University of Phoenix-Online Campus Top Questions

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

mischa

I would tell myself to stay more focused and grounded in my morals, values, interests, and educational goals. I had to deal with a teen pregnancy my senior year of high school; the year where everything matters and is most important. I never regret either of my children, but I do wish I would have been a little more careful about the people I surrounded myself with. Also, I did not partake in a lot of extracurricular activities or sports that I would have liked to. Some of that was due to financial hardships my famly had, but another part was that I did not feel I would be good enough or succeed. I would tell my high school self to just try, make effort, and at least show interest in more of those types of activities. I would say to be more punctual, on time and dependable. All of those things are very important, and as you transition into college and becoming older, things do not get easier ; but if you just stick with it, you end up being a lot more successful than you think.

Chynna

If I knew then what I knew now, I would have definitely told myself to have taken my junior year in high school much more seriously. I feel this way because had I done better on my ACT test, I could have been in a four year university as oppose to a two year community college. Also, I would have told myself to take full advantage of any grants and scholarships I was eligible for and apply for as many as I possibly could to avoid borrowing excessive loans. In addition to all of the academic flaws I would have corrected, I would have also given myself a word of advice pertaining to the type of crowds to keep. Hanging with those who don't have any long-term goals and standards set for themselves and those who have no plan set to get ahead to succeed in life, would be the wrong choice of people to hang around. Always maintain a good judge of character and always stay focused no matter what. It is okay to interact socially, but do not forget why you are in school. Education is the only way to get ahead in life.

Jameka

Now that you've completed 12 years of education, what do you take away from the whole experience and what do you take from it and move toward your future? I say this, follow your heart. Follow your dreams. Be sure to write down everything that you want to accomplish. Give yourself time to get to know yourself. Open your mind to new experiences. Stay focused on the goals that you want to accomplish. Keep a close eye on your locus of control - especially when you are in a romantic relationship. Take the time to make time for yourself. Never committ if you're not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} - always be certain. Do not pass judgement. How you treat others is a direct reflection upon how you feel about yourself. Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. Make good choices and decisions based on your morals, values, and ethics.

Anjanette

Like every other student, when I was a senior in high school I applied for many colleges. I was accepted to the local college, CSU Fresno, and a few colleges around the state. Among the colleges located around the state, there were two that were in reasonable distance from my home in Fresno, California. One was CSU San Jose and the other was CSU Sacramento; after a tour of CUS Sacramento, I decided that it was my first choice for college and I moved there. Soon after I moved there I learned that college is a lot harder than high school. Both the transition from moving away from everything I knew and the transition in difficulty took a toll on my grades and ability to fully focus on my school work. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would want to say many things. The most important thing I would tell myself is that moving away is not the greatest idea.

Jaydlyn

College will challenge you. You have just started to find yourself, your voice, your own ideas. Going to school will test what you believe in and show you what you are really capable of. Don't shy away from any experiences you might run into. Embrace it, because right now is when you decide who you want to be. No one else is there telling you what to think or who to be. It 's your choice. You get to be completely and blissfully you. So What I am really saying is embrace everything school has to offer. Meet new people, read new books, become addicted to the local coffee shop. Really find out what you believe in and who you really want yourself to be. Jump in with both feet and don't be afraid to make mistakes. The best way to find yourself is to make as many mistakes as possible and experience life.

Olivia

Olivia, I know you have dreams of becoming a pharmacist so that you can be the first doctor in your family. This dream can be reached, but you must realize that there are more ways to accomplish that goal. You can get you bachelors, then masters and then get your PhD in public health, you true calling. You have a special skill of working well with anyone, and you are able to speak to many people and help them with their issues. Use your strengths to go forth and understand what you want to do in life, and you will be successful. The most important thing is to make your own decisions. Do not let your family dictate what you should be in life. It is your life that you have to live, so make wise decisions now because everything you do will affect you later.

Samantha

If I could go back and time and talk to myself as a highschool senior I would advise myself of a lot of different things. I would of told myslef to pay more attention in english so that I would not have such a hard tim formatting papers. I would also tell myself it it is more important to psy sttention to my studies rather then my social life. You do not realize that have the people you knew in highschool will not even be apart of your life. The most important thing I would of told myself is that when your teachers say that highschool prepares you for college they were telling you the truth.

