City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Top Questions

If I could go back to my high school self I would tell myself the concept of entering the real world is not when you graduate from college, it is when you graduate high school. Do not kid yourself when you say you just want to take a year off to figure out what you want to do with your life. That year easily can turn into two years and then you're looking at 5 years that have past and you are right back where you started when you graduated from high school. Yes you did not take your GPA seriously and thought you can start over in college, well kiss those top universities goodbye and say hello to community college. Community college is not as bad as you think if you choose wisely. Choosing City Colleges of Chicago was the best decision I could have made because it took all the stress out of transitioning from being a non-student back into the student lifestyle. Yes college life can be fun but it is a lot of work and should be taken seriously. Go in with great optimism and drive and you will succeed.

Dear high school self, You've had some of the best years of your life, God gave you amazing memories and amazing friends. But there is a time for everything in this life, and now it is time to move on. I know this scares you, I know you hate change, but hear me out, I've been there already. Change is an inevitable part of life, but life brings lessons along with it. College has many lessons for you, so be excited about all the new things you're about to learn. Never forget that to gain wisdom you must live, and learn. It is time for you to blossom somewhere else. What scares you the most is writing those insufferable papers, but you're only scared because you doubt your intelligence. STOP IT. You are so much smarter than you think, everyone sees it. You need to see it too. High school taught you who you are, and college is about to teach you who you want to be. So embrace the change, and do not fear. Trust God, He is with you every step of the way. Never forget how loved you are. Sincerely, Your college self

Knowing what I know now, I would tell my high school self to continue to push through what may seem like adversities and continue with her college education. I would tell her that it’s ok that she had some bumps along the way, but that it’s not impossible to pick up the pieces, figure out where they belong, and keep moving forward. I would tell her that just because she has a child; it does not mean that she has to stop bettering herself. I would tell her that she can still obtain her dreams and goals and make a brighter future for herself and her child. I would tell her that she can and will be successful in all aspects of her life and that no one was going to look down on her for her past mistakes. I would tell her that her child, and any future children, will be proud and encouraged by her drive and determination. I would tell her that it’s ok to cry but to not let those tears stop her. I would tell her to do the opposite of what I did…drop out of college until now. Thank you.

I would have leaped out past my internal saftey net much sooner. I was so caught up in my past and the hard times that I was letting it get the best of me. I wish I could have told myself that I was brave enough to get out there and I didnt have to depend on anybody else. I would started working and earning my own money so I could drive sooner and learn to take care of myself. I would have told myself I desereved better than to sit in my room all day, dreaming of the future instead of making it happen. All of these things would have made being a collge student so much easier. It would relieve the anxiety of beign out on my own and let me focus on what I was learning. This is a time to focus on myself and better myself in anyway I can, while were are still young and have the energy to constantly make changes and face new things. Now I see it as a challenge, a new adventure.

My first year of college i went out of state and that was an amazing experience because it taught me to be independent. It introduced me to new ideas, a new culture and different teaching styles. Although it was a good decision to attend out of state college being back at home allows me to focus more on the actual schooling to get my degree done faster and to get into the career i would like.

I would go back in time right now and give myself advice. I would tell myself this: Sol-Rubi, there's nothing to be afraid of. You have a supportive family and remember, you have friends in the same circumstances as you about to enter a whole new dimension of education. Transitioning may be difficult and scary, but you are not alone. Talk to your friends about it and note how they feel about the situation. You will feel less stress! Also, there is no room for procrastination. Get everything you need done with no delays. Apply, months before school, to as many scholarships and grants as possible because there is free money out there and college is not cheap. Do not take any loans. Trust me, they will haunt you (mom and dad included). Community college is the way to go. As far as choosing a major, take your time but don't distract yourself. Medicine or art? You like science but you love art. Lastly, have fun. College is much more rewarding and enjoyable. You are going to meet awesome people of all ages and interests and see the world in a new perspective. Just enjoy the ride!

The best advice i would tell myself is being able to manage my time. Once I began using a planner, I was able to manage my time more sufficiently, and in turn, my scedule with work and school began to form; giving me time to study around my work schedule and any other events I wanted to attend. I'd also tell myself to enjoy life. School is always going to be there, and if you feel like you need a break, that's okay. Don't feel stress or pressed for time to finish because it's okay to stop and smell the roses. Don't let others influence your decisions about your life, or tell you you have to finish school by a certain age and conform to a timeframe. Lastly, I'd tell myself to be open to change and growth that college allows a student, whether it be my personality, spirituality, or maturity level. The most important thing in deciding on a major or career is letting who you are define what you do, not let what you do define who you are.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that I can do it. My first semester of college was an unsuccessful one and that is because I didn't think I could get through college, that a college degree was not a sensible goal for me. So I gave up. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that it is very difficult to bring yourself out of the hole of failure. There is a very slim chance of obtaining financial aid and schools will look at your transcripts and reject you on the spot. It is no fun having to repeat classes knowing you could have done it the first time if you had tried. Giving up on school also makes it hard to finish because you are always thinking; what if I had done it right the first time, would I be done by now, would I be in grad school? Dear high school version of me, You are smart and you can do it, please don't give up. Love, Me.

I have only been in college for one semester yet my experiences have demonstrated that the decisions, fears and worries I encounter my senior year were unnecessary. When deciding what colleges to apply to, consider all institutions. Although being accepted into institutions is essential to attendance, receiving financial aid is as crucial. Apply to FAFSA early in the year. Look for scholarships, start and finish the applications. When applying to essay-based scholarships review the essays and have others revise them. In my case I failed to have people review my essays; despite my pleasant feelings towards my essays, they lacked the opinions from others. My scholarship essays were cookie cutters or a bad batch of ideas. In the same manner that I recommend to seek essay revisions from others, I recommend to talk to an array of individuals; listen to how they view life and see if any of their advice can help you. For example, I encountered a distant relative, whose background has many tragedies. He experienced imprisonment due to his Japanese background during World War II, yet despite all he has a Masters. He shared his story with me; His story has served as encouragement.

If I could got back in time and give myself a pep talk on college, I would tell myself to be prepared for long application processes and tedious information gathering. Also, I would tell high school senior me to not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to turn in whatever is needed by the college(s); by doing this you delay your admission and transition to the school of your choice. I would also say to not be afraid to ask questions when you are unsure of what to do about something, whether it be about financial aid or your courses, because there is always someone available to help answer your question the best they can.