Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to be more confident in my abilities. I am a very bright girl, but I always seemed to doubt myself alot. I would also tell myself to be more focused because college is definitely not a cake walk. I think one of the biggest pieces of advice that I could give myself and anyone else is to just be yourself! I know we hear this from people all the time, but in college it is really important to just be yourself. You will definitely find your group of friends that will understand and love you for who you are. You don't need to change yourself or conform to what others think the "best" is.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that the main thing to remember about college is that it is a period of learning about yourself and your career goals that you will pursure for the rest of your life. In college, you will make mistakes, but do not let them slow you down; instead, learn and grow from them. I would tell my high school self that I should not hesitate to get involved with Delta Epsilon Mu, a Professional Pre-Health Co-Ed Fraternity, earlier because through that I made friendships that will last a lifetime. I would tell myself that it is okay to accept that a subject such as Organic Chemistry is difficult for me and not to give up or lose faith in myself when I struggle through the class. I would also tell myself that as long as I stay focused on my education, nothing can stop me from achieving whatever goals I pursue academically. I would end by telling myself that no matter what happens, do not worry because in the end I will look back on college as the best four years of my life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would strongly suggest to apply to several schools in and out of the state, the more the better. This will give you a better chance to actually attend a four year university. As a high school senior I regret not talking to my counselor about different schools and scholarships that were always available for me on the internet. This would have made my collge experience much easier and stress free. Opposed to applying for loans every semester and having to depend on financial aid. Another thing I would've told myself is to not take a break between semesters and just attend college straight through. Once you take a break it is often difficult to jump right back into a college mentality because a lot of distractions may occur while your out of school such as work or just having too much fun. I would've also attended a large university and lived on campus, that is one experience a high-school student would enjoy as living on their own, and it will teach one to mature into an independent young adult.

The next few years you will try to find yourself and figure out what to do in life. Trust me when I say, you are a work in progress. No need to plan the next 5 years and stick strictly to it. Work on building yourself and enhancing the strengths and talents you have. Once you get to college take your time and experience everything there is to offer. Go to basketball games, freshman week and make new friends instead of planning your next trip home. Avoid overwhelming yourself with core courses and register for electives that spark your interest to keep the fun going. Focus on you and getting the most out of life. Grades are very important but the experience and knowledge you gain about life outweigh GPA by a long shot. Work hard and play hard; Join a sorority, go on crazy spring break vacations and last minute road trips. It is easy to get wrapped up in college life but your self-respect, God and family should never be pushed to the back burner.

Being on your own for the first time is a crazy adjustment. Dormmates become your family and sometimes you do lose touch with friends in other schools, that's why you absolutely need to make an effort to stay in contact and get together on breaks. New environments can sweep you away and overwhelm you, but just make your dorm feel like home and you'll adjust. Also, long distance relationships do not work. I know you love him more than anything but you deserve a lot better than crying your eyes out every night for eight months. There's a whole world outside your dorm; don't let an unhealthy relationship blind you to that. Extra-curriculars are all over the place and a great way to make friends; there's even a quidditch team! Most importantly, don't forget about yourself. These courses will open your mind to all sorts of possibilities and you'll feel yourself changing rapidly, but you're always going to be creative and talented and you need to love yourself for that, and everything else that you are.

I know you're scared. This is a huge step. You’ve been through a lot. I understand how you’re feeling. Just keep this in mind – you’ve got the potential to do a lot of great things. A few short years from now, you’ll see that. You will. You’ve been blessed with the ability to hear truth from God and you share that with your friends, speaking what He wants you to speak. All of this frustration you’re experiencing now, all of the doubt, fear, anger, and more… all of that will pass. All of that does pass very soon. You won't even recognize your current self in a few years. You improve so much. Keep pushing through with life. It’s difficult, but you can do it. Take a short break from school, collect yourself, and you’ll find out that every day gets better. Soon, you’ll be feeling like you’re ready to truly live, and you’ll let go of so much of the fear that has been holding you back. It’s your future, so take charge and go for it. Nobody else can live your life. Keep going.

