The University of Texas at El Paso Top Questions

I would have told myself to apply to more scholarships. Now that I am a college student I realized how much tuition and books can play a role in ones pocket. The transition of having to pay for your own books and classes is to the level I did not expect. Telling myself that sometimes my family and myself find ourselves in harsh situations worrying about college expenses. To set a plan on how much money I could spend taking in consideration gas and food expenses. To inform myself more at that time of the opportunities and activities my school offered and taking advantage of them.

If I had the opportunity to go back in the past and talk to myself as a high school senior at Hanks High School, I would tell myself to "keep up the good work and stay on the current path that you are taking, because this path will lead you to excellence. You have done great so far, you just need to hang in there and everything good will fall into place because you have the mosts amazing family and great friends to support you on your jouney. With your knowledge and strength, and the strength from the ones you love, nothing is impossible. College is not that difficult as long as you stay devoted and organized, and a little bit of luck wouldn't hurt." This would be what I would tell high school-self if I had the opportunity. The transition from high school to college was not at all difficult for me, but if I were to hear those words in high school, I know there would be nothing for me to fear and that I could accomplish anything.

If I were to go back in time, I would advise myself to apply to as many scholarships as I could to not have problems paying for college. Also to be careful when deciding to take loans because they can really add up and you can end up in debt. Another advise would be to apply for workstudy when applying for financial aid. Would explain that this is working on campus to help yourself paying for college, gas, food, or other necessities. I would advise myself that it is very important to plan your scheduel carefully. Plan carefully by mixing the core classes with the classes in your career so you dont get all the hard classes in the end. Another great advise would be to be careful when dropping classes because financial aid will stop awarding you grants and will be having trouble paying for college. Not only will it be hard paying for college but you will also have to pay back the money that was awarded to you. Finally I would advice to be a good student and try to take the best decisions in whatever situation you are in.

The Advice I would most definetly give myself as a senior in high school would have to be is to go up and beyond from what your teachers teach you. Take it amongst yourself and take initiative and gain knowledge on your own. Study before every single test, because when it comes down to college, you have to study on your own, with no reviews or five minute studies before the test. I would also say to APPLY APPLY APPLY for scholarships and excel in your studies. Manage your time very wisely along with your money. Being at school all day or half a day you'll run into study times and you'll end up hungry. Always have money on you for a little snack. Start looking into jobs that are on camous or roughly near campus that will work with your schedule, if not, you'll have to learn how to take the bus for days you work right after class. SAVE SAVE SAVE for a vehicle unless you get a well paying job. If I knew then, what I knew now, I wouldn't be stressed out with anxiety about the hassles in life.

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self, I would give her a lot of advice. First off, I would tell her to make sure she has a good relationship with all of her teachers. In doing this, it will give her opportunities to have mentors in college. The second peice of advice I would tell her is to really focus on the imortant things and not what seems to be important. She would have to weed out the difference. Don't go to a school because of your friends, do it for you. Help yourself as much as possible and don't procrastinate on anything at all.

Given the chance to go back in time and give myself advice on the college life, I would mention that college is not as stressful as it is made out to be. Applying for college is what sets the tone for your college experience; if you make the process more work than it is, you'll find that college is harder than normal. However, if you take your time and make the process easy, college is less work. I would also point out that college is not like high school because you are in charge of yourself. In high school, there is always someone there to remind you to doing your work, but in college you must motivate yourself. You have to be responsible for yourself, because as a college student, you are considered an adult. Becoming more self-aware and responsible are not only important for success in college, but also in the business world. In the end, college may seem like too much work and a large time commitment, but it is worth it in the long run.

The advice I would my younger "self" would go along these lines. Mike, life has dealt you a bleak future. It is understanable why you would choose to be a part of the "in" crowd. Identity is what you are seeking at this young age. Having a job, money a car and a cheerleader girlfriend is all fine but, you must focus on your studies. Time is of the essence. You will learn that the money you are earning now will not be enough to buy back the knowledge you are missing by not spending time in the classroom. The money, cars and girlfriends will have come and gone but, the knowledge that you should be seeking will last a lifetime. With knowledge, you will be able to develop the identity you are seeking and all else will fall into place. So, don't give in to those candy-coated pitfalls. Stay in school. Your Mom is doing her best to give you what you need to keep you there. She does recognize that you want to be the little "man" of the house and she loves you that much more for your effort, my advice, stay in school.

