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I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships. I didn't apply for many my senior year and I wish I would have because now I realize how much college actually costs and I would have liked to have taken out less money in loans. I would also tell myself to take the whole college process a little more seriously. When I was in high school this all seemed so far away and strange and when I got here it got really real really fast which was kind of scary. If I had thought about it more in high school it wouldn't have been such a scary thing. I would also tell myself not to worry about going to a college that none fo my friends were going to. I made new friends and it turned out fine but I was so worried about not having any friends that it stressed me out a lot in high school. I would also thank myself for taking Running start classes. That really cut down on the number of General Education requirement classes I had to take which was nice.

Staying focused is key. High school may be over, but the studying and the pace of life never slows down or stops to wait for you. I would tell myself that you can't hold yourself back and blame your past for future and present decisions and actions. Along with that, coming from a sheltered life, I would tell myself that college is full of experimenting and morals are being tested and temptation will present itself quite frequently. Take a chance, live a little, but don't forget your purpose for being at college in the first place. I lost sight of that in the rush of my first year of college and if I could go back knowing what I know now, I would. Don't be afraid to meet new people and mingle, that is a huge part of moving on and succeeding in life. Men will tell you what you want to hear, but unless they give you their all, you shouldn't give them everything. Love yourself first and everything will fall into place. Some days are hard, but don't lose hope. Just pick yourself up and keep moving forward.

I would actually give myself a lot of advice. Starting with, make sure to graduate high school with a 4.0 because you will have a better success rate with colleges. Study as hard as possible to understand the information that is being placed in front of you. Make sure to not involve yourself with drama and only pay attention to what is going on with you. Focus on school, you can have fun as long as you get all of your homework accomplished first. Join all the clubs that you have time for and are interested in, extracurriculars are fantastic, and they allow time with friends. I would keep going with cross country instead of doing it only 2 years. Making sure that you are the best that you can be and not allow anyone else to tear you down. No matter what negative comments people have stay positive and great things will come. I would also say to learn better study habits, go to a library more often, and have study groups, not just you so then you get bored and do not study. Give 130{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} at everything you do and never give up.

I would say that I needed to focus more on academics and preparing for the future in terms of going to college, applying for scholarships. My academics weren't horrible, but I know that I didn't meet my standards and could've done much better. I joined the Army Reserves to help pay for college, but didn't help nearly as much as I had thought, and though my parents make a lot, they can't manage money very well. It is essentially my own effort to pay for college so applying for scholarships and such should've been on the top of my list. It would also be nice to be awarded grants. My parents earnings scew the awards I can be given, but their money management skills should be taken into consideration too.

If I could give myself any advice as a high school senior, it would be to keep an open mind. I would tell myself to research and explore, to take campus tours, and speak with the students at different colleges before deciding on a career or specific school. I believe this would be the best advice because it is the first essential step to building your future. I would explain just how important it is for credits to transfer and for you to design a long term goal for yourself. This would be essential to me in the steps leading to each decision made for the years to come. To be able to relate to the people you go to school with and have common goals will help you see a brighter future. This advice would have helped me come to a decision on my school quicker, and my search may have been more effective. I would have had no doubts if I took this into consideration, and I'm sure I wouldn’t have been as nervous as I once was.

Keep moving and do not stop. Balance the present with the future, and they will work together in harmony. Reach forward constantly. Dreams and passions are what life is about and once you lose sight of those, you lose yourself. Make your dream more than an idea. Make it a priority. We all get lost in the present and the financial burdens and worries, but you need to try to continue forward, even if it's only one class, and stick to it. Research is very important. With computers, don't go spending $1,200 on a laptop without knowing that it's exactly what you need. Don't rack up credit card bills, you don't need that worry right now. Take some time off of work for school rather than the other way around. Your boss is more understanding than you might think. Most importantly, keep your focus. If you work hard, you will be successful. Your life depends on you and your decisions.

Dear past me, When you start your college career look extra hard for a job; anything to help lessen the blow of student loans is incredibly helpful. So you need to make your resume look great, fill out every job application you can get you hands on, and while you are unemployed, volunteer. Scholarships are your next best thing to a job so apply to ALL. Do not eat out. College is expensive and every saved penny is awesome. Ramen noodles and macaroni always taste great. Get out of on campus housing as soon as possible; renting a house with friends is much cheaper. You will save so much and you will practice becoming more independent. Keep in touch with old friends but remember only the good ones. Life is too short to not be surrounded by those who love and support you. Call or text your parents weekly. Even though they wanted you out of the house, they still miss you like crazy. GO TO CLASS! You will get great grades if you go to class and engage. Last, study and do homework, it's for your own benefit. Stay positive, your future self

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would definitely change some things. My senior year in high school I did not prepare myself for college. I did not look into schools or think much about my major. College was a last minute thought and decision. It is definitely a lot harder than high school. I have nobody except myself to motivate me. I also sometimes question my major. I know criminal justice is something there will always be money in, but as I experience classes like psychology I wonder if that would be something I would enjoy more. If I could go back in time I would definitely have done more research and put more time and thought into my future decisions/goals. I would have applied for more scholarships as well. I am finding it very financially hard to finish school. I not only have to pay for my classes, but I have to have money to survive. Balancing school, work, and being a single mom is not easy. I find myself always getting stressed and neglecting one or the other as if I cannot give them all the attention that they need.

I would tell my high school self not to give up, think about every decision you make, consider the ramifications of everything you do, and listen to your parents. When I was in high school, I thought I knew it all, so i would tell myself that I don't know half of what I think I do. I would tell myself to avoid the things and people that cause trouble and break the law. I would also tell myself that, no matter what happens, I can make it and should never quit just because I'm nervous. I would love to be able to go back to that time in my life and literally smack myself for some of the things I was doing and all the time I spent wasting my life. I would let my high school self know that we would have children and that I need to consider my long term career goals now, before it's too late, so that at 28 I wouldn't have to get my GED and cause more hardships on my family. Finally, I would tell myself that I can do it and its not too hard.

If I were to go back to my senior year I would tell myself to take advantage of every oppurtunity whether it be an AP class or the school musical becuase it is going to be useful in the end and it is going to be helpfull once you get to college. On top of that, and I think this might be the most important thing, I would tell myself not to be concerned with what my friends are doing and where they are going and just go where I want to go. In the end where I go to school is going to determine the friends I make in the future and the career path I may choose and I may not be friends with the person I was so concerned about being in contact with ten years from now. To wrap things up I would just tell myself to do what you want and make your decisions with you in mind and no one else.