Nichole

Nichole, You are going to college soon. I want to let you know that you will once again be a little fish in a large lake! Do not let this discourage you! First listen to what your professors have to say. You do not know everything! Second think before you speak! This will save you a great deal of time and frustration. Allow yourself to get caught up in your school work! You have plenty of time for other trivial things later. Exercise! This is important to keep your energy levels up when you are pulling long nights studying. Volunteer. If you want to be successful in your life you need to volunteer. Not only is it helping out others who need it, it is making you see that there is good in the world when you will question that. You do not need to decide what you want to be when you grow up so take as many classes in anything you want that you can! If you are bored with a class find a way to make it interesting! Lastly, give yourself a break! You don't have to do it all right now! Sincerly, Older Nichole

Celesse

June of 2002 I have traveled back in time only to find myself walking around school taking pictures I stop me and say" I am you in the future, I came back here to talk to you about all the life choices that you made and I want to give you a view on how your life is now and how possible it could be if you just listen to what I have to say, but knowing you which I know because I am you I know you will learn the hard way." If you continue to focus on school and not let life easily distract you then you have a chance of actually becoming what you really want in life. Please do not let anyone say that you can't and you won't be anything because when that person does say those things to you stand strong and know that you will be everything you want to be in life." If you do not listen to me your life does turn out okay and you do go back to school and have a great family but you will have a hard road to sucess i am afaird.

Christina

If I could travel back to the beginning of my senior year in high school, I would advise myself to not worry so much about working and making money. I would tell my self that focusing on achieving my educational potential in school would make me much more money down the road than I could ever dream of making during high school. I had the second highest ACT score of all who took the ACTs in my senior class. If I had worked hard for the grades to back that score up, I could have gone to the college of my choice. Likely on a full ride, or at least with much of it paid for. I would make this clear to myself back then if I could. My mother tried, maybe if I could go back in time I would have listened to me more than i listened to her.

Josiah

You need to start taking the steps to achieve your goals. Your a senior and your procrastination is at an all time high, and you think that your right about everything. Sadly, the truth will hit you eventually. There are an incredible amount of scholarships out there for the taking. Fill out as many as you can. Life isn't friendly. High school is such a small part of our lives that we dont even realize that the materialistic thoughts of the majority blinds us into thinking high school is everything. Find what you want and chase it until you have it firm in your grasp, and then go beyond it. Never plateau. Don't be intimidated by the world. You will get out of this world what you put into it.

Taylor

If I could go back in time to high school, knowing what I know about college now, I would tell my self to get my act together. I would tell myself to study harder and take my SATs and ACTs over and over and take them seriously. Since I've been in college, I've learned that I need to spend lots of time outside of class studying and reviewing even if there is not a test coming up. I've realized that sometimes pushing yourself to the max is necessary to achieve your goals. I have realized that giving a hundred and ten percent effort in everything you do, whether it be classes, studing, sports, or friends, is very necessary. If you do all of that then you know you have done everything you could to get what you want.

selene

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would advise myself to take the time to enjoy the moment. My whole senior year was filled with tons of stress and anxiety over the multiple changes in becoming a college student. I hardly took the time to enjoy the moment I was in with the friends I had then. I would definitely give myself the advice to just enjoy being young, because when they say you find out who your friends are after graduating high school, they aren't lying. As everyone moves away and does their own thing, it's even harder to keep in touch with them than when you're busy in your senior year. I think it's one of the most important things to take in your surroundings and count your blessings, and enjoy life. My senior year would have been so much more enjoyable if I had known this, back then.

jennifer

Take time to study so that you can get the all the information and if you ever have any problems always know there is someone that can help. Never be afraid to ask for help that is what the instructors are there for to help you understand the material and as a college student there are many different things you can do help prepare yourself such as taking student workshops to help get you on the right track and these workshops give an idea of what is expected in things such as papers. The overall aspect of the tranistion from high school to college can be scary just remember there are going to be people that can help you along the way and never be afriad to ask questions about anything there is never a dumb question. The college experience can be a great way to make a difference in your life and help give you that career goal that you have been after for so very long. College is a big step for anyone it has so much to offer.

Simone

If I could go back in time as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself is to stay motivated toward my studies and maintaining to be a great student because in the fututre students will be successful in life. Studying everyday and doing homework will help me to develop new concept skills in college to make sure that I am learning properly and the teachers are doing their job correctly by educating me toward my future. More teachers should not just use one type of teaching skill, they should mix it up by teaching different ways everyday, so the classes will not be boring and more students will engage in different attributes. Also, if I could turn back my senior year, I wish I would have learned more from the high school math curriculm, having mentors to help me learn the concepts I needed to learn. I would have gotten better, and math would not be a struggle for me in college. I believe if I study everyday for three hours, I will know what my strengths and weakness are to make me excel to the top, being the greatest success of a lifetime.

