Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Firstly, I would encourage my past self to apply for more scholarships. Even though I have lived in the United States for 13 years and in the state of Ohio for 12 years, I am not eligible for FAFSA because I am not a permanent resident, meaning I had to apply to colleges as an international student. Furthermore, internal scholarships that are provided by The Ohio State University are rarely bestowed to international students. Attending college for one year has put my family in debt and we find ourselves in desperate need of scholarships. I could have avoided the current frantic searching for scholarships had I applied to more last year. Additionally, I would also fortify myself mentally, and tell myself to never give up. College can be very trying and challenging at times, especially when one is taking difficult courses alongside very intelligent and disciplined students. Even though my confidence withered away at times, I persevered through it. Upon finishing my freshman year, I felt accomplished not only academically but also socially and mentally. If I had braced myself for an onslaught of work I would have been happier and more confident towards the beginning of this year.

Take high school very seriously as it will give you a major advantage once attending college. The more you accomplish in high school the more it will translate to the college world.

I would say to myself and any other high school senior to learn as much as possible about the field you want to study. College become much easier and more enjoyable the more certain you are about what it is you want to do. Make sure your finances are in order, because you dont want to add any unnecessary stress to your life. Also, be sure that once you get to college you are ready to get involved and meet people. It is a good idea to start now. Get outside your comfort zone, and begin to talk to people you dont know. When we were little kids we were always taught not to talk to strangers, now that we are adults, the opposite is true. Especially here at Ohio State is is important to be good at meeting new people and to have the ability to get involved with different activities and groups of which you have no previous aquaintances.

If I could wind back the clock of time and give myself some advice when I was back in high school I would tell myself that I need to pack a lot of pants and t-shirts! Being that Southern Adventist University requires me, or even Andrews Univeristy, requries you to wear pants during the school year. I would tell myself to work harder on scholarships and grants to help pay for college. If I could wind the clock further back in time I would tell myself that start doing scholarships back in my junior year if possible. I would also tell myself to trust God more. He is ultimately in control of my/our financies. He is creator, redeemer, my "Go'el" as the Hebrew word puts it. I would kick myself in the rear for not telling myself these things, and one last thing, I would tell myself that I should've put more work into my freshman year at high school then what I did to get a higher GPA and do better on the ACT than what I did. These are the things I would tell myself

The choices made today create the life lived tomorrow. I wish that I had gotten this advice as a high school senior. After graduating high school last May, I was utterly thrilled to embark on the city, dorm life, and the various opportunities for self-development, education, and fellowship that are presented at the university level. Simply stated, I could not wait to see what the world had to offer outside of my parents' house. After attending The Ohio State University for a year, I have been reassured that college is a great place for personal growth, education, and new friendships. However, there are a few aspects of college that I did not understand or expect prior to being a student here. Namely, I did not fully grasp that being on my own meant being responsible for every decision that I made, big or small. After being in college for a year, I have realized the importance of making morally sound and beneficial decisions in life. I know that if I want positive things and privileges in my life, I am responsible for taking every step down the road of success. Life truly is whatever you make it.

The advice I would give my high school senior self would be "don't be afraid to study anything!" When I first started college I thought that I wasn't smart enough to major in something that had a strong science core, but now I'm doing it and realize that if I put the work in I can pass any class. Since I didn't have enough confidence in myself to major in what I really wanted to, I wasted three years working on a degree I knew I wasn't happy with. I was uninterested in my classes and couldn't see working in the field the rest of my life. I would also say to my high school self, "if you don't feel like the major is right for you, change it! Don't just keep going with it so that you will graduate on time." I did this and ended up realizing that I just couldn't go through with the degree, so I wasted time and money pursuing somthing I knew I didn't want just so that I could graduate "on time."

Make the transition with a positive, open mind. These years are meant for exploration, learning and understanding. Speak up. Dont hold back. Go visit/research university of choice extensively. Don't let yourself get behind, buckle down from the beginning. Have fun! Time management and self discipline is crucial.

