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I originally attended University of Washington and immediately regretted my decision and decided to transfer to Baylor University. I would advise myself to trust my gut, and not be worried about going somewhere far from home. That being said I would tell myself that where you decide to go when you are seventeen or eighteen years old is NOT the end all, be all. There is always the option to transfer if you are not happy so do not put so much pressure on yourself to find the perfect school. There are so many unique and wonderful people at every school that you will find your niche and your people no matter where you go. Feel comfortable with who you are and stick to what you believe because you will find people who support you. Put yourself out there and network with people because most people are nervous and want someone to reach out to them.

Don't worry so much about boys and getting married. Just because that's what mom and dad did, doesn't mean it's right for you. By the way, you met your future husband in second grade, so really just don't worry about it! You can fail. College is harder than High School, just because you graduated covaledictorian, it doesn't protect you from future academic failure. Study, study, study!! Texas is fun, but it's not the land of cowboys like you thought it would be. It's an adventure, but for entirely different reasons than what you're expecting. There is a reason why everyone thinks you're nuts for leaving CO to come here, and that reason is MOUNTAINS. Mom is right about a lot of things. Also, call home more than once a month. Just because you call home doesn't make you any less independent. You might not be homesick now, but come your upperclassmen years it'll get you. Take all of your plans that you have now and just throw those away! Basically nothing turns out the way you think it will. Trust God, he's got your back, seriously, TRUST.

I would tell myself that college is very different from high school. All the petty high school drama and antics are no longer present in college. My first semester of college seems very scattered when I look back on it now. I was everywhere from studying to hanging out then back to studying. With all the new shiney things college has to offer I would get destracted and bounce from one thing to another. I rushed things in other to make everything work, which now I realize didn't work because I basically gave half of my efforts to everything. Looking back on my first semester I would tell myself to take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time, giving it my 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. I learned that when you do everything half way you end up with a bunch of halfs, and a bunch of half's that don't match leaves you torn and confused. I cannot change my first semester so to my future self I remind you to take a deep breath and look at whats in front of you and just do that.

If I could go back in time a year from now, I'd do more to develop consistent study habits. Coming to college wasn't a big change but it was definitely a change. College professors don't remind you when things are supposed to be turned in. They expect you to look at your syllabus. They don't wait on you to finish your notes before they erase the board and they definitely don't accept late work. Besides the professor’s aspect of it all, studying for classes is a whole different monster. Distractions are quite relevant and annoying as well. I had study tactics before but I would've benefited from learning earlier along the road.

If I had the chance to go back in time and warn my younger self of what they would encounter in college, I would begin by saying that college is not what media make it out to be. Yes, college is a place where many people of different races, religions, and of different values can interact and learn from each other, but it is also where you learn of the true colors of the world aorund you. At home, you are somewhat sheltered. I college, the world is for the taking and roadblocks will be in even more abundance than before. So, I would tell my younger self to have courage and never give up!

What I've learned about myself in the past two years is invaluable. College isn't a walk in the park. You won't pass every class. You won't like every lecture. You might not meet the man or woman you will marry at orientation. You will, however, learn the meaning of hard work and what it means to truly earn something. It's okay to miss Mom and Dad and to cry every once in a while. Drinking every night does not equal straight A's, despite how they portray college in the movies. You will find yourself emmersed in textbooks, eating awful cafeteria food, and struggling with your weight gain. Despite this, when it's all over, when you have your degree in hand, you will realize that it was all worth it and that your future is so much brighter because of your ordeal.

The 4 years of college are a very important phase in your life. The academic aspect is important but I would say that the social environment is even more important. My advice is to pick a school that has a great academic reputation and also a great sports tradition. College sports are big and schools with successfull football or basketball programs have a great following of students, alumni, and other fans. This creates a lot of school pride that becomes pervasive in everything associated with the school. College is a place where you will make friends for life and you will continue to root for your alma mater, no matter what happens to their teams. So you can spend the time researching the academic ranking of the business school (for example), and calculate the cost of attending and compare that against the chance of getting some financial aid. In the end, however, you also need to determine the social networking value of the schools, which in my opinion is very important. Most people find jobs after college, not based on their GPA but based on the networking opportunities and interpersonal skills that are resulting from their college experience.

To My Dear High School Self, Relax. Right now, college looks rather frightening, between having to move out of your house, beginning a long distance relationship, and anticipating the rigourous course work that will soon be your fate. I have to tell you something about all of that though, you will get used to it quicker than you can imagine and it isn't a scary journey once it happens. And, no, you will not be sitting on your floor in your dorm room rocking in the fetal position with the lights turned off all year. Your soon-to-be best friends live right down the hall and you know what else? You go to an amazing high school that has prepared you for the work you will encounter in college and I promise you that those first few classes will feel like nothing compared to what you went through during these years of high school. So again I say, relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy what little you have left of high school because adventure, friendship and growth, AKA, Baylor, is just around the corner. Sic 'Em Bears, An Older and Wiser You

Danielle, All of those late nights you spend doing homework for Advanced Placement classes will be worth it. Pay closer attention in Spanish, though. You will become fluent, but you could have also become conversational in French. Also, start reading the newspaper; it will pay off eventually. Listen to your mom and take piano. She is right - you will wish you would have stayed in it. Actually, listen to your mom about everything. She is always right. On a personal note, remain strong in your beliefs. What seems to be socially important to you now will be laughably insignificant in your future. Your friends will not invite you to events because you do not drink, and your boyfriend will go with someone else to prom because you are still a virgin. You will cry. But you will eventually realize that these will be the best things that will ever happen to you. Because of these experiences you will have humility, awareness of others, and a gentle, beautiful spirit that will touch those around you. You will, also, avoid the addictions, pregnancies, and STDs many of your former friends fell victim to. PS - your college experience will be amazing! Be patient!