Carthage College Top Questions

The most important thing is to learn how to things well, rather than do a lot of things. I was more of a "jack-of-all-trades" in high school because I believed that being involved in numerous activities would get me more scholarships. The fact is that makes a student more attractive for admission, but not for scholarships. Also, learn how to study hard in high school. I knew a lot of the information I was learning in high school was pretty easy for me to comprehend, but it is proving to be exponentially more difficult my second year in college. Students who know how to study will succeed accademically. Finally, time management is key. Any extracurricular activities one may do in college are much more time consuming than in high school. Add that to a varsity sport, fraternity, and school work makes for no free time, which is necessary to staying sane through college. In order to make that time, a high school senior should develop habits to making schedules and budgeting free time. That way when they get to school, they will adjust to the work load and still have free time.

Make sure you know what you want, girlie. This will save you grief in the long run. Also, get involved fast! People do form cliques quickly and once they do, it's hard to get a group of friends. Don't worry so much about your grades! I know medical school is four years away, but you'll cause yourself a burnout before you even get started. Trust me, this future me has already accomplished that and it has plummeted your GPA. Don't worry so much about momma, either. She is doing just fine with handling this, so no need to feel that you have to go home every other weekend. Just sit back, relax and everything will be just fine. One thing to continue with - TALK with your professors!! They have scheduled office hours when it is mandatory for them to be in their office, ready to answer ANY questions you have, regardless as to how "stupid" or "dumb" you think it is. Take advantage of it while you can, and it will help you in the long run. As for the roommate...you have to live with her...and remember, compromise is key to any successful relationship.

Dear Highschool Me~ I am writing this letter to tell you that college is not what you are expecting it to be. It takes time and dedication, and dicipline. There will be nobody telling you to get your homework done, when to go to bed or what to do. The teachers don't care if you show up to class, because they get paid regardless. Use a planner, and manage your time wisely. Spending time with the boyfriend when you should be studying for a test is a bad idea. Transition is hard too. This will be the first time you are living away from mom and dad, and it isn't easy. You will be homesick, but you can't spend every minute in your dorm room. Go out, meet people, and get involved. It will make transitioning so much easier. Find people that you can relate to, and that you have things in common with. Don't go home every weekend, because you wont connect with anybody if you do. Enjoy this new chapter in your life, when you find the place you are truly meant to be, it will be a truly amazing experience for you. ~Me

Time travel really can never answer any of our questions or what if's but if this was possible I would go even further back. To answer this question though I would tell myself that not to be shy to what I want because there was regret for not pursuing certain things that year as well as tell myself to get a job before that internship in the summer. There were so many things I wanted but was too afraid to put into motion and so that now I am here and even more lost then I was back then in trying to make decisions for the future. Now I have to just figure everything out without the support system that made it where I could have the time to think about such dilemmas. This would of also gave me more room to explore what I was interested in there were days I had enough free time to go out but I chose wrong. Everything was just around the river bend but I took the smoothest course.

If I could go back to my high school self, I would tell myself not to graduate early and to stick out the last semester of high school to pick up better study habits and to take classes that were in both my major and classes that were completely outside of my majors. That way I would know for sure what I wanted to study in college. I would also tell myself to try and be a little more social and to have better money handling skills. I would tell myself to become more active in the clubs that I was in and to not be afraid to try and run for club president. I would encourage myself to start study groups and to go to teachers when I didn't understand any of the math problems. Most importantly I would tell myself that I should commit to whatever I wanted to and to work at what I was doing until I could understand it, even if I would get frustrated. And that I needed to remember to just take one day at a time.

I have come back in time to let you know that the first time around you made a very big mistake by deciding not to go to college. At the age of 39, you are married with two childern and no job. You don't have the skills to acquire a great paying job to support your family. So at the age of 38 you finally decide it is time to go back to college. It is a rough transition because you have been out of school since 1991. You are among the oldest students in class and you have to study a lot harder and pay close attention in class just to make good grades. It is an amazing experience even at the age of 38 but you would have so much more fun and learn so much more if you just go ahead and go straight into college once you graduate from high school. Forget getting married for a while and make a future for yourself and the family you will have. You will be so much happier with yourself and your life if you do. Please make the right decisions. Good luck!

If I could go back I would tell myself bring a heavier jacket. I would also tell myself to enjoy high school and living at home always seeing your mom, and when it comes time to leave your mom tell her that you will miss her. Eat dinner every night at home because you are going to miss that food. Hug my dog one more time. Most likely hang out with my friends and tell them that no matter what happens we are always going to be friends. Tell them also that they have to come visit every weekend. Take accounting in high school more seriously because you have to take it later. Tell myself that water polo in college way harder but still tons of fun. I would also tell myself that you did good picked a good college that you love, and you are going to meet some awsome people.

The advice that I would give to myself is: Be outgoing, don't worry about other people judging you. Once you get to college, it's an entire new beginning. No one knows your story, and everyone is in a position where they are desperate to make friends. Don't be afraid to be yourself and express your ideas and beliefs. You will be much happier if you live your life the way that makes you feel good, rather than trying to conform to those around you just to fit in. Make sure to keep your grades in check! Ambition is possibly one of the most highly regarded qualities that you can have, so be ambitious and dream big. You may think that i'm rattling off cliches, but they're only true. Finally, (and I would personally say this to myself) Your girlfriend... she is only a small part in the spectrum of your life, don't worry about her, and don't allow her to affect your happiness. Be outgoing and do well in school!

I would tell myself to definitely focus more on the future, because that is what really will make or break you. I also would tell myself to take as many college courses as possibly while still in my senior year. That would have saved me so much time and money in the long run. I also wish I knew then to just relax and not over stress too much, and to really enjoy each and every day of life. You only live once. When it comes to having friends, I realize now that it is way more important to have a few "true" friends, rather than a great number of regular friends, who might end up not being true in the end. By really having the drive to focus on myself by keeping up with my studies, keeping myself healthy, and surrounding myself with positive, genuine people, I would have saved myself from many disappointments when I was younger, if I had really known as much as I do now.

Were I to talk to my past self, I would tell myself to take challenges in stride. Transitioning from high school to college is an extraordinary journey that can often be hard. Depending on the school, one could be exposed to cultures or attitudes previously unfamiliar. The college lifestyle is incredibly different from the high school lifestyle--living away from parents for the first time in a young adult's life can be exhilirating or terrifying. It is all about perspective; keeping a positive attitude can take a student far and make the transition much easier. I was very timid going into college in another state, and my social anxiety made it difficult to make friends the first semester at school. One piece of valuable advice I would give my younger self would be this: "Don't be afraid of the unknown, don't be afraid of potential rejection. You never know what the future holds unless you try".