Pepperdine University Top Questions

Spend more time with your frieds. You spent too much time hiding in your room. Make friends, go on adventures, have fun, make memories. Yes spend time on your studies, but make the time for friends. So many of the people I know are going abroad next year. Spend time with them while you still have the chance. Explore LA, fall in love, go to the beach. Do everything you can to build your friendships so that they last. Because you are surrounded by some of the best peope in the world. Don't ever let them go without telling them that.

I would tell myself that everything will be just fine. The transition into a new area from a predominantly African American community was difficult but it is something that can definitely be overcome. There are so many ways for you to get involved on campus and you should take advantage of every open door that you get, no matter how uncomfortable you may be. Times will be rough for you mentally and emotionally but do not give up and do not let anyone else make you feel like you are any less than awesome. Do not forget that you will be in California, a place that you have always wanted to be and a place that no one in your entire family has gone. Enjoy every second of it, even if you are hurting more than you are feeling the pleasure of it. Smile whenever, laugh harder, and know that you are a brilliant young man. Most importantly, no matter what, do not forget that right now is not forever.

College IS better, but it will come with its own set of flaws. Learn this about yourself right now: Sometimes the problem is not the circumstance you are in, but YOU. Not everything is perfect or can be perfect, but look at the benefits.

College is exactly what you make it to be. The basis of college life is that you are surrounded by mountains of potential, and it is your choice and your choice alone which one you will climb. College life seeks to present you with every opportunity that it can, from classes and free lectures to job opportunities and social events. There is so much more to college than just education, though that is still important. The memories you create, decisions you make, people you meet, and paths you take are all building blocks that make you the individual you are. With this in mind, don't go to college expecting growth and success to come to you; you must choose among the many opportunites around you and go chase after your goals and desires. Work hard forand enjoy the things that matter to you, and try to realize that everything matters. Everything, from the essays you write and the firends you make to the plays you attend and the books you read matter. Whatever you do, don't waste the potential that college holds for you. Do the work. Have an adventure. Truly live the college life.

I would tell myself to always live in the moment. I know that sounds cheesy but as I've been in college and gotten older I've learner to take every opportunity that is thrown at me and I wish I would've done that in high school. I would tell myself that family is so important but having friends is also very important. I would tell myself to take more AP classes and take the AP exam seriously because it helps out so much with credits in college! I would also tell myself to not think of what others think, to do what your heart wants and it doesn't matter if people judge you! People will be judging you your whole life.

The advice I would give to myself would be to get involved in more activities on campus. I held off on joining many activities my first semester because I did not want to overload myself. However, I missed out on many amazing opportunities, and missed out on meeting some wonderful people.

It will get better. That's something you always hear when people are going through a rough time. You've heard it and said it a bunch of times. But how much do you believe it? When you go to college, things really will get better. How? Because in college, your reputation matters to only you. In high school, you worried so much about what people thought of you. So much that you were paralyzed into being someone you weren't fully comfortable being. So much that you weren't able to do things you wanted to do. So much that you ended up with a bunch of emotional baggage in college. It's gonna be a tough wall to break but when you do, you realize you are bound by nothing in your goals. And you make new goals because you discover things about yourself that you didn't let yourself in high school. No one can stop you from finding yourself and setting, pursuing, and achieving your goals: that's the mentality you want to have in college. Why? Because college is a new start. It's the start of your new life. And it will be better.

I would tell myself to sleep, to focus more on homework, and to enjoy being young without financial responsiblity or real-world stressors. I would tell myself to keep dreaming, because dreams really are attainable! Never in high school would I have imagine I would've accomplished all that I ralready have as a sophomore in college. Lastly, I would tell myself not to sweat the little things, because life is intentional and wonderful and worthy of living!!

