University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

Be yourself. Remember that in time everything will work out. You don't need to have all the answers yet- just going to college is amazing. You will figure out what you want to do with your life as you go through college. Relax and have fun!

As you have heard a million times, hard work is essential for success. But college is much different from high school. Here are three additional pieces of advice that may aid you in a successful college experience. 1) KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE! (don't get distracted). You may have heard rumors about wild college parties and so on. Many of these rumors are true. Not only that, but life without parents can seem like a different world. Don't let your freedom get the best of you; remember why you're here. 2) BE YOURSELF AND BE CONFIDENT! As with many times during life, there may be pressure (perceived or actual) to conform, and to marginalize various aspects of your individuality. This may have happened to you during high school as well. But I can tell you, based on personal experience, that being true to yourself is the most rewarding decision you can make. 3) NETWORK! You might get annoyed when parents or teachers mention this. But many of the professors and classmates you meet during college can help you kick-start your career, and will continue to be invaluable assets in the years and decades to come.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that starting college is not the time to take a break. I would have stressed the importance of finding a job as soon as I start college, instead of not starting until the summer afterwards. I would also tell myself that staying involved in clubs is really important, because once you start missing meetings you end up feeling awkward about going back and often end up not going back again. Academics are important, but those are an easy problem to manage. Its managing time that is the biggest problem. Having a datebook for writing down appointments, club meetings, and assignments would be incredibly helpful. Many universities offer time management and stress management classes, or workshops. Attending those would have also been helpful. Attending university events and activities can really help expand ones social circles, and making new friends is difficult, but working at it is important. I also might have changed my mind about living in the dorms, as it was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I recommend it to no one.

Prior to entering college as a freshman, I would tell my high school self to go out and meet as many people as possible. The difference between attending a 2-year school versus a 4-year school is the social interaction as well as bonds and friendships formed. Do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Putting yourself out there for these interactions is what will help you most as an individual. Work as hard as you can with your studies, and use the bonds that you make to excel in this area.

Always be open to any and every opportunity that comes your way, and remember to role with the punches. Don’t stress yourself out over things that are out of your control; whether socially or academically, just focus on yourself and strive to be the best you can on all fronts, the rest will fall into place. Remember that everyone you meet is in the same shoes as you are, looking for new friends and just hoping to be accepted. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with a person next to you and just remember to be as open and friendly as you can. Once your school work is done, go out to a club meeting or a social event on campus. College is a fresh start, a new beginning. It can be whatever you make of it, so don’t sit around and wait for everything to happen because it will only pass you by. Go out and make things happen for you, enjoy the time you have with the people around you because it’s over too quickly and the worst part about today is that we can’t get it back once tomorrow comes.

Looking back, I wish I had taken an appitude test in high school. Unfortunately, this was not an option in 1981. My high school was known for preparing students to attend Ivy League schools and not much else. Although I made the most of the amazing resources which my prep school offered, I was no longer at the top of the class and my self-esteem suffered. Four years later I graduated from college without any firm idea of what I wanted to do. Eventually, I drifted into government relations and discovered that I was good at solving problems and helping people. Despite a rapid climb up the career ladder, however, no job ever felt quite right. Something always seemed to be missing. When my son was born in 1998, I left the workforce and became a full-time Mom. Fourteen years later when it came time to return to work, all I knew was that I didn't want to return to "lobbying." So I finally took an aptitude test. When "funeral service" popped up on the list of suggested fields, I knew I had found my calling. Today, I am happily pursuing an AAS degree in Mortuary Science.

