciding when/where/what I eat, and how I spend an manage my time. I think my college experience thus far has helped me prepare myself for the upcoming years at NC State and beyond.

Through my college experience, I have learned to question the normal and accepted, always searching for new possibilities and ways to solve problems. Finding the right solution for me is not easy, but by trying new things I can grow and learn as a person. I have been challenged intellectually and had the chance to meet new friends while seeing what it is like living on my own. I have learned new skills in my major that I can apply to future projects and career interviews. The college experience is valuable to me because I am discovering who I am and what I can do. I am beginning to have a taste of what life is like in "the real world" and what I need to do to become a successful adult. I am also learning the importance of balance. A happy medium between work and play is important, as is finding joy in my work. I want to have a job that I can be happy in and produce my best work. I am learning and growing, being challenged while having fun, so that I can become a rounded adult, helpful to my society.

I have gotten irreplaceable knowledge and wonderful life experiences out of college. For a person such as myself who was raised as an orphan; the classroom was one of the few places where I can honestly say I benefitted from a structured learning environment. You know knowledge is power and although many of us acquire this knowledge many of us don't us it to the best of our ability. It has been valuable for me to attend school and advance my education because I, being an orphan; had to grow up really fast and school was limited. Just as I turned 18 I had to jump into the adult world of responsibility. Learning to work, keep a roof over my head, food in my stomach and clothes on my back took priority over my education. Thus, causing me to take an underpaying job and struggling or taking a chance on a job I may not be educationally qualified for(fake it 'till you make it). I guess you could say the classroom was as close as I got to moral education and parental guideance or any guideance at all for that matter. So don't take education for granted.

I've been attending a community college for the past two years. It's been nice being able to spend some time so close to my family, but I'm also ready to get out into the world on my own. Being at a community college has helped me prepare for the bigger schools by teaching me what's expected of me both financially and academically. It has also given me the opportunity to complete some of my core classes without breaking my bank. In addition to all of this, I've had the opportunity to learn things that I never expected to learn. I've been challenged, and I hope to continue to be challenged as I transfer to a four-year university this fall.

I've attained a strong sense of work ethic and a good sense of the value of teamwork and cooperation from my attendence at NCSU. My school is a research university and by its very nature the curriculum is that much more rigorous than that of many other universities. I've spent countless nights studying in the library until the early morning all for the sake of making A's on tests. Be that as it may, I can't say that I've made it through this journey by myself. I've forged many valuable relationships with my peers and professors in times of need.

College has really opened me up. I used to be extremely shy, but now I realize the importance of making connections and networking with people. I used to be so dependent on my mom to do everything for me. Now I have to rely on myself to get up and get things done on my own accord. I've also learned to be more thankful for being young. I miss my high school days and I've come to realize that the best years of my life are right now. I cannot go back and do it over and there is no promise of tomorrow, so I have to make the most of my life while I have the opportunity. I understand now that my clothes and what kind of music I listen to do not matter like they did back in high school. It really is all about what I do with the time in college I have been given and how I use it to pursue my hopes and dreams.

Even though I am only in the spring semester of my freshman year, I have still learned quite a bit. Dispite taking very few art-related courses so far, I have learned some valuable things about independence, people, and myself. My life is very different from the way it was in high school but I am on my own for the most part. However, I am still not completely independent. Had I not attended college, the transition between high school and apartment independence would be tougher. I have also learned about people. After I went to college, my high school friends began to do things that caused me to distance myself from them, while my college friends have shown themselves to be truthful. College has taught me to take care of myself and lessons about friendship; I wouldn't be the person I am today without this experience.

College has opened my eyes to knew worlds. While at college, you participate in many different classes, I came from a little town and coming to a college away from home, you interact with so many different kinds of people with different backgrounds than your own and your eyes are opened to different worlds. It is also a place where you get away from your parents and start to build an identity all your own. I have found that while in college, I am able to question issues that while in high school were just ignored or not conversed about. College is valuable to attend because you begin to become who "you" really are. It gives you the freedom to discover yourself and what you believe.

I thought that UNC is in one of America's most beautiful campus settings. The classes offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. I imerse all of knowledge from prefessors. I has arouned a lot of intellgent students as well as professors. UNC is ranked as one of the top large universities for teaching environment, facilities and security, connection to institution and pride, and respect and appreciation.