I would tell myself not to get too stressed about the transition. Phillippians 3:14 "I can do all through Christ who strengthens me." Also, I would tell myself not to let prejudice overlook the opportunities that present themselves. Go for colleges that offer myself the best opportunity to succeed, both in classes and after college. Do not let pride dictate decisions, for it often leads to decisions that look great on the outside but horrible in reality. Just because you like the first school you visit, does not mean that it is time to end the recruitment process; it should continue onwards to keep as many pathways open to myself as possible to maximise options. While decisions would be tougher, there would be better options available for college. One last thing I would tell myself to spend time on scholarships, when I can, for every scholarship I win is less money I owe to my college of choice. As Benjamin Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Likewise, money not used now can be used later to help with expenses. One final saying here: "Time is money." As time passes, scholarship opportunities dwindle for next year.

I would advise high school seniors to make sure not to get too caught up in college life and remember to focus primarily on grades. Classes are less structured, so you are allotted a great deal more responsibility for your work than in high school. Just remember how much you are paying for college.

I think most people would agree with me when asked this question, don't procrastinate! Through out high school and even till this day I am a major procrastinator. It's never too early to do what you need to do, stop wasting your time doing useless thing when you can finish a project or study for a test . The way I see it is if you must waste time doing uneccessary things you can always waste your time after you do what needs to be done. Another advice I want to give, is high school really is not everything, it's a short period of time it's only four years, that's not even a quarter of your life. So stop thinking that high school is so important, you may meet friends that last and you might not. The truth is there is so much more to life, the four years you spent there is so unsignificant if you think about what lies ahead. Don't think too much into everything and just try to enjoy the four years and if they're not enjoyable, well then just keep telling yourself it's only four years!

The only advice I would give to myself is this, "Join more organizations". I realized in college that the different groups of people didn't matter, whereas in high school it was all about being part of a certain group or clique in order to feel like you belong somewhere. I would tell myself to get into more clubs like the LGBT one and chess so I can do something productive after school with others instead of staying home playing video games. I really should learn to trust people more often since I distanced myself from people who I considered to be "jocks" but after communicating with them during my college years I learned that those guys are pretty awesome to know.

The big things I would tell my self that would help me enjoy my first year so more would be. One listen to mom more I'm telling you all I needed was to study and be more organized that would have seriously helped. Second don't be scared to do something I promise you it won't hurt to be more adventures and less causious. The last thing is still continue to do nice things for people cause amazingly your good deeds do come back as good karma sooner or later. You get mad respect for being so nice to people its just that cool and easier to make friends around the place.

You are going te regret a lot of decisions you are going to make in the upcoming years, but you will regret none more than not going to college right after you graduated high school. In high school, you knew that you wanted you be an accountant and that you would be good at it, but you doubted yourself and held yourself back for one reason or another. You took what seemed to be the easy path, but turned out to be much more difficult in the long run. If you could have seen that, in the future, you wait tables for you aunt for ten years, would you have made a different choice? If you knew that, in the future, you would infact become a bookkeeper and, once again, aspire to become an accountant. Would you have put it off? You could be finished with school and concentrating on your career and saving for your own kids futures in less than ten years. Think long and hard about the long term, before the long term catches up with you. Either way, you'll be just fine. They're two roads to the same place, which road will you choose?

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, as a senior in high school, I would have advised myself to socialize more. The ability to socialize is very important in both high school and college because socializing gives one the ability to adjust to certain norms, routines, rules and rituals. This is something that one must do in an effort to have a successful college career. Being shy, worried about your appearance, and lacking confidence is sometimes normal for high school seniors. This is because you will soon be attending college and it will be a new experience that will take serious adjusting, so anxiety is expected. However, it is important not to allow this anxiety to stop you. During your senior year, getting involved in clubs, teams or your community is imperative. This allows you to create long-lasting friendships; it keeps you sane, enhances problem solving skills, teaches you to think for yourself, and prepares you for life in general. Smile, be confident and focus, but get involved in those high school activities and make friends. You will not regret it.

Being perceived as “cool” or “popular” by others seems to disappear when one enters college. Instances of bullying and isolation goes away and feelings of excitement and eagerness are prominent during freshmen year of college. I would go back and tell myself that it all gets better. Not many people I have encountered in my college experience has cared that I was not popular in high school and have actually embraced my weird and unique personality. I have met some amazing people in college and can already tell that I have made some life-long friends. I would also tell myself to reach out of my comfort zone more and try new things during that first year of college. Falling back on what feels safe and comfortable is not what is always best or even right. I feel as though I missed out on quite a bit freshmen year of college because I was scared and so I feel as though I missed out on a lot of opportunities that my peers may have experienced. Every year of college has been better than the last, so I would tell myself to just keep on going and enjoy everything.