Love to Learn, learn to be thankful, be thankful to live, live to love: if I could go back, this is what I would tell my high school self. It's silly to say but my self-worth as a student was dependent on a 4.0 scale. I lacked the fervent desire to learn simply for the sake of learning. The ability to love learning triumphs any number or letter grade. After I left my hometown and experienced life in a different setting, I realized all which I had missed and had forgotten to appreciate. Step back, open your mind, look outside yourself and learn to be thankful. Life is a difficult, extroardinary, precious and brief gift; go, do, and see but treat it as such! Loss taught me to embrace all facets of life. The term "agape" is a Greek term which describes love in the most selfless way possible. Living life in such a way where agape, this type of love, is expressed will enhance one's life in the fullest form. Learn, be thankful, live, love.

In my opinion the majority of people on this planet aren't really living, they are merely existing. Living entails much more than settling in to mundane familiarity; it means spending your years as a curious student of this planet, seeking to know and experience everything it has to offer. This is what the transition to college has taught me, and this is what I wish I had known as a high school senior. There is so much more to life than stressing about social status, GPA's, and acceptance letters. Invest in relatiobships, be curious, and don't let the pressures of school keep you from seeking the things that you are passionate about.

Do not stress as much. Even though college is a transition and the classes are a lot different than high school, if you prepare yourself in high school properly then you will have nothing to worry about in college except making sure that you get to class on time.

Be bold. Don't worry about how others perceive you. I wish that I had acted like myself from the beginning and boldly stood up for who I was.

Relax, and don't worry so much about making the decision. One ends up where one is meant to be and there will always be pros and cons there. There is no "perfect" school so one must just realize what is most important to them and look for those things, while recognizing it won't be perfect. Also, do not idealize college life. Whatever problems you have now, college is not likely to make them disappear and make your life perfect. There are new exciting things and life experiences to look forward to, but also hard things. But these hard things can be just as exciting and offer many opportunities, so there is no reason to despair about struggles. Most importantly, enjoy where you are at now, because is the happiest place you can be.

Colleges like exta-curriculars. They like to know that they are getting a student who will get involved at their University. They like to see that you don't spend all your time by yourself, in your room, playing video games. So get involved during your senior year. It's your last year there. Try out for the play. Join the knitting club. Let the colleges know that you like to get involved. You'll have a lot of fun doing it too. Universities also like to see you finish your senior year strong. They are able to take away a scholarship or admission if they see that you have been slacking off. It happens every year. So get involved and finish strong. You'll thank yourself later.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself about college, I would advise myself to focus on enjoying every minute even when it gets tough. I would tell myself that it is going to be very difficult academically and explain to myself that I need to be mentally prepared to work hard. But my biggest piece of advice would be to eradicate all of the expectations I have going into the next chapter of my life and savor each moment I experience.

Pick a school which fits your needs best, not which fits the needs of those around you currently. Tour a school and see what it feels like to sit in the cafeteria; do the students seem nice, or are they too anxious to notice their surroundings? Pick a school based on the people who go there and work there, not what the people you know now think of them. The people you are currently surrounded by will soon be merely people you once knew, and the people you see on these campuses: laughing, playing, studying, eating, will be there group to which you belong. Find the school where you best belong, and apply to show them that you do belong there. The finances will work out later.

I am the oldest of three siblings and as I watch my younger siblings prepare to enter college I often reflect on my own personal journey and consider what I would have changed if I knew then what I know now. Now, as I enter my fourth and final year as a student, I realize that the most important bit of advice I could share with my younger self would be to "take the leap". There are countless opportunities that I have missed due to fear; fear that I would fail, fear that I would embarrass myself, or fear that I wasn't good enough. My college experience could have been even better had I just taken that leap of faith and pushed myself through the fear. I would tell myself that every face I see is a potential friend, every event I attend is an opportunity to make lasting memories, and every fear I face is a chance to grow; but that these opportunities only come to those who take that leap. Failing is a part of life, but if you never take that leap you will never know how much more beautiful life can be.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to enjoy senior year more. When I look back, I realize how stressed I was about college and the future, that I did not allow myself to sit back and enjoy the perks of being the oldest in school. I believe I was prepared for the transition, and there is not much I would change about the preparation for that. Compared to most, I think that I handled the transition into college life pretty well. Throughout my life, I have always been independent, and that really helped in moving across the country to attend school. Looking back, I am glad my parents and teachers pushed me as hard as they did, because it has made the huge life change of college a whole lot easier.