Jolene, Just because you want to go to school far away does not mean the past will not follow you. Mom will still be sick, your sisters will still try to run your life, and on top of it you will pay outrageous fees for out of state tuition. Be ready for a bumpy road. You are going to meet the love of your life, but he will not stay for long. However, as you grow as a student he will watch over you from Heaven and help mom reach remission twice. Also, get involved right away! Don't wait for your junor year to enter the Entrepreneurship Club--joing right away! Everyone is super nice and fun to hang out with. When times get tough, remember mom, dad, Samantha, and Andrea are always there. Oh--and don't skip buying the Chihuahua. She's awesome and brings lots of happiness! Love, your future self

I would tell myself that every part of school is important so do not slack off just because it is senior year. I would tell myself not to make excuses and try new things even if your friends do not want to do them too, because you will make more friends and create fun, new experiences doing it. I would push myself to apply for more scholarships even though I don’t think I qualify for them. I would remind myself that it’s not all about me and that even though my parents do not act like they miss me a ton, they really do and I need to be more sensitive to their feelings. I would tell my high school self to let my younger sisters be excited for me going to college and not push them away. I would also keep my younger self from throwing out my handbook on MLA and APA formatting for bibliographies. My younger self needs to know that even though letting go can hurt, sometimes it truly is for the better and that it’s ok to feel hurt, but holding on can keep you anchored down from experiencing new things.

" I wonder where and what collge is right for me?" I would tell my senior year self to think about where to go first. Technical college, 4-year institution or wait until I absolutely know where I want to go. Second, I would have myself live in the residence halls to get the "full experience of college life." Finally, I would advise mysself to look at the financial situation to have the least amount of loans as possible. When thinking about college, I need to figure out the right "fit" for me and whether this is the right path for me and not choose because everyone else chose the same place. The college needs to have more then just a "brand" for me to go to. I would tell myself, "Will I receive the education that I want and am priveledge to have as a citizen here in United States?" So in the end, I would tell myself to look at the value of my education to be successful once college is completed and in the workforce. Experience matters in our society so I cannot take this too lightheartedly.

The biggest advice I would give to my high school self would be to know what I was doing. I sort of messed up my first year of college because I was waiting around for people to tell me what to do, what classes to take, when to sign up for them, etc. Really it was my responcibility to know and to take care of things. I would also tell my high school self to learn how to study. In high school I got by not having to really study a lot but in college I can't keep going like that. I would have saved myself so much pain and effort (and a few not so great grades) if I had just learned how to be a good student before I went to college.

Advice that I would give myself, knowing what I know now, would be care about your grades and not what other people think of you. While in high school, to my class it seemed, it was more important to be part of the popular group and if you didn’t fit in with them you were considered an outcast. Being considered smart or brainy was not something that mattered to my class; therefore it didn’t matter to me or many others. Now that I am in college and have started my college adveture, I have realized that there isn’t one certain thing that is considered to be ‘cool’. Anything that you do is and can be ‘cool’! Also being smart and brainy I think is the ‘coolest’ thing of all, it is what is going to get you the future you have always wanted. So don’t sell yourself short of your dreams and keep on reaching for the stars because one day that dream can become your reality.

The biggest advice I could give myself is school is the most important thing and it should be your main priority. When you get to college you will want to meet people and get the whole college experience. I think you should do that but find a balance between your social life and your course work. I understand that high school was easy for you but it does not prepare you for college. I got a 1.5 GPA the first semester of college and I am still paying for it. I spend nine hours in the library everyday to make up for my first year of college and had to retake some classes. I have taken eighteen credits each semester so I can make up for my mistakes and graduate in a timely manner. I finally have my GPA up to a 2.9 going into my junior year but I am planning on going to grad school so I need to have a 3.3 by the time I graduate for occupational therapy. Therefore, start working hard on day one because I promise you it will pay off instead of still paying for your mistakes two years later.

If you think you've got a good grasp of what you want to do, dive into college. If you don't have a good idea of what you'd like to study, take some time off to work, travel, or take some enrichment classes. Just know that the longer you are away from school, the harder it is to transition back when you decide you are ready to go. Study something you enjoy, not just something that makes a large salary. Financial security is important, so your major should be something you can use professionally, but happiness and flexibility can be more important in getting a good job than just what your major was. Be involved, whatever that means for you. The academics are the reason you are in university in the first place, and the most important, but there is a lot of value in the "college experience." Join a club. Get involved in politics. Learn a new hobby. This is the time in life when your entire purpose is to learn, grow, and expand yourself and your horizons.

