Appalachian State University Top Questions

The most important advise that I could have given to my high school self would be to not be afraid to get out there. The only way to make friends is to talk to people; so get involved, take initiative, and relax. At college having a support system of close friends is essential for a healthy and happy experience. When one is happy with his/her social life, it's easier to apply that same attitude to every facet of life, including academics. Second, I would say that college classes require much more that high school classes. They are more research oriented and it is necessary to study twice as hard to get the same grade that you might have recieved in high school. Though the classes may be intimidating, you can do it with some effort and support; so put yourself out there and make friends and memories, because the years go by quickly.

It?s a common phrase: ?If I only knew then what I know now?. Problem is we didn?t know then, that?s the point. The life we live is what shapes us. It?s the choices we make, the mistakes we create. Of course, it would be nice if I could go back to my senior year. I?d probably tell myself to take a Sign Language class my very first semester, instead of waiting until I was nearly finished with my Associates, just so I could be farther along in my studies. It would be wonderful to be a fully certified Sign Language Interpreter at twenty-two, but I question if I would have felt the same way about it if I had not had the life experiences I did before I took the class. Although I might have to leave myself a note to save a little more money faster, I feel as though the advice I could give myself pales in comparison to the things I?ve learned through life.

If I could go back to my senior year in high school and talk to myself, I would have to tell myself alot of the things my parents and other adults in my life tried to tell me. This time I would listen. College life is a big transistion. You definately need to stay focused to succeed. There is time for social activities - just not as much as you would like. There is life after college and any and everything you do or don't do in college can dictate the life you have afterwards. College is a time to really mature, become an independent person (almost) and discover what type of person you can be.

Looking back at myself as a teenager and a senior in high school I wouldn't change anything, but I would be able to give some lofty advice that would've been useful. I think it's important to let go and allow change to transform you, both intellectually and personally. Holding on to old habits or old ways of thinking hinder the progression of becoming a better person, and I think college makes everyone a better, more individualized person. College teaches you respect for yourself and for your actions. As a seniior in high school, it's easy to get caught up in who's saying what, and who's doing what, and so forth. High school is a small part of live, in the grand scheme of things. It's merely a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Making the transition was hard, but had I been able to go back and give advice I would simply tell myself to "roll with it", and not worry so much about the outcome or what other people think.

To ease my transition from high school to college, if given the chance, I would give myself this advice: There is never enough tme in the day, so learning to schedule and budget time will be crucial. One of the best skills to learn in college is time management, and brining good time management skills with you from high school will save you from the headache period most college freshman experience within their first weeks on campus. With classes, clubs, sports, friends, homework, and, of course, sleep, and all with no parents to tell you when to do anything, living independently for the first time can be a major adjustment. My suggestion to myself would be to buy a good, durable planner for scheduling all of my time, so that I wouldn't forget important assignments, due dates, or meetings. If I would have done this for my freshman year, I would have had a much easier transition.

I would tell myself about peer pressure. When I first came to college, some older friends invited me to drink . The first time I went out, I told my friends that I would be the designated driver, that time. Hours later my drunk friend was extremly sick and I really didn't know if he would make it; no one else seemed to care about his health. That night changed my (bad) thoughts of drinking to horrible nightmares. Even after that event, the stress of the peer pressure was overwhelming at times. I felt like a "loser" when I would tell them I didn't want to drink. I felt stupid and lowsy when I would see pictures on Facebook of people having a great time at the parties while I sat at home alone. Then I would hear dormmates vomiting and be thankful of my responsible behavior. I soon found friends who would rather go bowling, watch movies, volunteer, and play games/sports, which are obviously more fun and even produced great pictures on Facebook of us, sober. Today, I would tell myself as a highschool senior to be patient and that people with my interests would come.

Hey! College is the greatest time of your life! It will not be easy and you will definitely have to work hard, so do not think you can just do the minimum and get by. Get to know everyone in your classes so you can work together and always be friendly to everyone who surrounds you because they will definitely do the same. Another thing is don't be afraid to speak up in class and go to your professors for help because they are always willing to help out and give you words of encouragement! Most of all, get involved! Clubs are a great way to meet new people and intramural sports are another great way to do the same. Living on campus the first year is another way to meet people. When choosing your schedule choose a schedule that is challenging, but also remember it is college and you are most definitely suppose to be able to enjoy it! So for closing words of advice, get know people, get involved, challenge yourself, and most importantly enjoy your time in college because it truly will be the greatest time of your life! Good luck!

Now that I have made it past my first semester in college I feel a little wiser. With hard work, concentration and the hardest cross country training I have ever experienced, I survived. Although this past semester was successful, if given the opportunity to go back in time to talk to myself while I was still attending high school, I would do it in a heart beat. I have always managed my time well while juggling my studies, track/cross country, and friendships very well, so I would avoid telling myself to study harder. The one thing I would tell myself to do would be to spend more time with my family. I feel that I took them for granted. They made me meals, drove me to practice, helped me with my homework, and now that I have moved out, I miss toughs small favors. I would tell myself to appreciate family time, because once you move out family time only comes on holidays. Becoming independent is a right of passage that every young person has to go through, and no matter how many times people tell you that you are going miss your parents, you won?t believe them.

I would tell myself to choose a college baised on the programs they have, not on where my friends want to go. I would also tell my self to research all aspects of the school including the surrounding area and the climate the school gets. I would also tell myself that I decided I want to do somthing in sports preferably sport management and to choose a college that has a degree close to that feild.

If I could go back and time and teach myself one thing before I came to college it would have to be finding a way to motivate myself and not procrastinate.