I would advise my high school self to relax, take a deep breath, and trust. Trust in my abilities, what I've learned from my experiences, and in the people who are here to help me to succeed. Take each challenge bird by bird. Don't scrutinize over every word in the textbook; bubble out bigger encompassing concepts so you can retain them. Follow your natural learning curve. Processing every word of information robotically from the material you are given isn't going to give you the A. Stop stressing and take it one thing at a time.

If I could give my senior self one bit of advice, I would give this simple analogy: Your life is a film. It starts with a bang and from there it has the potential of a pleathora of endless possibilities. But, only if you let it. And, the only thing that ruins that film's future of greatness is fear. As far as I'm concerned, college is where your life really starts; it's the beginning of your Oscar nominated film. College is one of the most stressful yet thrilling experiences you'll ever have; one, you will only get to live once. Sure, the transition is going to be daunting. You'll miss home. You'll want to give up. And there may be everything to fear, but you can't let fear stand in the way. Because if you let fear get the best of you, fear wins. College is only the beginning of your future of infinite potential. So, make your beginning memorable because that Oscar is waiting for you. Be that box office hit. Be the leading lady of your own life. You can succeed. You will succeed. You only need to be brave.

The groundbreaking truth is that not everyone falls madly in love with college the first year. Don't expect to make twenty lifelong friends your freshman year, even if you try to set up lunch and dinner with people and ask them to do things. It doesn't always click immediately. The work is hard. Yes, even general education classes can be demanding. Adjusting to classes being only once or twice per week instead of every day is a challenge for time management. Don't give up, and don't get down on yourself. You're not stupid. You're not incapable. You are at this school for a reason, and that is to impact it for the better. Although your social life may not fall into rhythm the first year, believe that it will get better. Don't even come close to letting disappointment affect your attitude. It will get better and more exciting. You will have opportunities that others only wish they had. You can be confident even when you make mistakes or barely pull through a tough class. You should be. In the end, who else can force you to be believe in your abilities except you?

Dear high school senior self, When you attend school do not be afraid to be yourself, if people do not accept you as you are they are not worth your friendship anyways. Don't fret over the small things, everyone messes up, don't beat yourself up over your failures, instead learn from your mistakes. Don't forget to give back to the community and serve others. However, don't overload yourself with clubs, work, social, and academic life, balance is the key to having a successful freshman year of college. Pick a few clubs you are passionate about and stick with them. It is going to be difficult to keep up relationships at home, but do not forget about your family. If you struggle with adjusting at the beginning, that is normal, talk with a friend about it, chances are they are struggling as well. Strive towards excellence in all that you do and stop expecting yourself to conquer the impossible. Work hard but also let yourself have fun. Strive towards developing deep friendships, not superficial ones. Get excited yet be prepared you are about to enter the most life changing, difficult, fun, and rewarding years of your life.

Take all the oppurtunities to gain wisdom because wisdom is not easily attained or forgotten. Go abroad and experience the world. Get out of your comfort zone and do something that makes you uncomfortable. Meet new people. Do not be afraid to talk to your professor for help. Also do not sign up for an 8:00 AM class. You WILL regret it.

I will tell myself to relax a little bit because the future is bright as you make it, therefore college life is how much you will make it from grades to having fun. Furthermore I will advice myself that it is not all fun as the movies portray it, it has dark moments of depression or loneliness, but perseverance and been positive helps. Another advice I will give is learn how to manage money well because the first year, you will spend a lot of money and knowing when to "Say No I Do Not Need This" is very essential to transitioning into college.