Apply early for colleges, you can go to any school you want and apply for scholarships are three pieces of advice I would give myself if I could go back to my senior year. Many cases all three of these things I was told many times throughout high school but did not realize the significance until it was too late. In high school people told me to apply for schools early but I would never imagine it would all happen so fast. In the middle of my senior year I was applying for a variety of schools. Although I should have started my junior year, beginning this process at the start of my senior year would have relieved a lot of stress. Secondly I would have reassured myself I could have gone to any school I wanted to. I had set goals for myself but they were not high enough. Going back in time I would apply for more four year prestigious universities. Lastly to help with my financial situation I would apply for more scholarships. Scholarships would have reduced my stress level significantly; allowing me to focus on my school work instead of finances.

I would tell myself that i dont need to study harder, but smarter. getting away with studying in high school is a lot easier than in college and that i need to use the resources available before its too late.

Start saving up money now, because no matter how much they told you in high school that you could get financial aid or help to pay, it was all lies. If you don't have the money to pay for what you need you will receive no help from the school, nor any sympathy from professors. More importantly you need to take this seriously. You won't be able to skip by with late work or wait for the extra credit opportunities because they will never come. Just focus on your work, get to know your professors because they really are cool people, and get involved with the school. Avoid the fraternities and sororities though, they're just a distraction and a waste of time and money. Your liver will thank you in the end.

I would tell my high school self to work even harder to put away money for use later in college, to learn better time managent skills in order to make my life less stressful, to apply for more scholarships so that no financial troubles occur, and to simply have more fun in life and enjoy the people around you.

To my younger self, The past two years since graduation have been spectacular. I could have never imagined that this is where I would be. I am not going to spoil the events of the past two years, but I do have some advice. You need to always be yourself and to never doubt yourself. College is a journey of self discovery and the best way to discover what you like, how you learn, and what you want to major in is to be yourself. Another thing, never underestimate or doubt yourself; always take risks. When I say take risks I do not mean waiting until the night before to study for a test. I mean, pushing yourself, applying for positions you never thought you could get because, you can do anything you put your mind to. My last bit of advice is, be confident, be smart, and be kind. Just remember you can do anything you put your mind too, Your future self

If I could give advice to myself as a high school senior I'd tell myself to not be worried about the future. I'd tell myself there's no need to get caught up in the thought of having to make new friends because the people I'll meet are wonderful and just the type of people I need to surround myself with. I'd tell myself that it's necessary to apply for every scholarship and to pick up extra hours during the summer because you're going to need as much money as you can get to pay for your expenses. I'd tell myself to keep my door open on for at least the first week of the semester to meet new people on the floor. I think the best piece of advice I would give myself is to go into the new environment with an open mind and to be exactly who I am. Don't worry about others because they don't know you. You'll always have critics, but all that matters is how you react to their opinions of you. I'd tell myself to do things for myself and be happy.

The second you realize your not doing well in a class go get help. Study as much as you can it will truly help. Do not think twice about joinin the cheer team, you will meet friends you will have for life. College is going to be some of the best times of your life, cherish it, make all the money your putting out to go to school worth it.

I would tell my high school self a number of things- to keep calm, to enjoy going out as much as possible, to take care of my health, to work on a monthly budget, how to clean efficiently and be more organized, and to endure the criticism of my art classes, that life gets a lot more critical, fast. I would also tell myself to not settle on a major that would be 'appropriate', and tell myself I should go into Fashion. As much as I appreciate the growth and thinking time I had after choosing one major, I wish I had gone after what I wanted sooner. While I've placed my heavy workload as my first priority, and juggle my neurological problems, my minimal social life, and basic necessities like sleeping, eating, and cleaning as my second priorities, I can take comfort in that while my classes are difficult, I’m enjoying what I’m learning, and am excited with each new assignment, and don't have that feeling that my classes are just fillers that I have to push through like I did in high school.

