Florida SouthWestern State College Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to high school self, I would say, it'll get better so don't slack off. The thing I regret most when looking back on high school is all the time I wasted. I would tell myself to wake up, stop the self destructive behavior and academic sabotage. I'm a smart girl, but at the time I didn't embrace it. I barely turned in any work and never listen to my teachers. My grades and GPA were poor. I could do better, I knew it, but I just wasn't listening to myself. When I look back, I see that I wasted my opportunity of going to a collegiate high school. When graduation comes you're supposed to feel happy to be moving on to something new and better, but I simply felt stuck. It wasn't until I enrolled in college I realized what I had sacrificed in exchange for laziness. So if I had button to do it all over again, I would say "It'll pay off. It's worth it. Do it." I would say the things I need to hear when I had given up.

I would go back and tell myself to work harder, to work through those tough classes and study more. I would tell myself to get more involved in extra curricular activities. High school is a difficult time, you have so much pressure put on you that you forget to enjoy life sometimes. Enjoy every step of the journey and do not ever rush it. It is a balance of social and studies! Do not get so involved in your studies you forget about your friends and likewise, do not get so invoved with your friends that you forget to study! Try hard, persevere, and do not ever give up. Do not dream your life, live your dreams!

To myself as a high school senior... Keep on pushing because you will make it out of high school and continue on to better things. College life really isn't bad and I know you are going to make it. Just continue to make good grades and never give up. Never let anything or anybody get in the way of you doing your best in school and please maintain that excellent GPA of yours because it makes a big difference. Stay focused because your time is coming honey.

As a high school student I believe we think there is always tomorrow and we still have time to take our SAT, ACT, apply to colleges of our choice, and apply for scholarships. If I could go back in time I would definitely encourage, no nag myself with as many reminders as possible that time is running out! Like the old addage says, "Do not put off tomorrow what you can do today". I would also make certain to be diligent with my choosing my schedule, as classes fill up quickly. Keeping in touch with your counselors, whether they are your high school or college counselors, it is imperative to keep them in the loop. Ask questions. They are there to help you. Above all enjoy every experience along the way.

Don't expect to Berklee College of Music as soon as you graduate from high school. Instead, go straightaway to Edison State College as soon as you graduate. That way, you can complete your general studies and get the Associate Arts degree in just two years, thus allowing you to transfer to Berklee afterwards with a completed degree in your hand and less tuition. Also, apply for Edison as soon as you can and complete everything you have to when securing your seat at Edison and saving you less financial trouble. Otherwise, it will be a shaky end of your summer. Talk to Edison's advisors about the AA and know what you have to complete in order to get it while majoring in music. Throughout your two years at Edison, you must take all four levels of Music Theory and Sight Singing/Ear Training along with Class Piano, any musc ensemble, applied percussion lessons, and at least one music history/appreciation class along with the general studies required for the AA. It may sound very tiring but it actually isn't that hard as long as you plan ahead with the class schedules.

Dear Christina, SAVE your money! I know at this moment you feel that you can always start saving later on in life but honney the time is now. Things dont get easier, your bordem days have come to an end. Embrace the feeling of never getting enough sleep EVER! I believe in you just like I know you believe in yourself. If you dont remember anything else I say remember this; Love. Love like everday will be your last or like you will lose everything near and dear to you tomorrow. Be slow to get angry and realize that the obstacles in your way right now are just roadblocks and you truly are bigger than them. Love, your future self

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to always remain focus and finish strong. Knowing what I know about college now and making the transition was difficult because I wasnt wooried about studying so i can pass my test the next day. I felt as though the transition would've been easier if I remained focus and did what I was entitled to do. Instead of worrying about when was the next senior skip day or letting senioristis hit me the first semester of the year. Focusing more would've gotten me prepared for college and a brighter future.

Save as much money as you can. Financial aid is available, but you don't want to struggle. Money is your best friend while attendng college, and you're gonna wish you saved every penny you've ever got when you start college. Apply for as many scholarships as you can, and make sure you stay on top of your classes and track to graduate.

I would give myself the advice of taking as many free college classes you can as a senior. I turned down the opportunity to study in high school different college courses and I deciced to graduate early instead.

Calm down. Look into schools, how much they cost, what you're learning. See what you can get for your money. Don't get sucked into the hype and stigma about staying home for your first year and getting prerequisites out of the way. In the long run, you'll feel better for having saved so much money for when you actually decide what you want to do, and start some major classes. Take a deep breath, and enjoy your first year of college, high school is over. Life is getting ready to start, have fun.