I take a hard stumble to the ground as I am thrown out of the time machine vortex. I stand up and see a slightly younger and more gangly version of myself from a few months ago confrencing with a teacher about what appears to be on of my many college essay's. I follow my younger self around for the rest of the afternoon, actually seeing how I would rush to get home, shovel down a snack, and set up shop at the computer to get homework done and work on more college essays. My younger life continued like this for a couple of days, when my current self finally made a realiziaiton. After having spent most of my senior year working on homework, studying, and writing essays to get into a college that is supposed to set me up for the rest of my life, I better make sure that I slow down and live in the moment.

It is extremely important to know what kind of person you want to be before entering college. This doesn't mean what you want your major to be or what you want to do when you grow up, it means what you want to define you as a person. As a freshman, everything is so new and exciting and it is easy to get tossed around by the crowd. Keep in mind that initially all your emotions are going to be hightened and while the guy/ girl you meet the first day of school might be the person you end up with, chances are they wont be. Be yourself and right people will come to you; fitting in isn't important anymore. Get involved in the things that interest you, but don't drown yourself in extracurriculars. It's going to be an adjustment living with a roomate for the first time, but take time to understand where they come from and that will really help your relationship with them. Ultimately, if you go into college with direction, the experiences you have and the people you meet will make you stronger rather than drag you down.

Be proactive with your dreams. Be financially responsible. Don't waste time on pointless social activities (frat parties).

Don't be so stuck in an idea of who you are and what you want to be that you don't allow yourself to look at other options. Deciding on a major coming out of high school you don't necessarily know exactly what you want to be when you "grow up". The first year of college is so much about self discovery and learning about who you are what you want to become. I changed my major and it was one of the hardest thing I ever had to come to terms with. I had an idea coming into college of what I wanted to do with my life and then during my first few months of college realized that it wasn't what I wanted to be doing. Don't put blinders on when it comes to deciding what you want to do in and after college. Do what you love because ulitimatley that is what you are going to be good at.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. It sounds cliche but the statement couldn't be more true. When you go to college you won't have all the friends you grew up with, you won't have your parents by your side, you won't know the community you now live in; nothing will be familiar. When you mix uncertainty with fear our natural tendency is to want control (or at least the illusion of it). You'll try to go in to college and have everything figured out -- what your major is, your eventual career choice, who you are as a person and what you truly believe in. Here's the thing, college is ABOUT making mistakes. It's a time of questioning and testing the waters to find something you're truly passionate about not only academically but spiritually. The possiblity of making a mistake is daunting but it's the only way you're going to grow. If it turns out you are right, rejoice! And if you were wrong, learn from it. Life will pass you by if you are too worried about being perfect. So take that leap and enjoy the ride.

Leadership skills, community service, and a "stand out" are three important things that will help get you to a good college where you can excell as a person and student. Leadership skills are something that all colleges and employers like to see in a young student. Anything that you can do, say or organize that shows leadership will really help you in the long run. Colleges want students that will come onto their campus and help make a difference. These kinds of people are those who have intentionally tried to step up and do something for a particular cause. Community service is also something that many colleges like to see in a student. Anything that you can consistenly do throughout your high school years in order to benefit those around you in your community will really help you to stand out to colleges among your peers. Also, anything that you can do to "stand out" on your application will really help you when applying to colleges. Something that shows consistent involvement and commitment to something other than academics, along with stellar grades and academic achievement will really help you.

Do not define your success here at college by the achieving a certain GPA or earning a position in a certain fraternity. Instead, at the end of the school year, I want you to look back and ask yourself, "Am I happier with who I am and more importantly, am I on the path to becoming than who I was when I first walked onto this campus?" This will give you the answer of whether or not your time has been successful. It is time to mature and truly realize that a new chapter is opening in your life. A chapter that will contain highs and lows, both of which should be looked at as learning expereinces that will mold you into an adult. Once begin to invest yourself in the people and community of Pepperdine you will truly begin to love where you are at. This does not mean that you must let go of any individuals who you deeply care about back at home. Rather this will test and strengthen your relationships while you are defining who your very self is. Live in the moment, and let yourself become a part of Pepperdine. Your experience will be transformational.

