Appalachian State University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would have told myself to have tried harder in school. Although I made great grades academically in high school, I could have made better ones. I started to slack off senior year and did not push myself as hard as I would have like. I would have told my high school senior self to make better study habits, eat healthier, and exercise more to stay productive. Learning new ways of studying would have helped me to make an easier transition into college. In college, the way you study is different than it was in high school in the way you prepare for tests and quizzes. Also, I wish I could tell my high school senior self how to manage and balance out all the things that will be happening in your life. As a nursing student now, I had to learn the hard way on how to focus on one goal at a time to succeed.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to save more money. Of course I knew college is expensive, but it didn't sink in as much as it did when I got here and realized all the extra expenses I didn't expect. I didn't realize how often I would go out to eat after getting tired of dining hall food, not to mention, having a social life is just expensive in general. I also thought that I wouldn't still want to go shopping and spend money on the things I did when I was at home. I will definitely be saving much more of my money this summer. College is definitely a big transition, but if handled well, it can be easy and painless.

Don't listen to them. The teachers in college are nicer than everyone says. You'll do fine. You will make friends once you get there. You will keep in contact with your high school friends as well. No matter what, you will be fine. Don't listen to those who say you will not.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry. College is a place where people go to discover their true identities and to become grounded in a core set of beliefs. You will come in contact with people who are very different than you. You will have the ability to manage your own time and you need to make sure that you use it wisely. College is an opportunity to meet new people and network with those who will become beneficial to you during your professional career and your personal life. Bring in your ideas and experieces, share them, and listen to others and you might learn something new. Education is something that we as Americans take advantage of and I want you to have a fulfilling experience so you can change the world. Have fun, be safe, and make intelligent decisions on what to do with your newly found freedom.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy every moment of the time I have. I am currently a junior in college, and as I plan to attend graduate school and get my master's degree, I look back on the past few years and wish I could go back and enjoy everything all over again. It has been such a joy to be at Appalachian State, and now that I am moving into higher education soon and learning a lot about the real world, I realize how valuable time is and how important it is to enjoy the present. I am a very dilligent student, and I worry often about my grades and my success. However, I am slowly learning that doing my best and enjoying it all the while is what truly brings the most success and happiness in my life. This is a valuable lesson that I've learned, but I wish I could go back and learn it three years ago instead. I would tell myself that sometimes life is hard, but to work hard, enjoy life, and just be happy.

Forget about my initial degree idea and go straight for what I graduated in. It will be a much more rewarding experience and I will have a blast.

Get involved! You will miss this time in your life, so enjoy your senior year. Don't let anything pass you by. However, also spend an immense amount of time with your family. As exciting as you are to move out and be independent, you will miss your family more than you ever expect. Don't ever dismiss them because you will soon long for that time with them back. However, know that you will soon enter into the most amazing experience of your life. College is everything that people say it is and more. You have the chance to meet your life long friends. You will have the chance to find out who you really are. There are ups and downs, though. The Freshman 15 is real, so make sure you don't let yourself go. It can be scary, but I promise you that it will get so much better. Join clubs and put yourself out there. College is what you make it, so choose to make it great!

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not be afraid to take risks. All through college, I missed out on numerous opportunites because I was afraid of consequences that may or may not have happened. I would also tell myself to push yourself outside of the classroom both academically and socially. Both of these aspects will have a huge impact on the college experience.

To my high school self, I would advise to be ambitious. I would tell myself to have applied sooner and been more determined when it came to getting financial aid and scholarships. There's nothing I regret more than waiting so long to take advantage of the opportunities that were sitting in front of my face. I would tell myself not to hesitate, to take a bold leap of faith and ask for help when I needed it. The transition wasn't difficult for me, but I would've told myself not to let my family's past scare me out of trying to go to college. Through Christ all things are possible, and there's nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it.

I would tell my high school senior self that you are going to lose friends, even those that you once held dear in your current stage of life. I would tell myself that its okay becaue friends come and go and not to waste energy and effort to fix what is broken in a friendship. College is a time where people change, some for the better or for the worst, and that I must simply accept that. On a lighter note, I would also tell myself that there are true friends out there who will understand you. These true friendships are forged by people in the same walk of life being brought down by similar trials.