Although the future may seem ambiguous and unstable; you must persist. Keep in mind that you can never fail if you always put your best efforts forward. I had a fear of failing and not succeeding before I came to college. It didn't seem realistic that I could attend a university after high school The process of applying to colleges seemed so cumbersome and difficult; this made me feel discouraged and doubtful. Soon, I realized that my once doubtful thoughts were unnecessary stress and a waste of time. Once I received my acceptance letters from all three of the schools I applied to, including my number one choice; I knew my life was about to change in a big way. From that day, I vowed that I would never be discouraged by something I put my all into. I now know that hard work and persistence pays off. That way of thinking has allowed me to keep my mind on success and breeze through college with a positive attitude No matter what; don't give up and continue to put your best forward.

"I know you don't know what you're doing in life at the moment, and there is a lot of floating around. But if I were in your shoes again, I'd go ahead and bunker down and take school more seriously. Although you may not know it yet, you love learning. You thrive on it, and it energises you. Don't look at school as a chore. Although it may seem like there isn't much purpose, education will be the key to open doors in the future. Figure out what you want to do now, and start working towards it. And even if you don't know, go ahead and work towards an associates of some type at the community college. While throwing all caution to the wind and simply living a party lifestyle may seem like a great idea, that isn't going to get you anywhere. Stay off the drugs, it will keep you out of a lot of trouble. Bottom line is: just start working towards something. If it doesn't seem like the right path, it probably isn't. But it's always okay to change your mind."

I would tell myself to work much harder on earning scholarships. Once I adjusted to college life, I realized that I am becoming self-sufficient and that I need to be conscious of my future. Having scholarship money would relieve so much stress and allow me to focus on my schoolwork rather than wonder how I am going to pay for my education. I would have also been much more active in trying to find a job, at least part time. I hear my peers joking around constantly about how we are all broke college students and we have no monetary funds to to anything remotely fun. The sad thing is, I think that is absolutely correct. If I had known how hard reality would strike me when I moved away from home, my attitude would have been completely different.

Looking back now I see that I could have done a lot of things differently. When you ask what I would tell myself about the transition from high school to college life, I reply with the common phrase: I should have listened to my elders, significant figures, and peers a lot more. It’s hard to speak of what could have or should have been because we don’t have time machines, we can’t go back and rewrite history, but we can be more aware of what people tell us at in that present time. I would tell myself to be more decisive and think critically about what I want and where I want to be in 5 years. I would advise myself to pay a little more attention to the details in life, for it is only there for a moment, then that moment is gone and you hopefully leave behind a progressive decision. Knowing myself like I do, I would have most likely ignored the advice, because I was a typical young and arrogant teenager. Regardless of what could be, we all have our own yellow brick road paved for us; we just have to walk them.

If I could go back in time only to give advice to myself as a high school senior, there would be a few short words to say. I would definintely start with congrats! Very few people in my community make it to their senior year in high school and not only did you make it, you're also the first in your family to go off to college. Next, I would emphasize determination. Determination gets you far when you come to college and it's nothing like you expected. Determination is all you have once you feel like giving up because high school didn't really prepre you for this. Determination brings me into my last key point of advice, flexibility. Flexibility is necessary when your plan A falls through. Be flexible and stop assuming everything will go off without a hitch. Yes I know you had your mind set on one career path for almost all of your life, but college presents opportunities that you've never imagined. College will throw plenty of setbacks your way, but as long as you stay focused, determined, & flexible, you'll laugh in the face of adversity and overcome & acheive all your goals.

"Remeber to stay strong in who you are. Although some people will not recieve you well, do not ever feel guilty for being yourself, and take pride in knowing who that is. Each person you meet is a mirror for you to see what you like, and what you do not like in yourself. Learn the lessons that these people provide, the good and the bad. Remember too, have patience in discovering your path. It is unnecessary to feel so anxious about the future all the time, when what life is really about is experiencing the here and the now. That is what shapes what we want and who we are, so stay in the moment! Also, Mom does get sick again, and will continue to do so, but do not let that stop you from pursuing your goals. Travel as far and you need to and accept that she may not be there when you get back. There is too much to life to waste yours waiting for someone else to lose theirs. And tell her you love her every day. There is nothing more important than honesty, in all things. Good luck!"