Be open. It's okay to have expectations and standards but the world is a lot bigger than you realize. You've only seen such a small portion of it and college will expand your views tremendously. Be open to meet new people, try new activities, join the greek life, go abroad, and travel the world. It might be scary at first, but it will be so rewarding. The people you will meet, the places you will see, and the lessons who will learn will be invaluable and will change you for the better. So don't be afraid, put yourself out there, appreciate everyone that helped you along the way and I promise your future will bring you so much more than you could have ever imagined.

If I could go back in time, I would give myself great advice about what to really expect out of college life. First, do not go to college with a boyfriend back home! It will seem like a good idea because you love him, but it only puts pressure on your relationship and you will grow farther apart because you will be lonely and miss him. Secondly, do not be so afraid. Go out and meet tons of people; they are all really nice! Yes, in high school you were shy and had a set role of what other people expected from you. But now you can express and become the person you have always been afraid to be. Last, and the most important advice I could possibly give you Jalessa, is to tell your family how much they mean to you. Enjoy that last trip with them as they were taking you from Arkansas to California because even though they were goofy and crazy and so embarrassing at times, you loved that trip with them. You cried for a whole day when they left...just remember to call every now and then just to say you love them.

No matter what school you choose, you will face many challenges. You’ll learn to adjust to having a roommate and sharing a room, and sometimes sharing your food whether you want to or not. You’ll have to learn to tolerate your roommates, despite having nothing in common with them, and to do your dishes and keep your side of the room clean so you don’t receive any angry text messages. You’ll also have roommates that keep you up laughing till three in the morning, and weekends filled with memories you’ll look back on and smile to yourself. You’ll have that special roommate who just gets who you are…the one that will become your forever friend. Academically, you may feel overwhelmed at times, but work hard and give yourself a break every now and then. Sometimes you may wonder if you’re good enough to be there, or if maybe the school made a mistake accepting your application, but that first A you receive in college will be the best feeling of accomplishment. NEVER give up on your dreams. You can do it, I promise!

You simply cannot do it all, no matter how badly you want to or how hard you try. If I were able to go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, reminding myself about the dangers of broad overcommitment would be my number one concern. Throughout my first two years at Pepperdine, I have tried to be involved in everything: varsity sports, sorority leadership roles, intramurals, the Sports Business Association, working jobs off-campus, and maintaining a serious romantic relationship. However, I began to allow my health and happiness to deteriorate simultaneously and noticed that "having it all" was not nearly as satisfying as it had initially sounded. In order to be a successful college student, it is necessary to, yes have broad experiences, but not all at once. You must quickly zoom in on what is providing joy and fulfillment and what is just superfluous fluff so as to spend the majority of your moments building the best four years for YOU.

As a high school senior, I thought I knew about everything that the world could possibly offer me. I am sure my thoughts were just like every other senior who couldn't wait to get out of high school and into the college atmosphere. But after making the transition into college, I have inherited a curiousity to try new things and truly make each day count. Therefore, I would advise my high school self to always be open-minded and willing to be influenced and have an influence on others. After a year in college, I realize the world has so much more to offer if you just are willing to try something new. College life is a huge tranisition and a time of independence. As an individual you will change constantly throughout your college years and that is all apart of growing up. But remember that you will influence others with your words and actions while others will undoubtedly influence your own interests, personality and actions as well. Hopefully, these influences will be for the better of society and the world that we live in today. Remember high school senior self, try new things and make your life count.

Grace, Make sure to meet as many people as you possibly can. This is the time to meet different people from all over the world and all walks of life. You need to put yourself out there and reach out to people. Don't wait for people to approach you. Also, you need to get comfortable hanging out with yourself and eating alone. Explore your campus, eat delicious and exotic food, see cool things, try something new, and meet different people. Don't be afraid to fail and make mistakes. You need to take advantage of having the excuse of "learning experince." Most importantly, have fun!

