Daytona State College Top Questions

College certainly has been a challenge. It has forced my mind to stay in shape with all those algebraic equations and english papers i have to write on a daily basis. In a way it helps prepare me for my future job as a firefighter where im sure i'll be multi-tasking and loaded down with work, constantly giving all that i can. My college experience would be nothing though if the people i see as i walk down the halls didnt smile and laugh with me after class, if we didnt do math labs together and struggle over difficult problems eventually finding an answer. They made my morning easier, made my college experience an experience rather than just another day- because of them i can feel accomplished and successful as we both grow.

If I could go back an talk to my high school self i would have said not to ever give up on something i want just because at the time it seems like too much money and to work harder to make sure i got what i wanted out of life. To hold onto my dreams and never let anyone discourge me. And to apply for a few scholarships which i slacked on doing in high school. I would mostly just tell myself that to make sure that I did what ever makes me the happiest no matter what it is, and to stop putting others above me.

My number one piece of advice to myself as a high school senior would be to focus as much as I could on my academics so I could obtain my educational goals faster. I happened to be the common high school senior who caught the "senioritis" bug and admittedly slacked off during not only my senior, but also junior, years. I fell so far behind that I could not even walk with my class and had to take courses at the local community college in order to earn my diploma. Now, although I am only 26, I would sit my younger self down and say, "Listen. I know what is best for you and I know what you are capable of. Don't let the distractions of insignificant things hinder your progress. All you have to do is focus enough to graduate on time, and even take dual-courses while still in high school, and you will not regret it. You can be 22 and have completed a Bachelor's degree, or you can be 26 and have two years to go. I know you'll make up your own mind, but please just take heed to this advice."

I can honestly say that I have not had the pleasure of being a senior yet. Nonetheless, college is worlds different from high school. The pressure is doubled, and the responsibilities are all the more complicated. If I could go back to my freshman or sophomore year, I would have started Dual Enrollment then so my work load could have been more spread out. Additionally, I would have begun entering scholarship contests then, or started researching colleges and majors then- as opposed to now when I have AP exams to prepare for and college work to complete.

If I could go back in time and teach my high school senior self a thing or two about college life, I would say "Don't procrastinate." Waiting until the last minute in college causes failing grades as opposed to in high school when teachers let you turn in things late. Deadlines are made for a reason, and that goes for tuition and other fees as well. As a high school senior, teachers always told you to "take notes if you want" but I never understood the importance of notes until i started college. I would tell myself to take as many notes as possible and that notes could only help, never hurt. An important piece of information I would tell myself as a high school senior would be to make sure you are always on time. College classes are held at a certain time, so make sure you are there on time. I would tell myself that there is no such thing as tardies in college. Your professor might allow you to miss one class and after that it is a failing grade for you. That is no fun, and is in no way a great start to college.

If I could go back in time and be able to tell myself as a senior what to do or not do, I would say thats it's not all fun and games. College is harder thn High School and my thought process was that it was going to be easier and a lot more fun. Don't get me wrong, college is way more fun than High School but going into college expecting it to be easy was not a good thought process to go with. My first sememster I ended up stressing myself because I needed help and I didn't expect to need that much help. I am now in my second sememster ahead in my assignments and enjoying every class because I understand that college is not all fun in games and if I want to be a good teacher in the future I have to work on it now.

If I could go back in time and tell myself everything that I know about college, I would tell myself to start early. Don't mess around and wait to do things after I have already graduated from high school. I would tell myself to start planning in my junior year and get things started that way.You need to duel enroll so you will have more classes out of the way and you won't have that many classes to do after you graduate and you will be able to get my degree sooner. I would also say not to mess around in high school. I know many people like to fool around their first two years and then try to fix their mistakes in the last two or even last year of high school, and by then its almost too late. Take things more serious and pay more attention that you are doing now.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about a smooth transition into college, I would tell myself to be more involved in school. By this I mean, being more involved in academic programs/clubs, community service, extracurricular activities and taking college level courses. Being involved in those activities would help mold myself into a more responsible person. Responsibilty can help with time managment, organization, maturity and social skills.

If I could go back in time and tell my highschool senior self a few things about college life now that i've expierienced, this is what i would say. Dear Natasha Bradley, girl please graduated and immediately go off to college. Do not wait or take a break or you will not have that passion to attend like you had when you first completed high school. The information you learn in high school will be fresh in your brain and you will not have to take pointless prepertory classes to reawaken your brain. You will be more prepared for college because you and your friends would have visted schools and completed all the neccissary paperwork needed to enroll and recieve financial aid. You will feel more comfortable being at school with friends of yours, that are in your same age group instead complete strangers younger (freshman classes) then you. So please Natasha i beg of you, Don't procrastinate PLEASE go directly too college.

Knowing what I know now about college life, if I could go back to my senior class self, I would tell me to stay where I'm at. I duel-enrolled my senior year, and then changed to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for my college, and that was a mess. I was not quite ready for that tough of a courseload or that dedicated or advanced of a school. I would tell myself to stay at DBCC (now Daytona State) and finish the AS I started, and then decide where to go. Finish all the prequisites at an affordable community college. Knowing where my life ended up, I can't say that I'd change a thing. I'm a little behind schedule, but I wouldn't change my life now for anything, which tells me that I truly can't change my past. So, I'm not a rocket scientist. I can't pass physics. I paid far too much for a school I was in no way prepared for to tell me that, and I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything. I'm back in school, and my life is where it's supposed to be.