University of Florida Top Questions

I may not be in possession of the highest GPA or have the top score on my SAT. What I do possess is a unique personality with unsurpassed enthusiasm for pursuing my educational goals. Due to my unique growing potential, I decided instead of attending a traditional highschool, to be a pioneer and attend a brand new Early College High School where I would not only gain a High School Diploma but an Associates Degree as well. I was aware that I would have to make several sacrifices in order to enroll in this unique program. Being the first graduating class, we have truly paved the way for classes that follow. At the young age of 14, I was already attending college classes alongside those twice my age. The courses we were presented with were much more rigorous than a traditional high school. While my friends from the other high schools have been out enjoying themselves, I have found myself devoting numerous extra hours to my studies. No one prepared us for the arduous curriculum we would face in our college classes.

I have had a limited college experience but all in all, I have gained confidence in myself. I was very unsure of myself in high school. I felt like I didn't fit in. But in college, I feel like I'm part of something bigger, a collective body with a similar goal- to be the best. I love that feeling and I love what I see in my future thanks to the University of Florida.

My college experience has been great, the independence and freedom you get is great. But you also have to be very responsible for your grades and making time for studying. I learned alot my freshman year, I learned that you have to work hard and study harder if you want those good grades. You can't half step in college, you have to give all your effort . You can't give up when things get hard, you have to work harder. Alot of people have said that college can make or break you. I believe that it has made me because it has helped me to be more responsible, and manage my time better. This experience has been valuable because it has taught me that whatever dream you have, you can reach it if you work hard and do your best. Success doesn't happen overnight it takes time. College is the ultimate test of when the work becomes to much do you throw your hands up and say i give up. Or do you tackle every obstacle and keep your eye on the prize. My eye is on the prize and I wont stop until I get that prize.

People may look at my grades and think I am naturally, effortlessly smart. I look at my grades and remember cups of caffeinated coffee for when I spent 20 hours studying for one calculus test. I see the day I spent on my bed reading textbooks when it was my two year anniversary with my boyfriend. I remember the weekend I had to catch up on homework instead of going to Halloween Horror Nights with friends. I do not regret any of these days or events I missed, nor will I ever. My 4.0 GPA makes me and my parents proud of what I have achieved and that is enough for me. I can humbly admit I am no better, prettier, smarter, or richer than anyone else. In college, I have learned what distinguishes me from most others is my determination; my determination to prove to myself, not others, that I can achieve what I wish to achieve and in my college experience I have done this. Attending college is extremely hard work, but I now know that with all my days and nights of studying, working, and volunteering come great rewards, both now and in the future.

My experiences in college thus far have taught me valuable components of maturity. First, going to an out-of-state school forced me to be outgoing and innitiative in forming any relationships. I have learned that part of responsibility means choosing your friends wisely so that you can not only have a strong support system in any area of life (academics, emotionally, and socially), but so that you can also contribute back to those who have invested in you by helping others whenever they need someone to be there for them, regardless of how directly or immediately their need relates to you. College has also taught me that being fully industrious is the only way to reach the highest success. I live by the phrase "you can only get as much out of something as you put in," whether that relates to a single letter grade, a challenging course, a personal or professional relationship, or an entire extra-curricular activity. Finally, college has shown me just how little I know about the world, and I have come to realize that you can only truly help or contribute to others when you understand them well enough to identify their needs.

I've gained life experience and the ability to interact with people of all races, religions, and backgrounds. Attending such a large institution afforded me the opportunity to grow as a student, professional, and person. The size of UF allows all students to explore different career paths and academia. Knowledge gained from interacting with such a diverse group of people will help me invaluably as the business world continues to grow and thrive internationally.

I haven't started college yet, but I believe my college experience will allow me to become a well-rounded, mature person. With the hands-on teaching that my college uses for instruction, I can learn and develop skills which will help me in the workplace. My career is in Fashion Merchandising (Associate in Business Management). It is very hard to advance in our city without a college degree. This college experience and the resulting degree will allow me to reach the dreams I have for my life.