I would tell myself to calm down and stop thinking about everyone else. It's scary the first few days and even weeks that you are there, and it is going to be no matter what , even if only a little. Do not worry about what other people are doing or what they are thinking. Do what is best for you. Go to most if not all the social events because that is where you will meet people and make new friends. Be yourself, do not worry about if people will think you are weird. You will find people similar to you and people who like you just for who you are, whether you are weird or not. Put yourself out there! Do not sit in your room all the time. Go be bold. Sit in the cafeteria by yourself and wait to see who comes to sit with you. Go to sporting events by yourself and make conversation with the people around you. Take time for yourself. Your friends are going to need someone to talk to, but you do too so find someone you can confide in. Stay focused on school, no matter how hard it is.

I would tell myself three things. First, not everyone meets their future spouse in college. Actually it's not nearly as common as we think it is. I would tell myself to not go boy crazy because in reality, being single is sometimes the best. Learn to be content. Second, I would tell myself that I'm not too cool to join a sorority. I went into college thinking I didn't want to rush because school was more important. I still believe that to be true, but being a part of a sisterhood has changed everything. I am always busy planning fun activities, I have found my best friends and I've even done better in school because of the academic resources I've gained from new upperclassmen friends. Finally, I would advise myself to take advantage of every opportunity. College flies by and it is the most fun you will have in your life. Never say, "no" to a trip to the beach, to trying exotic foods, doing an extra credit assignment or studying abroad. College is an amazing time to find yourself so be open to trying new things, meeting new people and just saying, "yes."

Dear High School Me, I know that you must be very stressed right now because of the rapidly approaching deadline to decide on a college. I suppose you feel quite down because you are comparing yourself to the other students with their acceptances into top UC schools or ivy league universities. I know that you very badly wanted to go to UCLA but I want to let you know now that a college is really worth so much more than its name. Coming from our high school, I know you believe that these18 years will come down to the moment when you get to attend a high ranking universtiy and make your parents proud but in reality, you need to pick a school that will make you happy and let you grow. That being said, choosing Pepperdine is one of the best decisions I (or we) ever made. I now know what its like to be in an environment with such supportive professors and friends that truly care for you. In the end, new experiences and making connections will help you grow more than obsessing over grades, so keep an open mind, embrace the unknown, and have faith. Love, Clara

Making friends might seem hard but keep reaching out to people and attending events. Relationships will develop but they take time. Cliques form very quickly so be sure you hang out with people you genuinely like and do not be defined by just one group. Just because groups seem rigid doesn't mean you cannot be a part of several have friends in many different places.

Don't choose a school because you feel pressured to or because someone else wants you too. You need to choose a school because it is the school that you want to attend and that you feel passionate about. If you go for someone else's benefit, it hurts you in the long run because they are not the one attending college 8 months of the year. You may have made them happy briefly, but you haven't been fair or true to yourself. If you think you will be a better fit at another school, chance are that thought is correct. So never let the opinions of others influence you. Don't just go somewhere because of the reputation, or the location, or the esteemed academics. Allow yourself to choose the school that you best see yourself at, and that you see yourself being the happiest at. This may not be the best academic school, or the most fun school, but it will be the school that you will be proud to call your own.

I would say, "hey buddy, good job." Throughout high school, I ran with the crowd that you would normally find partying and playing sports. I even managed to have some complications with the law enforcement of my town, that was typical for most of my peers in my high school and the other high school on the other side of my town. While doing this, however, I was able to maintain my 4.0 GPA, attended national comeptitive swim meets, joined in clubs as well as other sports, while still have all the fun a high schooler would hope to have. That being said, I am ever so grateful for my wildness because it pushed me to attend a tame school, like Pepperdine, that had a strict dry campus policy and was known for its enforcement of such policies. This was very different than most schools in the greater part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (where I am from). I found that as I grew tired of binge drinking, that most of my peers, who came from stricter environments than me, were just getting started on their wild phase at a time, , where academic competition thrived and only gets stronger and stronger...

Don't worry about anything and just trust that the right situation will come up allowing you to go where you are meant to go.

