University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

In my time at the University of Minnesota, I’ve learned an incredible amount. I’ve learned a great deal about my course material of course, including organic chemistry, calculus, material science and the basics of chemical engineering, but I’ve also learned quite a bit about myself: my motivations, my hopes and dreams, and my abilities. I’ve learned that I really do enjoy chemistry; right now I am doing a theoretical research project into a certain reaction. I would explain it, but it’s rather technical and dull if you aren’t interested in chemistry. For this research project, I will be earning over $1,000. I’ve learned that I enjoy chemical engineering, and I want to be able to use it everyday. This semester, I was finally really challenged. I emerged victorious, although not in particularly good shape. The school has really helped me grow as a person… before classes started my freshmen year, I knew that the U of M was my home.

I have found that going to college means more than studying and learning course material. It is also about learning how to grow up and learning how to be a productive member in society. College has provided me with an excellent home where I can open my mind to new ideas and people. I believe that having so many different types of people in one place like the University of Minnesota has taught me more than my classes actually have. I have learned more about life and people in one year of college than I had in my entire high school career.

I believe that the University of Minnesota has all the benefits of a large school, but still has much of the sense of community of a small school. Every adult that I have talked to has made me feel like an individual, not just a number. I became involved in activities right away and made lots of friends, both of which has made the school seems much smaller and like a close-knit community. I was worried that with such a large student body that I would not be able to find a sense of belonging, but now I usually see about five people I know just on the way to class. Being part of the Honors College has also aided in this. I live in the honors dorm and this opportunity to live with other people like me has made me feel at home very quickly, but their differences have also made me a more understanding person.

Throughout the first two years in community college, I strongly believe that all the knowledge I have learned in all the GE and pre-major classes is a great tool for every student to be successful later on in life and also in their career path. For examples, in the Business Law class, I learned about the U.S. Law and how it applied to personal and business situations. In the Economics classes, I have learned and finally understand how economic system works in the U.S. and also in the world besides many other basic economic terms such as demand, supply, interest, GDP, the "invisible hand," and economic principals. The last but not least useful information is what I obtained from my Accounting classes. In these classes, I learned how to manage my own family finance through internet banking, spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, and tax filling using software such as Turbo Tax. All in all, I think it's worth it attending college/university not just to get a degree but also for learning experience that can help me in life.

I think being able to attend college is a blessing to me. In my freshman year, I studied in Lawrence University, a tier one liberal art college in Wisconsin. Now I transfer to University of Minnesota at Twin Cities to enjoy a world class education. All of these college experineces have widened my own horizon and my intelligence. I began to view the world in a new perspective that among all other things, only knowledge is the most useful and valuable thing to change the world, to promote our civilization and to make our life better. Some people might think that a college experience is both a waste of time and money, for you need to pay a high tuition to the school each year for up to four years. But the world has changed, and the world today is mostly shaped by the accumulation of knowledge. High technology, scientific advances in all sorts of field and new inventions by human intelligence play the most important role in this new world. Without a college education, one cannot understand the powers that drive the world ahead, let alone mastering these powers and apply it to a happy life.

What my college experience has taught me so far is that life is hard. It takes a lot of self-motivation, determination, and perserverance to make it through each and every day. Without that, you're just drifting along but not really going anywhere. College is the long, rickety bridge from high school to the real world. It is up to you to figure out who you want to be in that world and to go out of your way to become that person so as to get safely across that bridge. Attending the University of Minnesota has helped me see what lies on the other side of the bridge: a career in nursing. I understand now, what it is that I need to do in order to get to the other side. Winning this scholarship would make my journey across this bridge a lot smoother.

My college experience so far has made me who I am today. I have made friendships that will last forever, I have found what I want to do in life, and I have discovered a discipline and independence I was not aware I had before. I have put myself through college with various jobs and whatever scholarships I could find. Being on my own since I was seventeen with no family nearby has matured me and helped me to really think about what I want out of my schooling. I hope to become fluent in Chinese language and represent the United States by working as a Foreign Service Officer overseas. I believe my college experience will set me up for a successful career. Without my school, the University of Kansas, I would not be able to pursue my dream. The foreign language department alone has been more valuable than I could have imagined. The university as a whole however, is needed to accomplish the full collegiate experience. The spirit here makes you excited to learn and fulfill your dream. I couldn’t imagine a better experience than the one I have received here at the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk!