My college experience has given me an entirely new outlook on education. Prior to college I was not a very enthusiastic student, however the college environment has broken the mold formed by the high school environment I was previously in. Throughout my educational career I've felt as though school showed little to no respect or trust towards me. I felt as though I was being treated as a child. The college environment has given me an entirely new opinion however. It has showed me the educational system's abilty to respect my wishes of independence and allowed me to finally participate in my own way. I love having the ability to have self time management as opposed to having a teacher breathe down my neck up until the deadline. I find this really valuable because it allows for me to do things my own way and gives me a chance to enjoy the assignments. I feel more free to make my own decisions and it has shined a whole new light on education in my eyes. I started college with hesitation and now push forward eagerly awaiting the moment of academic achievement that is a college degree.

The ability to make myself independent and experience people and events that I wouln't have experience anywhere else. These people and experiences are ones that I will remember forever.

Out of my college experience at UF, I was exposed to many opportunites through the Univerisity's Career Resource Center where I got the chance to speak with representatives from numerous companies at the University's Career Showcase. Additionally, I am the head teaching assistant for one of the best teacher's at the University of Florida, Dr. Marcie LePine. As her head TA, I worked closely with her and have been influenced by her greatly. She has helped me establish my career paths and has offered me guidance throughout college. Also too, I am very blessed to have met advisors within my college that are truly passionate about helping me in my endeavors. I am well aware that due to the size of the University many students don't receive the same quality of help and care that I've received and for that I feel very fortunate. The care and guidance that I've received have lead me to graduate school and will lead me to an accelerated career in international business management. The unique experience that I received at the University of Florida is truly invaluable and has lead me to make sound career and life choices.

It's lots of fun. I've made new friends and I am constantly being challenged.

I went into my first year of college with this entire life plan. However, my college experience has changed my naive view of the world and showed me reality. I found my passion in the medical field and my desire was to help people. As simple as that sounds, it took a myrid of random classes, life experiences, dangerous encounters, and survival of my freshman year of college to discover that. I have learned so much around me and it has shaped me to become a caring, open-minded individual who does not take things for granted anymore. I grew up with the world handed to me, until my father lost his job. This was around the time I was to leave home and live on my own in a new city with new people. I struggled, but I survived. And I have grown up so much. The University of Florida provided a liberal-arts environment to help me explore my future. I now look at the world differently and truly am grateful.

My college experience has offered a great foundation for life outside of an education. I have learned several worldly views and how to react in most situations. The education that I have obtained will be very beneficial for my future. Students and professors have provided for the best college experience. Staying involved as well as focused on my studies, has allowed me to learn how to manage my time better and stay responsible and focused at the same time. Choosing the University of Florida, has been a great choice overall. I wouldn't choose any other campus over it. The size of it was never overwhelming because there was a great community feeling. I have enjoyed the campus life and the education process.

During my first year of college, I have learned so much. I learned that you can't live your life planning every minute but allowing things to take place when they need to and just go with the flow. College throws things at you when you least expect it and you have to be able to handle it all. Another thing is, college is different from high school. No one will baby you or check if you did your homework. It's every man for themselves. Don't expect someone to call your parents if you don't do your homework. If you fail a course in college, it's just job security for the professor. College is the transition stage to the real world. Although I'm only a freshman going to my sophomore year, I have learned so much and will value these sentimental values when I step into the real world.

Packing away my bedroom for college was like going through my childhood memories, but high school ended and I knew it was time for me to get a degree. Once everything was loaded up in the car, I was headed for eight hour drive up to Gainesville, Florida. Saying good-bye to my family was probably that hardest part. I had never been away from home for more than a week., but adusting to college life did not take long at all. After getting settled in, meeting new faces and exploring new places was a thrilling adventure. Summer of freshmen year passed by very quickly, but before I knew it I was back in the Gator Nation for fall of 2009. Tailgating for football games, attending fraternity parties, going to classes with over six hundred students was all new to me, but it was quite exciting. I started meeting people the became my best friends, and I started studying for about sixteen hours straight for exams, but in the end, freshmen year was everything I expected it to be and more. I am honestly considering graduate school. I have my whole like to work, that never ends, but college will.

