Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

I would only want to tell myself on thing: get a job! College is extremely expensive but I never realized just how expensive it was until I got here. I wouldn't want to tell myself too much, though. That's part of the fun of college. You get to try new things and meet new people. It's exciting! College is all new territory and when you get here, it's your time to explore it. If I told my past self too much, it would spoil the fun, the surprise! Yes, college is difficult and already I've made many mistakes but I've learned from them and they have shaped my college experience. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Knowing what I know now about college, I would present to my high school senior self a list of 9 simple pieces of advice: 1) Keep in touch with your friends! You will get homesick... a lot. 2) PLEASE get a job! Understand that even though you go to an art school, you don't actually have to be a starving artist. 3) ...But for those times that you ARE starving, have a huge stash of Ramen Noodles and frozen dinners handy. 4) Be "roommate friendly." You know that "Roommate From Hell" everyone worries about? Well, you were it. 5) "Open Admission" is not code name for, "I can slack off because this school must be easy." You didn't spend four years in prep school to flunk all of your classes. 6) Stay focused. Drama doesn't end after high school, but don't let it get to you. 7) Breathe. You will be overwhelmed at first, but things get easier. 8) Break out of your shell! Get involved in your surroundings. Meet new people. Volunteer. Network like crazy. And lastly? 9) Log off of Facebook. Farmville and Cafe World will be there when your homework is done.

My senior year in high school brings back a flood of memories of severe turbulence. My father succumbed to his battle with cancer, and with a suddenly new shaky foundation, the family he left behind seemed to be missing its glue. Personally, I hit a new low; grades went south, a once loving and supportive family began fighting, and I began drinking as an escape route. I just didn't care anymore, basically throwing in the towel on life. If I knew then what I know now, I would have told myself that life is filled with bumps in the road, and it is how we deal with those bumps that turn us into who we are. If a door were to never shut, how would we know how to open another? If I could change things, of course I would prefer to have my father back but that wasn?t the hand I was dealt. Having to pull myself up by the bootstraps and pursue my dreams has made me a stronger person, and the realization that we never truly lose a loved one because they live on through us, is what the cycle of life is truly about.

Dear Abbey, DONT PROCRASTINATE! Whether its going to college tours or doing final projects make sure you take the initiative to do them early and do your best. You think you work and perform better under stress and whether its the truth or not, when you get stressed you stress out others. Stop it. TAKE CRITICISM! Every audition you go to will not always accept you, because you are too short or look too young. You should always take positive criticism and learn from mistakes and do better next time. YOU CAN"T CHANGE WHO YOU ARE! You have to accept that you are five foot three inches, and a half. you have brown hair and brown eyes and it doesn?t matter if you fry it, dye it, or hide it, that?s what you?ve got. You are still Abbey Rose Cochran. BE OPTIMISTIC! If you make one person smile everyday, you will be a better person for it. Is your glass half empty of half full? Do you make other?s glasses half empty or half full? The show is about to begin on the rest of your life. Take advantage of everything life throws at you.

I would tell myself to work hard, and to continue working toward our dream.

If I could travel back in time with the knowledge that I have now I would have told myself to not worry, college is better than you expect. Innitally it is somewhat intimidating to transition from high school to college. I was the first child in my family to further my education. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, all I knew was that I had a dream and I very much wanted to exceed at accomplishing my goals I had set out for myself. I would have told myself to have confidence because believing in yourself is the ultimate form of power. I know when I was in high school, I worried about what others thought of me which in a way prohibited me from taking risks. I know the reason that I did not try as hard in the past was because I was afraid of what it would feel like to fail or face rejection. Having confidence and a sense of who you are is a key to success. I know now that everything takes time and effort and looking back at challenges that were granted I was able to overcome a common teenage obsacle: fear.

I would just simply advise to learn as much as you can. Learning is a never ending experience and it will help you in every way in your life. Learning experience is a great potential for an individual. Listen to wise advises and be always open minded. Learn from your bad and good experiences. In fact, people learn more from bad experiences because they learn not to fall for the same mistake again. Pick your friends very wisely, but always help somebody every chance you get.

I would tell myself to work harder and to not get discouraged so easily, things come around in circles and even if you're having troubles now everything will look up. Stop being so afraid of showing the world what you know, stop being afraid of events because no one you know will be there. Don't be afraid to enter a conversation, join in and see what comes from it. It's not a bad thing to spend hours working on one assignment, even at the library, it's perfectly normal, also don't be afraid to tell the teacher that you need help or that something is going on. Chances are they want to help you, no one wants you to repeat the class. If you're not happy with something be ready to change it, life is too short to be unhappy.

If I could go back to talk to myself when I was a senior in high school I would give myself some good advise. I would explain that the earlier you start college means the younger you can make above average income. I would tell myself to pick up my grades, and not miss anymore school. Never get credit cards, it just causes problems. Never quit when the homework becomes overwhelming. I would also tell myself not to worry; in the future you are going to be doing just fine.

When I was a senior I was scared to do anything with out my mother because of my learning disability; I thought I would need her for everything. If I could go back to the year 2008, I would tell my senior self, Chloe foucus, do not be scared to explore, there is a huge world out there, ready to find out who you are. Branch off our mom you can do this. Make our family happy. This is your time to growup and show the world who we are. Do not, I repeat do not, let your learning disability get in the way its just a minor road block. Dont let your social life get in the way of your education. The only peson that can get in your way of not accomplishing something is you. Dont let nobody tell you what you can do or what your not going to be able to do. You can do anthing you set your mind to.