Throughout the past few years, I have found myself saying, "If only I had known this earlier." My college experience has been an adventure. Had someone told me some of the things I now know, the adjustment would have been much easier. College is the time where one is able to find themself and open up to new possibilties. Looking into the eyes of myself as a senior in high school, I would have said this... One chapter may have closed but the next is now open and the best is yet to come. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. From mistakes are lessons and lessons must be learned. Be yourself , be open to others because you never know, they could change your life. Do not worry about things out of your control. Dream big and make those dreams come true. Do not let anyone stand in your way. Find out what you love to do and do it. Do not chose a career for money, choose a career that you will love, every single day of your life. You have one life, do everything you can to be able to look back and say, "I have no regrets."

Dear Angie, This is future you.I have very important information for you about college! Yes, you do go to college – and you do pretty damn well while you’re there! Listen up. You need focus on what really matters: friends, schoolwork, and family. Friends. All those people who you think are your friends; they will mean nothing to you within a couple years. Talk to Kourtney more. She needs your optimism in her life. Don’t stray away from her when it gets hard, you have a responsibility.Schoolwork. If you honestly call that “studying”, then you have another thing coming, Ang! Just wait. Six hours and five cups of coffee later on the night before finals, that’s studying.Family. This is the most important. Family comes first, and they always will. Spend time with Mom and Dad; your transition into college was hard for them. Oh, and spend more time with albuela. She means a lot more to you than you think. Bottom line. Set your priorities. Yeah, I want you to have fun. So, do that too. Keep up the good work. You’re doing amazing things; and this is only the beginning. Love, Future you

As a high school senior I would say don't stress too much about it, it's very different from home but in a new, good way. You're able to grow into an adult more and learn more about yourself. If you're someone who gets homesick easily I wouldn't suggest going somewhere really far away, you'lll hate it. And if you're going home on the weekends all the time it will be more difficult for you to make friends so really think about if your location is the best for you. I would also get a summer job and part time job during the school year, school is expensive! Also, FILL OUT SCHOLARSHIPS! They can be a huge help.

If I could go back in time and talk to my self as high school senior. I would tell myself to enjoy high school and to not be so shy. I would tell myself not to take anything for granted. I would also tell my self to tell my best friend that I love him no matter what. I would tell my self to try harder and to spend more time with my friends. I would tell myself over all to remeber the little moments that made senior year memberable such as prom and graduation.

Dear Linda, As your senior year comes to an end, I have some words of wisdom that will help with your upcoming college and "real" life decisions. If you know what you want to be when you grow up, go for it. You don't need to pick an IVY league school, community colleges as a headstart will be beneficial. The less loans you take, the less debt you'll be in. If you're undecided for a major, take a year off after high school. There's no need to rush into something that you won't be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} committed to. Pick a major that you'll enjoy and be happy with, money isn't everything. The economy is in a slight recession, but I'd definitely recommend going in the health/medical field, so don't be scared of failing!! The possibilities are endless-I know it's cliche but it's true. Believe in yourself, you're smarter than you think you are! And most importantly, enjoy college life-it goes by faster than you think. It'll be the best time of your life! Make sure you study but be social!!! Linda Chang

The advice I would give myself is to really be selfish, embrace your college experience, and be willing to leave your comfort zone. If you are willing to do these things then your transition into college will be so much more enjoyable and much less stressful!

Dropping out of High School may seem like the logical thing to do, but once you are ready for school it will be just that much harder to start again. That being said, there is no sense in rushing into something you think you might want to do. It's unforunate you have had to grow up so fast, but I assure you that this is not one of those times where you need to make a split decision about your life. Take some time to go to community college and explore your interests. As crazy as this might sound, you might not want to go into art, and will be much better suited to go into physics, or biology. Knowing everything is not what's important right now. What is important right now is taking your time to learn as much about yourself as you can, and doing what is best for you. Take your time, help out as many others as you can, and stay focused in school. There will always be parties, but you are paying for these classes right now. It's okay to not have it all figured out yet.