I would tell myself the following “Work hard don’t slack off and keep on going the way you are. Everything in the end pays off and college is a lot more entertaining and easier to expand the capability of what you learn. Simply by applying yourself and working hard you can accomplish anything you want”I would tell myself the following thing “Work hard don’t slack off and keep on going the way you are. Everything in the end pays off and college is a lot more entertaining and easier to expand the capability of what you learn. Simply by applying yourself and working hard you can accomplish anything you want”

In my senior year in High School I would have liked someone to inform me more about college. First of all, I would have taken more dual-credit courses which are transferable as college credits and that would have saved me money in some courses. Second, a piggy bank would have been helpful to save money for books, scantrons, paper, pens, pencils and all necessary supplies. As the semester goes by it does become expensive buying at least four times a semester the materials. During my first year I had no idea I could buy my books through the internet, thus, I bought all of my books in the bookstore which are quite expensive and later I learned I could have obtained them cheaper. Oh! Also, to never buy the books before the first day of class because some professors may decide to change the books. In addition, a good thought to keep is that in college friends can sometimes go different paths however that should not affect your relationship with them. Friends will always be there. The college life should end as a good experience in a person’s life; everyone should enjoy it because it will pass rapidly.

I would have taken Dual Credit courses. I would have tried to take on a heavy schoolwork load in order to prepare myself for a University setting. I would have like to spend more time on my studies and less time working. I would have like to get more athletically involved as well.

Reflecting back now, knowing what I know, I would have told my high school self to apply for more scholarships. Along with that I would also tell myself that college isn't as hard as what people say. You tend to get out what you up into it. Last but not least I would tell myself, enjoy high school while it last.

Hello my name is Jacob Armendariz, a current freshman student at the University of Texas at El Paso. As your future self , high school senior Jacob, I'm just writing you to let you know how you should be ready for college.... Keep doing what you are doing, because I know you, since I am you. I know your aspiration of opening your own shop is truly strong. I know your hardwork throughout high school has paid off since you achieved your goal of becoming top ten percent. Now since you are on the brink of college, your life is truly about to begin. A journey through happiness and sadness is going to begin, challenging your determination and commitment to your goal of opening your own shop, but you will succeed. I, myself, haven't succeeded yet in opening up a store but we both have quite a while to go until we do that. Keep believing, because I know you can capture your dreams if you truly want, and I know you know that. As my last words, keep working towards the even bigger goal, happiness, for that is the thing I know you truly want most.

I would have talked myself to take more risks in my career and life, and just take more risks period. I’ve always played it safe and that lead to a little success, but if I had taken more leaps I would probably be in a way better position at this moment. Not only take more risks but also start applaying for scholarships since college is very expensive and not procrastinate and put it behind. I would have also talked myself into getting more involved in the community and into things that would help my future career.

Study a lot, better to what you are used to now, It gets tougher. There is no such thing as a break. Don't over pull all nighters.

I believe my advice to myself is always been the same. If I’m struggling, I will say don’t give up; at the end you will see success. However, now I don’t have financial aid anymore because I run of it, I will advise me to learn English on another school and with a cheaper tuition or apply for scholarships some semesters ago.

Our guest-speaker that day was Jason Valenzuela, the man I wanted to be. The recent college graduate mentioned experiences in his career that excited me like someone calling out lottery numbers I had chosen: debate team, policy-making, internship in the governor's office, study-abroad in Canada! I came out of the classroom thinking I had just met my future self. Everything that Jason Valenzuela had done, I would successfully do too. How perfect, my career laid before me. Still, why did I feel uneasy? In the hallway, I saw a familiar stranger coming out of the freshmen English classroom. When I saw his face, I had no doubt: It was me, about five years older. “What are you doing here?” I asked unafraid, like I talk to the mirror. “Teaching freshmen English,” he responded with a non-chalance that I did not yet own. "Teaching?” I asked. “Freshmen?” “... English,” he added with a benign smile. “But how, if I already decided to go into political science and then to law school, like Jason Valenzuela...” “Expectations,” he scoffed, looking into my eyes. “Think your future is determined? Wait and see. Time in college makes a difference.”

All the ammount of work you are doing is great. Study a little more for your SAT and your ACT tests. Join an organization called the collegiate double T, it will help. At first you will feel like you are useless, with all the ammount of work you have been doing in high school the firs semester of college wil feel like a breeze. Do not take Chem II lightly, it is no joke. You wil feel alone, all of your friends will be spread around the world, enjoy them for the time being. Volunteer at a local hospital instead of looking for a bad job, it will pay off when you apply to med school. And do not, for the love of god, take Phil 1301.

