Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

I would tell myself not to waste a minute. I spent my first year at a small second-rate college and hated it. After coming to IU, I learned what college really was. I'd tell myself that it was okay to not kill myself trying to figure out what I wanted to do, and focus more on being open minded. That when I got to college I'd have every opportunity to figure out what I wanted to do. I'd also be sure to let myself know that just because I was a hotshot in high school, becoming someone who fits in and is more average isn't so bad. I would go back and have my first year here.

When you get to college, no one knows who you are. You finally have a chance to figure out who you really are. I know that you thought you knew who you were in high school, but when you live in suburbia, it’s hard to really discover yourself. You will discover yourself through fashion and through the rejection that you’ll face, but trust me, it all works out how it’s supposed to. So in this last year of high school just enjoy it, don’t let prom stress you out-you don’t know this but first semester of sophomore year in college you’ll be taking 18 credits, two of which are labs, you don’t know what stress is until you’ve survived that year. Don’t cry too much over that ex-boyfriend-trust me, you find someone who treats to a thousand times better than he ever did. And don’t ever regret staying in on the weekends, your family is the most important thing, and they will be the ones who are there for you when you’re having a rough day at college.

Here's what I would say: Hey, hey kid, guess what? I know you're coming out of high school, where it feels like every move you make is under inspection from your peers. Even just wearing that one crazy shirt you secretly love is risky enough in that place. I haven't forgotten that. Here's the great part of college, though, wait for it--you're going to be invisible. This place is huge, and no one cares anymore about how you decide to go about your life. Excited? Yeah, get excited, buddy, because know what this means? It means go ahead and give yourself that alternative lifestyle haircut. That's right! cut off all your hair, do it by yourself, and quit wasting time growing it long in the hopes of matching someone else's standards. Start setting your own standards, and do it right now! Once you do this, you'll find that the people who begin to surround you are people who like you for who you really are. It's like magic! Let this philosophy bleed over into your academic life. You do you, kiddo--it's gonna be so much better that way!

College presents a whole new level of challenges... socially, physically, academically, and mentally. It is cruical to the success of your happiness and health to find a balance between all of them. You are only one person and you can only do and handle so much. While this is the first time you feel independent, it is okay to admit you need help. Find ways to take care of yourself. Work out. Laugh. Play with a puppy. Bake a batch of cookies. Find something that helps your relax after a stressful week or hard test. Push yourself to get outside of your comfort zone and try new things. College is a time of discovery. Embrace it. And most importantly...don't forget to call your parents.

The advice I would go back and give myself is endless. The first advice I have to tell myself would be to save money. In college you have less time to work than you did in high school and money can be hard to come by. You want to have money to go out and do things with your new college friends, but you want to make sure you have enough money to cover the basics of what you need, not what you want. I would also tell myself to go in with good habits. Never skip a class unless you are truly sick and don't put off studying. When you have time to study, do it then. Don't watch a tv show or a movie instead. You don't want to spend your freshman year staying up late and doing homework all hours of the night. Most importantly, I would tell myself to plan. Make a schedule and stick to it, it will make the transition more smooth and you are more likely to be sucesssful in your social life and with academics.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say take every opportunity that becomes available to you. In high school and at the beginning of freshman year (I am currently a sophomore) I did not get involved as much as I should have because I looked at many clubs and organizations as a waste of time. In reality these memberships and the leadership positions to can hold in these organizations are what shape you not just as a student, but also as a person. Halfway through my first semester at Indiana University in Bloomington I finally started to look for clubs to join. I randomly found myself applying to be in a microfinance organization on campus. I interviewed and got in, but I never knew how much it would change me and my outlook on not just my career, but my life as well. I went on to go to Honduras over spring break to do microfinance first hand and now I’m looking into it as a possible career option. Getting involved helps you to make friends, but can also open many doors that you never considered before.

There is a considerable amount of advice that I could give to my younger self, but there are three main things that I think would have the most impact. First, I would urge myself to take schoolwork a little more seriously. I received good grades, but can't say that I always put forth my best effort. I forgot a lot of information between high school and college that I may have retained a bit longer if I had tended to it more diligently while it was fresh. The next lesson I would pass along isnot to wait so long to enter college after high school. I waited several years after graduating before I finally decided to enroll in college. This resulted in struggles with much of the information that I had allegedly learned in high school. The passage of time also made me ineligible for many scholarships. The final - and possibly most important - piece of advice that I would give to myself is that it is okay to receive less than an A, as long as I put my best effort into it. It is far more important to focus on what I learned, not on what I earned.

Dear High School Abbey, First thing is first, you do not know everything, so stop believing you have everything figured out. You are doing a great job working hard and staying involved in extra curriculars--keep doing that. Your grades are great, that will take you far--value them and keep working hard. You may want to study for the SAT & ACT though, otherwise you will have no scholarships. Do not make countdowns for days you are excited for, be excited for today. Live it up because time starts going by especially fast once you graduate high school. Call your brothers and parents at least once a week just to let them know you are thinking about them, especially once you move away. College is scary at first, but I promise after two months you will fall in love with it. Do not doubt who you are, and never forget where you came from. Study hard, but take the time to engage in the opportunities college will have to offer. You are still young, so learn as much as you can and have the time of your life. Abbey P.S. Be safe and smart. It will get you far.

Highschool is one of the greatest opportunities to learn in your life. Learn everything you can and dont slack off and just barely get the work done. Read all the material your teacher gives you, let your imagination soar. Be creative when it comes to your answers and really push to improve yourself. In addition to that, stop worrying about what other people think of you. Just be who you are and no one else. Not everyone in this world is going to like you, but the ones that do will be life-long friends and will help you along the way. Dont let other people stop you from pursuing your dreams or exploring the knowledge that you want to explore. Teachers are a gold mine, use them while you have them, they want to see you grow and expand your understanding of this world and the information they have figured out so that you can expand on it. They are there to help you and reading a book in no way can ever replace an authentic, competent teacher. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy being a kid and growing up. Make highschool all it can be.

Going back I would tell my senior self to go into college right out of high school. Yes, it is scary, but not as scary as it seems. You will meet new people and have many great experiences. You need to sit down and actually think about what you want to do that way you aren't clueless. You will figure it out but it takes some time. Understand that high school might not have been as great as it should or could have been, but college is a whole nother animal. It is not a small town school where everybody knows everybody. It is better than that. You are growing up and going to college is a way to get out on your own. You are not the big fish in a little pond anymore. There are going to be people way smarter than you so be humble and try your best. Study alot more than you do now but save room for fun. Don't stress so much, you are only in control of what you do. Have fun and good luck.