In my short college career I have already made enough memories to fill tons of photo albums. I was worried that I would have a difficult time meeting new people because my campus is home to more than 30,000 students. However I was able to find my niche. Now where ever I go I see someone I know and the friends that I have made in my one semester here are so good to me and more supportive than I could ever imagine.

The advice I would give myself if I could go back in time would be that college is not what everybody thinks. Hollywood does a good job at making college look like a place where everyone drinks, parties, and has sex. Movies try to make it look like drinking beer is what every college student does and what every college student wants to do. This is my first semester and I have learned that college is not what the movies portrayed it to be. A very small percentage of students actually drink alchol according to the freshman orientation I went to and what I have observed. Another thing I have learned is that students actually do not have as much free time as people think. I would tell myself if I went back in time to make a schedule and not waste my time with distractions such as video games or napping. Even though students classes do not take up much time during the day, it is the work outside of class that takes up most of the time. I would tell myself to set priorities such as studying for tests and doing my homework first before having fun.

If I could go back and look myself right in the eye in the prime of senior year, I would tell myself to relax. As much as people build up the hype of college and it's importance on your future, college is just another opportunity to learn more about yourself but to take your interests and put them under laser focus. You can make a name for yourself and study whatever fulfills your dreams and just enjoy the ride. Opportunities are endless and your life is only beginning. So take a deep breath, close your eyes and leap, because life is about taking risks but the opportunity is knocking at the door.

Haven't we all pondered about such a possibility at least once in our lifetime ? A chance like that would be truly life-altering. Well, the first thing I would tell my past self would be "congrads dude....you got into college!" as getting into college is a concern for applicants. I think the best advice I could give myself would be to remain broadminded and alert and just think for a few seconds with your brain rather than the stuff between your legs before making decisions ! That would save you a lot of trouble. I remember thinking about college academics as my invisible adversary waiting for me just around the corner. So, I would advice myself not to get too worked up about college education and campus life. Just be disciplined and befriend the concept of time management. That way you can find time for everything you want to do in your life. However, priorities come first; remember there will always be time for leisure and ladies later on. Nevertheless, don't you EVER FORGET that these four years are going to be the BEST TIME of your life. So play hard and work smart !

As a high school senior, I was very worried about making the wrong decision with colleges and majors... so much to the point that I lost sleep over the possibilities. In order to make such an important change in your life, you must [1] explore your options. Research all of the possibilities and write down the pros and cons. Then [2] compare the colleges and majors against each other using specific criteria like "location," "size," "campus facilities," etc. After you've narrowed down some of the choices to a couple, make sure to visit those colleges and find out more about the major if you are not completely familiar with it. Make sure to [3] sleep on the decision for awhile and imagine yourself in each situation. Finally [4] make a decision and commit to it. There is nothing worse than making a decision too early and then changing at the last minute or regretting that choice for a long time. Use common sense and how you feel about each college. Remember, it will be your home for the next four years!

Don't be afraid to get out there and try things that seem a little out of your comfort zone. This school offers so much that will help to ensure social and academic sucess starting with the multitude of student organizations, athletic events, and academic opportunities. It is a big campus but by getting out there, you can make it your own and you wil grow to love it because it will give you the chance to blossom and grow into a young adult that will live a successful life. Make friends, persue your dreams, and be happy. These are the best days of your life.

The biggest thing that I find myself dweling on about my senior year of high school, is how dependant I was. College is all about independence and making something better and new out of yourself. There is a big difference in academics mostly because everyone who comes to college wants to learn and further their education. You need to be prepared to study before you go to lectures to get the full benefits of the teacher's lectures. There is no one who will be dissapointed if you don't do your work or study something until you understand it. Everything is up to you from cleaning, organizing, planning, to studying.

