San Juan College Top Questions

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

Jennifer

If I'm able to go back and let my younger self know about college life and making the transition, I won't be here answering this question. I'd rather not go back anyways because everything happens for a reason or two. I think I'm where I need to be. I'm hopeful about my future because I see everything in love.

Kristin

Education is continuous and it is what you make of it. Continuing to go to school has made me stonger and independent. To be stonger and independent is a valuable ingredient for the future.

Megan

I always thought I took college seriously in high school. I took AP and Honors classes, was a member of the National Honors Society, and always had a future plan. However, I was so naive to the real world and what college should require. Similar to other seventeen and eighteen year olds, I was full of myself and just a little selfish. If I could go back and give myself some new advice, I would tell myself to be more adventurous and giving. Sports, academics, my church, and other extracurricular activities were important and I was a busy person, but I should have done more for other people.I should have really gone outside of my comfort zone and tried more to make a difference. Now I find myself yearning and searching for ways to make a difference in the world. I don't just mean with minor, side activities, but as a career and a lifestyle. I want to be an Erin Gruwell or a Leigh Anne Touhy and have a positive impact on someone else's life. I wish I could go back and open my eyes to the realities and needs of the real world.

Tracy

I would definitely advice myself to not give up so easily. It does get better, trust me. Stay away from the people that you think you need to impress, because they are nothing when compared to your education. College life is fun and there you can find better types of people to hang with! Take Dad's advice and go to college!

Jessica

Don't quit! My advice to my high school self would be very resonant of the mantra I have been spouting to my own children since returning to college. Life is too long to try and live it all upon graduating high school. I have realized that college is not just about obtaining a higher level education, but also teaches you to cope/manage the ups & downs of everyday life. Money, class scheduling, time management, application processes, and dealing with advisors are all what I like to consider "conditioning" exercises. All those factors are what initally overwhelmed me, and subsequently caused me to drop out of college. But the ironic part was, I still had to learn to deal with those type of situations, just in different settings! Now that I am an adult, with my own children, college (by comparision) is a breeze! The only difficult part now, is the managing of life factors (husband, children, housework) and schoolwork. So, that is why I make myself an example to my children and tell them to push through while they are young, energetic, and have minimal life obligations to contend with.

DesiRae

Knowing what I know about college today, I would definitely have a few wise words to say to myself back in high school. ?Stop!! Go to college right away because you?re going to have a baby and you need to prepare yourself?. I graduated high school as a single parent all I had in mind was being able to go out and find a good paying job. Being out of high school and not attending college I found an okay paying job and thought everything I needed to be successful was right in front of me. I know something had to change when I got the news that I would be expecting my second child. Being in college would?ve given me the opportunity to be almost finished with my pre requisites and entering the nursing program. If I would?ve attended college right out of high school and prepared myself a little more. If I would?ve know that another child was in my path I would?ve went to college and better prepared myself for the struggle ahead. I?ve learned from that mistake and have taking charge of myself to getting motivated to attending school again.

Devon

I would tell myself to go to school sooner. I waited eight years to return to school, and after my first semester I learned what I was missing. Although, I am glad I did wait and experience what I exerienced; yet, if I had the chance I would indeed encourage myself to go sooner. The whole college experience is a crutial part of the comming of age for our youth. We learn how to grow and intergrate into society. We learn how to balance our check books and to budget our lives. Making life long friendships.

Kayla

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior, I would tell myself to just take it easy and enjoy it. It isn't as bad as it seems the first time you have to stand in line to register and the first time you go in to class not knowing anyone. It is where you will become the adult your starting to be. You are going to mature there and meet a lot of new people, although some of those people can be a little on the weird side, accept them because they are trying to fit in just like you. Don't judge anyone by their cover even if they are the older lady sitting in the front with all the knowledge and experience. They tend to be the coolest people in the class. Don't look at college like it's a pain, but don't look at it as unimportant because it will help form the rest of your life. Look at it as a great oppurtunity that some kids only dream of!