If I could advise myself as a high school senior, I would remind myself to be grateful. I once bore a lack of gratitude for the opportunity offered by my college education. Though I appreciated the financial assistance provided by my parents to help send me here, when I applied to college, my dreams were centered on the prestigious schools I'd once heard about. Always a high achiever, enrolling at the university most impressive was my goal. My attitude was challenged when I was accepted at the less romanticized university where I'm now a proud Buckeye. Initially disappointed in where I found myself, I struggled to find motivation to take full advantage of my education. Reading about two Sudanese refugees who recently graduated from Ohio State inspired a reality check. To them- and now to me-- Ohio State is a place where dreams can come true, with hard work and an open mind. I've since embraced my univeristy, but I lost time pitying myself for not precisely following the path I once imagined. Going back in time, I'd remind myself to be cognizant of the huge blessing that being a student here is.

The transition from high school to the first year in college is such a monumental and stressful period that, in many instances, students feel that the decisions they make will forever impact them for the entirety of their respective lives. Being diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder at the age of 9, I have had a particularly difficult time in my life keeping a clear head and simply breathing before making decisions. Now that I have become accustomed to the rigorous, fast-paced college schedule, I am now more comfortable in my day-to-day life. However, originally, I was quite stressed every day and simply did not enjoy my early experience. So, should I be able to go back in time, my advice to my senior year self would be to relax and enjoy myself while still placing a firm emphasis on academics. While I am pleased with my scholastic performance in this first year, I believe I should have allotted more time for personal enjoyment and still done well. Obsessing over school work and daily routines may have kept me organized for academics, but heeding the aforementioned advise would have helped me take more from my first college year.

That foreign exchange you did? Make you sure you use every opportunity to learn, every opportunity to make lasting friendships and connections. You'll need it and the confidence that you'll have coming in will be even greater. It's a big place, and you'll just be one face of many, but don't let that get you down. Education is important, don't be skipping classes, or thinking it's okay to put things off to another day. Work hard and you'll be able to get through easily.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would remind myself that it is in fact very beneficial for one to develop good study habits. I would also tell myself to focus less on what others think of me, and more on learning how to grow into the woman that I need to be- to not let my emotions run rampant and use my head. I would say that in order to get the most out of my education, one has to be willing to give all that one has to the educational process. I would encourage myself and let me know that I'm just as smart and competent as my friends and that I have the same chance as anyone else to accomplish great things as long as I am willing to work for them. Most of all, I would tell myself to stop worrying because God has everything under control. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " (Jeremiah 29:11)

As a senior in high school, I enlisted into military service. I saw the Navy as an opportunity to gain discipline, experience and because the economy was in a terrible state, it would also give me a job. When I enlisted, I was offered the opportunity to either enlist for four years or six years. The benefit of enlisting for the extra two years was a promotion and possibly a bonus once I completed my initial training for the Navy. At the time, I was concerned about not liking the Navy and regretting those extra two years when the first four years were completed. So I declined to sign up for six and went with the basic contract of four. If I could go back to when I decided to only sign for four years, I would tell myself to sign up for six instead. As it turned out, I made the Navy a career, retiring with over twenty-seven years in the service. It took me two years to attain the promotion I could have had just for signing up for six years. Those two extra years on my contract would have put me ahead in my Navy career.

I would tell myself to buy rain boots and a windbreaker because the weather does not care that you have to go to class, and mother nature does not always warn the weather channel that she wants rain and wind. I would tell myself to be as open as possible to everything that is coming. It will be a wild ride, but worth every minute. Embrace all the opportunities given to you in the first couple weeks of school. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there to make friends. That's part of what college is; you act like yourself and find others who appreciate you. I would warn myself that everyone who constantly reported on college being harder and more demanding than high school was right. Start studying for exams a week in advance; a professor's job is to weed out the students who don't want to put in the work. However they are not mean, your professors want you to succeed, but they are not going to baby you. I would tell myself to prepare to be responsible-- college is a test drive to see if you can handle the real world.

Go easy first semester! High school classes are worlds different from college. I took all AP in high school and attempted to take multiple honors courses my first semester in college. It's important to let yourself adjust to your new surroundings and get a feel for professor's expectations before overwhelming yourself with honors classes. Regular college classes are enough of a challenge so get used to that before moving to the next level. When a professor says you will spend twice as much time working outside of class as you do in class, they are serious. Don't mess around, you came to college for an education and that should be your priority.