There have definitely been some major challenges that I have faced throughout my college career. I believe some of these challenges would have been prevented if I had known these two things: You must know how to organize/manage your time well and apply, apply, apply for scholarships, now! I have had to learn, the hard way, that it is so easy to get behind if you do not use your time wisely and plan out, far in advance, when and how you are going to do things. If you aren't organized, you can easily become distracted or forget about other assignments becasue of so many other things that go on around campus. As a senior, I did not apply for as many scholarships as I should have and I was waiting for everything to come to me. I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as you can because you do not want to go through school having to worry about how much interest is accruing on your student loan and wondering how in the world are you going to pay your student loan back.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself several things. First, I would tell myself to not be afraid to be who I am. I would tell myself to pursue my passions without worrying about what anyone else thinks. Second, I would remind myself to stay focused, but to have fun also. I would encourage myself to become involved and meet to people, especially in my freshman and sophomore years while my classes were somewhat easier than those later on. Third, I would remind myself to live with purpose and to not become distracted from my goals. Finally, I would tell myself that, while grades are important, what is also important is networking and developing relationships because those skills will matter for the rest of my life.

If I could go back to my senior year, I would have committed myself to being a better all around student. Academically, I would have learned material from my classes more in depth instead of just enough to make an A or trying to get by. I would have studied for knowledge to help me transition into college easier instead of just making the grade. Although my grades were good, I don't feel I learned the material as well as I should have. Second, I would have been more involved in the different groups and associations. My involvement in different organizations in college has helped me be a well rounded student. Last, I love the game baseball, I am playing on a club team at NC State. Reliving highschool baseball, I would have had a better work ethic. I feel if I had worked harder, I would have had a better chance of playing on the varsity baseball team. In reality, I can't go back in time and relive my senior year, but I plan to be the best I can and achieve the best education to fulfill my career goal.

The one thing that I would say if I was to go back and time and talk to myself as a high school senior would be to "trust the process. " There have been so many times in my life where I have unecessarily stressed over every single detail. So often, we waste away our time worrying that we forget that life goes on and it's far better to just enjoy the ride. I have no regret for the decisions I have made or the goals I have reached, but I feel that the road to get where I am now did not require the worry and stress that I put upon it. The best part about this concept of going back in time to correct mistakes is that for me, it is somewhat of a reality. My sister is coming to college next year and I take pride in having the opportunity to be a role model for her, support her, and show her that "This is life, enjoy it because everything is going to be okay." Being there for someone else means everything to me and at the end of the day what more could I ask for.

The transition from high school to college is challenging because of the difference in actual time spent in school each day. Students may not have the same class each day and in some cases, they will have a class that only meets twice a week. As a college student you are expected to be responsible and get work completed on time. Adjustment to the proper manner in which one must study was difficult. In high school you study, but you didn't need to study for every subject. The material that is covered in college courses is much more abundant and in depth that students have no choice but to study. Make it a point to study for every class from the start and do it daily. Meeting new people can be intemidating. You will be surprised that it really isn?t hard to meet new people. Everyone in college is in the same boat and one way or another someone will start a conversation with you and you will meet people that you can relate to. Getting adjusted to the residence living lifestyle is hard to overcome. Yet, it is a great way for you to meet people.

There is no such thing as being too open minded. It is important to try new things and push yourself to talk to new people. Actively try to make friends, even if you are reluctant at first. It is often easier to meet people in the beginning of semesters because everyone is as relatively friendless as you are. Remember, you are all called Freshmen for a reason. Put in the effort to approach your neighbors in your classes and dorms. Chat with someone at the lunch table. You never know who will have the same interests as you, or who is just looking for a good friend. Think about what you would have done without friends in high school and now imagine how hard college life would be without at least a few dependable guys and girls. Sometimes friendships may not always last, but at least you gave yourself to opportunity to find someone you can have fun with. To help find others that you may be compatible with, mix up where you eat, when you work out, what you do for fun, and who you hang out with. A friend of a friend can be your friend too.

If I could go back in time and give some advice to my high school self about college life and the transition that I had to go through, I?d focus on two main things. First, I?d tell myself to relax and go into the new life open minded and ready for anything and everything. There?s nothing that I couldn?t handle as long as I take a step back, relax, keep myself organized, and be ready to work. College is tougher than high school, but it?s defiantly not something outside of my abilities to complete and succeed in. Secondly, I?d tell myself that even with all of that in mind it?s still not a walk in the park. I have to learn to study better and really pay attention in classes, because in college, it?s not so much the professors teaching me, it?s the professors giving me the resources to teach myself. Even if it seems easy at first, I can?t let my guard down. If I work hard, study hard, go to class, and I can?t fail.