For me college was not so much about finding out what I want to do, but more about defining my skills more precisly and determining the types of projects I want to work on. On that note the classes at the U have been immensly helpful in determining what areas are more or less my forte. Learning how to deal with professors has had mixed blessings, it has taught me not only how to work with people that encourage me and want to see me suceed, but also how to deal with people who dislike me. The labs have been especially helpful in honing my skills and enjoyable groups.

The thing that I have learned the most in my college experience is that the quality of the education that you want is not based just upon the school that you attend but also on the amount of time and effort that you are willing to put into your education. College is a challenging yet very rewarding part of your life. Many people fail to realize how monumental completing college is and what it means for your future. For me, completing my college education will be an enormous task because I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college. Through my college experience I have learned the value of hard work and persistence. I understand what it means to work for something and have an end goal in mind. I know realize that I can put my mind to something and achieve it; all I have to do is believe in myself and be willing to put forth the time and effort it takes to accomplish that goal.

So far, my college experience has been incredible to a certain extent. I am excited to go to college and learn more about my carrer. I have not struggled so far with my work. While I enjoying going to school and finally starting to work on my career, it has not been easy paying for my classes and books. Currently, I am unemployed and struggling to find a job. I feel overwhelmed and stressed because I worry about paying for my education. Financial aid does not cover everything for me, and I am disappointed that my college experience is being ruined by this. Everyday I worry if I will have the money to pay for my education. I have thought about dropping some classes, but that would mean I would spend at least an extra year in college. While I am in class, I forget about this issue and I am focused on my work. I have met new teachers and peers that tell me they are proud of my work, I appreciate their support because that is one of the things that keeps me motivated. I have promised myself that I would never quit and to keep fighting.

One of the biggest things that I have gotten out of my college experience thus far is how to live on my own. Before I left for school I was really dependent on my parents and I could count on them for anything. They were always there to help me out when I got in a jam. It didn’t hit me until they dropped me off at college that they weren’t going to be there for my every need anymore. I chose to attend a college that is five hours away from my house so it was difficult to come home whenever I wanted. I had to learn how to budget my time and move on without the help of my parents being there. I did my own cleaning and learned how to do my own laundry! They also weren’t there telling me what decisions were wrong and which were right. I learned a lot from my experiences. I also didn’t have them breathing down my neck over every assignment so if I wanted to do well I had to do it on my own. I gained a lot of maturity and responsibility.

Out all that was going on at the "U", I just enjoyed attending a big ten university. There was something to being a part of a large campus with so many people. I met plenty of them in classes and going to different activities. I had a number work-study jobs that gave me a wealth of experience as a janitor and an after school art teacher. I eventually won an International Exchange Scholarship to a university in Nigeria, Africa which also turned out to be a tremendous experience as well as a fortunate opportunity to represent the U.S., the University of Minnesota and myself on a continent where I can trace my ancestory. My major was in the fine arts and as students we had some of the top professors in the country, a great facility, guest speakers, a gallery along with 24 hour access to studios-it was truly quite an encounter for me to matriculate there. Dispite the sub-artic winters Minneapolis was, and probably still is, a clean city that was beautiful once it became warm. Generally speaking people were friendly and there was a moderate economy there in a city easy to get around.