I wish I could go back and enroll in classes that would help me graduate high school with an associates degree. Which would allow me to come into college as a junior and take advantage of other school activites coming into college.

I would give myself the advice that high school is an important time of your life. Once high school is over, the real responsibility begins, and the worries about money, education, and making a family will become the main concerns for you. I will tell myself not to worry about people befriending you or including you in their activities; those things are not as important as learning life skills to use in the workplace and in life. I will tell myself to focus more on school and studying, and to take my classes more seriously so that I can get into a good college and succeed. I will tell myself that it is important to enjoy high school, and to not take small things so seriously. There will be plenty of time to worry later on in life. I will tell myself that college is not some place to go and waste time, instead it is something to prepare for and succeed in so that I can get a good job and take care of my wife and my family. I would tell myself to be more of a go getter and to get my drivers license early on!

Dear high school Jamie, You've got a lot on your plate. Between dance and school, a social life isn't even an option anymore. Don't stress about that for a second. Who you are as a high school senior has no effect on who you are as a college freshman. Focus on school (and dance, of course), not on friends. Take the time out to apply for scholarships. A little time and effort can pay off (pun intended). Pay attention in classes! Grades are important, however, the knowledge you gain in class is what will pay off in college and in life! Do not fear the transition. You are already as strong and independent as you will ever be. Most importantly, keep dancing. Aside from the physical benefits of dancing (aka not gaining the freshman 15), a good, sweaty dance class will relieve your stress before your first big test. Be exactly who you are from the very moment you get to campus. They're going to love you, I promise. With love, -Your experienced, older self

If I could go back and meet myself, I'd be annoyed. My annoyance would come from my lax ways and pretentious attitude towards school. Back then, I never really tried. I stayed in honor classes, received straight As, and never ventured to anything more difficult. I thought that college would be easy, scholarship applications wouldn't be challenging, and community college would be a repeat of high school. Boy, was I wrong. My first piece of advice, former self, is to be more Socratic. I'd tell you that you didn't know everything then and I still don't know everything now. I'd teach you how to study since you seldom did and that stress you felt during finals is nothing compared to college finals. I would remind you that things are easier in high school because a school year's worth of information isn't compacted into eighteen weeks. I wish you found the passion to succeed and to place yourself in more demanding classes. Now, I am passionate but I have to reprogram my academic habits because of the lack of them in high school. I'd tell you that in college, life is better.

Kristina, this is your future self. I know that you are currently choosing the college you want to attend. I just want to let you know that Virginia Commonwealth University is a good choice and you will enjoy it very much. Choose your major as chemistry and choose a pre-dental track. Do not be discouraged by the people who do not believe in you such as some members in your family. You are a smart and capable girl that some others are jealous of. You will be able to take all the classes and understand the material. However, do not listen to the advisors as well. Look at the university's worksheets for chemistry and plan the next four years of class schedules. Join a sorority, keep volunteering, and keep participating in clubs. Also, start applying to scholarships and financial aid so that you do not need to skip a year. Finally, times have been tough and you have been forced to make some hard decisions. I want to let you know that college is a happy place where you can be yourself. Nothing can hold you back if you believe in yourself and follow the desire you have.

Looking back at my senior year of high school I could focus on either one of two things. I could dwell on all of the mistakes I've made, or I could focus on where exactly those mistakes have gotten me and what I have learned along this journey. My biggest piece of advice I would give myself would be not to rush through anything and to do my absolute best with any given opprotunity because the decisions you make now will effect you in the future. I would look myself in the eyes and tell my prior self what is truly important. Whether I would like to admit it or not, I would advise my self to limit the amount of time that I spent with my friends and going out on the weekend, so I could focus more on my dual credit and AP classes. Beginning college has made me realize that there is more to life than sleeping all day and staying up all night. Life is about fufilling one's dream and doing what is necessary to get there.