A new look on life! I came into the University of Florida wanting to be a civil engineer and quickly came to realize it wasn't what I was meant to be. I searched for several semesters for what I wanted to be for the rest of my life. The thought of spending the rest of my life doing this career really scared me. Especially after my sister came to UF and ended up leaving before she graduated. But in the end, after going to academic advising several times they advised me to go into sociology. I think this really changed my life forever. The first semester I took intro to sociology and it interested me but it was only a minimal interest. The next semester which is the current semester I am in now I took the sociology of women. This class has really changed me. I have come to realize and pay much more attention to how women are looked down by society and men especially. My college experience has made me want to fight for women all over the world not only here in the United States on monumental issues occurring right under our eyes.

I have just started my process for becoming a college student. I am 45 years old and have decided to attend college for Organizational Leadership in the fall of 2010. I have currently been working as an Administrative Assistant for the past 10 years for a local government agency and would like to further my education and opportunities in life. I have children and grandchildren that I would like to be a better and more positive role model for, as well as other women my age. I would like to be an example of "You can do whatever you put your mind to do." I believe that wherever I go in life, I will be a positive presence and motivator for all those who come in contact with me and I hope that college will give me an opportunity to see a part of life that I haven't experienced before. I look forward to meeting new challenges with college and also meeting teachers, professors and other students on this journey I will be undertaking. I hope to attend college and enjoy all that it offier good, bad, easy, rough because it will all make me a better peson.

My college experince has definately opened up my eyes to the fact that my future is truly up to me. if i want to make things happen in my life it is me who has to take the initiative. I have learned that to succeed in college it takes a commitment. i have to be able to make sacrifices sometimes to get what i want. College has been valuable to attend because not only does it determine what kind of future i have and determine what kind of job i will be able to get, but also it builds my own character. College has shown me who i am. It has shown me what i believe in, what i value, and my own characteristics have come out because of my college experience.

College taught me how to become an adult. I definately do not take for granted the degree that I earned, but I learned how to become financially independent and a contributing member of society in college. I learned how to juggle work, classes, bills, a boyfriend, a social life, a dying car, and volunteer hours AND keep up a 3.66 GPA WHILE planning for the future. Being thrown into the "real world" is usually something that happens to most students after college graduation. I was thrown after high school graduation. I learned that money isn't everything and I could live on canned tuna fish and WonderBread and STILL have an excellent quality of life! My drive toward a quality career after college taught me how to focus on my quality of work. Not many Fine Arts majors obtain an overal GPA of 3.66 and graduate with Honors. Without attending college, I don't think I would be as much of a quality member of society/functioning adult. College acted as my training wheels. Now I can ride out life without the risk of falling.

College helped me develop from a kid to a young man and from a young man into a man. I learned life lessons both inside and out of the classroom and met some of my closest friends to date in college. The knowledge I gained in the classrooms has helped me in the beginnings of my career. The knowledge I gained outisde of class has helped me in life. One thing that is priceless about the "college experience" are the memories, of good, bad and ugly. Everything I encountered in school has had a hand in shaping the person I am today.

While having attended the University of Florida for the past two years I have received many postive expereinces. Being away from home in a large school environment has forced me to become independent in not only the way I live but in my studies as well. Even though the large class sizes at times can be overwhelming, most classes I have taken have had smaller classes accompanying them. I love the advisors and people in my personal college, the College of Business Administration. They have given me amazing advice and have facilitated my search in finding an amazing internship during the summer. I have been able to join clubs and seek certain organizations to build networking and to give me help in my future career. My experience has been amazing so far and I can only hope for it to get better.

So far in my college experience I have gained a new sense of confidence. I feel great that I have started my eduacation that will improve my life in so many ways. I have learned many of the aspects of obtaining a degree in college these days. I attend on online program for my associates degree in accounting. I have learned many aspects of accounting that I did not know and how to navigate my virtual campus to get all my information and resources that I need to complete my classes. The further I get into the program the more convinced I am that I've made the right choices of school, degree and timing. The personal growth just this far into my program has been priceless.