Roxanne

Dear Roxanne, I know you don't like school right now, but you will succeed at whatever you put your mind to. You are a powerful woman! You will meet many people and enjoy your college experience. Join Student Government Association, you will become Vice President and when you become President stay with it, you won't regret the experience. When you finish your Associates, stay in school for your Bachelors. Right now although you have the determination to finish, you have twins to take care of! Make sure there aren't any gaps in your education so when you have your beautiful twins you will be fully ready to care for them. Apply for every scholarship you can! One of the people you meet in the future taught you to cast your net wide! One last word of encouragement. You failed your first online course, but through your determination, the very last class you needed was online and guess what? You aced it! Is that not proof enough, I am telling you the truth? Knock down every goal you plan to achieve! Your most faithful adoring fan, Roxanne

Kateridawn

I would tell myself to stay away from boyfriends. I would have focused on my grades and possibly gotten scholarships to pay for school. I would tell myself that by worrying about relationships in highschool that I do not go back to school until I am a 30 year old mother of two. I would include that the boyfriends all went to college after high school and are graduated by now. I am the one that suffered academically. I know that while in high school those relationships seeem so important, but in the grand scheme of things they really are not.

Ellen

I would tell myself to go to college right after high school. To make a plan and stick to it. I joined the military and 17 and went straight to boot camp after high school. After I got out of the military, I got married and had a child. Then started school. And of course I would not change it but I wish that I had a career by now. I would have told myself to go straight to college and focus only on school. Watch who you become friends with, and do not, under any circumstances, get caught up in any alcohol or drugs. It is not worth it. I would also tell myself to volunteer and help out more. Have a good attitude and encourage everyone along the way. And go all the way with school, don't stop with just a bachelors or a masters. It may seem like a really long time, but it is worth it, and there is so much life to live afterwards.

Alahna

When I was a high school senior, my priorities were my friends. I did not worry about paying bills, or going to work everyday. I had so much free time that I wasted working on my social life. Today, I have two sons under 5, a job, meetings, a business and I am going to school online. If I could go back to speak with Alahna at age 17, I would tell her that every friend that she has now will have vanished from her life by the time she is 25. I would tell her that her energy would be so much better served by going to college and working on her career. I would tell her that if she puts fun off for later now, she will be able to have the kind of fun she only dreams about and at a time in her life when it really counts. We take high school for granted and I actually remember feeling like those years were going by so slowly. Looking back, I appreciate the teachers I had, and how they would encourage me, telling me about my creativity and potential. They were not required to tell me so.

Tre

The advice I would give myself would be get on track and don't let your grades slip and make sure you are a confident and mature and know what your doing in all your classes. Ask for help if needed. I would tell myself that apply for a lot of schools that may or may not want you but know which school you really want to go and build your education and be satisfied with were you go. Money going to be the concern but applying and earning scholarships is a big part of the financial need for books and tution as well. Also have fun, becuase its not many people that have fun while at college or wan to have fun. Hanging out with buddies and going out to eat or reading/studying together and relaxing as well.

Elena

Learn,learn,learn would be my advice. I learned for a grade when I was in highschool, now, since I am in college I learn for my education, to enlarge my knowledge horizont. College is a place where you can put into action everything what you learn, it's hands on experience and it's the best place to prepare yourself for the real life.This includes projects, organizing events, giving back to the community and much more. If I could go back in time I would also apply to college as soon as posible. I went to college just after one year break after highschool, which was the biggest mistake of my life. College changed my life, and the way I look now at the world. If I could do that, I would be a forever student.

Stephanie

I would explain how life and times are today and ensure that education is very important and that college is not as hard as you'd think. My advice to my self would be: Life is what you make it and if you don't take that step forward, you will regret it. It's never okay to settle nor just go with the flow through life. Every decision you make will have some kind of effect in your future. Everyone wants only good and positve things in their lives. You have the ability to create good and positive things in your life. Going back to school and furthering your education is very easy. If you do this now, you won't have to struggle in life and wonder what you could've done. It's best to explore all options now and just go for it. It'll be one of the best decisions you'll ever make. It will help you in more ways that you think. I know you want to be successful in life and find a purpose. A college education is only the beginning and something that you'll never regret.

