Whitney
Take a deep breath. In the whirlwind of the first weeks of college, you will likely be inundated by syllabi from unfamiliar professors, requests from new roommates, invitations to social activities, and maps trying to get to class. You will meet new people, learn new routines, and discover new characteristics about yourself. It is amazing. Take each essay, project, and assignment as they come. Go to your professors' office hours, they want to help you. As often as you can, take classes that fulfill requirements, but also intrigue you. Embrace the fact that you will be lost, literally and figuratively, in classes and on campus. You are now competing against yourself. It is up to you to get the most out of your education; you wil not be coddled and you will be held accountable. Enjoy the ride. College can be arduous at times, but it is worth it. You are living your purpose. You are there for a reason. You are on your own parth to success and college is a stop along that road. So in those moments, in which you find yourself on the verge of tears, ready to throw in the towel... take a deep breath.
thomas
have confidence to talk to people. do not be afraid to take a leap and socialize. Don't let what othes say put you down, you know who you are all you can do is be the best you, you can be. you can do it!
Sabrina
I wish i could tell myself to take the time to apply to more universities, even if i don't think i will be admitted. I would tell myself to apply to more scholarships so that you don't have to work two jobs and go to school full-time. I wish i could tell myself to go to a UC instead of a CSU. Most of all, i wish i could tell myself to be open to changing my plans. At 18 years old its perfectly okay to not have a plan, and wherever you end up, do the best to make the most of it.
Adrienne
I would advise myself to make school a priority, not to take breaks and also to consider going elsewhere for the experience. Out of state, abroad, pursue all of my options.
erik
If I could go back in time to give advice to my senior self in high school about college life I would say, get ready because a storm is coming. College is full of work, reading, papers, and whole lot of stress. Yes, you will break down, yes, you will doubt yourself, and yes, you will want to give up, but you have to remember what you are doing this for. You have to remember that this is the path that leads you to your dreams and this is what you chose. You chose the road less traveled and your awesome for doing so. But don’t you worry, although college isn’t easy, it will come full of amazing experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. This is the time you will meet your lifelong friends and believe me when I say this, they will see you at your worst and stick by your side. But at the end of the day, you be your best self and don’t ever give up because success is just around the corner. Just keep gazing forward and never stop. Be bold. Be brave.
Richard
Hello, Richard. It's me, Richard. From the future in college. You're in the BFA program and you've accomplished so much. But you need to pay attention. I know you're looking for fun and great experiences, for new friends. My personal advice, do not room with your sister's asshole ex after the dorms. Meet new people who appreciate you and who value you. And when you do, continue to reach out to them. You will do well in school, in art, and make it far. But you can do more. Make no excuses for yourself, for there will be days you lose motivation and spirit. Reach out to people, do not be afraid, and believe in yourself when the dark days come. As long as you remember the love of your family and true friends along the way, you will accomplish wonders. Also, build up the courage to ask girls out for dates, we need to graduate with at least one date. Joking aside, remember to keep in touch with those who believe in you and be proud of yourself instead of being hard. Challenge yourself as you always have and do it with creativity.
Alejandro
Okay Alex, I am you four years down the road, so listen to what I have to say. First of all, don't give in to your desire to fit in this school because in four years' time, you will have not spoken to about 96{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people you consider to be friends here; that's just part of finishing K-12 education. That being said, you need to step it up because you only have 1 year left to impress all those upper class schools that you've been dreaming of attending. You already screwed up your tenth and eleventh grade years, so getting into most of the UCs and private universities is out of the question; you can however, get enough financial aid to not worry about finishing university buried in debt if you manage to rasie your GPA this year. I wish I could have gone three years further back in time in order to tell you this so you wouldn't have to suffer like you did these past two years. At least I can still tell you this, for what it's worth. I'll always regret not seeing ahead instead of the present.
Amy
College is really a dream come true. There are innumerable resources available to make sure you receive everything you need. Having trouble with your homework? Visit tutoring centers, attend office hours, e-mail your classmates! Feel a need to relax? Swing by the student center for free school events, lay down in the perfectly-maintained grass, walk over to the library to read some picture books. It is a student's haven because in college, your only responsibility is to learn. Your college provides resources so that it can measure the sum of your knowledge in a number, a GPA. So of course, attend your lectures, do your homework, and study your books. But if you want a more fulfilling experience, take initiative and also explore your school, take advantage of every opportunity, and make friends. The college experience is more than a number. So let yourself make mistakes. Apply for a few internships and get rejected. Talk to that flawless person and make a fool of yourself. College is not only a place for you to attend class, but also training grounds for life. Someday you're going to graduate, and you're going to appreciate these "extracurricular" studies.
Tamara
The road to discovering your true calling is long, winding, frustrating, and tough. Enjoy it.
Why enjoy it? Because it's a long ride, and you'll learn a lot. Knowing what I know now, I know that it's not necessarily the time it takes, but it's the time you take while getting there. And, honestly, you, as a hyperactive, overachieving high school stuff would not like the things that I see right now. You like yours straight, no chaser. But there's power to taking your time, and that's something you should learn. I say, as these next few years go by, and things slowly start to loose focus, don't panic. I mean, don't get me wrong, focus is good. But instead of panicing, trust in yourself, and trust in your abilities, and trust that you will, no matter how hard the days get, make it through. And you will, and you will be a better person for it. But most of all, enjoy the view. These things will only happen once in your life, and it's best enjoyed while it's there. So enjoy it. Seriously.
Jerry
Everything I learned in the drama department in High School was so important to me, but when I got to college I realized it was all nothing.... I learned so much more in the Performing Arts department in college than I ever knew was possible! Get ready for the experience of your life. You will meet some very interesting people. Take notes, keep in touch with your professors, listen to them, and take their advice. Especially with acting, advice about auditions is some of the most important information you will get anywhere. Ask them about their careers, and learn from their mistakes.
Keep some time open for yourself and to nurture your personality. You can get really overwhelmed with auditions and rehearsals. Make sure you have some down time on the weekends, and keep your sense of humor! Don't work so hard that you wear yourself out!