I would tell myself to get involved in campus life as a freshman; to find clubs and organizations that I’m interested in and invest my energy into those. Get really connected to campus and network right away. Almost all of the amazing opportunities I have been given have been because of some connection to a staff, faculty, or student I had made earlier. I would also tell myself to take all of my science classes earlier, so they interfere with my schedule less later on. Don't procrastinate on academic work as much as I had. Apply for more scholarships, so many go unclaimed.

Be outgoing and don't hold back. Yes, you can have fun every now and then but keep the studying hard because the independence feeling can take over and you can lose sight of why you are really there for. Join groups and organizations, they are a great way to make new friends and expand your mind of what you might like to do with future. Lastly, have fun at college it goes a lot faster than you think, way faster than high school did. Study hard, play hard.

If i could back in time and give myself advice I would of made myself sit down and reAally think about what kind of career i wanted, knowing what you are going to school for makes things and decisions much easier along the way. I would also tell myself to be more dedicated to getting better grades, make sure i take that extra hour to understand the material or finish the homework.

I would tell myself to pick up great study habits, learn how to motivate myself and become focused on each subject. Learn how to retain the information being taught to me so that I could use it in the future. Also, eliminate procrastination so that work and assignments can be completed before the time that they are due.

He was sitting in the meadow by himself, starting at the tall oak woods covering the park. He looked in a daze of fantasies running through his mind, a place of meditation. He never even noticed me as I walked toward him. As I approached, I saw a backpack sitting next to him stuffed until the seams where ripping. “What’s in your bag?”“Just books and school work” he replied. “Do you usually do your homework out here?” “No” “How come you lug such a huge backpack?” “Because I might find inspiration to do it, but it never happens”. “That’s unfortunate.” I reply. “Do you like space?” “Yeah! It’s a source of inspiration for me. But it can be overwhelming how much is out there”. “Well, I have something important to tell you. It’s about space…” I pause. “I am from the future, the adult you and I embarked on a journey to come and tell you something extremely important!” Suspense paints his face as he looks at me. “Take your studies seriously because your future, my reality, can be open to many opportunities that you never imagined! You will have a family to care for.”

Knowing what I currently do, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, there are many things that I would advise myself to do differently. For starters, I would talk to myself about procrastination, starting off strong, and the differences between college and high school. Procrastination is one of the biggest problems that I dealt with and if I could go back I would definitely try to stop it. You have to manage your own time, no one else will. If you’re on top of everything, the college process will go a lot faster and smoother. Make sure you start off strong because when you have good grades you have an advantage in college. It’s easier to just start off good and keep doing good than to try to raise a low GPA. In addition I will tell myself that no question is a stupid question. If you want to know something, ask it and most of the time many others have the same question that you do. These are just a few of the things I would go back and advise my senior self to do if I could.

I would tell my high school self several things that I have learned in the years since I have graduated. I would tell myself not to worry about having the "right" friends, but good ones. I look back and see myself trying to chase and impress people because they were popular. I do not keep in touch with these friends anymore. I've taught myself there are more important qualities in a person that qualify them as a good friend, such as, honesty, kindness, and encouragement. During my transition from high school to the first two years of college I would like to go back and befriend more of these types of people.

I would tell myself to apply to as many scholorships as possible, and try out every avenue during high school that there is. The reason I would recommend this is because sometimes it takes a little bit longer to find ones interests, but if during high school a person takes advantage of all the advanced placement classes and even the random art classes they may have a better idea of what they want to do with their lives once they enter college. This helps to save money and gives them a direction. I would also tell myself that college life is like high school but with more freedom. The bad part about more freedom is more responsibilities. The last thing I would want my high school self to learn would be budgetting. That sounds a little ridiculous for a high school student, but going into college puts a person into a completely different financial class. Things get pretty costly, and even though student loans are available there has to be the awareness that they do require repayment after graduation.