I tell this to all my friends still in high school. Spend time with your parents, you never realize how much you will miss them when you head off to college. Your senior year of college is one of your last opportunities to spend consistent time with your parents. At that stage of the game you are old enough to understand them as people and become friends with them. The independence of college is incredible, but one thing that students often miss is the home life. Returning home to your family every night becomes something that many of us take for granted, and we feel the dissonance when we realize we are off at college by ourselves. I liked to take at least one night a week to sit down and have a conversation with my parents about what was going on in our lives. You will become so much closer with them and those bonds will make the college experience much less stressful, with every phone call and text you exchange.

I would say that other than the bonds you form with family and friends, learning and exploring new things is what makes life worth it. Your roomate Carly will turn out to be your best friend so be nice to her during orientation! Also, You do not want to major in political science, so don't sign up for the class. Insead, take your pre-medical prerequisites first so you might save yourself an extra year to pay for! And finally, at Ohio State everyone excepts you for who you are, don't be afriad to show your true colors and step out of your comfort zone from time to time. Wait, one more, don't forget to call mom and dad every Sunday!

There will be a long road ahead of you and you will work hard before you are able to attend college. Enjoy your journey because it all part of the process of seizing your destiny. You will grow into the person you were created to be with time.

I would advise myself to take high school classes more seriously and realize how important grades and GPA are when trying to get financial aid for college and when applying to college. I would tell myself to do more research on financial aid oppurtunities.

Be more committed to doing better in High school. Caring more about my studies and applying myself more.

The key to a successful transition from high school to college lies in the realization that you are not alone in your first year struggles. As a freshman I thought I was the only one who felt friendless, homesick, and overwhelmed by new course work demands of an unprecedentedly high caliber. Incoming first year students must fight the urge to stray to negative, self destructive thoughts, don’t ask yourself what is wrong with you, because the answer is nothing! As a sophomore, I have had countless conversations with numerous friends about their first year experiences, only to learn they also felt isolated or out of place, or academically incompetent at times. I was shocked, they had seemed so put together and at ease! Despite the outside façade peers may project, their inner feelings may tell a different story. So don’t be afraid to confide in a roommate, a classmate, a professor, or upperclassmen, the number of people who can relate, and who truly want to help would surprise you. Above all, realize that it gets easier, you're simply experiencing a temporary growing pain that will only make you stronger in the end.

If I could go back in time and be myself as a high school senior I would tell myself several things. The first thing I would tell myself would be to join some kind of club or fraternity my first quarter in college. Joining a club or fraternity would have been a great way to make friends and get to know others who knew the campus and could show me the things that took me several quarters to figure out. It would have also given me some friends who have been through their freshman year and have experienced the home sickness I experienced. Knowing some upperclassmen would have been very helpful and could have very beneficial in getting some advice about school and the way things are in college. I also would have told myself to not get so wrapped up in a bad grade. Bad grades happen in college and you can not worry about them, there are plenty of chances to make up a few missed points and receive the final grade you desire.

Relax. You'll do fine, and for God's sake, HAVE FUN!

Going to back in time to be a college senior, I would tell myself to not be so worried about the tranisition to college life or making new friends. When you go to college everyone that is with you is in the same boat - they don't know that many people, they are anxious about making friends, and they are trying to figure out the school and living independently just like I was. I would assure myself that I would get in the groove - that everything would work out fine, and that there is a balance between working hard at school and having a social life.

You will have a harder time adjusting than you think. College requires you to be more disciplined and independent than you have had to be so far. Your first quarter of college should be used to focus on making that transition and evaluating how much effort you should make for your classes versus your social life. If you don't do this your first quarter, you will have to work even harder and give up more free time in the following quarters. Be open to new ideas and never be afraid to ask questions, you will learn more that way. College will be hard at times, but you will enjoy your time there and will work hard to become a responsible and knowledgable adult. Manage your time well, join a student organization, and don't stress the small stuff. You will have a great time, even in class while you are learning new things. Don't worry about not having it figured out right away, that's what college is for - figuring things out. You will learn a lot more than what your professors teach, but that is now up to you to go find out!

It is very important to learn how to manage your time and be self-disciplined. You must learn how to study and be willing to put in time studying outside of class.

