Converse College Top Questions

I have often wondered what I would do differently if I could go back in time to high school or college. My number one piece of advice would be, "Don't be afraid to try new things." It was not until my junior year that I became a class officer and quickly regretted not having done so from the beginning. Also, treasure relationships of the past and look for new ones every where you go. Don't just settle for your close-knit group. These will be your most treasured friendships in life, but you will miss out if you don't look for friends in places you never had before. You can learn so much from their differing backgrounds and cultures. Also, when you find yourself the only one of your group available or maybe they've all gone home for the weekend, or whatever the case, you won't find yourself unwillingly alone. In addition, be open to those friendships that just find you. You never know what that could bring.

Be one hundred percent yourself, with all the wackiness and craziness that goes along with it. Real friends won’t mind. Then again, don’t alienate people. Tread that line carefully. Be confident. You can (and will!) do it. You can (and will!) be amazing. Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Then again, keep an ear open to the advice of others who have gone before you (and yes, that includes mom and dad). Learn how to cook. Eventually, you will move out of the dorms and into life, and this skill is vital to have. Also, when you get into the apartments, it will be good to have as well. Keep the faith. God has a plan for whatever comes your way. Trust in Him. Even when life seems hard (especially when it seems hard), He will work it out for your good if it is in line with His will. It is worth repeating – trust Him.

As a senior, you think you know it all, that going 10 hours away will not affect you. But the first month away from home is the hardest. You will cry and want to give up, when it comes to that call mom or dad, they will piece you together. Your parents are the only support you can rely on because everyone else is going through the same phase. It is hard to go from living off of mom and dad to being completely independent. Not everything is about going out and getting drunk, you prioritize. Sleep comes first for a college athlete, and you soon realize that. Everything you thought college was, it is not. Just go with what happens because in the end it all works out. It is my second semester here, and I've learned so much and soon enough so will you.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not be afraid to step outside the box. In my AP art class, I was so determined to stick to my artistic style because I was scared of creating something horrible. This also held me back from using more creative juices. In addition to this, I would have told myself to quit worrying. I had so many things on my plate, as how I do now, but I did not understand how to cope with stress. I have learned this year that it helps to have a calendar with all due dates, test dates, and important reminders written down. I feel that if I had used this idea during my senior year, it may have helped me not to procrastinate as much.

If I could travel back in time as a high school senior in order to better prepare myself for the years ahead, there are two life-altering pieces of advice I would give myself. First, I would advise myself to simply think about my future more. In high school, hormones and immaturity make students so overly impulsive that they rarely stop to genuinely think about things in a truly objective manner. If I could advise, I'd suggest really delving into what I want to do in life, and to would select a list of prospective colleges based solely on that revelation as opposed to listening to peers, parents, etc. It’s important for students to understand that not every college offers the degree they may be seeking, and that should be the chief consideration when selecting a college. Secondly, I would advise myself to end my "romantic" relationship that seemed so important at the time and to work hard at practicing development of friendships. When one leaves for college, one of the first pangs of realization is how utterly alone she feels. The ability to reach out to others and develop relationships suddenly becomes a skill worthy of practice.

First of all I would say is do not stress over things, it only makes you freak out. I would also say that apply for as many scholarships as possible. The more scholarships you apply for the less loans you will have. One of my goals first coming here was to make all A's. I do encourage people to push for academic excellence, but do not worry if you try extremely hard and only make a B. Making a B is not the end of the world. Talk to your professors if you need help. Do not be afraid, they will not bite your head off. Going to them actually proves that you care about your schoolwork. The last thing that I would remind myself is to get involved on campus. Try things and experience different clubs and activities. By getting involved you get to meet a lot of new people and feel connected to the campus. Striving for good grades, approaching professors, and getting involved helps the transition from high school to college a lot easier. These are the steps any freshmen need to take to make connections at college.

Honesty and integrity are the two most important things you can have in life. You did not cheat, you did not copy others work. You always did your own work honestly. The good work ethic that you have set yourself is going to make college life much easier for you. You know the educational route you want to go. Become the successful person you know you can be. Use compassion to help others and use the educational opportunities to make you the best psychologist that you can be. Push yourself to grow and be proud of your accomplishments. Most of all, be true to yourself, always keep your integrity and honesty and you will do fine.

When I think back to my senior year, I'm hit with a wall of stress. If I could go back and talk to my 17-year-old self, I would tell her that the future is a beautiful thing; that "not knowing" is an essential part of life. I would tell her to do nothing differently, because I wouldn't change my journey for anything, but I would tell her this: just breathe. You are going to be just fine. Don't change anything, but allow change to happen. You are not going have any regrets about this next step you are taking. Change is difficult, but you will be so much stronger when it is over. The path from high school and through college has been comlex and winding, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's made me who I am, and that is a person I am proud to be.

College has made me grow as a person. In high school I studied to pass and in college I study to learn. I explored new things and ideas. I started to question and not settle. It changed me from the inside out. I have met so many new people that have helped shape the person that I am becoming. I started noticing things about myself that I needed to improve. my outlook on life has been altered for the better. Values such as, faith, love, commitment, and loyalty all surfaced in my first year, and I had to reevaluate myself. I am more commited to my dream of becoming a doctor and I am currently at an internship where I am shadowing a doctor. College was the fuel I needed for my fire. College changed my life.

One of the first thing that I have gotten out of my college experience so far is being more independent. I am not treated like a child anymore with professors watching every move like teachers used to or having to ask parents about everything. There is more freedom involved. Also, the challenging work has gotten me to think at a higher level and have me to study more and study efficiently. I have got to meet really amazing people and have made a great group of friends. My college experience has got me to build up my leadership skills and got me to think more open-minded. It has gotten me to learn so much knowledge from the classes I am in and achieve higher reading and writing skills. College has so much to offer and it has just made me so much more self-confident.