In college I was able to get out of my comfort zone and try new things as well as meet new people. And even though not all my endeavors have resulted in me coming out unscathed, the experience helps to make be become a better and more well rounded person. Before I came to college at the University of Florida, I was extremely shy and though, I am intelligent, I had problems speaking publicly or with strangers. Now I am able to participate in discussions in my Political Science classes and I have made a variety of new friends both from within the country to places as far as Japan. Being here has helped me to discover a side of myself that I did not even know existed.

My college experience has been very rewarding experience. I?ve been able to broaden my understanding of many subjects and improved my ability to think critically, applying what I have learned to real world problems. I?ve also been able to better express my opinion. I?ve learned so much from my professors and peers. College is where you gain skills which make it so valuable. My professors have been so kind and understanding which makes the experience even better. They were always there after class so patient with my questions. I feel that if I had not attended college I wouldn?t have the understanding and skills that I now possess.

My college experience so far has been invaluable. I have had the opportunity to further my education in hopes of one day being able to make it on my own in life. I have two younger brother who both hope to attend college one day and receiving this scholarship would allow my parents to put money they would have had to spend on me into accounts for both of them. The education I have received so far has been an extremely valuable experience, not only because I have learned so much, but because I have become more of who I want to be. Higher education is an experience I hope everyone would get the opportunity to take part in. It can do so much for a person's life and future. I would rate going to college as one of the most imortant things I have done in my life so far. Without college I would probably be working two jobs just to make enough money to get through life. I sincerely wish to furhter my education and to get a good start when I am out on my own.

I would first like to start by saying it's been a wonderful experience. I am currently a freshman and I'm pursuing a career as a Registered Nurse. I have always been told that school is the easiest thing I could do in life, well I didnt believe it until now. Going to school has so many advantages. Jobs in today's economy are hard to come by without a degree of some kind. College is tuff but if you didnt take the first step and try, you wouldnt be anywhere in life. People fail in some subjects but I have learned since starting if your strugling there are so many options available to you that can help you to keep your GPA up so you don't fail. I currently am trying to get into the nursing program its such a hard thing to get acceptaded into because nurses are in such high demand but I have to keep trying and I know in the end it will all pay off and I can be proud of myself and the things I have done. I would be the first to graduate in the family with a degree.

College has allowed me a path to pursue greater income and a more satisfactory life style. My education as a whole has taught me more how to open my mind to new perceptions and experiences without fear and to continue to always pursue and expand my knowledge .

Education is the most valuable asset to possess. In high school, I had struggled with domestic abuse from my three parents. My life was not stable, and I had great grades, but I was coerced to transfer to three high schools during the middle of the year. This limited my eligibility for college because relocating in the middle of the school year caused me to lose many credits. Senior year, I was told that I would have to spend another year in high school. Instead, I withdrew from school in May 2008, completed my GED within 2 weeks of withdrawing, and pursued community college in the Fall. Since September 2008, I have struggled through even more abuse, and in November 2009 there was an incident where the police were involved. My father had hit me, suffocated and choked me. I left my house the same weekend, and became homeless and unemployed. I slept on couches and floors, wherever I could. In the Spring 2010, I registered as a full-time student majoring in psychology. The goal of my entire college education is to help contribute to the need of mental health victims, and promote awareness of global psychological advancements.

Most students cannot wait to leave the house and join the ranks of freshmen in dorms all over the country. They have seen countless movies that depict the college experience as this wild party. College is portrayed as a time for education, reinvention, and exploration; it is a student?s first real taste of freedom. I was not one of those lucky students. Instead of the traditional college experience, I had to start working right out of high school and did not have the privilege of starting college until I was 27. The experience that I am having is unlike most of my peers at school but I find that being an older student in college has added to my fulfillment in college. College has provided me with a creative and mental outlet. It has provided me with the opportunity to work in chemistry labs and challenge myself academically. Every day I enjoy meeting new professors who all offer me different insights into life. For me college has been the best years of my life because it is the key to unlocking all my potential. Through college I have been able to experience possibility and this is an invaluable gift.