Dont be selfish but watch out for only yourself. Find more ways to finance college because as long as they are getting their money everything seems wonderful. As soon as your out of money, there is nothing to help you except your own research; Something you dont really have time for. Dont let them trick you into believing that the system works in best interest of the student because it doesnt. Stick your head in the books, and keep your GPA up. Dont get caught up in all the things you dont get to experience as a college student. Shut off your attention to most students in general so you dont realize the things your not experiencing. Its all about money. Cant live with it, cant live without it. Thats all that matters

I was a pretty shy person in high school. I had friends, and did well in school, but I kept to myself for the most part. After having experienced the transition to college life, I would tell my high school self to not waste any time, but instead just dive right in. In college, no one knows, or frankly cares, about the person you were in high school, and I would tell myself to get involved in any organization that sounds interesting, and to meet as many people as possible. Your friends in college become your family. You live, eat, have fun, and go to class with your friends and it is so much easier to stay busy and have fun when you have diverse group buddies. It also makes doing school work bearable when you at least get to work on it with people who are just as interested in the material as yourself. It would seem easy to meet a bunch of people at a school the size of Ohio State, but sometimes people are seen and never seen again due to the size. It is up to the individual to take it upon themselves to form relationships.

If I went back in time and to talk to my high school self about college and making the transition, I would say, “Ok Sheila, listen up. I have a few things you need to know before you finish high school. First off, save as much money as you can now. I was not able to find a job until the spring semester and that put me into debt. Also, start looking for a job before the fall semester. Do not sign up for large lecture classes or early morning classes. You will just drop out of the classes and you need those credits. Take the classes later in the day when possible. You are not a party girl so that is not a problem, but make sure you are doing your work and getting help in those hard classes like Math and Psychology. Take classes that you know will transfer between schools, and choose a school close to home. You are happier when you have friends and family near by. Most of all don’t give up. It is tempting, believe me I know, but stick with it. You can do it no mater how hopeless you feel.”

Connect with your advisor early to keep you on track and make sure you understand all the requirements to transfer to a 4-year. I'd also tell myself to make sure you do whatever you need to do to get your priority number low!

Starting well. Starting well is very important.Human beings can make the mistake of thinking that if they screw up anytime, there is always a method to make it up.But why, when you are given a clean sheet of blank paper, would you want to have some black pencil markings? Even if you manage to erase it, there will be some black marks there. It isn't as good as the original clean sheet of paper that was given in the first place. That's how I feel. Sometimes in college, people would say, I could've done better if I did this and not done that. Once we get out of school and find a job,the things that we screw up in school will be shown on our transcript.Our future employer will see the "black pencil marks" we left behind.How are we going to explain that? Will it even help? In college, we are no longer being monitored closely by our teachers.We are on our own, we make our own destiny.Ask for help.Don't bother about pride anymore,the most important thing is to keep yourself above the water with everyone else.

School is just a very tiny span of time in your life that will impact every aspect of your future; how you look at yourself, how others look at you and the opportunites that will be available. Don't rush to the next phase of your life without taking advantage of obtaining an education. You will never regret it.

I would tell myself not to be the least bit nervous! I know when I was a high school senior, I was terrified of the big world that was before me and I couldn't imagine everything changing. I would've definitely told myself that not everything was going to change, but what was going to change was for the better. I would also tell myself not to be sad that a stage in my life was over, because this next stage is even better than the last - even if that didn't seem possible!

Connie, Just a word of wisdom - you'll learn many important things about life out of the classroom while at college. Keep your eyes open for every opportunity to learn. When you take a class in college that gives you a grade just for reading the text, do it. Your GPA depends on it. When you have the opportunity to join a study group, take a look at the people involved before deciding to join. It could end up wasting your valuable time. Oh, and midnight is probably not the best time to start doing your homework each night. You'll end up sick from a lack of sleep and proper eating. Don't be so hesitant to give your heart to someone. And last of all, cherish the friendships you make. They will be your dearest friends the rest of your life.

Study more

As a high school senior, I was already sure of what i wanted to do in life. It was to start off at the Community College of Rhode Island to complete my general education courses for the first 2 years of college. I am currently finishing my last semeseter at CCRI now, and will be transfering to Bryant University in the fall to get my bachelors degree. Then I will be persuing my career as an accountant, which has been my plan since high school. If I could go back to my senior year, there would not be much that I would change, because I am right on pace for the goals that i set myself back then. However, if I could go back to my underclassmen years of highschool I would focus more on my grades so that I could of been offered larger merrit scholarships from the schools that I applied to. Even though i have learned a lot at college, oher than working a little harder in my younger years, I would not have much advice to give to myself as a high school senior.