Julianna

I graduated high school in the year of two-thousand five. I was a shy, timid girl with a few close friends. Honestly I did not know what to do after high school with an exception of leaving my home and going off to college. I did not know anything about relationships with other people and how to make long lasting friendships with new people. As of today, I am very different than when I was a senior five year ago. I am more outgoing and self-confident. I speak up in class and build friendly relationships with my instructors soaking up each kind of new information. If going back in time is scientifically true and I had an opportunity to do so, I would tell myself to not care about what other people think and take a risk in meeting new people because they can help shape her into a well-rounded person. Another important information I would also tell myself is to stay focus and never get tempted to get side tracked. College is a great start to be independent but that person needs to know why they are attending college and for what purpose.

Sheronnabah

There are two main things I would like to tell my high school senior self. One is that college does not pay for itself. Two is that attending a community college first is not a bad thing. When I was a senior my main concern was getting into my dream college. I was accepted into my dream college. I thought that after getting accepted I would just eventually find a way to pay for college. People stressed applying for alot of scholarships but I did not listen. After I realized I did not qualify for pell grant I knew I could not come up with thousands of dollars in one summer to pay for in the fall. That is when I learned that it is great to get accepted but I also had to look at the costs of not only tuition but living expenses in general. I decided to attend a community college first. I thought that this was a sign of my failure. However after attending, it is actually a better experience. I am paying alot less for general classes and saving up for my degree major classes once I transfer to a university.

Cedra

I would say to keep my grades up, and chose a better school in the future. I would take college classes for senior year and get an early start. I should have listen to my counselor, and apply to an early admission. Another advice I would give myself is that I should have told my mom to stop checking me out of class just for her enjoyment. I thought it was fun not going to class but often I would miss tests and just hang out with friends. I never thought I would end up in a small college, and pick crappy majors. Tell myself that one assignments is important, and not even care to do homework, and stop being lazy and making excuses.

Tracy

I would have graduated high school in 1979 if I had stayed in school, but none too wise as to the ways of the world I chose to quit school and go right to work instead. I foolishly thought having a little money in my pocket right then was better than going to college for a better paying job later on. Now, at 48 years old and a single mom, I wish I could go back and tell myself to stay in high school, get that high school diploma, go to college and learn to be couragous, not timid. Be brave, not scared. Be myself, not who others wanted me to be. Because in the end, the others are not here now to make sure my bills are paid or food is on my table. That is the most important thing I should have known then: Be couragous, be brave and most important; be myself.

Jade

If I could go back in time to when I was a high school senior I would tell myself not to put things off at the last minute and most importantly to make a well thought out study schedule. While in college I didn't have to worry about parties on the weekend or finding new friends because I decided to go to a community college in my home town. On the other hand I did have to worry about my performance in class and how I managed my time. As time went by starting from my first day of college I soon realized that college and high school were very different. Unlike high school I needed to make a study schedule because every class that I went to was either once or twice a week and for every class there was something due. I also found out that once you put things off in college its hard to catch up because every class an assignment was due. These two principles would be the most importnat advise that I would give myself if I could go back in time.

Jenny

I was always a good student taking classes to prepare my self for my college experience. The only thing I would change is probably my unwillingness to take interest in math classes. So I would make sure to tell my self that Algebra classes weren't enough even though the councilors said it was sufficent.

Flora

I have asked myself this question countless of times and unfortunately in all reality it is impossible. If it were possible, I would definitely have to tell myself to not take education for granted by slacking off and assuming I know the material needed to study. To apply myself to studying fervently without ceasing except to sleep. To stay away from drugs and alcohol when I was in high school. To utilize everything that was available to me in achieving excellent grades, not only in the academic setting also in the residential setting. I attended a boarding school in Santa Fe , NM during high school and there were many after school programs available to us to prepare for college life. I would tell myself to utilize these programs and be mentally prepared for life after high school. The last thing I would definitely tell myself is to disassociated myself from bad influences and associated myself with students who were into accomplishing goals for their lives. If the opportunity was a reality I would make these changes because I believe the transition and expectancy of college life would have been an easier to grasp.

KACIE

The best advice would be to allow yourself room for change. In the past I stuck to my plans and didn't allow any deviation in them. Now that I have been to a large university and have come back to a Junior college, my plans, my route of obtaining my goal have changed but the overall picture didn't. "The future belongs to those who dream it" Eleanor Roosevelt. Know what you want out of life and stick with it but do allow for your path to change, to curve, or even go backwards if needed. Life isn't a linear function, you made need to experience other things to better prepare yourself for what may lie ahead.