If I could give myself advice. I would tell myself to spend more time reading books so that it's easier to do the homework in college.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to create goals. I believe creating goals will help students become successful in college. Goals are blueprints of actions that lead to accomplishments in short or large periods of time. They motivate students to achieve success. Students can refer to these goals for encouragement when they are struggling or at any point during their college career. Before I began college, I created goals to guide me in my journey through college. I will be using my goals to help me pursue my dream of becoming a high school math teacher. One personal goal I created for myself is to make my community proud. I want to demonstrate to my community that Latinos can become successful. I want to become a role model for other Latinos so that they can pursue their dreams.

I would tell myself that the first year of college is going to be the most wonderful time of your life, but at the same time dont let your main goal come out of focus. The main reason you are at college is to make good grades and get a good job one day. Just focus on getting As and do the best you can. There will be plenty of girls after you get a job, dont let relationships become a distraction and dont socialize so much.

Choosingclasses at my jounoir class woul d have been a little bit diferent. I would have gotten tested for learning disability sooner, that would have helped me with picking classes and graduating sooner.

The advice I would give myself would be to make time for studying. I need more time for studying so that I can truly flourish in educational and mental development that will allow me to be successful at my full potential.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I’d tell myself that fate is uncontrollable and that I’m one resilient cookie. Tragically, I probably wouldn’t believe me.I was the kid who had it all – supportive family, a 3.8 GPA my first semester in college. Then things got horribly complicated.But by the end of April, my second semester, I stopped attending classes. Instead, I was trying to figure out how to die. Early May I was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar.When I was well enough to return to school, I fell into a wonderful routine. I was earning A’s and B’s and successfully managing my disease. In late March, after class, I was taken by gunpoint and raped.My parents brought me home to recover. When I returned to VCU, physically I was OK. Mentally I was still frightened. I was too scared to attend evening classes. My GPA dropped to 2.4. After all the challenges I’ve faced and survived, I owe it to myself to succeed, and I’d tell myself I will.

DO NOT WASTE TIME, GET INFORMATION AND DON'T BE AFRAID!! I've wasted many years of my life because I would postpone things and would not get the information about what could I do to keep up with my education. Moved back to the U.S when I was 20 and got my G.E.D when I was 21. Since then I have been in El Paso Community College for almost 5 years due to lack of money and I have to work. If I could go back in time, I would tell my 17-18 years old self to step up in the game, don't waste time and take opportunities when they appear!!

It's going to be very easy to lose focus as you begin this journey. There will be plenty of different things going on around you. Friends will be getting married, starting families, and moving away. You'll meet tons of new people and probably go through a broken down car or two. Be wary of new relationships because a broken heart can be a very big distraction. Then theres the money, trying to fund your way through college can be tough. The important thing to keep in mind is the task at hand, and the reward at the end of your journey. Eveything along the way may just be a bump in the road. Please remember that regardless of financial strife, and with a little sweat, a sense of humor, and perseverance we can truly become what we desire.

I would have applied to students with disability center.

If I could go back to talk to myself in my senior year in high school, I would highly advice myself to get involved and be more social. The acceptance to The VCU School of Nursing is crucial for my dream career to come true, and because of this, extracurricular activities are essential. It is beneficial to get a better feel of working with other people and getting out there, rather than just focusing on academics. In high school, I never took the chance to participate in activities that could have potentially helped me to create new networks and build a better profile. Now that I have finished my first year at Virginia Commonwealth University, I know how being involved can have so many positive aspects. It can not only help in college life, but involvement can also benefit as you go through life, because you will have so much experience that others may not have had.

I would advise myself to get college applications in as early as possible, in order to receive scholarships. I would also tell myself to fill out as many independent scholarship applications as possible. Additionally, I would advise myself to start off academically superior and to remain that way, rather than doing well and getting sidetracked later on. Overall, a focus on academics and funding, as well as information on how to balance the stress from those two would be my focal points. I would tell myself to handle stress by getting closer to God immediately because He will be the reason you finish strong. He will guide you through your undergrad experience and prepare you for what is to come in post graduate study.

You should go back and take college classes in high school you would have saved a lot of money. In addition to helping you figure out what you want to major in.

I would advise myself to have never gone on a Biology, Nursing, English track and to have from the start applied to the school of business.and stayed in Information Systems. To keep focused. To have not bought a house due to the economic times.