If I could go back and give myself one bit of advice, it would be this. Be more inquisitive and absorb all of the information that you possibly can, inside the classroom and out. Even in those situations where you ask yourself "When am I going to use this?", there is a chance that the information you are currently shunning is going to resurface in college. Your appreciation for learning will skyrocket in the next year, and you do not want to be at a loss for any information that was freely offered to you in the past. You are going to grow a lot in the near future in many ways. You will have many new experiences, both good and bad, but they will eventually change your physical, mental, and emotional self for the better. Don't resist them; they make you the person that you are. And finally, construct a better mindset regarding your education. If your focus lies in getting good grades, education won't be anything other than a means of earning a gpa. If you fall in love with learning, however, the grades and academic opportunities will follow.

Start school immediatly dont wait til you are 31! You will still be able to enjoy your life even more so after getting school out of the way first. Your job maybe paying the bills now but it will not be when the resesion hits. Go to school stick with it you are smarter than you think. And dont marry Shelby we will get you pregnat and leave you.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself what classes were difficult and how much time I would have to spend in each class. I would also tell myself that I am eligible for financial aid when I thought i was not. I might also tell myself that I need to listen to my parents because they know best and I should never go against what they say. I would tell myself who the good apples in school were and who the bad apples were that would try nothing but to mess me up and get me in trouble so I can stay away from them folks.

This too shall pass. Keep this in mind as you finish up your last year, and realize that just because things are kinda off now doesn't mean they are always going to be this way. I know you're confused, and you don't know what to do with yourself just yet. The world hasn't been very kind thus far, but you shouldn't think everyone will be out to harm you. Once you actually step past that threshold of fear and venture into the world of college life, it's not so bad. There will be others that will nurture your education, who want to help you succeed no matter what avenue you choose to pursue. You are intelligent, and college would be the perfect base to leap forward and expand your mind in ways you never could have imagined previously. Remember: everything may seem off to you, but that doesn't mean that it will always be this way. Love yourself.

If I where to go back in time I would first tell myself to apply for more scholarships, college is expensive and the more financial aid the better you feel about your everyday worries. If you have money in your bank you can focus on school work rather than focusing on were am I going to get enough money to pay my tuition. I would apply for more schools in state and out of state to give myself more options. I would look for a school with strong academics and an active campus. I would look for a college with amazing teachers and tutors to help me succeed along with countless other resources to help with any problems I would face. I would try to research on and off campus living. I would make sure I had a home to study without worring about loud music or random parties. Most of all i would tell myself not to worry so much, to keep and open mind and explore all the wonders that college life has to offer. We only have a little time to be young adults until we have to find a career. Have fun and enjoy life.

College is a zone of distractions which need to be balanced with priorities as the next four years or more are the most crucial in a person’s life. College shapes our aspirations, motives and principles, and ultimately, builds our future personalities. Hence, I would recommend myself to manage time efficiently so that there is a strong balance between time, academics and fun together. I, myself, have two jobs at present and find sufficient time to manage academics, work and fun which I believe is possible for any student. Furthermore, clubs and student organizations are resume boosters and students need to actively participate in them to realize their true caliber. An essential requisite in college is networking and there is no easier route to achieving it than joining clubs or organizations. To conclude, the final advice a college student needs is to make right choices – be it deciding friendships or relationships, jobs or classes, joining clubs or fraternities, each and every choice has to decided through a careful thought process.

Colt, on your way to college, you should know a few things. First, take full advantage of every opportunity presented. OSU offers so much in the way of advise and aid (financial, medical, social, etc.) that you would be a fool not to use them from the beginning. Do not neglect these advantages in your first years on campus and thus suffer the loss of what could have been great head starts in the world. Of course, you can work hard to make up for that lost time, but making up is never the same as starting out on the right track. Take classes that challenge you, even GECs. You can learn about things that may not help you earn more money in the future but will enrich your life anyway by the simple fact that you know them and are more cultured, more worldly and complete for doing so. These classes may take you outside your comfort zone, but the world will do this continuously and you must learn to adapt and thrive, to be ready for any situation. Throw yourself into your studies and your social life; you won't get another chance.