During my high school senior year, I was very immature. I did may things right, but I could've done better. The first advise that I would give myself would be to do more dual credit. My high school offered me that chance, and I did take advantage of it, but I could've done more classes. I only took two dual credit classes when I could've taken about six. Secondly, I would advise myself to look into scholarship opportunities, not wait for them. I had the wrong idea that colleges and universities would look for me and offer me opportunities just because of my academic standing. Wrong, very very wrong. I ended up graduating with no scholarship offers. Third, I was working fulltime and was at the same time very involved in an organization that took a lot from me. Consequently, I was extremely out of focus. School became my last priority when it had to be the first. Lastly and maybe most importantly, advise myself to think about the future, my career. I had no idea of what major I wanted to pursue. As of now, it worked out, but having a goal would've been better.

I would say to take advantage of those early credits that can be taken during high school and count towards college. To participate in more volunteer oportunities that would help during college. Investigate all carreer paths that are offered in the college you want to attend. Research everything that will be available to me as a college student that will help me succeed more in college. Use all the help the college offers such as tutoring for math, help with writtting papers, advising, counseling and everything.

Eldon, Looking back I dont regret anything. You have been as ideal as you posibly could be. Your freedom will come though education. The more you learn and study the better off you will be. I think you should be yourself. Be open about who you are don't waste another second or minute of yourself trying to make other people happy. If you are miserable then nothing matters. When mom and dad found out we are gay it went just as we expected and now I'm trying to earn and save up enough to get myself back in school. Honestly I wish it had happened sooner. The things they said to me were horrible but we knew they would be. So my advice to you is to be happy, work hard, and don't ever give up. Yourself, Eldon

Firstly, I would've noticed the signs of my ADD sooner, rather than halfway through my school career. I thought I was stupid, but really my inability to focus was due to disorder. I've managed to maintain good grades, but with difficulty. I would tell myself to not isolate myself and to try to talk to people, even though it's nerve-wracking. I would tell myself to try and get scholarships, instead of just expecting my parents to help me with the cost. We've managed the tuition and fees all on our own and it's been difficult. I would tell myself to look into getting a job, and study what degree I want before changing three times. Lastly, I would tell myself to NOT PROCRASTINATE.

I would advise them to be careful of how they manage their time. To be social people. To learn how to use their money wisely. To choose a major that interest them, not to choose majors based of what they could earn after graduating. Not to be afraid of asking questions. To listen in class. Meet people that are interested in the same Major. To bring their own home made meals. To get involved in extra curriculum activities. To take advantage of the students resources the college has to offer. I would also tell them to save their money. To apply for scholarships.

The transition between high school and college is a surprise to many students. I remember a my high school teachers would say, “I am going easy on you compared to what college professors would do” and they were absolutely right. Throughout high school, students have someone guiding them through life. In college, only the student has the power to take the initiative. When I was in high school, I never realized how much was being done for me. Daily reminders of upcoming events, receiving all books and materials for free, and transportation were things I took for granted. Now that I have been deprived of most of these things I would be thrilled to go back in time and give myself the following advice: “Valerie, you will need to find a way to motivate yourself into taking the initiative to get what you need. Focus on your life’s goal, owning your own business, and use that to make you want to reads the chapters ahead of time, study longer, and do your best. Take advantage of the help you receive and once it is not there either seek help or simply help yourself because only you have the power.”

I can recall being a young Haitian immigrant in Brooklyn attending school at Prospect Heights high school. There were a lot of diversity, but being Haitian had a stigma to it that i could not fully understand but kept being reminded of. I carried a picture of wyclef Jean from the Fugees glued to my notebook in order to get through the "transition." Now that i am older, and pursuing a bachelor in French and linguistics. I am driven to succeed in order to help the haitian community. I would love to echo in my ear during those days when i would drag my payless shoes : " There is no disgrace in your nationality, you are from where heroes come from. Dessalines, Toussaint, and many more. I would continue and say, you knew who you were before this cold journey and you have to be braver now. Keep your passion for languages and do not turn away from your own people because others have not welcomed you. Remember the rain that made your corn grow, and never forget that your umbilical cord is still planted in Haiti. Others may have rejected you, but you have a land that will welcome you."