As more of one's life passes, one's sense of adventure and curiosity can gradually and unknowingly evolve into a sense of fear. Choosing to move across the country to attend a public, city based university offered me the ultimate life lesson- the lesson to fight fear with knowledge. Attending college offered me the ability to be immersed in a culturally diverse environment where the opportunities to learn new practices were limitless. For the first time in my life, I had access to multicultural clubs, the opportunity to study foreign languages, the ability to hear iconic public figures speak on subjects they felt passionately about. College granted me the opporunity to stretch my mind in ways that I couldn't have predicted, in ways that no other life experience is realistically equipped to do so. My favorite college pastime is spending the afternoon listening to someone else's life story. I am proud to say that I am a compassionate, community conscious individual who is not intimidated by new places, or meeting people with different backgrounds or interests than myself because of the experiences I had in college at an out-of-state, public, city based campus.

I have been able to openly explore all different major and career branches at the University of Minnesota. Coming into college, I thought I was going to be a clinical psychologist, but when I got to the University of Minnesota I was opened up to the idea of nursing and the passion I have for helping children in need. I am so thankful for attending this school because it has formed the kind of student I am and my drive to want to learn and succeed more. The classes that I am taking are catered to my interests, which fuels my desire to want to learn and achieve more during each semester at school. Another aspect that has made my college experience truly valuable is the recreation center and all the classes available to take. The classes at the recreation center, along with the walking around the large campus, have helped me to lose over 60 pounds this semester. I am so grateful for all the decisions I have made in my college experience so far and believe the University of Minnesota will guide me to a beautiful, enriched future!

There are countless reasons why I believe college is the best possible choice anyone could make however, for me it goes beyond working to get a good job with exceptional pay. I am the first person in my family who will graduate with a 4 year degree, the first woman to go to college and I will tell you it isn't easy when you have no one to help you through. For me, the most valuable part of college is simply the knowledge you gain itself. I love to learn and I think education is a key to a good life. Education doesn't magically open doors for you, it shows you were the doors are and tells you where to find the keys. Its funny because you go into college thinking you need a set plan but when you are learning externally, you are also learning internally. In college I learn more than my major, I learn about who I am. There is nothing more vauluable to me than that.

I have learned how to live on my own, navigate a large metropolitan area and meet a wide range of people.

The biggest contribution that college gave to my life was and a sense of purpose. As an undergraduate education major, I initially had a difficult time adjusting to college life. After over a year of feeling miserable, I decided that it was either time to start swimming, or keep sinking. So, I grabbed my life vest and started to paddle hard. I poured over the course catalog and chose some liberal arts classes “just for fun.” I ended up loving them, so I decided to earn a BA in addition to my BS. I began volunteering at elementary schools in preparation for my teacher program. If these kids could love school, I could too! I now found that I loved learning and teaching. One sunny morning, I stumbled across the study abroad office. I walked in and Australia found me. Eventually, I spent a semester in Melbourne. After completing my undergraduate degrees, I went on to earn my master’s degree. I am currently a teacher, but will be taking a leave in order to go back and earn my doctorate. Attending college showed me that I had the power to guide my life into any way imaginable.

I have been in school for the last two years deciding what I would like to do in the long run. My short-term career goals were just to take some college credits that could have helped me get a better job. When I started school, I started to like it very much and decided that I wanted more than just some credits. This is when I took the initiative to start looking for a real career that I could be pleased with. I decided to get an Associates Degree in Applied Science, moreover to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant. My oldest sister, who is an Occupational Therapist, inspired me to get in this field. Attending college have been very valuable to me because finally I will finish a degree that will help in the future.

My college experience has been fantastic. I have met some really awesome people and have been opened up to a world of culture different than my own. Going to a place I have never been before and challenging myself to go outside my comfort zone was hard. I came from a small town and small high school in Eastern Iowa to a huge universty in a big city. Now more than ever, I am glad I chose to attend a big school with lots of opportunities for me to discover myself and what my passion is. From intriguing research and challenging classes, to unique student groups and salacious sporting events (go Gophers!), the U has given me so much to look forward to in my next three years as a college student.

