Cornell University Top Questions

Take a break! Relax a little. You'll make it. Don;t put too much stress on yourself because at the end of the day, this is just one of the many faces in life. In the future, when you look back, you will not remember the hours you studied all night, but rather the times you spent with your friends and the valuable moments you share. Don;t miss out on your youth, because whatever it is, you will 'grow'. Better later than now... enjoy the journey and smell the flowers whiles you are at it.

When going to college, it is very easy to become very focused on a future career, so much so that many of the activities one pursues are done solely to reach this goal of a better future. While this relentlessly forward thinking will undoubtedly be beneficial in some ways with regards to a career, I have found that the most successful college experiences are accomplished by students who take the time to pursue their own passions. It took me a few years before I realized this myself, finally participating in extracurriculars that aligned with my interests, such as music, instead of ones that I did for my resume, such as being a leader in a club. In doing so, I began to develop and shape characteristics pertaining to the kind of person I am instead of the kind of professional I thought I should be. And somewhat ironically, this allowed me to perform at interviews much better since I was able to talk about my activities with much more enthusiasm. I would emphasize to my high school senior self that while technical skills are important, they should not come at the expense of the passions that drive me.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I think I would have a number of things to say.

Those horrible words made my stomach sink and ache; I would always ask myself, "What is wrong with me? Why do I deserve to be treated so horribly?" Day after day in high school I would be tormented by my classmates. I always enjoyed reading, doing well in class and volunteering in the community. I was ridiculed for not wearing make-up, "cool" clothing, and trying "too hard." I was torn apart for every aspect of my life while in high school. But, when I was accepted into Cornell University, I was ecstatic. I was eager to start fresh and make new friends. I am now a junior and have learned so much and grown a lot as a person. With what I know now, I would give myself the following advice: learn as much as you can, while you can. While I was bullied, I lost interest in school so I would not be targeted as much-- you can lose your job, house, car or even rights, but no one can take away your brain power. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," -Nelson Mandela.

I would tell myself to make sure I research my university and to not just choose my college based on it's prestige.

Choose a college based on which one will allow you to achieve your goals; name isn't everything.

Things will turn out better than you think so stop thinking it's the end of the world. You won't do as well as you wanted to in your first semester of college but that's ok! The first semester of college is all about adjusting to a new environment and a new way of learning. Besides, you'll be surprised how well you did compared to some other people you know. But that's not the point. My point being is that you are not alone. You may think that for a while, but there is someone always there for you. I know that you're probably going to hate the world that you live in a not want to do anything other than regret living for a while after Taylor dies suddenly, but she is in a better place. she is not suffering and she is in good hands. So here's my advice to you: Just do the best you can and don't compare yourself to what others have done but focus on what you can do for yourself and your future. Don't lose hope. Don't ever forget who you are. Hookem' Longhorns!

College is all about being preparded for whatever comes your way and sometimes the things you are faced with are not what you expected. This time around i would try to be alittle less plan oriented. I always had a plan, and there was nothing wrong with that but my plan did not take into consideration the bumps that might come along and throw things alittle off track. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer my plan to go to temple university and live on my own and become a pharamcist was alittle sidetracked. I decided to attend community college so i could be home take care of her ,while i went to school fulltime and worked part time at a pharmacy so i could still keep some sort of connection with my goal to become a pharmacist. This sudden change of events was harder for me to cope with because i was not preparded for it. Now that things at home have settled down i am ready to fulfill my dream and make my parents proud, only this time i am ready for whatever comes my way.

Alyssa, there will be a night in college in which your "friend" leaves you alone and steals your purse. DO NOT follow the boy who says you can use his phone. Even though this experience changes your life and your chosen coursework, I can just tell you right now, you should take classes involving sex, race, and public policy- you find out when you're 22 that you have the ability to advocate for women, children, and at-risk populations through the non-profit sector. I will also say, don't forget the power of direct service, theory can only get you so far. Also, don't take that Mandarin class, you will get a B-, it will ruin your GPA, and you will never use it!

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game". This is the message I would tell my anxious and confused self before I headed off to college. Though this quote is a variation of a quote from the great Babe Ruth, I remember it from the cheesy movie of my pre-teens," A Cinderella Story". The main thing I would want myself to take from it is to encourage myself to try new things, and to not be intimidated by anyone or anything. This applies especially to other students and teachers, because though I did not at first realize it, the other students were just as bewildered by this experience as I was, and these teachers were very much there to help me, I just had to have the guts to take advantage of it. And though I remember this quote from a fluffy Disney movie, that doesn't undermine the message or make it any less meaningful or applicable to my college experience. It would be a good pick-me-up, and a reminder that college can be a very rewarding experience, but only if you take advantage of it.