Do not attend a school that is not accredited. A degree does not gaurentee a job either. Do not slack in attending school, do not put work or employment before school, and complete as much academic work as possible so that you have time to for more classes in the future to fulfill your interests.

So..it's like this, Ethan. You have been a very dedicated and conscientious student. That's good. Taking the SAT more than once was a very good idea. Learning how to study for any standardized test and knowing to take the test back-to-back months certainly helped to raise those scores, making you a better candidate for college admissions and scholarships. Enrolling in a few classes per semester at your local community college during your junior and senior years of high school was definitely the way to go. This certainly gave you a 'leg up', as you were able to transfer all the credit hours (37 to be exact), gave you a more realistic idea of what college classes and studies would be like, and definitely caught the attention of department chairs who were more than willing to advise and counsel you since your transcripts showed experience, dedication, and willingness. Researching scholarship, grant opportunities online has "paid off", literally! There are many opportunities online, and you have only touched the surface. But at least you have done that much, and the rewards have been enough to know that students should take the time to reach for every opportunity!

As a high school senior, my life was mainly consumed with homework, cross country, and being the editor-in-chief of the yearbook. Yes, they were all contributing factors of my acceptance to college, but I had help from various people throughout the span of my high school career. You could get one-on-one help from teachers from assignments, I had a coach guide me through races and track practices, and an advisor and other staff members to help complete the yearbook. After leaving for college, I was all of a sudden shocked with how independent I had really become. Most people think that as a college student, a person is independent because they don't live with their parents anymore. Through my recent experiences, I have discovered that that is not the issue. In college, a person may have a support group from friends, but for the most part, they begin doing things on their own and building towards their own future. Although the people I worked with in high school were helpful, remembering that they would not be there in college may have helped prepare for the independent lifestyle I am currently living.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to make sure to get involved in extra curricular activities and network early on. Being apart of clubs and getting to know people is crucial in college. I still have work to do on my involvement in extra curriculars, but if I had made an effort earlier in my college career I feel that I would be in a better position now. Academics always come first, but extra curricular activities are a key part of gaining a full college experience as well as preparing yourself for a career after graduating. As far as the transition from high school to college goes, I think I adjusted well. I feel that I have always had a steady head on my shoulders and I know how to prioritize and make sure I am prepared academically. Academics are important, but so is networking and that is something I wish I had paid more attention to coming into college.

Entering college, my biggest concern was the future. I didn't want to struggle financially my entire life, so my sole motivation was to get a good paying job. I started in a major that would ensure that job. If I could go back, I would tell myself to stop worrying about money and do what I love. The classes and the major aren't as important as expanding language and knowledge and wisdom in life. I tried for three years in a major I hated, beating my head against the wall every lecture, ensuring myself it would be worth it someday. I had no idea about the freedom and joy I would feel the day I decided to change majors and do what I was always good at. We have to accept the minds, the talents that we have and not try to force ourselves into someone else's ideal. The career will come. The future will come. The important thing is doing something that you enjoy so much you will shine and you will push yourself and love every minute of it.

Dear Matt, As you make this transition from high school to college, I want you to keep a few things in mind. First, you need to work on your time management skills. When you get to college you will have to keep up with various assignments, papers, exams, and labs. The professors here are not like your high school teachers, meaning that they will not remind you of these tasks on a daily basis. You must learn how to effectively budget your time to keep up with your classes and extracurricular activities. My next piece of advice to you is to get involved. Join a couple of clubs or organizations that you?re interested in. These groups will let you make connections with students that have similar interests and you never know what benefits may result from your involvement. Finally, I just want to remind you to enjoy yourself. You've landed yourself at a university with plenty to offer. Take advantage of all that is there and make every effort to appreciate every day. Good Luck, Matt

Looking back on my first semester of college, I often wish I could tell my high senior self a few things. First, though you often hear it from everyone you talk, truly try to avoid parties. In a crowd, you often feel tempted to do things you later may not be proud of or will have to face the consequences for. If you are given much, like the opportunity to attend school on a scholarship, do not take it for granted. As said in Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility." You have the responsibility not only to work for the best education possible but to represent where you come from with pride and integrity. Second, as far as scholarships go, money is not everything. Follow your heart. Choose the school where you will be the happiest, not just the one that will offer you the best deal. If you need to take a year off, don't be afraid to do it. Explore your interests. College should be the best years of your life. So don't waste them. But finally, get involved. Make friends. And, remember. Be you. Because in the end, that's who will shine through.