I always dreamed of going back in time to change the mistakes I made when I was younger. If I had the opportunity to go back in my senior year I would tell myself to focus on what I want in life. Get myself inform of colleges nearby that would fit my schedule. Do not waste your time working small jobs because in long run all that work would not pay off without a degree. Most important do not say you’re going to take some time off from school. The more you wait the harder it will be to get motivated to start the process of getting in the habit of being in school. Once you made it in college try not to get overwhelmed by all the study you will have to do. Always try to stay ahead of your assignments. Most important belief in yourself, without that mentality you will not go far.

If I could travel back in time I would tell myself not to be afraid of the future, and specially of college, I would tell myself learn from my past mistakes, enjoy my present and prepare for my future. To research and learn about college and what it is like, because fear is nothing but fear it self, and we only feel fear of what we don't know. I would advice myself about taking all the chances I have in life and i would also give advice to stop procrastinating, because in life, time goes by really fast. I would encourage myself to apply for all the programs & scholarships I qualify to, because you can get in if you don't apply. I would tell myself to follow my dreams, and to work hard until they come true, no matter how hard it seems, because no matter what people say, we are capable of accomplishing anything we put our mind into.

Do not set aside your friends and family. Meet new people, all kinds of people. Don’t judge, but choose your friends carefully. Whoever provides you with any kind of happiness, keep them close. Whoever shines up your day in any way, hang on to them, for they are the ones that keep you going. Travel constantly, travel far. There is a world out there full of people, of wonders, and different ideas. Your world should not be limited to your environment. And do not keep what you learn from traveling to yourself, share it with your people, help them grow as you have done. Last of all: Read. The mind is a machine that runs on knowledge. Books are for the mind, what coal was once for trains. Every book you read gives you a different story, a different perspective of life. Every book you reed makes you bigger, makes you a better man.

If I could go back to high school senior year I would tell myself that I should consider more possibilities in the world. I would tell my self that the world does not revole around me and I would most of all tell myself that there is more in the world. I would tell myself I should learn to study. I would have told myself that yes, you do lose some of your friends,but life will give you new much more faithful ones. I would most of all have told myself that yes I can finish college without needing to panic so much. Panic is just in the way, just take everything in stride.

From what I know now I would go back and tell my high school senior self, how important it is to study ahead of time and to always make friends in which you can depend on and that have great goals set for themselves. Seeing the ambitions of others is a great way to motivate yourself and once you have a great ambition, working as hard as possible and getting through college will be the most rewarding experience you'll have in this early chapter of your life and will be one that will lead you to the career you've always wanted.

The transition from high school to college was very confusing. I found myself having to work extra for an A than ever before and it was stressful. However, after my first year of college I have found that if I could go back to high school I would tell myself to not settle for anything less than an A. Seeing how I have a 4.0 GPA, it makes me realize that despite my 3.7 high school grade point average, I could have done better. I would go back and work harder at attaining above average grades because high school compared to college is easy. I never had to read or even do anything outside of the classroom and homework was scarce. However, I am glad that I went through this experience because it allowed me to realize that no matter what situation I am in, I should always work hard and do the best that I can.

Stop being lazy, Katie. Get up off your butt and start studying. You may not have needed to in high school, but you're probably gonna need to in college, so start making it a habit now. BREAK that stupid habit you have of doing things last minute, because that is not going to cut it in college. Start putting things in a planner and actually LOOK at the planner and follow it. If you say you're going to do something at a specific time, do NOT NOT NOT push it off until later. Do it WHEN you're scheduled to do it. GET ORGANIZED. STOP FORGETTING THINGS. WRITE. THEM. DOWN.

Stay focused in class and work hard in whatever you are doing. Attend class and do not worry about what everybody else thinks about you because you are the one that is in control of the decisions you make. Staying on task in class and doing your homework is important and helps lead to better grades.

I would tell myself to concentrate more on school and not to rush having a family yet. It is great having my own family now, but college has so much to offer and the best way to take advantage of all that it has is to have the time to get involved. I know I am doing great even though I may struggle with time and money but I can only imagine what I could have accomplished if I had given myself more time. I would also tell myself to have a more open mind and my eyes wide open to see all that is around me and all that there is to do.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would probably tell myself that no one really cares as much as I thought they did. I would tell myself not to think about things as much and to just go with the flow and have fun, to take more risks and be more adventurous. That everything was going to be okay and that I did not have to worry about half the things I worried about. I would tell myself to make more friends, give my heart to more people, and to be a better son. Wow, if I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would completely change the person I was because I knew that I was not happy, and I was not happy because of the dumbest reasons. I would slap myself in the face and say "Get over yourself, there is a whole world out there, go live it."