Although being thrust onto an urban college campus was difficult, it made me discover my strength and my capabilities as a woman. I have learned that I am self sufficient, self motivated and self aware. I know what I want and what it will take to reach my goals. I have realized that, as a woman, I can be a role model to other women looking to study Law, which is sometimes a field where women are severely underrepresented. When I came to college, I was skeptical if I could handle the pressure of the city. I had never lived on my own before and was shaking in my boots at the prospect of making my own meals, doing my own laundry and cleaning my whole apartment (I was spoiled by my doting mother). I now know that I made it, and I will be okay on my own, purusing the lofty goals that I have. I am excited to explore the world and what it has to offer.

My experience during college changed my perception and preconceived notions of our very society. Raised in a community awash in poverty both in economically and academically, and with but a few sources of inspiration from which to draw motivation and hope, my chance at any sort of upward social mobility was at best, doubtful. Going to college let me experience opportunities I would have never received in an low income, inner city environment. From taking courses in Japanese, to fencing, to working with some of the most brilliant minds in the field of psychology. I was challenged to think in ways that broadened my field of vision, and gave me an edge in the ever increasingly competitive job market. To put in simply, my outlook on life is much brighter.

In 2007 I attended Central State university for criminal justice and everything was going well. I went to class faithfully and did my work. Things started going down hill after a couple of months because i was so far away from home and i didnt know how to handle it. My grandfather started getting real sick back home and i wasnt there to be supportive. I started partying and slacking on my work. It is very inportant for me to go back to college because without a degree its very hard to manage in life and i also want somthing for me and my family to be proud of. Going back to college will open alot of doors and opportunities for me. I will be able to support me and my family, i will be able to become something in life, do the things i wanna do and, get the things that i need in life to manage.

I have only been going to this school for a coupole of weeks, but I can already see that I have become more independent, and responsible.

I attended a small Lutheran high school in South Dakota where everyone came from similar backgrounds and races, had similar experiences, and believed similar things. Coming to the U of M has been incredible for me because I finally have exposure to something new - everyone has such different stories and perspectives and experiences and interacting with them has impacted me in a huge way. I've gained an enormous respect too for all my professors - they are so passionate about their own areas of study and research and they all have experience in what they are teaching. Class discussions are lively and unpredictable, there's always something going on around campus, and I've grown as an individual through all the new situations and challenges I've found myself in throughout my college experience so far. I'm confident that I'm getting an amazing education and that I'll be more than prepared for whatever I choose to do in life, and I would never go anywhere else.

I am an older student returning to college to complete a four-year degree in Political Science. I have developed my self-confidence and have discovered that I can be tremendously focused and dedicated. I have really enjoyed my collegiate experience and I have made a number of friends from different occupations, ages, and backgrounds. I have enjoyed helping younger working students understand their work place 401(k) plan, from my years working as a retirement plan administrator, and I have enjoyed tutoring older students in regards to computer technology, writing, and math. My courses have been valuable in expanding my knowledge base, my horizons, and my abilities to absorb and synthesize information. My professors have been wonderful and I have enjoyed being challenged and inspired by them. I hope to finish my degree work in Political Science and then pursue a Master's in Education so that I may teach at the government, history, or social studies at the high school level.

Out of my college experience the thing I have gotten out fo it that has proven to be most valuable is that it's ok to make a mistake, and that it's perfectly fine to ask for help. Sometime you can get intimidated at college because it seems that everyone is smarter than you, but often that's not true. Asking for help from classmates, professors and teaching assistants is very helpful! I would always recommend it. If you don't understand something, always ask. Chances are there are at least two other people with the exact same question. Many times people seem smarter because they aren't afraid to say what they think - even fi the answer is wrong. That's how they learn...from their mistakes.

My college experience has made me a responsible, hard working, and mature adult. I have paid for my own tuition since I was a freshman, which has taught me the value of a dollar and how to maintain a budget. This helped me become responsible not only with my finances but also taught me how to bring a healthy balance to my life through harmonizing class assignments, work, family and friends. Learning to bring balance to my life has also made me a hard working individual. Being hard working helped me during my undergraduate classes while I became more independent by scheduling my classes and completing ungraded assignments and readings in order to further my knowledge. This has helped me succeed in my post undergraduate job, with a promotional offer due to my hard work ethic after only six months, as well as helped me accomplish my Physical Therapy Doctorate degree dreams. Completing a graduate application is very time consuming and takes an independent, driven individual to fill it out to ones best ability. Without a doubt I would not be the same person I am today if it was not for my experiences at The University of Minnesota.

