Illinois Wesleyan University Top Questions

I guess the thing that I would tell my high school self is that life takes its own path and sometimes you just have to go with it. I would say, "Just because you're going to graduate second in your class and have a 4.5 GPA, don't live for other people's expectations of your future. Live for yourself and pursue your passion. If you love theater, do theater. Don't think that just because of your high school career you have to become a doctor or an engineer. Don't spend your life doing something that you hate. Do something you love and go with the flow in life. Also, you cannot get through life without other people. You may at times feel like you're a super hero, but don't be afraid to have a sidekick, or multiple. They sometimes know more than you do about yourself. Just be you and be proud of it. Rely on God. Make smart decisions, and tell the people you're closest to that you love them everyday. Being away from home won't be easy, but a simple "I love you" may help you through the day."

If I were to give myself advice as a high school senior, I would definitely remind myself to not be afraid to get involved. I would encourage myself to join as many clubs as possible. I would also remind myself to meet new people. Everyone is new to the same sitation--so don't feel awkward to say 'hi' to someone new. I would advise myself to never assume that college professers give assignment extentions and to take into careful consideration what your first-year adviser advises! Lastly, I would encourage to be myself, have fun, but never forget where I came from.

If I were to go back to my high school senior self I would tell myself to join more clubs, volunteer more, take the SATs seriously, go straight to college. Everything I did not do…at all.

Don't be afraid to lose relationships at home and build new ones at IWU.

The biggest thing I have noticed throughout my college life is how close-minded I have been throughout high-school and my childhood. I had grown up in a wealthy community where my problems at home or school paled in comparision to those of my friends I have made at Illinois Wesleyan. This "Bubble" I had grown up in had sculpted me into a judmental individual and limited my perspective. I would tell my high school self to be more patient and understanding with people you come across on a day to day basis. While it may be easy to be quick to judge and criticize somebody, it is much harder to take the time to get to know somebody and understand the problems they must deal with daily. Therefore, the most important thing I would tell my high school self is to be more understanding and slow to judgment. Through this process, I would be able to enter college already familiar with this concept and broaden my horizons rapidly.

I would focus on my grades and do more reserach on the colleges and scholarships that are offered.

So far the biggest thing I have taken from my school is just the fact that I need to open my mind and take in many other view points. Before I attended this school, I had my life planned out and it is because of this school and the classes at the school that I stopped and reconsidered my goals and my plans. I am finding myself at this school, which is something I think is important of a college career. My school has so many programs and staff members that have really helped me and many other students on campus. It is what I always dreamed college would be and should be like.

I have learned the value of a true education, an education that both promotes growth and challenges the individual. I have found the value of self-questioning and introspection. The truly amazing part of my college experience at Illinois Wesleyan University happened when this self-questioning and introspection was combined with the learning of new materials. The result was a sort of personal growth both myself and my peers could see- a change for something much better. I went to college very secure in who I was as a person, and I am here now, a new man with a new direction. It feels great, and it feels like the beginning of tomorrow. Thank you Illinois Wesleyan University, and in particular, Dr. James Sikora.

Advice that I would give myself, and any high school senior, would be: manage your time well. There are so many opportunities to join clubs, sports teams, participate in Greek life that soon you will be overbooked and have no time to relax or do homework. Getting adequate sleep is so important. There will be friends and other situations that will entice you to stay up late or in the case of homework or tests, pull all nighters but it is not worth it. Managing your time effectively is key to a happy, balanced, less stressful college transition.

A trip back in time to talk to my senior-self, would be an opportunity I would never pass up! If I could talk to the second-semester- senior Maddie, I would tell her not to get used to the senioritis plague and slack-off attitude because college is a whole new ball game! I'd want to warn myself of the hours and hours of stuyding I would be doing and start mentally preparing myself as early as possible. Having already experienced one semester of college, I would tell myself "good job" on having an open attitude towards meeting many new people and getting involved in lots of things I would have never dreamed of! I would give myself a pat on the back for nurturing this openness senior year when I made many new friends, a little late in the game, but it was all still worth it. Now that I have an idea of what college is about I know that there are a few things I could have changed in myself senior year to prepare myself for now, but I am also pleasantly surprised at some of the success I have encountered thanks to senior-me.