My expectations of the college are greater and one of the better advices that I can give is to be patient and to be always ready for a future challenges, study as much as possible and try to be always the best in what I do. Always help people, because we do not know when I can need help, be a good son and a good friend and give thanks to the life for the opportunities that has gave me. Never give up and demonstrate to the people what I can do.

You know how the say high school stars are nothing in college? It's true. In high school, you can get by doing just a little bit more than the rest and still be the best student in class. Stop trying to be better than others. Be the best person you can be and work as hard as you can to reach the goals you want. Making the transition to college is not that bad. You'll love it. You get to do research in labs with top-notch technology, meet a lot of people from different cultures who maybe share your interests (or not) and every single activity you do is a learning experience. You won't be able to sleep as much anymore so sleep while you can. You'll have to find a job to help pay for tuition, but make sure that it's something you like and that you work with people that you enjoy being with. Things won't magically come to you. You won't get job offers or scholarships just by being a good student, but never get discouraged. Keep an open mind and college will be extremely rewarding.

I would advice myself to apply for scholarships as soon as I became a senior and look for alternative help that will help me with loans and grants. It would have made me see that there is help out there that I could have applied. I would advise me go to the registers office to ask about my application to know if I was accepted and apply for all the help I could get. That I should have come and visit the campus in advance to be familiarized with UTEP and to apply for in campus work to help me pay the tuition. Find about counselor and advisers to explain how the university works.

Do not wait or postpone college. Start right after you graduate and stick it through untill you finish. Apply for as many scholarships as you can, and regardless of how enticing it is to be on your own, stay home. Because when you are at home you don't have many expenses which mean less work and more school focus.

If I had the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior I would say many things. For starters I would say, "Do not even think for a second that your college courses are going to be as easy as your dual credit classes, because you will be sadly disappointed when you get your first 'C'." Secondly, I would tell myself, " Do not spen your first semester regreting that you do not go out like your classmates. Your education will always matter above that, there will be time for that later one." I would also tell myeself not to be terrified about working a part time job at the same time as being a full-time student because you will be able to do it. Lastly and most importantly I would say to myself, "Do not wait till you are a junior in college to apply for scholarships. Do it as soon as you can because by then you will have already have a student loan debt of 8,000 dollars. Be smart and start early, start caring sooner about your education because in the end it will be all you have."

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self about college I would have said to be more aware of what state the economy is in. I would tell my high school senior self that college is not cheap and the cost of tuition is very high. I would also have mentioned to look for scholarships and apply to as many scholarships as I can. I would also have told myself to review for my assessment tests sooner and be more prepared. In high school all I cared about was graduating and going to senior activities like prom and grad night. I was not thinking about college that much. I was already accepted into the college and so Senior year was filled with no worries. I wish that I applied for more scholarships though. I would also tell myself to never give up on scholarships and always keep applying for anyone I could find. After applying for 3 scholarships I lost hope and gave up. I haven’t applied for scholarships since the start of the year. I would have gave lot’s of advice to my senior self if I could go back.

I was 18 years old, my whole life was a dream there were too many dreams, goals and projects in my mind, though I was young very young. At that point there was not anything that I could think of that I "could not" realize, and as a matter of fact that was what I used to think; I was a dreamer. I did not know what it really takes in order to accomplish my goals even when I was an excellent student. If I could go back in time I would speak to that young dreamer with that big smile and just tell her to never give up her dreams for more unattainable they may seem, that every day we have one more reason to fight and succeed. Today the motivation for my success is not only my teenager dreams and my goals as a professional, that reason goes beyond anything, it is my son. Today I would say to myself that nothing is as easy as it seems, and as I thought it was while I was a senior, but that every effort we make and every sacrifice we make is worth it, do not give up.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now I would advise myself to take a tougher senior year class schedule with AP classes and no blow off easy classes that I could get through without working hard. I would also tell myself to make better use of the time you have as you move into college. When you get to college you are often pressed for time, especially if you are an athlete, as it takes a lot of time away from studying as you are practicing many hours a week and you are on the road for away games. Developing good Time Management skills is important to being successful in college. One needs to find time for class, studying, practice, laundry and the other college activities. As in all things in life that are worth accomplishing, you need to put the work in to be successful, this means many hours of studying, participating in class and not just showing up. These are a few important things that I learned through my first two years of college.