There have been so many things i've gotten out of my college experience, and I'm only half-way through. It's the best experience of my life thanks to my friends and classmates, my professors, and my family. My family has pushed me forward and made sure I didn't hold back while attending college as it would be the best time of my life, and they were right. Be it the school football games, the snowball fights in the winter, playing frisbee down by the mississippi river, or simply walking through campus on a summer day and seeing one of the most beautiful and active cities in Minnesota. I've never regretted my choice to attend the University of Minnesota, and I can almost guarantee I never will. I'm certain that this highly regarded University will prepare me more than enough for my future career and goals.

I have learned a lot of different things from different people. Life is about getting out of the comfort box that you're born with, it's about getting to know people that normally you won't talk to. If you stay in that box, and forever do the same things day after day, week after week, year after year, you'll never change anything about yourself let alone the world. Without going to college, I won't have known this. Attending college allow people to get to discover who them truly are. It helps them grow into the people that they will be for the rest of their lives.

The college experience has really allowed me to grow as a person. In high school, I was a very shy, soft-spoken person. I've always known who I was and what I wanted, but wasn't always able to express that. Going to college and taking classes that I was really excited and passionate about, as well as meeting new people that challenge me and inspire me has helped me to become more outwardly confident and comfortable with who I am. Going from a semi-small suburb to a big city campus gave me the push I needed to become more independent and self-reliant, and allowed me to discover how strong I can be. I feel if I had chosen a different school, one that wasn't as challenging or intimidating, then I wouldn't have had that push and drive to become my own person. College is a great time in a persons' life where they not only learn new things, but they meet life long friends, can develop their own person, and start the path to the rest of their life.

I have met so many wonderful people at the University of Minnesota and college for me has been a time for me to open up my social life. While in high school, I never really had a social life. I never had any friends until I came to the University of Minnesota. I have enjoy the social norm but the academic life was the most challenging for me because I was under the impression that half of my tuition would have been covered at the University of Minnesota. I have learned a lot up until this point but I would not change a thing about my experiences at the University of Minnesota. As a poor person growing up, I never had the tutoring or education to help me prepare for college. It felt like I was at home at the University of Minnesota.

I think the main thing that I have gotten out of my college experience is a passion for continuing to learn and for helping others. I started my college experience at a small, liberal arts college in a more rural part of Minnesota and ended up transferring. I felt that both expereicnes were valuable, but that I got more exposure to classes and issues that interested me and people interested in those issues when I transferred to the large public university. My college experience was valuable because it connected me to people who share my interests and passions and helped prepare me for future education and hopefully a future career.

My college experience has been speratic but enjoyable. I had a child when I was 21 which limited my financial ability to go to school consistantly. She is now in school herself which free's me up to finish my education. I have been accepted to a Southern California college which will give me the degree I cannot get in Idaho. The college I did attend was very helpful with providing me with some of my basic classes. I really enjoyed my school experience in Idaho with the small atmosphere and the community there was very safe. I was diagnosed recently with severe anxiety and a math learning disability. I made it through high school and some college without even knowing this. I work so hard at school that I had overcompensated for my learning issues. I never failed a class that i put my whole effort into. I am returning to school to change my life and become a role model for women in Film.

My present college experience is new to me. I am in an online education program with Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona. This is so new to my, but I like it tremendously. It gives me a chance to study at my leisure without having to fight traffic or find a place to park. I like the fact that if the weather is severe I can meet online and converse with my classmates. It is also teaching me to be proactive in getting assigments completed in a timely manner. I am also enjoying the program study. I feel that with a reading masters I will be more of an effective teacher in the future. I am looking forward to finishing the Grand Canyon Elementary Reading program and becoming a reading teacher.