I can honestly say that I made the most of my undergraduate experience and because of it, those four years have been the greatest four years of my life thus far. From the spring semester of my freshman year until I graduated I worked part time at a variety of different jobs, and even worked full time my senior year. I volunteered weekly at my church and within my community doing everything from kid?s carnivals to clothing and food drives for the homeless and migrant. I got very involved in extracurricular activities, acquiring remarkable leadership positions all over campus. During my junior year I became one of the 10 Gubernatorial Fellows for the state of Florida because of my dedication to public service and worked for both Governor Jeb Bush and Governor Charlie Christ working on a special project through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the highlight of my undergraduate experience, I studied abroad in China for a semester learning about the Chinese culture and working on perfecting my Mandarin language skills. I learned so much about myself and about the world those four years and most importantly made friends and memories that will never leave me.

As of now I am just enrolled but just from research on the school itself and the after program activities I learned that it would be a great opportunity to attend and complete the program and I see myself in this program or career for a duration of my life and hopefully it will all work out great.

My college experience has provided me not only with knowledge but also with a new level of thinking and different ways of looking at the world. College life has taught me to be independent and become a responsible adult in this ever-changing world by having to manage classes, stress, work, and financial difficulties simultaneously. Going to college is not only about the job you are planning to get, or how much money you are going to make; it's about becoming a cultured person, learning to think critically and seeking solutions to problems, understanding how the world works and learning how that you can make a difference. Attending college will give you something that no one can ever take away from you and the four years of hard work is definitely worth the benefit.

The most valuable experience I've gotten from college is to believe in yourself and to know anything is possible as long as you stay focused and determined.

My college experience has helped me to discover new career paths and learn what my true passions are. I am able to take diverse classes and join a range of clubs that help me to learn more about my exisiting interests and to spark new ones. Had I not attended this University, I would not have been able to take an African language for my general education and learn that I have a passion for the culture and history of the groups on this diverse continent. It has impacted my future career goals and I believe that I will be able to make a differnce and enjoy my future. I have also learned that I am capable of growth as a person. It has helped me to realize my weaknesses and has given me opportunities to overcome them as well as ways to use the strengths that I have. If I did not have this experience I would not know very much about myself and I would be much more ignorant about the world around me.

Rewind to senior year of high school. I still remember staring at the dozen applications strewn across the kitchen table. Represented on those sheets of paper were small liberal arts schools, large private colleges, and public universities. Overwhelmed, I asked myself a simple question: What do I want out of college? After much deliberation, I chose the University of Florida for it's respected academics, affordability, profusion of school spirit, warm weather, and diverse student body. It was the best choice I have ever made. Within my first six months at UF I have made friends from every background who have shared with me their cultures, stories, and interests. I volunteered at the on-campus art museum, which led me to my first internship. Florida Alternative Breaks, a student-led service organization, opened my eyes during a trip exploring the lives and rights of migrant farm workers. I have earned an officer's position in the Student Investment Club. Every interest I have been able to pursue, and now I truly feel as though I am making a difference on campus. UF has become home to me, and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

For myself college is the gateway to my future. I have come to understand how and what I do in college will effect me in the long run. School has become such an importnant part of me recently and I am willing to fully take on any challenge thrown my way. With my parents struggeling to pay for my school and all the neccessities that go with going away to school, I need to find a way to help pay for somethings. Without enough money, I will not get a proper education which can be a huge downfall towards my carreer in the future. No one from my immediate family has graduated from college and I know with hard work and determination, and hopefully the help of scholarships, I will be the first in my family to graduate.

I thank my college experience for opening my eyes to the diverse world that surrounds me. It wasn't until I came to college that I was able to become more educated about national issues and foreign issues that are many times overshadowed by the bigger problems around the world. I also thank my college experience for permitting me to become proactive about these issues. Thanks to the many organizations on campus a regular student like myself is able to join a group of people united for one same cause.