There are many things that I wish I could go back in time to tell myself before coming to Ohio State but there are a few that stand out. I would tell myself to know every detail within the syllabus. The syllabus outlines the materials that will be covered; it includes due dates for homework assignments and the dates of quizzes and exams. This is the most valuable document that you will receive in class. If you do not know what makes up the syllabus then you may be at risk of missing assignments. Once you are behind it can be very difficult to catch up and you may feel overwhelmed and won’t be very well prepared for the exams. In addition, I would tell myself to join new clubs and engage in different activities. There are hundreds of clubs at this school and by joining them you can meet new people. My freshman year went by really fast and I wish I would have networked more. I can only imagine that these next three years will go by even faster so I would tell you to go out and meet new people by joining a club or two.

Keep taking math courses every semester, even after finishing what is required for your degree. You never know when you'll need it, or if you will decide to go for a higher degree that requires more math. And the longer you wait the harder the math classes get. Overall college is going to be great. Keep up the programming and learn as much as you can in all of your classes, don't just attend them for the grade. Always do your best on every homework assignment nomatter how trivial it may seem. Pretend an employer has hired you to do that task, and you don't want to do a sloppy job. Try to overachieve on each project and you won't have to worry about having not done enough. Finally, try to turn everything in ontime. I know you have a habbit of turning things in late, but in college that can cause you to get bad grades on good projects. Once a project is assigned, start working on it. Don't wait until the last minute. Getting things done early will avoid stress, allow you to do a better job, and get it in on time.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior I would tell Lindsey to get more involved. I would tell her that going to such a big school can make you feel lonely. I should’ve worked harder to make close friends. As a senior I thought I’d have no problem making friends. And I do have friends. But I don’t have any close friends to go to when I need to cry or just need a hug. I would tell her that getting involved will also help keep her busy because college is less active than high school was. I don’t have ballet and church and band to fill my time. I would tell her to relax, that she can handle these classes. I would tell her to make sure to keep her schedule straight and stay ahead of deadlines. I would tell her she can do this, she will do well and be happy, but just to get more involved so she can have friends to lean on and not have to depend on just family so much because they can’t be here to hug her all the time.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school self what I know now. I would hope to save myself a lot of pain and suffering and tell myself to wise up and pay attention in class and stay in school not to drop out and get my GED. I would hope my old self could turn her life around and get better grades.

I would advise myself to be more proactive, as some aspects of college life are unexpected. I wish I had sought more knowledge on systems such as campus finances so that I would have been prepared to handle my tuition payment properly. Additionally, I wish my school had offered more AP classes. They would have helped fulfill some prerequisites and enabled me to take higher classes. I should have taken all that were offered, even though some did not interest me. College is a large step, and a new section of one's life. Some aspects of one's old life need to be left behind or changed. This sounds intimidating, but it is often for the better. I would advise myself to be more receptive to the change, and to embrace the natural progression of my life. College is an amazing experience to which one should fully apply him- or herself.

Work hard, take as many AP credits as possible because they will count towards your GEC requirements and hour requirements for graduation. Don't stress too much, everyone else freshman yes is new too! So it's not hard to make friends. The first couple weeks are the most important right when you move in, try to meet as many people as possible and keep up those friendships. Get involved on campus! It will help you meet people and also help you develop as a person significantly.

I would tell myself to try and do a better job in Highschool. Find as many scholarships as I can and fill them out. I would tell myself to study more and work harder on my schooling. I would tell myself to fill out more college applications to different colleges. I would also tell myself there is a lot more out there in life than just this small town I'm living in and I should take my college experience and experience what college life and the world has to offer me.

If I could give my high school self advice, I would first say to put quality time and effort into all admission and scholarship applications. I would advise her to put her best foot forward, but instead of selling what she thinks they want to buy, being her self. I would tell her to open up, not only in these applications, but to the other incoming students as well, as the transition comes much easier once friendships are established. I would tell her not to worry about current friendships, especially if going away to school. High school friendships and relationships will either fade, or continue to remain strong. Either way, they will resolve naturally. I would convince my past self to reach out and meet people, not only school affiliated, but of the community as well. Networking is very important! I might suggest that she practice learning people's names, but would assure her that, with so many people, a name mix up is understandable. Most importantly, I would tell her to make decisions on her own accord. I would tell her to listen to the words of her loved ones, but more closely to her heart.