Hood College Top Questions

If I could go back in time and speak to me as a high school senior, I would be my own cheerleader! I would have said, “Hey Mariah, do not give up! College IS an option for you!” I would have encouraged me to have faith in myself and to avoid the errant the path that was my legacy. I would teach myself to listen to the voice inside that tried to encourage me to find the fortitude to branch out and create my own path; the one that could lead to an education. I would have emboldened myself to try even when I was told I would fail. I would have already taught myself not to be discouraged if I did fail, because there IS dignity and triumph in the attempt. Lastly, I would have told myself to apply for as many scholarships as humanly possible. The worse they can do to you is tell you no. Try.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself to focus more in class. Then I wouldn't have to feel like I am learning everything for the first time. Also to work on my grammer because there are a lot of essays in college.

The best advice I would give myself if I was a high school senior again would be to take a lot Advance Placement tests. This is because a lot of the general education requirements in college can be obtained through the AP tests. You should expose yourself to different types of classes so that it is easier to determine your major. I would also tell myself to get involved in more extra-curricular activities to show that you are well rounded. Being confident is very important and that you should follow your dreams and goals, not compare yourself to others and work at your own pace because we are all engineered differently. Make good friends that will help and guide you in the right direction and will support and not judge or manipulate you. You are responsible for yourself, do not expect that someone else will be able to help or give you the answers. Always think before you speak or get involved because your words make up your actions and character. Make good connections/impressions with your teachers and counselors because they impact your college process.

Heather, I know you have alot of things going on in your life right now. Trying to find your place in school and dealing with your little sister's illness, but let me tell you right now, things get much better for you. I know our parents do not value education and right now you believe everything they have said to you. They are wrong! The world is not just full of warehouses where your IQ doesn't matter. Trust me you do not want to work at a dead end job at 18 yrs of age and think that's all the world has to offer. I know your very smart, but you lack the drive to just try new things and meet new people. You could be so much more!! Come out of your shell. Trust me you will not regret it.

If I could go back in time and give my high school self some advice, I would tell myself to value my education more. Back in high school, I was a big time slacker who would skip classes, and not worry about my academics. I only did enough work to get by and this resulted in having to attend Community College to raise my GPA because no 4 year school would accept me. I would also advice myself to be more involved within my community and classmates. I was pretty much the loner type, and while many of my high school peers still keep in contact with eachother, I have found it difficult to maintain relationships with my high school peers because I was rarely involved with my peers or school activities. I did not even go to prom or senior dinner. Now that I am in College, I see how important it is to be part of a community and to help others in need. So if I could go back, I would advice myself to do volunteer work since it helps one become a better rounded person and one can use such experiences for future careers.

I would tell myself to start off with my current major in biology. I would also have started at Hood College.

If I were able to go back in time and give my high school self advice about making the transitions to college there are several things I would want myself to know. First I would tell myself to make an effort to make friends and get involved. I was so focused on academics that I missed out on what could have been incredible opportunities to meet new people and have new experiences. The second thing that I wold tell myself is to loosen up and not take everything so seriously. I spent my first semester entirely focused on grades and got myself so stressed out over it that I didn't really enjoy the classes I was taking. I would tell myself that this is a time to experiment. Try new things withouth worrying about what people will think of you or what could go wrong. I would encourage myself to enjoy college. My first year has gone by so quickly, I would tell myself to make the most of every moment. Most importantly I would say have fun in school, take chances, and have no regrets.

Choose your friends wisely and pick classes based on your interests or major. Even if it is a class that you need for your major (or graduation requirement), but you don't really like it, tough it out. If you need to take it then don't waste your time or money registering for a class that you wont attend whether or not you like it.

Assuming I could go back in time and give myself advise I would tell myself to stay focused on the end result and continue to push through no matter what obstacles life throws at you. That end result is a four-year degree that will open the door to other opportunities including better paying jobs.

If I was to go back in time, I would get more involved in high school activies and take my academics more seriously. Although, I graduated in the top 1{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my class, I did not spend the time I should have focused on school work. At college, I struggled my first semester with trying to make new friends, adapt to being 5 hours away from home, as well as juggling my first college classes. To the transition easier, I wished I have been more organized in high school. I have always focused too much on one thing and never balanced out my time. I would make sure that as a high school senior, I would advice myself to have better time management skills. A person needs to be active and succeed both socially and academically. College is not easy but it is what you make it. The best advice I could give myself is get invovled, stay active, but at the same time do you work when it needs to be done. Stressing out is not good for not only your health, but it is also bad for your grades. Relax and enjoy.