Emory & Henry College Top Questions

My first year when i was able to come home i would because i kinda felt homesick, i think i should have given campus life more of a chance in the beginning but now its wonderful. It didn't take me long to meet new people and make new friends. I love this school and hope to financially be able to graduate from here.

If I could go back and repeat my senior year over again I would’ve applied myself a little better. If I would’ve known what I know now, I would be a little better off than I am. During my senior year I did not study nor read, I realized that those two elements would be essential to be successful in college. Reading and being able to interpret what you read by writing a detail essay shows professors that you are getting a complete understanding of what is going on. Another component I would’ve took advantage of is the many scholarship opportunities that were everywhere. During my senior year there were many scholarship listing that I completely ignored. I didn’t realize how expensive school was until I got to college. If I would’ve did just a few scholarships my cost of school would have been minimized a few thousand dollars.

I really wish that I could have gone back and talked to myself in 1993 when I started college. I was scared to death at the thought of leaving home and being around total strangers. I was dreading the classes I would be taking because I had this preconceived notion about college that was totally wrong. I would go back and tell myself about how college is totally different from high school. The class schedule is very flexible and we are literally in charge of making our own schedule each semester. Of course we have help from our faculty advisors along the way, but we are in charge of our destination. I would also tell myself to be prepared to make some of the best friends I would ever have in my life. I had several close friends from high school, but it was hard to know at the time that most of us would leave home and make our lives elsewhere so therefore we would most likely not see very much of each other after graduation. College introduced me to my wife and that alone made the whole experience all the worthwhile!

In high school, I challenged myself by taking college courses through two community colleges around Rocky Mount, Va, and I also took Advanced Placement (AP) courses. I did well in the college courses (A grade average), but I could've studied harder and done better in my AP courses (B or C grade averages). Once I got in college, I learned how to study and ended up having all A's and B's on my report card. I wish I could go back to my high school self and teach myself the study habits I know now, because then I could have done better on my AP exams and the credits would have transferred to Emory and Henry, which would have caused me to enter my first year not as a freshman, but as a sophomore. It would've put me ahead in the long run.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would immediately tell myself not to be shocked by the lifestyles of the students I was about to live among. I would strongly encourage myself to stay true to my morals and beliefs, to not allow anyone to change my personal faith. I would also advise my younger self not to allow others to dictate much in my life, explaining that I am responsible for my own actions. I would explain clearly that no matter how closely I befriend anyone, it is not my responsibility to make good decisions for them. My friends' health and success in college is dependent upon how much they are willing to work, not how much I look after them.

Knowing now how things play out, I would tell myself to get involved in everything I possibly could and render all scholarships from those clubs, lasting friendships, and the role of leadership. I would tell myself to not go too far away since my family means so much to me and I have an equally great opportunity close to home. I would say choose wisely who you make friends with now so you have a top knotch support system when you're homesick or chemistry stresses you out beyond imaginable. I would recommend applying to thousands of more scholarships despite the effort you already put in. Most importantly, I would tell myself to have an insane amount of faith in my own abilities and trust that I can do and will do whatever it takes academically, mentally, and spiritually to provide myself with a life that is just right for the perfectionist I am. I would make sure to instill the mindset to never underestimate the power of confidence and love for yourself as an individual.

If I could give advice to myself when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself to keep my friend 'circle' closer. Now that I am in college, I have noticed which friends were real and which ones were just there to be part of the group. I still keep in touch with some of my friends from high school and others I have lost track of. The ones I have lost track of are the ones who did not continue their education in college. Therefore, all I have noticed them doing is partying and gaining a bad reputation - something that I am embarrassed of for them. I do not like to be associated with people who are looked down on in the community - I have great expectations. That is why I would have told myself to watch who I was associated with while in high school!

If I could tell my high school self anything, I would tell her to go into college as a single person. Being in a relationship upon entering college made it really hard for me to make friends and become independent. My boyfriend at the time was a controlling person who did not let me do many of the things I wanted to do during my freshman year of college. If I could go back and do it over again, I would have been more involved with my hall mates and less involved with him. I would have joined intramurals and clubs during my freshman year instead of staying in my dorm room. I would have not gone home as often on the weekends and would have sought out activities on campus instead. I would also tell my high school self to not focus so much on studying and to interact with peers more. While my strict schedule of studying and only hanging out with my boyfriend did contribute to a perfect gpa my first year, I could have used more social development.

My advice to myself, if I could give it, would consist of two areas: public speaking and initiative. The first error that I made in high school was not overcoming my shyness as an orator. The demands of college courses require the preparation and presentation of relevant information; though initially at a disadvantage in these classes, I believe that my skill as a public speaker has been markedly improved. This is not to say that I forgive the shortcomings of my high school self. I would have been well served to be more vocal in class and volunteered for any speaking opportunities. The second problem that I faced upon entering into a college career was the result of both inaction and misinformation. I was informed that my application would not be accepted until a later date. Unfortunately, this information was inaccurate and the application was actually past due. The consequence of this error was that I did not receive all of the financial aid that I might have obtained. I should have been more dissatisfied with the answer of one person and proactively pursued additional information from another source. In the end, I am reminded that to err is human.

If I could travel back in time to give myself advice in highscool, I would give myself little advice. The reason being is that I feel that when I first attended college the transition was fairly easy for me. However, it was a transition I needed to make by myself and learn from. I would give myself a couple of words of advice though. First I would tell myself that this will be the greatest decision you have made in your life. No matter how hard or scary it may seem, college will help you grow not only academically but grow as a man too. I would tell myself that friends will come in an abundance so do not worry about that situation. My final words of advice would be about academics. I would advise myself to work very hard in college because it means your future. Work is somewhat harder, however if one takes extra time the work will be easier than he thinks. Furthermore, I would tell myself to hold strong to my religion and have faith. I feel these few words would make my past self feel much better about transition to college.