Diablo Valley College Top Questions

I have often thought about the things I would change in my life if I could go back with the knowledge I have now. I was not oriented well. My parents spoke very little English, and I was the first to graduate high school. I honestly was discourage by my own father, telling me, "You dream to high." Now that I have made the transition and have grown up, lived and learned, I would tell myself to believe in myself and not let anyone tell me otherwise. I have learned that there are many ways to get financial help and that there are many options available and offered to someone seeking a higher education. It is a help I did not know existed growing up. Asking questions and seeking the right help will always direct the way. As a 33 year old man, I am still pursuing my dream. I have confidence and I know that at any age you can pursue your dreams.

If I could speak with myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get together with my peers for study groups whenever I feel like I?m slipping in a class. Especially with my most difficult college classes like Economics, Critical Thinking, and Calculus, I knew the best thing for me would be to work with other students to analyze problems, understand answers, and make great friends. Working with others not only allowed me to gain a lot as far as my classes went, but it also allowed me to learn other people?s stories and begin to take advantage of my own life. I?ve met students who?ve gone through drug addiction, financial woes, dyslexia, and family conflicts; meeting them has brought me to appreciate my life so much more. Considering that I now receive mostly A's on my transcript, I believe I've made a very dramatic turn in college for the best. Nowadays, I couldn't be any prouder to show my parents my report card as opposed to trying to hide them during my senior year of high school, a feeling I owe to my experience with study groups in college.

In high school, your teachers and parents are constantly checking up on you to ensure that your homework is completed and that you are attending all your classes. This is not the case in college. In college, you are on your own. Unlike public high school, you pay to attend college and it is your money wasted if you choose not to go to class. In college you have much more freedom than high school because you are an adult. Of course, not all college students act like adults. The summer break between graduating high school and the first day your freshmen year of college usually isn't enough time for a student to mature and prepare for their new chapter of life. So, if I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would remind myself to be a responsible college student by attending all my classes and completing all my work. Students should be grateful for their opportunity to attend college and should take their time to learn and absorb all that they can from their experience.

As a high school senior, college seems like a load of stress and competition. But I have learned college is about self-exploration. Don't concern yourself with what you think you should be studying, or with what degree will earn you a high-paying job. Choose classes that pique your interest and challenge yourself in areas you feel are beyond your competence level. Although you will learn tons of new information about the world in college, you will learn even more about yourself. It seems daunting to have so many choices and career paths open to you, but look at this as an opportunity to redefine yourself and your interests. College is not your enemy as an evaluation of your success or lack thereof, but the means for trying new things. College is an unfamiliar and foreign environment; so explore. It's never too late to discover a new path in terms of careers and yourself. Just because you were the shy girl in high school doesn't mean you can't become a leader in college. Grasp every opportunity to challenge and learn more about yourself. Most importantly, remember to have fun.

Nothing should be taken for granted. Every friend, teacher, class subject or event should be valued. If you make a mistake, don't give up. If you feel like there is no purpose for a higher education, you are wrong. Things go wrong so that we can learn from them and eventually make them right. Always ask questions, even when the answers don't make sense, that same answer might make sense later on. But most of all enjoy the time you spend in school, because it is over just as fast as is begins .

Dear me as a high school senior, Here?s some advice as you go to college. As soon as you get there, make an appointment with an academic counselor and meet with one before every semester to ensure you?re on the right path. Feel free to add ?fun? classes, but don?t eliminate the general education courses. Get to know your instructors; they are your allies. Speak up in class. By doing so, you will become more comfortable and confident speaking in front of groups, you will learn the material more easily and you will make a favorable impression on your instructors. Be friendly towards your classmates. Knowing your classmates helps you look forward to attending class and provides good study partners. Participate in extracurricular activities. It will help you meet people, make friends and feel a greater connection to your school. Take this once in a lifetime opportunity to add diversity to your life by trying new things and getting outside your comfort zone. Lastly, yet importantly, STAY IN SCHOOL. Once you leave, life has a way of taking you in a different direction making it very difficult to return. Soak up everything you can and have fun!

It's really hard to say. Since I have graduated I have; travelled to a few countries, I have spoken in front of hundreds of people, learned a new language, and changed all my goals and dreams around and upside down and back again, I've fallen in love, almost been married, lost a loved one, made a lot of mistakes, learned a lot, but in it all i've kept one constant. I've stayed true to who I am and what I believe. I guess I would say that things will come and go, and that just like seasons, there are seasons of life. But no matter what happens, where you go, and what you do, stay constant and don't lose yourself along the way. The path that i am about to endure may not make sense and will frusterate me a bit, but just to remember that life isn't about the end result its about the process. I would have to tell me that, I would fear telling me my mistakes I wouldn't be where I am today; not perfect but better than i was yesterday, to take life one day at a time.

High school is not the finish line. After three high schools, it is difficult to find the courage to make another set of new friends, the spirit to root for another football team, the motivation to work hard and strive for your best. You graduated middle of your class, without friends, and with that nagging feeling that you could have done better. The good thing is, no matter how untrue it may have felt at the time, you are not defined by your high school career. In fact, it's just the beginning. College is a time of self-discovery. You will meet other people, and join the clubs they tell you about. You will find classes that interest you, and professors who challenge you. You'll try green tea for the first time, and join the group on that weekend ski trip. What starts out as a "filler" class will become your passion, and you'll be surprised to find that you have a knack for learning Russian. In fact, you have a knack for a lot of things. But most importantly, you'll realize the value of hard work, and once again be inspired to reach your goals.

I would say that you try to take as many extra curricular activities (school newspaper, sports or art ect..) as you can handle before entering a four year or two year institute. Not only will they help you socially but you'll be surprised what you may learn about yourself in the long run. Another thing I'll advise you on, since you are relatively young I wouldn't panic if you don't know what your major is going to be, just experiment a little maybe take a few classes at a community college see where that takes you.

Throughout college, I have realized that I wish I would have done a few things different. That thing would be to see a counsler and/or get a mentor. During High School, I had a mentor guiding and helping me to make sure that I was understanding the material. Now, I wish this is what I would have done in college. Even though I was having a hard time during my first years, I never thought of getting a mentor. But if i had to advice myself one thing that I would change is definitely see a counsler during my first year. I spent 3 years doing my general education because I was having a difficult time with some of the material and had to drop classes. This is why I wish I would have had a mentor, because I was having a hard time understading the material. Maybe I would have finished my general education a little bit sooner and moved on to my next educational goal faster. In conclusion, I would advice myself to get a mentor and see a counselor to receive that guidance that I very much needed in order to reach my goals.