The advice that I would give myself would be: don't let anyone stand in your way of what you want to do. And if an opportunity arises, give it a try because you'll never be able to get the chance to feel the sense of accomplishment, or be able to experience that one exciting, precious moment. Also, the only person from stopping you is yourself; so don't hold back. Never be afraid to take risks, but make sure you know what you are doing, and what you are getting yourself into. But above all, live your life with no regrets, and pass on to the next generation my advice, because the life I've lived so far would have been easier if I knew what I know now.

Currently embarking on my second semester in college, I have learned multiple skills and acquired traits that have improved my performance. As a senior in high school, I was enrolled in multiple AP and honors courses that I believe helped me drastically in completing my first semester at North Carolina State University. Acquiring the knowledge I possess now, I would tell myself then that those course were extremely important and to preserve all those notes and handouts as a guide to starting college. I would also remind myself that conscientiously annotating my books and writing assignments in advance was not in vain. These skills help the assimilation to college life greatly easier for students as well as myself. Often, educators say that the transition to college can be difficult for most students, however, these skills greatly made my ?transition? occur smoothly.

I would tell myself to schedule for the unexpected. Keep on track, but don't overburden myself. Keep positive, go out and relaxe every now and then, and don't spend every waking moment studying. College is about expanding your life, and building your future, and it is necessary to balance liesure, work, and study together in order to maintain a balanced and sane life. Live life like it's your last day, love like your not alone, stay wealthy in family and friends, and above all never give up, because the only man who never did anything wrong, never did anything.

If I could go back to my senior year where I found myself trying to prepare for the transition for college I would definitely take time to value the words of wisdom my teachers has spoken to me at the time. Now that I know that college really pushes a high school graduate into adulthood I would advise myself to take more responsibility as an high school senior. I would also prepare advise myself as a high school senior to go to different time management, career assessment, study habits, stress manangement, and money investment workshops in hopes of being more familliar with it when the different times in college life present me with those situations. Most of all I would tell myself not to be afraid of change if it is for the bettering of myself. Last but not least, do not be afraid of getting corrected.

I wish I had taken more time to figure out what I really wanted to do or prepared better in case I changed majors, like I did. Even though I was not originally in a health care degree, I wish I would have gone ahead and taken biology or chemistry just in case. I would have also taken the time to figure out what would be financially the best for me. As it turns out, I would have saved money by living in an apartment and cooking my own food rather than living in a dorm and having a meal plan. Along with that, I would have wanted to apply for more scholarships. There are more scholarships for high school students than there are for undergraduate students. I also wish I would have started saving money earlier than I did. Even if I don't use the money I have saved for college, it is a nice chunk of money that I will be able to use when I get out of college towards somewhere to live or just getting started in the real world.

Now that I am in college, I have had a chance to look at my high school years and decisions in a different light. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself would be to stay on top of things. It is very important to always do your best in all that you do. Looking for scholarships ahead of time is a great time saver and shows responsibility, taking AP courses instead of easier courses is a great use of time and also allows you to go into college with an extra boost in regard to required courses, and planning is a must. It's very important to make and stick to a schedule as it helps relieve stress and allows you to accomplish tasks much more smoothly. Although I would do things differently if I had a second chance, things happen for a reason, and I enjoy learning from my mistakes.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would give myself some very valuable insight. I wouldn't tell myself to try really hard on my AP Bio test in May, or to make one last attempt at the SAT. After spending five short months here at college I know exactly what I would tell myself. "Be confident," this is what I would tell that worried, scared, stressed senior at Topsail High School about to leave home, leave her comfort zone, and step out to embark on the next chapter in her life. I would tell myself that instead of wasting time being worried, or uncomfortable with leaving-instead be excited and thrilled at the thought of a new chapter, a fresh start, a clean horizon. College is about growing up; it?s about making yourself and making your mark. As I have grown so much in the past few months away at college I have learned that confidence is key, I now know that I am important, valuable and I have the power to make my life into something great, whatever I want. So "be confident, be you," is what I would tell myself.

