Grand Rapids Community College Top Questions

Dear Nanette, I'm writing to you from my place in time 2010. May you delight in your own wisdom 25 years early. "And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor. 13 1. Have faith in yourself, certainly in God, but also in people. Continue to believe that all people are basically good. Trust them, commune with them, show them grace and mercy just as you are shown. 2. Continue to hope in a future where good continues to triumph over evil. Be an active participant in the battle. 3. Love all others. Love those who let you down, who live with different sets of values, who don't love you. Hold tight to what you know is right; stand for the weak, give voice for the oppressed. Love your creator, recognize Her and respond. And love yourself, always freely accepting the grace and forgiveness given you. You won't do this perfectly. That's alright. Perfection is never required, it is a burden you've chosen to carry. Drop it immediately. Don't let your momentum wane. Move forward and enjoy the run.

I would tell myself to take a deep breath. Senior year is perhaps one of the most hectic and nerve wracking times of my life, and I'm sure the same can be said for many other Seniors. While Senior year is filled with plenty of fun and excitement, there's also so much pressure I'm surpised so many students make it out alive. Not only must seniors focus on their classes and maintaining their GPA, there's also extracuriculars such as Honor Society, sports, band, and not to mention AP classes along with AP tests at the end of the year. If this pressure isn't enough, then the college application process certainly is. I remember many long nights trying to perfect college application essays, spending hour after hour filling out applications, and trying to determine which college I want to attend, as well as what I want to major in. Senior year is filled with difficult decisions, and can't be taken lightly, but one thing that I didn't do enough of was take a deep breath, and relax. Senior year can be unbearable, unless it's taken step by step, one day at a time.

I would tell myself to trust the advice of those with more life experience than myself at that point. This is because, although I was accepted into what is considered a prestigious Art program at Western Michigan University, I ended up wasting my time and money. All I had in mind was to escape my hometown and to be on my own. I had no idea how complicated college can turn out to be, and I also had no idea how much it would cost me in the long run. I ended up changing my major to several different things, and was still confused until about a year ago. I ended up being over $20,000.00 in debt from loans that I could have prevented by going to a community college in the first place. I came so close to joining the military in order to help pay for my education, but in the end, I realized that it was not for me. There are so many trials I could have avoided if I had stopped to think about the details. Hindsight is always 20/20 and tough to accept, but I intend it to make me wiser.

Wow, what an opportunity you have in front of you, Congratulations! There are so many choices you have to make that really will affect the rest of your life, and the time to be serious about those decisions is now. If you are not ready or willing to make those decisions, no problem, but be honest with yourself, family, and peers. There is no sense wasting the time and money of so many people involved just because you feel pressured to make decisions. I went to college, a four-year university, many years ago. I had too much fun, made lots of friends, but didn't understand the full opportunity I had before me. I was a pre-med student that dropped out of college. I decided stay in the medical field. Seventeen years later, here I am back and in full pursuit of a medical degree! I stayed in the medical field because it was and remains my passion. You have to find out for yourself what your passion is...don't pursue a degree just because the pay once done is high, you will regret it. Take the time to find your passion, and THEN GO FOR IT!

I would tell myself to always go above and beyond.I would also say take your SAT and ACT over again and stay focused.Independence is key because you and only you are responsible for grades,life, and money in college.

If I were a high school senior the first piece of advice I would give myself is make a plan and figure out ways to stay on track with that plan. High school seniors focus way to much on the dances like homecoming and prom. Don't ever forget to stay focused and keep running on the trail that is life. I am not saying that you shouldn't have fun your senior year. I am simply making a realization that you have to work hard your senior year. Listen to anything your high school teachers are willing to say and do to get you ready for college. I remember my senior English teacher Miss. Koole. She said if you want to go to college dont just do the work understand why and what you want to get out of the work. I realize now what she meant by this. She was saying to her students that reading and writing are easy, however putting the effort forth is a testiment to learning and understanding the material. Have fun your senior year however work hard for it also.

Knowing what I know now, I would first of all tell myself to resist starting a bonfire in the backyard to burn all of my old assignments. I have found that previous class work is very helpful. I am in organic chemistry now, and with a not-so-helpful teacher, I feel it'd be impossible to pass without my notes. In high school, teachers often gave us "cheat sheets" with short cuts to difficult problems or simply equations. These would be more than helpful to me right now.

I would tel l myself to take more college prepatory classes and concentrate on technology. I would make sure I learned proper note taking and study habits. I would want to make sure I applied early for financial aid and spent more time learning to manage my finances to enable me to be successful in college the first time. I would advise myself to not only concentrate on advanced computer technologies but to double major in business management to be more successful in the business world, and to not give up until I completed at least a Masters Degree as that seems to be what everyone wants in their employees in the computer field.

I would tell myself to look for scholarships a lot harder than I did. I was serious about my grades, but I had no interest in searching for money to go to school. The expenses are real and they can prevent you from continuing your education if you do not have them covered.

Senior year was great! I loved playing football , home coming, prom and sporting events. We were the top dogs! The class of 2009 ! I did OK in my classes . I should have listened to my teachers and parents and tried a little harder. I was so caught up in being a senior that for a while I put other things before school. I should have paid more attention to my advisors and explored my career interests . I know I shouldn't have always tried to sit with my friends in class . I was tempted to talk to them rather then listen to the teacher. I have great friends but I know I would have done better if I had made better choices. I watched as my friends chose their colleges and what they would study. That was my wake up call. I met with my counselor and explored my options. I chose GRCC. I raised my GPA to 2.2 in two months. My advice to myself , pay attention everyday to everything ! I discovered I love cooking and was lucky enough to get into the Culinary Program at GRCC. I get to school early and put everything into my education !