California Lutheran University Top Questions

Be outgoing. You're going to make plenty of friends in freshman year, but keep that outgoing personality throughout your entire college career. Don't get stuck in one friend group. Branch out. Attend every event campus offers, even if it sounds like you won't like it. Volunteer. Giving back to the community is one of the most gratifying things you can do when you start to feel alone away from home. Volunteering also helps you figure out what you really want to do in life. Do community service with different organizations. Make connections. Keep in touch with your high school professors, not just your university professors. Stop worrying about graduating in four years. Sometimes it takes a little longer to figure out what you actually want to do with your life, and that's okay. Not everyone is going to follow the "four year plan." Call your parents often. It's okay to admit that you miss them. They miss you even more. They love you a lot, and they are the best connection you can keep through college. They will keep you grounded, and focused. Lastly, have fun. Spread your wings and have some fun.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely push myself to not devote my life to sports, but rather spend more time studying in the library and getting involved with my schools student organizations. I would also tell myself to choose a higher caliber of friends who make better decisions and seek out those who would be a greater influence in my life. In preparation for college I would have to say get ready for more distractions and determine when you can party (because you will) and when is it not time to party. I would also recommend getting to class ten-minutes early and stay after class for ten-minutes and utilize that time to converse with the professor. Lastly, make the library your second home, keep your GPA as high as possible and apply for as many scholorships as you can because college is expensive!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life, I wouldn't know where to start. I would start by saying that choosing the right classes at a community college go a long way. To take general education classes that are interesting and will provide cultural knowdlege rather than just some to pass the time and earn the credit. I would also tell myself to associate with the right people, knowledgable, ambitious, eager to learn, kind, and funny. While I am focused on hard work I also will need some fun. Most importantly to make the right decisions, at all times, because things that happen in High School can affect you more than you know. In addition, I would tell myself to volunteer at random places simply to help and to learn from an array of people. I would also tell myself to join clubs and activities that I wouldn't normally take a part of. This would be for fun and self growth. And lastly, I would tell myself that internships go a long way and being kind to others does to.

If I were to go back to my senior year, I would most definitely tell myself: “ take as many classes as you can Ventura College.” I came to the United States at the beginning of my Junior year, so I had no idea what came next in my education. Since I am the first person in my family to ever go to college, my family could not give me any advice or guide me trough my education. Plus, there was a new language to learn, and because I was not fluent in English I had to take classes that did not even transfer, but were required to take any regular class– forget about the AP classes. When I was in my Senior year, I was fortunate to get involved in AVID. Thanks to AVID, I knew what classes to take when I transferred to Ventura Community College and earned my Associates degree and completed my transfer requirements in two years. I will forever be thankful. Take college classes, do community service, enroll more clubs, that and much more I would tell myself – but then, I had to work to support myself, so I had no time.

If I could go back in time, I would have to tell myself to just remember to breathe. There were times this past year that I submerged myself in my studies too deep and I felt like I just could not get a break. I would tell myself not to get too involved in activities or sign up for too many classes or just certain classes because they all require so much and it would be more beneficial to spread the labor out over time. I would tell myself not to panic or worry about the little things because there is a bigger picture and life does in fact go on, even if you think you are absolutly done for and nothing will get better. It will get better, it always does. That part in the play you were hoping for will go to someone else but it will be ok because you get the role you wanted in the upciming musical. Do not question yourself or your abilities and stick with what you love because that is the thing that will help you through all the tough times ahead. Stick with it and don't you ever give up.

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was a senior in high school there are a lot of things I would say. I would tell myself to study for my Advanced Placement tests and to learn good study habits now, even if much studying isn't required. I regret not trying harder on those tests because getting a better score on them could have helped me in so many ways. I would also tell myself not to worry about how things are going in high school because in college no one cares about what high school was like. I would tell myself to throw caution to the wind and introduce myself to more people when I first got to college. Most importantly I would tell myself that I am proud of who I am and how mature I was in high school. I would say that it doesn't matter what people here think because you know who you are and what your dreams are so go after them and continue to be the best version of yourself that you can.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior l I would have first told myself to finish strong grade wise because the way one finishes high school is how they start college. I remember a teacher telling me this my last semester of middle school going into high school and he could not have been more right, I started to slack at the end and had a hard time adjusting. His principle holds the exact same for any academic transistion. Also in addition to finishing strong, my other advice would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Many companies and scholarship foundations practically find you and say "apply for me." Unfortunately I was just not focused enough, did not manage my time well, and did not believe I was worthy. Now looking back on it, if I would have gotten a few more of those, I could be at the school I initially desired and not be in a hard economic situation. In conclusion, simply telling myself that in college a new world of fun will open to you, it's worth sacraficing a little fun right now would be my message.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior transitioning to college would be to stay focused and to talk to as many people as possible while you are in college. Staying focused in college can be hard as you will be moving out and living on your own assumiing many new responsibilities. There are many distractions that can get you off track from your goal of getting a college degree like clubs and parties. You have to be responsible to stay away from distractions when you need to study or have homework to do. Also, while in college it is important to talk to as many people as possible because one, you can make new friends in the process. Two, you can meet people that can help you out in school if you have trouble in a certain class and offer advice of what teachers to take. Finally, once you graduate, you will already have those peoples numbers and therefore have connections for the rest of your life; not to mention the life long friends some of them will become. The best years of your life are in college. Use them wisely.

Dear young Brandon, Whatever you do, apply for scholarships. It will be worth it in the future. You will spend less time worrying about Student Loans and fearing the worst. Also, take the time to research and throoughly find a school you will love- take campus tours, take the time to click around the website to research and take the time to speak to alumni about the college and see what they love. You never know what you will think about a school until you take a stroll around the campus. Apply to community colleges, you will always have the oppurtunity to transfer once you complete your two years and you will save a boatload of money! Take these words wisely young Brandon, because they will save you years later from being terrified for your future.

Despite the many lessons I learned throughout my freshman year of college, I would like to share only a few to my younger self. I would not tell myself everything for one must experience the difficulties of college. Mistakes are what help you find your strengths and weaknesses and should be experienced. I would tell myself though, that the key to making the first year significant is recognizing and correcting your mistakes early. Furthermore, I would encourage myself to try new things that I have always wanted to try and some I have never even thought about. Because, then, you will find your true interests and ultimately, what will drive you to achieve your goals. I would advise myself to have fun and open up in meeting who would be my lifelong friends. Reminding myself that I am not the only one, my friends and I are here for each other to ease the college transition. But while you’re having fun, remember to reevaluate what is important. The main point of college is to find your future that you will enjoy and hopefully provide a better life that your parents have worked so hard to make possible.