If i could go back in time I would tell myself three things. First, I would say to plan my school work better. Each night have a plan of what homework you are going to do each night. Secondly, which is most important, to never procrastinate with your work. Never wait last minute to start reading chapters of a book or start writing a paper. Thirdly, I know it is nerve racking meeting new people and wondering if you'll find good friends, but everyone is in the same position of trying to meet new people, so be outgoing.

I would tell myself to not stress on not knowing. It will all work out. In high school I did not know which direction I wanted to go. But knowing the outcome, just enjoy everything that will come your way. You will find your way.

College is an exciting time. The best advice I can give you is to branch out and make new friends. The friends you make in this point in your life will be the ones you hold dearest to your heart. Also, listen to your mother. She might be “insane” or controlling, but she is only trying to do what is best for you, believe me, you will thank her in the end. The last piece of advice I want to give you is to be yourself! Don’t change who you are to impress boys or others. College is where you discover who YOU are. So Tori, be yourself and love who you are, and others will follow your lead.

Dear high school Cassie, For goodness' sake, take some time to slow down and smell the roses. Your senior year is flying by, and your time as a high school student will soon be done forever. Think about all the lessons you have learned and friends you have made. Stop and cherish these memories, and then smile. Because there are many, many more happy, fulfilling moments to come. In college, you will need discipline in all areas of your life. Mom will not be there to help with time management, or deciding when to go to bed, or what to eat at the buffet-style dining hall. All these decisions are your own, and the consequences are your own too. But you will learn that hard work has its rewards, and when you see that "A" in Quantitative Physiology, it will be the proudest moment of your academic career to date. So Cass, prepare to find out who you are on your own and who you want to be in your future career. Prepare to grab life by the horns as a VCU Ram! With love, College Freshman Cassie

If I could go back into time while in high school, knowing what I know now about college life. I would tell myself to start at a community college and then transfer to a University.

As a freshman coming into VCU I would say one thing you need to know is that you will see so many different things on campus especially when it comes to the students. So i would say have an open mind, you don't necessarily have to agree with everyone but be open to seeing people dress weird, come to class in pajamas, flamboyant gays, girls dressed like dudes, students in all black, Muslims etc.

Don't procrastinate. In order to properly study, don't just reread or review the material. Actually test your knowledge, flash cards may seem elementary but they are your best friend. If you really want to succeed, do the readings that are assigned to you. They will help you store the information in your long term memory, and then going to class and talking about these subjects and listening to lecture gives you connection in your brain. Simply doing everything at the last minute, staying in the library for the rest of your life won't do anything. Divide your time wisely for studying and review. This is how most people in college have failed, and will continue to fail. You'll become an A student by doing this. Video games are a waste of time.

If I had the opportunity to go back to talk to my high school self I would say, number one, be confident. Don't be afraid to push yourself farther. You can do anything you put your mind to and you will succeed. I would also say that we are the people we have been waiting for. As a high school senior, you are on the brink of conquering the world and I believe that the reassurance and self esteem building can be one of the greatest assest to inspire us to be the best self we can be. Sometimes one of the greatest words can be simply, I believe in you, to show that people often may see the confidence in ourselves that takes a second look for us to see.

I would tell myself to work hard. In highschool, I did not try a lot of things due to lack of confidance in my ability to succeed. Now, that I have realized that the only way to succeed it to try, I regret my somewhat apathetic mindset. I would start the year off by applying for scholarships and financial aid, and end the year with atleast a 3.8 gpa. I would advise myself to strive to be the best I can be, no matter if I feel inadequate compared to the valedictorian or if I have doubts. The only person who can make me feel inferior is myself, and not even I know my limits. I would ask myself if the issues going on in my life would matter two years from now, and I would encourage myself to take advantage of every opportunity given to me. Carpe Deim, cease the day!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself to start working on a better work ethic.

I don't have any advice to give myself. I'm happy with who I am now, and I wouldn't do anything to go back and change myself. It ceratinly would have been wise to work harder in school, in order to receive academic scholarships and what have you, but how do I know I'd even take my own advice, if I were do go back. Sure it would have been great to learn the hard lessons sooner, but I have learned them, and changing negative aspects of the past may change positibve aspects of my present, so I'm fine with the course my life has taken, for better or worse.