Hey Cody, it's Cody. I know what you're thinking, this is a little weird that your future self is talking to you, but bear with me. You need to take your last year more seriously. I know you've been getting this drilled into your head by everyone, but seriously, APPLY YOURSELF. Oh, and all of those college preparation workshops you do in your advisory class are well worth paying attention too. Make sure you apply for some colleges besides Vvc, you never know what you could get into, trust me, you're a lot smarter than you let off. Make sure you GO TO CLASS. I cannot stress enough how important it is to just be physically present in your classes. You may think you're a hot shot who knows everything being taught, but if you actually learn the material, you wouldn't be finding it a little bit difficult in some of your college classes. Don't laugh this off as some joke Cody; this is the rest of your life we're talking about. Invest your efforts into your education instead of girls and acting. You're going to do great things.

Me myself didnt know what to do with my life just like millions of kids graduating from high school. The time i was in high school i was looking into being an engineer. it wasnt officailly something i had my mind set on, but it was something i thought would be pretty "cool" to do. but as far as that goes, i noticed i was into computers but also working with my hands. i loved being outside in the open doors and getting that breath of fresh air. Im currently working at a wells fargo bank and i now know that being in the banking business is not for me.. ive worked many jobs but i never noticed how much i like being under the hood. If i would to somehow go back in time and look myself in the high school senior eyes. i would tell myself that you need to further your education and get into something you love. so to pretty much listen to all your teachers and hear what they have to tell you because they know whats going on in the real world. analso to look closer to what you do everyday.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior with knowing what I know now I would give myself numerous tips of advise. The major part that I would emphasize is to not give up. You've worked this hard to excel in high school to get into the school you wanted and achieve what you did, why stop now? In college the classes get harder, and the teachers don't know you as well as they would in a high school. You really have to focus on your studies and work hard to get the grades you want, and if you're not getting what you want keep moving forward and work a little harder. Another part of being successful is getting involved! By getting involved you will learn to manage your time wisely, and get done what is needed to get done. Last but not least, be yourself. By being yourself you will find friends to last a lifetime, and will make your time at college one of the best parts of your life. With all of this you'll do great. I know you can do this.

Just be yourself, and don't worry about how others view you. I came back to campus when I was 24 and did not care if others thought I was stupid for not going to parties and drinking. It's okay to focus on your studies. A social life is nice, but your grades are also important, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Also, save a lot of money! School is much more expensive than you think, and financial aid doesn't cover it all. If you don't start saving now, you will be broke when you graduate. Classes will be very tough, and there will be days when you want to give up, but don't. You can get through them, and you will, and you will look back when you are older and feel a strong sense of pride for what you have accomplished. It is all worth it.

A few things I would tell my high school self is not to take life too seriously. Life is short and you shouldn't spend too much time caring about what others think of you. You have grown so much in the past year or so, and I believe you will figure everything out soon enough. Look at things with an open mind, don't ever talk negatively about someone behind their back because you never truely know what their going through behind closed doors. Everything you have been through has led to this moment. You've accomplished so much and you're going to be very surprised where life is going to take you. Live everyday to the fullest. Seize every opprotunity to do something new or exciting every time you can; you may never get the chance to again. Love and embrace all people, and never become something you feel pressured to be. Take chances. Something you do today, may change your life tomorrow. Keep your head up kid, you're going to be fine.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not focus on those who i thought I considered as friends, focus on my school work and just be happy being myself. I was bullied a little in high school and those i considered my friends, were not my friends. Second, I would tell myself to focus on my school work because paying attention to what I've learned in the past and what I learn in the present, definitely helps with what I will learn in the future. Finally, I would tell myself not to worry too much about making sure that people liked me and just be happy being myself because at the end of the day how I feel about myself is what matters.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior is to take more chances in life. I would tell myself to get myself motivated to start working on projects and a job to support my hobbies. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as those are the lessons that will take your determination higher to achieve your goals. Always remember that you can learn more from failures than just pure success. It is better to try something new than not try something at all. Make sure you stay focus on your goals knowing that your family and friends are there to support you all the way. Do not give up on your dreams especially when there are so many different opportunities in the world that can make your dreams possible.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self as a senior there are definitely some things I would share with myself. First of all, I would tell myself to try and work on more scholarships. After being in college for one semester, I realize how much easier and enjoyable things would be if I had applied for more scholarships. One very important thing would also be to spend as much time with my close friends as possible, making those relationships and bonds stronger. Seeing how some of your so-called friends change once you aren't in the same city as they are opens your eyes to who is really going to be there for you in the long run. I would want my high school self to realize which relationships you need to put first and that people who come into your life quickly, even though they seem great, will exit your life just as fast as they came. Finally, I would tell myself to not waste money on unimportant things because, let's be real, it's no fun being a broke college student.