Starting college is the biggest period of change that we experience in our young adult lives, and I have learned so much about myself and my life in the short 7 months that I've been here. Knowing what I know now, and observing how other people have dealt with the change, my biggest advice on making the transition would be this: College is a time for starting over, to be sure, but you don't have to reboot yourself and abandon everything that makes you you to thrive in college. I struggled with identity issues my first semester because I was so concerned with what others thought about me. I tried to build up a persona that I thought would fit 'the college life'. Life is all about personal relationships. I've come to realize that there are lots of people out there, and the ones whose opinions I actually care about are the people who will like me for who I really am. Your surroundings change day in and day out, but you have to deal with yourself for the rest of your life, so invest in who you are and who you want to be.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd tell myself, "Keep your head up. Mom and dad won't end up back together, but it's for the best, I promise you. Let go of dead weight, the person you think you love is dragging you down and will only continue to do so. It's okay to be angry, it's okay to be upset. No one can hurt you anymore. You are strong, you are giving, you are timeless, you are YOU. Don't let yourself fall through the cracks, don't give up on school. That senior research paper? It'll turn out just fine. As a matter of fact, you're going to do the best in your class. Baby, don't cry. Wipe your tears and stand up. You have every right to feel the way you're feeling. Don't give up now, you're so close. You're going to figure out who you are, and you'll love her. You're going to make it through this. You're alive and you're successful, and you're now happy. So, So happy."

I would tell myself how important it is to find balance in life as early as possible. I would also tell myself not to put too much on my plate, especially early on, and to not be afraid to say no or stand up for what I need/want. Learn how to be comfortable outside your comfort zone, and enjoy the adventure. I would also say not to worry so much about all the change, and that's what meant to be will be. I would also remind myself that all the change that seems so scary isn't easy, but for every difficult part there are just as many hidden blessings. Things have a funny way of working out, as long as you remember to keep your chin up and your feet moving forward.

Do not let what you did in highschool define who you are. Your potential is so much more than a high school student body president or yearbook editor in chief. Those achievements are just titles, instead take those experiences and find what aspects you enjoyed to figure out how each activity has shaped your personality. Go into college with expectations, but don't expect for things to always go as planned. College tests are a lot different from high school tests. One simply asks you to reiterate facts while the other involves more critical thinking - I'll let you figure out which is which. Most importantly do not fall in love in the summer of your senior year. Also bring a sponge, you don't know how handy that comes.

Time traveling, everyone's unattainable desire. "If only I could go back and tell myself what I know now", this phrase has somehow found itself to be a staple of our society. However if we were truly able to go back and give ourselves advice, would we even take it? It's human nature to believe that we won't make the mistake people are advising us against, yet nonetheless we would all take that slim chance and attempt to talk to our previous self. If I could speak to myself as a High School senior I would simply tell myself that time management is the key to everything. Too many incoming college students believe they can do it all: have a social life, receive the straight A's they easily received in High School, join greek life, sleep...the list goes on. The reality is that we can't. We have to prioritize what truly matters; without priorities, the college education that you have longed for, and the efforts of your family can quickly dissapear. Even if my High School self ignores this tidbit of advice, i'd offer it regardless a thousand times.

Wisdom comes with experience. If I could write a letter to my high school senior self, I would tell advocate one phrase when adjusting to college..."work hard- give every job, even the most menial one, a hundred percent. Keep your eyes open. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Trust God and be patient. It’ll unfold." To make the transition easier, taking risks is a priority. This year I ran for Freshman Class President at Pepperdine University and won the election. Meeting people while campaining and bursting out of my comfort zone helped me in more ways that I can count. I would also remind myself that thinking about a vocation, can be quite overwhelming. At eighteen do you really know what you want to do career-wise for the rest of your life? My dad, one of my mentors, said something I thought was very profound recently. He said, “Every step of your life should continue to be great as long as you are loving the Lord.” I would challenge my high school senior self to trust that God has plan bigger than you can fathom. This would put me at ease during a period of transition.