East Tennessee State University Top Questions

I have gotten more out of college than I could have ever imagined. Since I was young I knew that I wanted to go into the medical field but was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do. In the small amount of time I have spent here I now know exactly what I want to do and what I need to do to achieve my goals. Since coming to East Tennessee State University I have recognized my dream of working in the Neo-Natal Unit of a Children's Hospital with my master's degree in Nursing. I think this realization is very important to my future and I never would have realized this had it not been for my advisors weighing the pros and cons of graduate school.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself before making the transition into the college life i think that there are endless amounts of things that i coul say. I'd start by saying im so proud of the progress you have made, you have so much going for you in the upcoming years so make the best out of each and everyday. I would also say to stay stong through all the tests and endless nights of studying, it gets trying at times but when the final grade shows up it is all worth it. I would tell myself to count on my family during these hard times and that at the start of each and every new week remember how lucky I am to have the opportunities that most don't.

First I would like to start by saying that everyone here has once been in your shoes. Every upper classmen was once a brand new freshman in a place learning to live on their own. College Is a great big step in life and starting out can be a little shaky but take a deep breath, you will pass your first semester. ETSU has so many different things to get involved in on campus. College is where you make lasting friendships and it?s a lot easier to make friends when you get involved on campus. Just remember, you are not alone. Every freshman feels confused, lost and lonely at one point or another but remember: college is the best four years of your life. Talk to your professors. I know that some are crazy, rude & just downright ridiculous but, what they want is first on your priority list. Go to class, and sit close to the front. These things might sound simple, but it really makes a huge difference. ETSU is a wonderful place to become who you will be for the rest of your life, so ENJOY IT!

College is a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. From the depression of leaving my friends and family, to the joys of meeting new people and experiencing a part of life that I have never been exposed to; college has been a time of self-discovery. Yet, if I had the chance of going back in time and advise my high school self, I believe that I would graciously deny. Why would I turn down such an incredible opportunity, you may be asking? As I said before college has been my time of self-discovery. I believe it is a combination of all the wonderful and miserable experiences which shape a successful person. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ?Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.? Making mistakes isn?t something I fear; it is an essential part of the human experience, it is how we adapt, and it is how we learn to appreciate those things in life worth appreciating. So why then would I rob myself of such wisdom by telling myself to avoid my mistakes? For those current seniors that may stumble upon this letter, to you I simply say, good luck.

There are many things that I would adise myself to do if I could go back in time. I would make sure that I pick a college that I truely want to go to rather than letting someone else's idea influence my decision. I would also make sure that I get involved with campus activities at the very beginning of college. I would also make sure to ask a lot of questions from the staff and administration. They are valuable resources to scholarships and career information. It is also important to make as many friends as possible during the beginning of the year. Having good friends is invaluable to your college experience. College can be very exciting and fun if you make sure to be responsible.

I would tell myself to learn how to study and to study everything. Also, learn how to write papers with structure.

Take the hard classes in high school despite how much you dislike them because with the huge work loads of high school and all the homework and just small memorizing techniques without learning, you will put alot more time with alot less quality in your work while always being supervised. It sounds ridiculous but when you are in college and are taking both harder and easier courses, that work load from highschool seems to be alot less so you can put the same amount of time in and have higher quality work because you are more relaxed, are on your own time, and all the while are working on the topic you like. Go online and look for more scholarships, there are alot out there and be persistent on obtaining the information you want for your future because once it all falls in line, you feel great and look forward to it.

I joined the United States Air Force immediately after graduation from high school. I would tell myself to cherish every moment of this last year of chiidhood. Additionally, I would say to wait until January until enlisting. I would have been able to have my last "normal" holiday season with my friends and family. This would have let me enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years with those that I love. I did not realize that once you are in the military, you become an adult immediately, and there is no turning back. My transition to college was not normal. When I was discharged, I was married with two daughters. I worked full time during the day and went to community college full time at night. This was unavoidable.

College is nothing like high school or anything else kids are introduced to before they attend college. The freedom achieved when you leave home can be incredible, however it can also be a curse. Temptation is everywhere. The biggest challenge I have discovered is balancing school, work, time with your family, and time with friends. It is easy to come to college wanting to experience everything new and interesting you find out about and consequently letting your studies and grades suffer. I am majoring in biology and am in the pre-medicine program at my school. When I first began school I decided to join a Honors-in-Discipline Biology program which has recently turned out to be a terrible decision for me. I discovered that it involved extensive time in the labratory that I am not interested in. However in taking the scholarship for it I lost another scholarship that I can not get back, one that I could definately use next year. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would make sure to convince myself not to accept the honors scholarship and instead to take the other offer.

If I could go back to high school I will take more dual enrollment and AP classes. I did take several AP classes, but I neglected to take time to research which classes I would need for the nursing program at East Tennessee State University. I really wish I would have taken classes at the community college that I would need instead of taking the Art class that did not transfer. I should have spent more time researching which classes would help me during my college years and not just pick a class that will help increase my GPA. I also believe I should have taken AP English, AP History, and AP Stats. If I would have taken those steps I could have started the second year of my college education in the nursing program.