I used to be very shy and easily conformed. I learned to speak my mind. I went to a different university for my first two years of college and it became very evident it was not for me. I should have left after the first year, but I was afraid of what my parents would think. Once I found my voice I learned how beneficial it would be for me to make a change. I had the opportunity to study abroad last semester and it was the greatest experience of my life. If I did not go to college I would not have had the chance that changed my life. I learned to overcome fears and to stay motivated. It was the most rewarding experience.

I have gotten a lot out of my couple years that I have been in college. It has definetly taught me responisbility, remembering to go to class, what time my classes were at, whether or not I had homework to do that night. If I missed a class it was my responsibility to go ask the teacher or a class mate what I had missed. You definetly grow up when you go to college, because from kindergarten to your senior year in high school you have your parents there telling you what to do, reminding you to do your homework, and if you miss a day they just call the school. College so far has been an awesome experience. Not only have i grown up and become more responsible, but I now have more pride in myself. Going to school to further my career is big for me because i was never a huge fan of school, but since i've been here I know that this is the best for me and my future and i am so glad i chose to go!

This is my third time to be back in "school" since I graduated high school. I was raised in a very rural community and going off to college was to say the least an eye opening experience. That process seems to repeat itself each time I get back in the university setting. I find my out look on life being altered. This affects the way I see myself and how I see and interact with others. I am always amazed at how classes and situations that at first seem ordinary or even boring have such a lasting impact on my life. Getting to know new and different people has made me much more thoughtful about the actions of others and what may motivate them. I now spend more time trying to understand a persons actions and less time being judgmental. It makes life more enjoyable. The exposure to life changing people and situations has had as much impact on my life as the degrees I have recieved. I may just have to keep going back!

My statistics class has kicked my butt. High school courses were a sinch, but college courses are much more intensive. I've learned time management (I.E. I'm sitting here applying for scholarships as my friends play hockey outside). I've gained a more an aggressive spirit (in the sense of finding opportunities), as one must search for their own path at a university of 50,000 students. The real world is not a nice place, and in some cases neither is the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - valuable experience for when I enter into a career.

I have gotten to know myself better than I ever thought possible, and I have learned more about the world and different people and ideas than I was ever exposed to be before. It is an experience that will be valuable for the rest of my life in making decisions, and continuing to learn.

I have learned to be more independent, to make my own decisions and to live the life I choose to make for myself. I have grown a lot in this year and have learned how truly responsible and adult I am. I have gained knowledge, and confidence as well as wisdom.

I have learned that high schools, universities, and the government push kids into 4 year universities without them knowing EXACTLY what they want to do (That's called being money hungry!). I am a sophomore and still have not found a Major at my school (and have to declare it by the end of this year). They all push you into four year universities and say bye, good luck, you'll figure it out later. Well almost two years later and i still have not figured it out! So now what? Now what do i do? Where is my help for that? High schools should tell kids (and have programs set up) to go and shawdow a job they might be interested in. Then they will find out what they like and dont like, and if what they like is at a technical college, then they should not feel stupid for going to that kind of school. There is too much presure put on kids now. Not everyone is meant to go to a four year university. If there was more technical and hands on support kids might learn better. Giving a kid 500 pages to read a week = bad!

Solely knowledge found in years of research I can use to treat the world the proper use and outcomes of exercise through many ages, contexts and cultures.

The most difficult decision of my senior year was making the decision between Washington University (in St. Louis) and the University of Minnesota. While I was in love with the Wash U campus, the school didn't offer the program that I was interested in, so I ultimately chose the University of Minnesota. Despite the reasoning behind the decision, I still spent most of the summer fretting about it, and worrying that I had, in fact, made the wrong choice. If I could go back, I would tell myself not to worry so much. Where ever I go, there will always be opportunity and wonderful people if I seek it out. I would tell myself that this is a wonderful school, a good decision, and to take advantage of all of the opportunities that I have here, including faculty experience. Most especially, I would tell myself to take more non music classes during my first semester despite the heavy credit load, as I was somewhat bored during my first semester. This was partially my fault, as I could have seeked more opportunity for myself, and partially because the classes were intro level, and thus covered much of what I knew.