As a highschooler, I was a student who was very involved in sports and other various activities offered through my school. I also worked as well, so I was constantly busy. If I could go back in time though to my high school senior self, I would tell myself that I was doing a great job and that everything I was participating in then would only strengthen the person I need to be in the future. I feel as though with being involved in so much I developed a great sense of time-managment and also figured out how to prioritize my life (from school work, to activities I was participating in, to work and also maintaining a social life). Those two skills have proved to be key skills to possess when it comes to wanting to succeed in college. So with having those skills already in place, it was an easier transition for me to make going from high school life to college life (which I have found to be much more serious and future oriented and requiring much more of you). So in all, I would thank myself for being as strong as I was.

The advice that I would give myself is, don’t worry so much. Everything will work out and it all happens for a reason. You’ll meet some of the most amazing people and they will touch your lives in ways that you would have never imagined. Don’t be afraid to open to people, as well. They really do care about you and are there for you whenever you need it.

As a returning adult student, I have thought about this many times and frequently wish I could go back to my first degree self and offer up a few pointers. The first suggestion I would make is to pick a career that is enjoyable and interesting. Do not sweat if it doesn’t work out as education is the one investment that no one can take away from you. Having a profession you love and that makes you happy is more valuable than any amount of money, title, or fame. Second, I would urge graduating seniors to always keep in mind their priorities as that mindfulness will guide difficult decisions. Lastly, college is fun, challenging, and a very enriching experience. Taking advantage of campus opportunities and becoming involved in communities will open countless doors and provide the experiences that bring depth and reward to a college degree!

Dear High School self, looking back after completing my first semester of college, I have realized how much has changed. College is a great experience, but if I could go back in time, I would change a few things. Do not be shy and afraid. Do not let your anxiety run your life. Build up your confidence, you will turn out to be happy. Go out and have fun! Make a lot of friends, do not stay home on Friday nights because there are people that will be willing to spend time with you as long as you talk to them. Not everyone there is judging you based on how you look, it is about being yourself. Stop hiding in your shell and thinking "I will just wait until college to make friends." Although I have lots of friends now, it would have been easier to make more if I had more in high school. Life will turn out okay if you just reach out of your comfort zone sometimes. I am not saying that there will not be bumps along the way, but life will turn out well. Sincerely, Me

If I could go back to being a high school senior, I would definately make a few changes. I would take more college prep classes and learn how to study before I started college. High school was so easy compared to college life. While the professors are willing to help, it is now my reponsibility to complete my homework (no matter what) and turn in all assignments. College deifnately brings a whole new level of responsibilty to my life. Although I accumulated more than 200 hours of community service, I would volunteer more and give to my community. I realize how important it is to give. My final words of advise to myself would be to get involved in any and all activities on campus. Campus involvement is a great way to discover a hidden talent and an excellent opportunity to form lifelong friendships.

It is the best thing you could do for yourself. The study aboard program is something you should do for sure.