Being the first out of my family to graduate high school and attend college has been somewhat of a scary experience since I had nobody to guide me and advise me or teach me "the ropes". Given the chance of going back to my high school senior year and talking to my old self, the first thing I would say is "take it easy and take this serious!" I was all about girls in High School and as long as I passed without an "F", i was content. Not much of my high school was taken serious. I would tell my old self to already start thinking of college attendance and of where I want to be in the future. Partying is here forever and it can wait. Life is not all bout girls and going out. First you get an education which leads to a successful job, which then is followed by ll types of females that want that successful man. Think about it, you could travel the world at a young age and be a success just because you focused on your education! No breaks between semesters. All the way and lets get it done!

Hi Marilyn, as you begin UTEP I have a bit of advice. Get involved as soon as possible and get connected to all the "yes we can" type of people. Don't get discouraged when there seems to be no end in sight. When you feel discouraged just remember the enthusiasm you had when thinking about having your own counseling practice. A few years of college is tis but a scratch. Take every opportunity to travel. Descisons you make should always have YOU in mind. In the end have fun and don't let go of your wonder and awe. Also, break up with David.

The advice I give myself would to try to get more involved in more things, run for homecoming king, belong to more school clubs and play harder in sports. High school seems that it will not end but it does and you will not be able to go back so therefore get involve in hig school. You don't want to look back and have any regrets. Study hard and enjoy your senior year and since it goes by too fast. Do it , be silly and have fun. Take the time to say thank you for everyone for all their time and get to know your teachers and school personnel. Build friendship and stay true to yourself.

"Overcome the poisonous fear of failure of doing what you believe is right for you, regardless of any attacking opinions from those around you", would be the advice I would give my high school senior self before entering college. The difficult task of doing what is best for you will always have a shadow of doubt about whether it is what you want for yourself and if it is possible. Letting this shadow of doubt to transform into fear of failing prevents individuals to take risks to reach their full potential. There will always be fear in us but it is how we control that fear that defines us. I believe it is important for any senior to take this advice and let their heart grasp onto it because as they graduate they are facing the unknown; it is by pushing through this fear that they can succeed.

I would tell myself to go straight to college once I got out of school. I think that its harder to get back into scchool once that you have been out for awhile. That's why in August I will start going back to school. I would tell myself to keep my grades up. I would also tell myself that a social life isn't the only life you need in high school. You need to go to college and get a degree before you get tied down with a family. I would also tell myself to keep up my cosmetology liscense and not let it expire. Even though at the time its what I thought I wanted to do. If I would have stuck with that I wouldn't be in the situation I am now. The transition I will be going through will be hard because now I am a married and have two kids and I also waitress four to five days a week. It will be hard but I am confident I will make it through.

If I knew everything I know now before going to college I do not think I would have make very different decisions as I did but I would advice myself to have a totally different attitude towards life and changes. At a young age we care too much for issues that are not important and they make our lives harder that how they should be. I would tell myself not to care about what anyone is going to say or think about the decisions I make. Also, I would encourage me to be sure that every decision I make I do it for myself only. The decisions you make should be an investment in your life. I would tell myself to take every opportunity that comes in your way because they are only for the best. And most importantly, the best advice I could give myself is not to be afraid of changes or of the new things that come into your life, you get better with time and it is okay if you fail sometimes because nobody is perfect, but you have to learn from every mistake that you make because that will make you a better person.

The advice I would give myself would be to learn how to study. Before college, I never studied for test. I knew the material because of how much time was spent covering the material and having to do all these worksheets during class. However, in college it was a different story because all the professor does is lecture, so it became my responsibility to learn the material very well in order to pass the exams. Learning how to study and getting into the habit of study was very difficult for me because I simply did not want to do it. In my first set of exams I had scored very low grades which really opened my eyes as to how important studying is in order to succeed in college. After that wakeup call I began to study more and I sort of got the hang of it. Now, I can study for a week straight and it's not as difficult.

I would tell myself to apply to several colleges. In high school I only had one plan and that was to go to BYU. I dismissed all other schools as not being worth my time and didn't bother applying. Though I was accepted and had a scholarship, I didn't attend. My logic was I wouldn't be able to afford it, as at the time student loans seemed like a life sentence. I threw away several full ride scholarships and my pride kept me from attending local schools. I didn't return to school for 3 years and when I did, I had to go to a community college and pay for everything out of pocket. Now, I'm at a University and I have to take out substantial student loans and work to go to school. If I had just gotten off of my high horse and applied to this University in high school, I would have had a full ride and been essentially paid to go to school. The moral of the story is: don't let pride get in the way of your education. A less reputable school is still better than no school.