No matter what you do, do not procrastinate! If I could tell my high school self anything it would be the previous statement. College, no matter the school you come from, is a step up from high school. The courses are harder, the professors will not babysit you, and the distractions are huge. The classes may have less homework, but the amount of reading and studying required to do well is more than high school classes. I got behind on the reading in my first semester Chemistry class, and it was very hard to catch up. The lectures did not make as much sense as they do now that I read the chapter before I go to lecture. Procrastination is very easy to do when you are in college, especially living in the dorms. Someone is always willing to play video games, watch a movie, or do anything that does not pertain to classes. I wish I could have told myself to work hard during the week so I would have free time at night and during the weekend without my uncompleted work on the back of my mind.

Dear DJ, Hi, it?s me, DJ, as a college sophomore. Now that we have a year and ? of college under our belt, I?m here to tell you that all your hard work is starting to pay off. You need to stick with taking the most rigorous class schedule that you can, as it really will help prepare you for what lies ahead. Take advantage of the knowledge your teachers possess and don?t be afraid to ask to tough questions. They are there to help you and really do care about your future. Continue to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. Once mid-term and finals prep start, you will feel like you are running a marathon. Finally stick to your goals and work ethic. Once you get here you are going to find out it is exactly what you worked so hard for and you will LOVE it. It?s awesome, so keep studying hard and be prepared to hang on for a great ride!

Attend lecture everyday, make use of every learning materials, and reharsing the materials than memorizing.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell that 18 year old girl to ignore the temptations of a manipulative world. I would look into deep into her green eyes and tell her she wants to strive for success in her dreams, and not to place so much worth on material gain, or getting a big chunk of The American Dream. I would put my hands on her shoulder and tell her that it isn?t easy, but that she needs to turn from the people calling her away from her true passion; away from using the gifts she was given. I would hug her tight and whisper, ?You are an Artist! Your hands are made to capture this experience on earth. Trust me, I am you. I am here; you do not need anyone else. Now let?s create something beautiful and share it with the world.?

If I were to talk to my high school senior self, there are lots of things I would advise her to do. Study well, manage your time well in order to succeed academically and still maintain a social life, don't hesitate to take opportunities. However, more important than any of those, I would advise her to not be afraid to ask questions because in the end, you really have nothing to lose by asking and everything to lose by not. Often, the question will be about a topic you are having difficulty understanding, and you will gain knowledge from the answer. Even if you think your question is one to which the answer seems obvious, at least you have garnered the attention of the professor, which is the first step to getting to know the faculty who will write your letters of recommendation. And those, as we all know, may be an important factor in getting that internship or job in the future. So ask! There really is no such thing as a stupid question--every question has a purpose.

I would tell myself to start forming some stronger study habits. Even though you know that the work load is going to be a lot tougher than high school, you are never prepared for it. Also, get out there and assert yourself with new people. A lot of college is meeting new friends and learning social skills that will be useful later in life. One more big thing I would stress to myself is to always ask questions. In high school, I wouldn't really ask the teachers anything. I would just keep to myself and find the answer in a textbook. But if you really make a strong effort to understand the concepts you are learning, you will be very successful.

Do not fear because college is not as terrifying as it seems. Do not fear because you will get a good education at Minnesota that will prepare you for the rest of your life. Do not fear that you are far away from home because with inventions like Facebook, Skype and the telephone, you will not lose touch with anyone. You will feel more stressed than you ever have in your life (yes, even worse than those horrible four hour AP tests). You will be scared that you will never meet friends like those that you have "back home." You will even go through times that you believe that you may never finish all the work you were assigned. Do not worry though, for every other student at this school is feeling the exact same way that you are. You will find that making friends is easy. Classes may be hard, but your professors are very helpful and caring. You will find yourself balancing more activities than possible, but enjoying every single one of them. Do not fear because this is just the next step in life. See you on the other side.