Anderson University-Anderson, SC Top Questions

I would tell myself to work hard and not procrastinate as much. Procrastination has been my biggest problem in college to this point. I would also tell myself to just be friendly from the beginning and not just talk to my best friend who ended up going to the same college as I did. It would help me make the friends I have now much earlier in my college career. The most important thing I would tell myself though, is to not stress over everything. Somehow you get everything done if you are motivated enough and everything works out in the end if it is meant to be.

If I could go back and talk to myself, a senior in high school, I would have so much advice! For starters, I would remind myself that even though going to a small school may not be for everyone, it was the best decision I ever made! I would tell myself that the friends you are about to make will be friends that you will keep forever! I would tell myself not to be caught up in the "hype" of college life because ultimately, that's not what's important. I would remind myself to do what is best for me, although others might disagree with decisions made. I would encourage myself to study more and hang out a little less! Ultimately, I would remind myself to enjoy it! Being a senior this year, I would love to go back and do it all again! Enjoy every class, friend, and late night! I would let myself know that I am doing wonderful and cannot wait to graduate into the real world and hopefully be a great teacher!

I would say to myself this : There is big, wide world out there. You will see things and be in places you cannot imagine nor understand now. Now you see life in black and white, but there are so many, many colors. You don't realize it but your current choices will affect the rest of your life. What you think as cool may have an impact you cannot grasp, and nothing you do can be erased because life rarely forgives. To be able to go to college is an amazing privilege that not many are given; when it is - sometimes you wish you could turn back the time and made different decisions. Do not waste time like I did; go to college right away, and get a degree while you are young. You can do so much more when you have time. Life is beautiful, but we live it only once. Chance or coincidence are rare, it's our decisions what makes it what it is - worthwile or miserable. Expect to work hard, but know that it is the best decision you can ever make - going to college, becuase it will pay off in ways you cannot imagine.

Go to college right away. Don't put off what you know you need and want to do. Study hard and it will pay off big. You can do it no matter how many people tell you that you can't. Be the best student and person you can be and it will get you far.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would tell myself to not fight the plan that God has for me. There were so many times where I would try and go out on my own and stray from the path He had set for me, and it always came back to bite me in the rear. Not only was I living for myself but I was not listening. I would tell "myself" to stop focusing on what I want, and starting listening to what God has planned for me. I would tell myself to stop and pay attention to what God is trying to tell me. During my senior year I was always so busy doing various activities that I would forget to set aside time to spend in the Word. I would tell myself to step back, breathe, and listen. He will not lead me astray. "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8)

Brynne, throw out all expectations and pre-concieved notions. College is going to blow your mind. You will be challenged in ways you didn't think possible. You are going to be beyond exhausted, and will still have 6 more hours of day to go. You will have test after test after test and will wonder if you'll ever survive. Time will crawl on the weekdays, and fly on the weekends. But, you are going to never want to leave. Why? Because you are going to discover you in these next 8 months. You will grow in your faith, in your relationships and in your abilities. There is something about running on empty and stretching yourself that just changes you completely. You discover what you're capable of. Yes Brynne, it's going to be hard. But you will meet the most amazing people and grow in every area of you're life. And I promise you, you'll survive Spanish, you'll memorize the dates, and you'll come out of Freshman year counting down the days till the start of Sophomore year. Enjoy every whirlwind second! Sincerely, Brynne

If I could give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take the harder AP classes and teacher cadets. I opted out of teacher cadets and AP history because I did not want to have A and B days, as well as classes that would take away from my elective classes. I took three art classes back to back my senior year, because I had taken my senior english and science early which left me with a lot of free class time. I would advise myself to take the harder courses so that I would have a few college credits entering college which would lighten my course load through my college career slightly. I also choose the easier class so that I remained in the classes with my friends that I had grown up with, which looking back now was not the brightest thing to do.

If I returned to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would first encourage myself more and strive harder. Even though I was in the top five percent of my graduating class, I know that I could have succeeded even higher. I would have told myself to take more opportunities for myself and to open the doors that sometimes scared me away. I would tell myself that the road to college is not an easy one, but it is well worth it. I would say that I needed to prepare myself for long hours of studying. I would tell myself that I needed to be more open to new friendships. Most importantly I would tell myself to fulfill my dreams of becoming a teacher and let nothing stand in my way. I know I have been called to be a teacher and no person, friend, dean, or anyone can change my mind. To go into my career with an open heart and a desire to learn, so that other children may have the same opportunity. Go full force and believe that I can.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. You worrying will not help nor change things to come in the future. I would tell myself to enjoy the present and take advantage of oppurtnites that presented themselves. I would live life to the fullest and also live with no regrets. I also would maybe had tried a little harder at scholarships cause books are expensive!

If I could go back to high school I would take harder classes. While in high school I took the easy way out, I took the teachers I knew would be fun and I would not have to apply myself. Freshman year of college I was enrolled in a Biology class, the first two weeks into the class I noticed I was far behind all the other students. My test scores were not my normal grades and I was having a hard time following the notes. I began thinking back to high school Biology and remembered my teacher allowed me to make copies for her instead of being in class. At the time I thought it was a great idea but now I realize how bad it was for me in the end.