Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

If I knew then what I know now.... I would have a lot to say to my high school self. If given the chance, I would go back and tell myself first and foremost to change my class schedule immediately to include a music theory class. I would also advise myself to sing the national anthem at sporting events to have more performing experience. But most of all I would advise myself that if I really intended to make this trip across the country, where I would know no one and be essentially starting over, then I need to completely break free of my shell and embrace this new experience in every way possible. Columbia is all about making connections and future contacts with teachers, alumni, and fellow students, and in order to make those contact you have to talk to them and let your personality shine through. The smallest things and bits of advice make the biggest difference.

Always follow your heart. Sometimes, it's easy to let everyday life get in the way of your dreams. If you always follow your heart, you will never give up those dreams, and one day you'll wake up with the life you've always wanted. It isn't always the path of least resistance, but it's the path that is most rewarding.

Keep your head in the books would be the advice I'd give to myself and anyone else making that transition into college. Work hard so you can play hard would be my motto to follow. Networking would be another point I'd give to myself. College is a great time to develop communication skills and friends that you'll have for the rest of your life. Use your teachers to your benefit and don't let your work get you down. Stay on top of your workload so you're always on the upside. As well as college is what you make it! If you feel as if college is going to be dreadful and boring than it will be. On the other hand if you embrace college for what it is, which is a great learning experince that you'll never forget, than college will be all that in more!!!

For me, the most important advice that I could give my high school self is to trust myself. Picking a college is a horribly frightening, unnerving, self-doubting experience. So much pressure is put on students when it comes to picking a school, and it is easy to doubt yourself. The thing about picking a college, though, is that it does not have to be permanent – even if a student does pick a school, and it turns out to be the wrong choice, there is no one stopping that kid from changing his or her mind, and going somewhere else. I think that a lot of students do not think of that, which makes the whole idea of going to college so stressful. That is why I think it is important for students to stop doubting themselves, and just trust in their choices, even if they turn out to be wrong. If a student is going to school doubting him- or herself, the experience will be even scarier than it needs to be. Moving away from home, and everything you know is bad enough without adding the pressure of feeling like you do not know yourself.

Making the transition from high school to Columbia College was a breeze. It was actually easier to attend this college than to make the transition from grade school to high school. There is really nothing I could have done differently to make this transition. Attending Columbia was the most wonderful experience I had in my education to date. The teachers are friendly, knowledgable and demanding in their own way. They work with you until you get it right - and the whole class benefits. Group cooperation is encouraged. The teachers are so willing to impart their real life work experiences you are left knowing exactly what you need to do and what to expect. So different from high school. The advice I would have given myself, attending a worthless Chicago Public High School, would be that instead of dropping out in sophomore year, to accelerate my graduation into three years so I could take advantage of scholarships offered only to high school diploma holders. No one gives money to people with a GED. That is unfortunate and the only thing I would change.

If I could give any advice to myself from high school it would be that a lot of people were not real friends. I have learned from being away that it is very hard to keep in touch with people because of their lack of trying. If someone does not care about getting a hold of you after high school, you obviously did not mean that much to them. Another thing I would tell myself is to work throughout high school and save up money for spending and food and all of that in college because I am a broke college student and it is definitely not fun at all. Most of all, I would tell myself to do what I want to do and what no one else wants me to do because once your on your own in college you learn a lot about who you actually are and what you actually want out of life.

No single film could ever capture the myriad complexities that make up the human experience. Nor could all films collectively until the end of time.* That however, does not mean that some filmmakers will not try to attempt such a daunting task. Filmmaker Patrick Loy, is not one of the those filmmakers. Instead of pursuing that large grey area in between, the films of Loy are about the polarities that exist at opposite ends. The characters in his films live on the fringes of society, possibly even thrive there. In using sound, texture, color, atmosphere, & mood Loy shows an intensity few of his contemporaries can match. In an era where everything is handed to us on a plate, it is nice to know that the dark, challenging, but ultimately rewarding work of Mr. Loy will not make it easy for us. * I realize this statement is remarkably lucid for the likes of me, my fullest apologies to the original author.

Out of my college experience I have learned more about friendship, new ways to meet people, some new things about some people I already know, and of course a lot from the subjects I have been enrolled in. I have made new friends, and reconnected with some old ones. Attending Yuba College has been a valuable experience because I have learned so much, met so many new people, made so many new friends, and experienced things that I would never have experienced if I did not attend Yuba College. Going to this school has been the best experience of my life. I would not trade it for anything.

Being here at Columbia has taught me that, in order for me to acheieve what it is that I want out of life--Im going to have to work for it and be fearless in the decisions that I make. This institution has also taught me that it pays to know who you are, or at least have a good idea about it when you get ready to embark on this crazy ride, called college. I've learned what it means to be lonely in a room full of people, and I've learned that that loneliness is only temporary. There is always something to look forward to. And lastly, I have accepted that people will come and go like seasons--change is inevitable...and I have learned to welcome it.