Dear High School Erin, I know you are anxious about which colleges will be accepting you, especially the University of Florida. Do not be overly concerned and believe in all the hard work you put into high school. As the AP and dual enrollment classes remain difficult, just keep pressing on until the end. In college, you will be ahead of the game after receiving these credits. Upon arrival at UF, you will be overwhelmed. However, confusion regarding courses and bus schedules will not last forever. Your first relationship is going to be more complicated than imagined, but you need to find that balance between friends, boyfriends and school work. Living with room mates will be quite an experience. However, when you have problems with them, confront them. Pretending like nothing happened will only encourage worse situations in the future. Although you will love some classes, you will despise others. Both types of settings are advantageous to you, so try to appreciate what you are gaining from them. Overall, make sure you enter college with an open mind. Once you have, countless adventures will come your way. Good Luck, College Erin P.S. Try Mochi Frozen Yogurt! It's delicious!

As a sophomore, I read "Eat Pray Love." This book was written by Elizabeth Gilbert after experiencing a rough divorce. In her book, Gilbert was given the advice, ?One must always be prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation.? Although Gilbert speaks as a new divorcee, it rings true even in college. Change is part of life, but we have the ability to make it worthwhile. I quickly realized that university was different than high school. The club meetings weren?t spoon-fed nor the friendships forced. Everything was harder. At first, I was very uncomfortable with this change. I couldn?t stand the environment I was in. But, when I put myself out there and embraced it, it was very rewarding. I tried new things, met new people, and even developed some great habits. Change can be good or bad. College is quite scary to the untrained eye. The experience of attending college has the power to change anybody. However, you have the power to make your transformation worthwhile. Step out of your comfort zone and experience new things. As long as you are willing to surf your wave, you?ll never have to worry about wiping out.

There are many different types of people, many unique shades of personalities present upon this Earth. In this world, we each experience different jouneys, we grow, we laugh, we love, and throughout it all we live. Each of us does this in our own style, our own way. Although varied, the experiences we obtain throughout college make us what we are. I dislike surprises, so if given a time travel machine, there would be many warnings i would give myself as a high school senior. I would reinforce that life is but a vapor. I would warn myself to not fear personal growth. To enjoy the finer moments within the college experience, such as the coffee breaks, the day you skip to go to the concert, even the lackluster proffessor. I would warn myself that the pain of losing old friends because of distance or different lifestyles is keen, however the joy of making new, meaningful friendships is sweet. Above all i would tell myself to find me. The person i want to be. Try actvities you wouldnt have. Discover your boundares, and embrace your weaknesses as positives. Find who you are and become what you are meant to be.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be 3 main actions I would do. I'd first shake myself while saying "snap out of it" and realize that I should've taken advantage of my senior year by applying to more scholarships and in a timely manner, I'd tell myself the cliche saying "college is a whole different ball game/league", which I have come to find is true, and lastly I would tell myself that in college I have to dedicate a lot more time for doing homework because if I just stick with the homework routines in highschool, I would only pass my classes with a C, if Im lucky.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a High School Senior, I would warn myself to not expect so much of people. Life is what you make of it, not where you are or whom you are with. Just because you find yourself in college doesn?t mean you are going to find yourself in this sophisticated, goal-oriented atmosphere surrounded by educated elite. I was so insistent that people in college would be different; that they would care more about actually learning and volunteering than just the grades or which party they would go to that night. People don?t grow up because they get older; they grow up because they figure out how to enjoy dealing with everything that life throws at them. Unfortunately, I know this is not something the High School me would want to hear. So I would let myself down softly, explaining that college doesn?t mean instantly finding people you like. College means taking responsibility and surrounding yourself with people who impassion you. College means working for what you want, despite nobody else caring. College is what you make it; you are the only one who can make it amazing.

I think about this scenario almost everyday of my life, and there are so many things I wish I had known way back when. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take my AP exams seriously. If I had known that they would have saved me time and money when college rolled around, I would have most definitely tried to pass the exams! I would also tell myself to go with the school that offers the most awards. I chose my school based on merits, and gave up $5000 per semester in awards from another institution! Since attending UF, I've been financially struggling between paying tuition, books, housing, food, and all sorts of other fees. Some days I go without good food or some months without rent money. Furthermore, I would tell myself to focus on school and be careful about who I befriend. I started off making straight A's, but then partying and the wrong crowd came along. These two experiences have taught me much about life and the people that surround me, and how neither are healthy for my well being.