Be prepared! That is exactly what I would tell myself. Be prepared for the fact that your meals will consist of easy mac and ramen noodles. Be prepared for the independence, it becomes more daunting than the freedom you always dreamed of. Be prepared to work hard and struggle a lot. But most of all, be prepared to have the time of your life! So far, college has been the greatest experience of my life. Although there are different struggles everyday, I would not trade this life for anything. I am living my dream one day at a time and have complete control of my future. I have the opportunity to do what I love everyday, and I would do anything to hold onto it and reach my goals!

Making the transition to college life an easy and enjoyable one requires being open and inviting to new people and environment. You have to prepare yourself to not bring your entire closet from home, and get used to not spending an hour in the shower. You'll have to get used to running into someone new every day, so make sure you're friendly because they may turn out to be your lab partner or new roommate! However, the most important thing to keep in mind is what you may take for granted now, while you still live at home. First, home-cooked meals. Enough said. Secondly, do not take your quarters for granted. You will have to do your own laundry and pay for it quarter-style, and trust me, the dryers rely on multiple rounds of these coins. You'll use quarters to print term papers in the library and for snacks in between classes across campus. Also, I easily lost track of the number of meals I used per week and my campus cash. So overall, be ready to be warm, welcoming and money-conscious; the time to buy your own groceries starts now!

There are many things that I would tell myself now If I could travel back in time. I would encourage myself to enroll into more difficult classes in order to help place myself in a better position when I go of to college. I feel that I didn't challenge myself enough. I would tell myself to put my personal relationship aside, so that I could of accomplish more in school. I regret not doing so because the relationship ended and it affected my education and family life. One of the biggest difference that I would make would be by making myself become a part of the student government. For now I know that being in these organizations, they prepare you and also provide you with resources to help you suceed not only in high school, but also provide opening for you in college. Also, I would tell myself is that I should develop better relationships with all my teachers. I was intimidated by alot of my teachers, but now I know that they were only there to help me become a better person. Overall there's a list of things I would of changed, but these are most significant!

If I could go back, I would have told myself to look at the curriculum more closely. If I had, maybe I wouldn't have chosen something that was so far off from what I think I want to do with my life. I wish I had talked to more people about what college would really be like, and how hard some of the courses would be. I would explain how crucial good time management can be. I would have told myself to be more socially active and more involved with things going on around campus. If I had been able to do that I wouldn't just now be discovering how many great activities and resources there are available, now that I am only a year or more away from graduation. There is so much I feel I haven't taken advantage of. I would tell myself not to be so profligate with my money, and I would tell myself that long distance relationships are much harder than I expect, and to not let that effect my schoolwork.

I would tell myself not to pass up the opportunity to take AP and other college level courses, it would save me alot of money.

Don't you dare quit school. You better stay focus, I don't care how long it takes, but get it done. I know your grades don't look that good, but you can turn that around. You are not even putting forth a good effort. Take pride in going to school it's a blessing. One day you will thank me because you can do so much with a degree and nothing without one. Do this for yourself, it's your time USE IT WISLEY.

Believe in yourself. If you put your mind to it, anything can be accomplish. Don't settle because you feel you aren't fortunate enough like your fellow peers. They may have material things and may be financially stable but you have something they dont have...determination. Go into college witih more faith and confidence in yourself than you left high school with. That belief in yourself will subconsciously lighten the dred of all the homework and the fear of talking to new people.

Making the college transition was much easier than I thought it would be. However, there were still many challenges that I faced that I did not think I would in college. First of all, I was a straight A student in high school and I did not need to study in order to make A's on all of my assignments. Coming to college, I used the same attitude for my first semester, and it did not turn out the way I wanted. If I were to go back and talk to myself, I would definitely discuss how the challenging cirruculum of college is much more challenging than high school. I would tell myself to not give up on studying in any class, no matter how boring the material. I would also let myself know that I would be able to make friends without any difficulty and that everything would be fine once I moved into the dorm. There is no more important advice to an entering freshman than to study and work hard right from the beginning. That way, in telling myself to study from the beginning, I would not have to make up for unsatisfactory grades last semester.