Aleah

If I had the opportunity to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to work towards earning my associates degree as soon as I graduate high school. I would ask myself to think about what I enjoy doing, what interests me and what is important to me? I would challenge myself to explore my options by diving into them! To work hard at achieving my goals. I would encourage my high-school-senior-self to find a healthy balance between independence and submissiveness. Most of all, I would tell myself that I am the only person who can define who I am, who I will become and who I will be remembered as. Lastly, I would insist on taking action in every curious thought. I know that I could have accomplished so much more, had I realized my own potential and opportunity.

Samone

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would stress the importance of broadening my horizons and becoming more diversified. I would tell myself to become more involved in extracurricular activities. I also would recommend taking SATs and ACTs to better prepare for college. I actually wish I could go back in time to my senior year in junior high school to place myself on target for high school and college life. I would stress the importance of maintaining a high GPA and focusing on the career that I would like to pursue. I would make sure that I stayed on track to pursue the career that I chose.

Katherine

The advice that I would give myself is to go to college. Nothing is better than further your education, so that in the futher I will be able to hold a steady job in the career field that I want. Also, when I have a family I will be able to support them, by having a degree. Make sure that I pick the right college for me that have the things that I am looking for in my life. Nothing is better than being proud of the school that I have chosen to attend and get my education from.

Laura

If I had the chance to go back and talk to myself as a student in high school I would tell myself to hang in there and continue to work hard, do not give into temptation of peer pressure. I would tell me not to finish high school and not just settle with a GED, and tell me I have so much going for me if I just put forth the effort there is so much more than partying and hanging with friends that is important in life and there is a time for it later. I would tell me how hard is to do so much later in life after being married and having kids, put education first and go as far as you can, you are smart and can do anything you put your mind to.

Evan

I think to myself sometimes, I would have done so much better in high school now, since I know what I want to do for a career and living my life. I would tell myself to be prepared for life and for what is ahead of me since it will all hit me sooner or later. Knowing it is hard out here in the real world, I would do so much better in high school if I can go back in time.that I would need to work hard at finding and getting a job and save up as much as I can and sign for scholarships to help with college so I can be successful in the future and thank everyone for all the help and be grateful for everything that i have done and will get done to acheive my goals in life. Thats what I would say to myself, and know that I would need to be prepared and be ready for everything that comes to me so I can have a future and pursue the dream that I dreamt about doing and stop messing around and get to doing what is best for the future.

Angela

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to go ahead and attend college, decide what I wanted to do, and pursue it while I was young. I would encourage myself to attend college at a campus so that I could fully enjoy the whole campus experience while young! Just attending college while a young person, would help me to kind my life on track before turning 40 years of age. It would benefit me to get an education, start a career, and meet the right people who need to be a part of my life in the future. Going to college at a young age will benefit how my family will be seen by this world. Having financial stability is a major importance in life, and affects how the outside world views one.

Vannessa

The advice I would give myself is to plan for my success and not worry about what others may think. You must plan to succeed, be accountable for your decisions, take personal responsibility of your actions, and act with integrity. With those characteristics and attributes anything is possible. There will many times when you will second guess yourself or feel unsure about what you are pursuing but it is better to start somewhere and follow through rather than wait to know if it is the right choice. Because you will never know success if you aren't willing to put yourself out there and possibly fail. Fear will hold you back, so act as if you are already successful and follow through on your word.

Amanda

Do not stop and take a break from school; it only becomes harder as more responsibilities come your way. Take advantage of full college experince; go away to school and make new interesting friends. Keep your eyes and ears open and learn from each person you meet and each event you attend. Create goals that get you excited about life and post them so you can see each day. Know who you are, what you stand for, and the type of people you want to learn from. Chose a mentor that you can reach out to when needed throughout your life. Learn to say no and not feel guilty about it. Most importantly, enjoy life as much as possible.

Justin

Life may seem difficult but it will be much easier to stay in New Hampshire and finish college rather than joining the army and deploying for 3 years of your life. A little heart ache now is much easier than trying to attend college after years of heart ache in the military. Its not going anywhere and you'll be much happier if you go in as an officer since an education gives you better life options for not only the military but the civilian world as well. You can loose a leg in the military or as a civilian but you can never loose an education. Getting a degree in anything is better than not getting a degree so suck it up and push through the misery and join the military in 4 years so you can an officer instead of enlisted

kawanda

My advice would be to finish my high school instead of getting a ged, because when I was trying to find a college. I find at lot of colleges dont except ged's from griffin tech, were I obtained my ged.

