Florida State College at Jacksonville Top Questions

I am still a high-school junior who is dual-enrolled full time in college. Although, I would tell my future self that college is just the most spectacular thing since getting to high-school. I would tell my future self that the students in college are actually serious about learning and are mature adults. Since the college students are paying for their classes, they won't flunk out and will have to take school seriously and will be less likely to goof off in class like the younger high-school students. I would say to my future self that once you get to college, you will actually learn about the world and it's sciences and physcial beauties. While in high-school, unfortunately teachers must prepare the students for standardized tests instead of teaching material from textbooks. Once you get to college, it's like the book opens up and you can read it, compared to high-school when you are just reading the spine of the book. Finally, I would tell my future senior self that it's okay to not know what to do in life yet, chase what makes you happy, that's your career.

I would tell my younger self to get a job after I graduated high school, and either wait a year before I started college or go to the local community college for my associates degree. Working a mundane job for a year would have given me a better perspective on college life, and it would have made me appreciated my education more. I might have set clear career goals. Instead, I graduated high school, went directly to college, and flunked out within two years. I just didn't go to class, and partied a lot. I didn't understand that my education would affect the rest of my life. Now, twenty years later, I'm finally graduating with my bachelors degree. I appreciate the education I'm getting and the fact that I know I will finally be entering into the career of my dreams.

First of all I would not have had a daughter at 15. Then I could have started college immediately instead of waiting so late in life to start college. I also would have taken two foreign languages in high school. I have found that foreign language has been my biggest struggle in college. I also worked when I was in high school. I would have tried to save some money for college. In addition I would have stayed at home with my mom so I would only have to focus on college versus trying to balance school, a fulltime job and raising children. Everything would have been so much easier.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student, I would offer myself valuable information that I have learned to this point in my life. The transition from high school to college is a difficult one, especially when you are dealing with family medical issues like I did. I would tell my young self about the school's assistance resources. For example: If you feel overwhelmed or stressed, talk to an advisor at the college. Feel free to discuss concerns about life and grades. Discuss options for students who cannot juggle intense personal issues and college life. This type of resource is so desperately needed for first and second year students to succeed. It is so often that students think they can handle everything on their own and then fail out of college, which hurts their current and future GPA if they decide to continue their education in later years. I would tell myself that knowledge is power and to read about school policies and understand options that the school offers their students. I would mention to myself that it is okay to trust others because they are there to help.

If I could go back in time to give my highschool self advice, I would tell myself to make sure to take advantage of the college credit classes. I would tell myself how important it is to take them seriously and get them out of the way in order to double major in a timely fashion and a smaller cost. I would also tell myself to be more involved with clubs and to make sure to volunteer. I would leave knowing I told myself all I would need to know.

get a job asap and look for more scolorships

College is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn practical skills and career knowledge, but it is also a training ground for you to determine your character and adult behaviors. Life is unpredictable. Learn now to be flexible, and you will survive any future impediments: be it learning to co-exist with the roommate who sings opera, or processing the hurt after a parent betrays you. Allow adversity to stretch you-grow you- without giving in to the temptation to wallow in despair. Life will move on- even as you wait for clarity, direction, or your hair to grow back out. Aim to excel in everything, and seek out help for new or difficult challenges. As a freshman, it can be easy to feel reduced to a number, so carve out a niche for yourself and put your stamp on it. Audition, join, campaign, or sign up. The College Experience is adjectival of a desire to experiment, explore, and entertain new people and ideas, so enjoy the chance to revise your world-view. Most importantly, decide to live a God honoring life- this will enable you to be your best self. And your best self will be a college graduate.

During a student’s four year high school experience, they undergo numerous trials and tasks, and are often stretched to meet the expectations of their school, family, teachers, and friends. Although education was always important to me, at the time it was not my main focus. As a high school senior, my life was centralized around who I was, or rather tried to be. My time was consumed by who I was hanging out with, what parties I was invited to, and if I looked “cool” with them. As a college student in retrospect, there are many things I could have and should have done differently. However, all of them boil down into being myself. If I had concentrated on being myself and not trying to conform to the rest of my peers, I would have been more successful academically and socially. I’ve come to realize you don’t have to try as hard to make friends when you are yourself. In college I have been much more successful because I was able to redirect and funnel my energy into my education. As the old proverb goes, “No one can do a better job of being you than you.”

The most important thing I would have told myself back then is to stick with it because it is so important. I got very lazy my senior year, as I already had all the classes I needed to graduate, and was only attending school for part of the day. I enrolled in a large university here in my hometown, only because my sister attended there, and a few of my friends were going there as well. I was in a bit of a rebellious stage and had a horrible attitude, especially about school. I simply did not care. After my first semester, after missing half my classes, and only passing 2 out of 4, I dropped out. This also caused me to lose my Florida Bright Futures scholarship, which is something I'm really regretting now. I've wised up and matured a great deal since then, and now know how important college is, and how important it is to hold a degree, and what it means to me. I'm completely dedicated and devoted now. The cost is the only thing really holding me back from acheiving my goals and receiving a degree.

If I could go back to when I was a senior in high school I would tell myself to buckle down and take it serious. When your younger all you really think about is friends and having fun. Truth is your not gonna talk to half of those friends in five years and you'll forget the fun times. It's your future take charge.