Central Washington University Top Questions

If I could go back to the high school version of myself, I would tell myself to get involved on the college campus. There are a lot of campus activities and clubs that I didn't take advantage of. I think the biggest thing for me was that I could just say "oh yeah, they meet every week. I'll just go next week instead..." I would tell the high school version of myself to not get stuck in this trap and to get involved in as much as possible. Meeting new people and making friends is half of college life. The funny thing about clubs is that the people that are going want to meet new people like you too. So GET INVOLVED. It is one of the most important things you will ever do.

I would tell myself to work hard that going to college is everything I hoped it would be and that getting a degree in psychology is still my passion years later. I would tell myself to not worry about all the drama and friends because the good ones will still be in your life down the road and the ones who aren't still there won't matter. I would also tell myself to focus on myself and my own goals and not worry about what anyone else is doing.

If you have an opportunity available to you while you are in college, take it! College allows you to do and experience many wonderful things that you may not, and most likely will not, be able to do once you graduate and your adult life begins to solidify. College is the time to grasp these opportunities and run with them as far as you are able to reach! If I hadn't gone to college and studied abroad (twice), I never would have met the amazing, life-long friends from around the globe (African, Chinese, Brazilian, Filipino, South American, Korean, Japanese) as I did whilst abroad. College helped me to appreciate other cultures and gave me the perspective to be able to reflect upon my own and to help it grow. College may cost a pretty penny, others may even tell you that college is a pointless endeavor. . . they're wrong. You may not earn a job because of it, but the opportunities and life-altering experiences that college offers will always be worth the work and effort!

If I could go back in time I would advise myself to not wait to go to college. After highschool I had a dream to be a teacher, but I knew my parents could never afford to send me to college. I thought if I worked hard I could made enough money to pay for college, but I found that it was never enough. Now I know that there are many financial assistants programs and scholarships that can make it possible. I would tell high school self that it is possible to earn my way to college, if not financially, then by focusing on academic and community service activies in order to make a difference in my own life as well as in my community.

Dear senior self, I am writing to you as a fellow college student here to make sure your transition from high school to college runs effortlessly. Pursue the following tips and you will be stress free! First of all, enjoy your senior year to the fullest, go out and have a blast responsible of course. Secondly, don’t stress so much about college application and live in the moment, after all you’re only a high school senior once! Later, on as the year winds down, hassle yourself about prioritizing mind over matter, meaning stop stressing your mind about what I could have scores on the SATs, because they are done and over with and just focus on writing the most astounding scholarship essays ever, which is what really matters. Stop the procrastination, you can live in the moment and still get your homework finished in an orderly fashion and get at least eight hours of sleep you really can’t make it up with a nap! Take the handful of advice and follow them like your daily horoscope, for they will make your first year of college a heck of a lot easier and much more enjoyable. Bon Voyage!

As a first year college student there are many more opportunities to grow as an individual. My freshman year has been filled with challenges and I have found myself struggling at times. My first quarter seemed ideal, choosing the perfect schedule. It didn’t take long to realize that college was going to be a lot different than high school but not necessarily in a good way. I have found that there aren’t as many little assignments that at times seemed irrelevant, but instead, simply taking good notes, reading and understanding the material which you are studying. Studying is what can make or break you in college, taking the time to sit down and reflect on what you have learned can lead you to success. College is the start of the rest of your life, the quality and passion of your work is what will help guide and define you. The problems you may encounter and the things you learn will revolutionize the rest of your life. Reflection is key, whether imprisoned in ones routine or looking to escape the ordinary, I want to shake up that person I knew then and tell them what they need know tomorrow.

What I have gotten out of my college experience is a second chance. I was not going to go to college. I thought that I could get a job and that would be it. I ended up working many not so great jobs. I was only able to get jobs that would keep me and my family in poverty. Central University has given me hope. My kids see me going to school and they too want to go to college.

So far, my college experience has been amazing. I used to be a very quiet and shy person, and had a close group of friends that didn't branch out much. When I arrived at college, I was forced outside of my comfort zone and into a whole new world. I was introduced to a great diversity among students such as, homosexuality, minority groups, and racial discrimination. Coming from a small town, I had never experienced an environment quite like this one. It ultimately introduced me to the diverse cultures that inhabit our country. I met new people, made new friends, and have become a completely different person. I believe that college is helping me grow into the person that I want to become; a person full of knowledge, culture, personality, and acceptance. I am here for a purpose and that is to receive a quality education and ultimately live a healthy life. College has proved to me that I have a purpose in life and that I am going to work very hard to fulfill that purpose. To this moment, college is by far the most valuable and exhilarating experience of my life. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.

Returning to school in my fifties is teaching me that you are never too old to learn. While there is some regret I did not return to school earlier in my life I believe in going forward and only looking back in order to learn from mistakes not dwell on them. The wide range of backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and interests of my fellow students and teachers continues to expand my mind and appreciation for learning.

I have wanted to become a pilot for as long as I could remember, but I only knew about one school that offered a BA in Aviation and that school was too expensive. 10 years later I finally heard that Central Washington University offered a Bachelors degree in Aviation and the cost of attendance seemed like a real possibility for me! I am now attending Central Washington University and I am on track to graduate with a BS in Aviation in Summer 2012. I am so proud to say that when I graduate I will have all of the pilot ratings that I had always dreamed of attaining. Upon graduation I will have my Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Flight Instructor and Multi-Engine Rating. I am a bit older that the average student, married with a child but the students have welcomed me to their inner circle and I am extremely grateful. I often spend evenings meeting with fellow Aviation students to discuss our flight courses and they have become like a second family to me. I have bonded with these students and I know that I have connections that will be invaluable after I graduate. Thank you CWU!