Dawn

The advice I would give my high school self would be to not put off going to college. You can make it work, no matter what the challenges, you can overcome them. There is always a way to get the work done. My second piece of advice would be to stay organized and read all of the instructions on every assignment. That is the key to making sure that you stay on top of your work and keeping your grades up. With a little bit of organization and some determination, anything is possible.

virginia

Virginia you need to stop hanging out with people who drink and smoke and start making friends that actually will help you achieve your goal; Become someone that your mom will be proud of even though she is no longer with you. You're also going to have a child in the future and she will be the best thing that has ever happened to you, so you need to put yourself together now because by the time you finish high school your future dream to get into UCLA will not happen. So stop trying to be cool by selling drugs and hanging out with wrong people and get you're head focused and become someone that you would like your child to look up to.

Kelli

Kelli, you should go to school right away and assume you are going to join every club. Why? Because you love to be active, involved, and socialize. You don't want to graduate college knowing only your roommates. You should also get into fitness right away. Since you look to snack and drink lattes you don't want to compromise your health by being inactive too. But you shouldn't just do it to stay in shape. Do what you're good at. Get a job as a fitness instructor. It will keep you moving, bring you money, and you only have to work 5-10 hours a week! With that money make sure to buy yourself some cute clothes now and again, it's exhausting sharing with your friends. Also, put the rest away into a savings, maybe by the time you graduate you can trade in that car, rent an apartment in Seattle, or pay off all your student loans. Oh and one last thing: Go out as much as possible, meet new people, hang out with those you would never be friends with, you will surprise yourself with real, true friends.

shetasha

The advice I would give myself about college life and making the transition from high school to college would be to do more research. I make a schedule, and I would also create personal schedule. I find myself most of the time saying no to a lot of things. Making a schedule has really helped me out a lot with both school and my personal time. At the time I did not think I had a future worth thinking about. I would tell myself it is ok to think about the future and most of all to plan for the future. It was not long ago that I decided to really focus on my future, and continuing my education was the first step.

Jacqueline

Study hard and get your diploma. Get as many good grades as you can and learn to concentrate and use your time wisely. Stop making excusses for not doing your work. If you want to get into college you have to put your best effort forward in your education. Start saving for your tuition early it is expensive. Have all your ducks in a row it makes it easier to make a plan of action. Study harder than before going into it makes it alot easier.

Heather

Make sure that you learn how to sudy in the correct manner. also make sure that you know all you can about grammer.

Cheryl

Going back to high school I would teach myself more about time management. Someone like me that is a single mother, maintaining a full time job and attending school full time definitely needs time management skills. I would continue to remind myself that going to college will pay off in the future, whether it was for myself or my family. Keep a positive attitude at all times and never giving up. Take life a little more seriously considering college is a big deal because it is dealing with your future. Always remember that everything and anything you go through is for a reason and if college is the direction you are headed in, then you were meant to do it. Strive for excellence in everything you do and remember that your future is in the palm of your hands. You are the only one that can decide what is best for you.

Sarah

I would start by saying that education is more important than you could possibly imagine. I'm sure that right now all you see is graduation, no more high school, becoming an adult, hanging out with friends, and even sleeping in. I know that thinking of college at this point seems like a drag, however, it is one of the most important decisions you can make at this point in your life. The longer you wait to attend college, the further away it seems. Life happens, obstacles get harder to overcome, and college when you are older seems like a distant goal. Most employers that could be a possible career for you require some form of degree. It allows many more doors to open and opportunities to shine through for you. Going to college now may seem boring and uncool but trust when I say that it will pay off in the long run. Tuition and materials will go up, busy schedules, and family will soon be an excuse to not attend. Take the time to go now and put in the years for something you are passionate about. In the end, it's the right choice, the smarter choice.