College really is the best time of your life. I know that everyone says this but sincerely the hard work and difficult application process are totally worth this experience. My advice regarding applications is try not to write what you think they want but really tell them what they need to know about you. My application essay was about experiences I was looking forward to because I felt those would be more defining than anything I had already done. Once you're in college don't procrastinate. The first few weeks aren't very challenging because regristration still isn't totally settled, but manage your time and get work done early. It seems really easy in hte beginning because teachers start slow but read and study the material they give you when they give it to you, it'll save you many headaches in the future. Everyone said this and I tried to take them seriously, but I still fell behind and was under a lot of stress late in the semester. Also get enough sleep cause you're immune system really struggles with only a few hours of sleep and the worse thing is to get sick during finals.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry so much about college. The transition was hard at first because I had more responsibilities, I missed my friends and family, and there was a lot more school work. However, after the initial shock wore off, it wasn't as scary as I thought it was. Everything has changed, but for the most part, they were good changes. Having more responsibility is an empowering thing. It has given me the opportunity to act like an adult. It's been preparing me for the real world when I enter the job force. Being apart from family and friends is hard too, but I think of it as starting a new chapter in my life. There is a million different, easy ways to meet people at college, and for the most part, everyone has been friendly and helpful. Also, the work isn't extremely difficult or boring or anything else I once thought. It is hard work, but challenges are a good thing. Plus, things are much more interesting to me now that I get to study what I want!

College isn't all about memorization. In life you start out as an social and academic catepillar. Don't stay closed up in a cucoon because thats what other believe you should be. Soar and become the butterfly you were meant to. When trapped in a room all alone you will learn that you are the one that makes your mistakes and failures, so don't let other people steal you choice away from you.You can only suceed if you focus on the yellow brick road ahead of you.. Life is a mountain you have to climb. It;s hard but when you look down on what you've accomplished and overcame you'll be proud of you.

If I were to go back to give myself advice as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to have more of a social life, because I spent most of my time studying for classes in the International Baccalaureate program. After graduation, I realized that in order to be a well-rounded student and get the fullest high school experience, I should have a balanced schedule of study time and outside interaction. I studied often, and was prepared for any exam, but I missed out on the inside jokes and fun trips that my friends went on together. I also would tell myself to participate in more in high school sports and extracurricular activities. I only spent two years on the school soccer team (grades 10 and 11), but I now wish I had been more outgoing during my last year. Overall, I am grateful for the high school experience that I created for myself, and am content in reaching out to more experiences in college that I missed in high school.

One should experience college to its fullest because you get out only as much as you put in. While this seems obviously true in regard to one's course work, it is equally true in one's social life, and getting the most of your experience means achieving a balance between study and life. One's college years are a time of great growth, a maturation of not only one's intellect but one's personality as well, and it?s important to culture the development of both in order to achieve one's full potential.

Live life with no hesistations, don't get caught up in the details and there's no time for regrets. Do what you want to do and what's right for you, and you'll know what to do. One last thing that I like to live by, summerized quote by Thoreau- Life is like walking on the beach, going as close to the edge as possible.

I would advise myself to pursue every option. Every event that I would be invited to, I should go. Every Bible study, every sports club, every volunteer event: everything. And when my past self would question "Why future Bryan, why attend all of these outings?" I would answer back "Past Bryan, college is not only a time of psychological growth, but you need to grow socially into the person you will become for the rest of your life. To truly become this person, you must experience as much as the world as you can, and by meeting someone new every day, by taking a part in something differant constantly, you will be chipping away at the marble that is your role confusion and be sculpted into a statue of your true self. " As far as the transition goes, I would advise staying in contact with high school friends and family as a form of a support/advise system, but to also attempt to form a new group of friends in the college town Maintaining past friendships is just as important as discovering new ones, and the people who stay closest will be a good representation of who you will become.