Jacob

I would simply give myself the advice to start taking college classess sooner. I waiting until I was almost 20 years old before I started taking my classes in the military. I was able to take advantage of my tution assistance for two years while on active duty in Iraq and Qatar. If I would have started out when I was 18 with my college classes I would have my degree by now. This would also allow me to finish my degree prior to my G.I. Bill benefits expiring (they will expire before graduation, leaving me with over $5,000 dollars to pay). This would have also assisted me in earlier promotions while on active duty, and possibly becoming a Federal Probation Officer by now. Currently I am working as a Probation Clerk for the Federal Probation office, I have worked two years in state Probation officers before gaining the experience to obtain my current position. Overall, education is extremly important and if I would have been able to start sooner my career would have been easier to obtain and with less debt.

tim

Go to school right after graduation and not wait so long to go back.

Kenia

If I could go back in time and speak to my younger self about college with what I know now I would have many things to say. First, I would tell myself to do what is best for me, not what everyone else wants or is doing. I would also tell myself not to be scared to take a chance, there is a big world of possibilities waiting for me. The biggest adivce I would give myself is that going to a junior or community college first is a smart decision and makes the transition for high scholl to college much easier. Community college gives students a chance to learn how to become more independent in their studies without all the stress or pressure a big university comes with. Classes sizes are small and allows for the one-on-one time that may be needed due to a more complex workload. I think these few words would have made a big difference.

Kelli

Hey. What's doin? You're going to be, 'coming into your own' in the next few years so, don't worry about that. ;) What was the best part of senior year? What path will best support those goals and dreams? You have been so successful but there is more to learn and plenty of room to grow. The choices you make now act as a blueprint for what you will build for yourself in the next 10 years. You have more confidence than you think. Think about what you CAN accomplish not what you are afraid you can't. Going to college is so much more than studying what you are interested in. College gives you time to learn and grow in a supportive, and resourceful environment. These skills are vital to the subsequent choices you will make in your life and will create more opportunity and ultimate happiness! Oh, and you're pretty funny. And being loud is totally ok. Don't let anyone squash that because that's your passion, and love for life. Enjoy it!

Samantha

I would say, with your learning disabilities take the break first and try to go in a few years. Your head is not in college right now and do not think your parents will be dissapointed if you do not attend right now. Thye would rather you find out what you really want to do then waste years and money into a school that gets you no where. Then try online schooling first becasue its more like a one on one setting that you learn best in, and on the plus side you don't get called on when you don't know the answers.

Lauren

Lauren, I know at this time you are not focused on going to college but you need to be. College is what you need, it will help you in so many ways. You wont miss anything, you will actually be gaining the experiance you have always been wanting. Today is the day you go and apply to college not in five years, get this done and get your career on track. You will not regret it I promise, it might be scary at first but don't worry you will be so successful and find yourself in a college setting before no time. Now go put in those applications and figure out your career path, and follow your dreams!

Jennifer

College life is a peek into what grown up life is like. Don't wait to go to college and begin working towards your future goals. College prepares you not only accademically but socially as well as emotionally for what adult life and responsibilities are like. You meet all kinds of interesting people with similarities and differences from you. You learn so much about life and yourself in college. The classes you take can be so much fun. Take classes that interest you. Enjoy your time in college, meet new poeple, and experience new things. College offers a world of knowledge and opportunities. Don't take it for granted. Savor the moments in college.

Nathan

I would tell myself to work as hard as I could to get the best gpa I could to be able to qualify for as many scholarships as possible.

Michele

The advice I would give myself is to choose your friends wisely. Only choose friends who will encourage you to do well in school, and will not influence you to go against your better judgement. I would also tell my high school self not to follow the crowd just to fit in, and I would also tell my high school self, not to drop out of high school. I would also have told my high school self to take my relationship with God more seriously to keep me on the straight and narrow path. If I had this type of advice, I would not have fallen off course and would have made something of myself earlier in life, as opposed to later. All of the problems and heartache could have been avoided if I had this advice early in life.

Amber

Amber you need to work hard. Don't always feel so unsure of yourself and afraid to be you. I know that there are alot of people that may not understand you right now and even you don't understand you right now and it's hard but it won't stay that way forever. I know that college seems scary and that everyone tells you that that is just the next step after high school but, it is so much more than that. College is an opportunity to learn what is truly interesting to you. It is an opportunity to get better at what you love to do. College helps you learn how you can best leave your lasting imprint on this world and help people. Don't worry so much about how much college costs. There are scholarships and financial aid available for you. Where there is a will, there is definitely a way. Stop being scared. Embrace it. It will change your life and show you so many new friends and experiences . Thi is where you will be reassured that your purpose is to help people and you will meet other people just like you! Good luck!