John Carroll University Top Questions

If I had to go back in time, I would make sure that I used all the resources available. I would not take anything for granite and realize the opportunity that attending an institution like John Carroll is an honor. I would also tell myself to be prepared to work hard and study on a regular basis. Finally, I would tell myself to take time to relax and enjoy the college experience. We are only in college for a short period of time and it goes quick. I would also tell myself to surround yourself with the right group of people and enjoy the memories and friendships that you have.

The advice I would give myself, would be more valuable than anything I could learn now: apply for scholarships, retake the ACT, and study until exhaustion. While you may be prepared academically, you are not prepared financially, and the transition will be more difficult with a commute. Be wary of the programs that are given to students from your school district, they will also be invaluable for college life, and college academics. You know your full potential, reach it.

THere is no advice, I went through a culture shock when I got to college and you can't warn any one about that, they just have to experience it.

After being awarded Life Christain Academy 2013 Salutatorian, I should have just applied to many colleges and scholarships. Not knowing that you need more than just a high school dipolma to be successful made me hit the ground hard. It's hard look for employment that you would enjoy doing with just a dipolma. After high school, education isn't free at all. It's best to stop procrastinating and go ahead and further your education. I waited nine months to decide that i want to go back to school and that was too long but it wasn't my season either. I'd planned to be in the military by now but unfortunately things didn't go as planned. As of now I've enrolled into Atlanta Technical College to be a certified Pharmacy Assistant and EMT/Fire Fighter. Now I choose to turn my dreams into reality. Due to my career goals, this will take up to two to three years to become certified because of the Fall, Spring and Summer Semester and believe it or not I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this journey a success.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to venture into college with an open mind. I would tell myself not to be intimidated by the loneliness I would feel in a city I just moved to, the challenges my thoughts would face from tough professors, or my changing perspective of myself and my field of study. I would remind my twelth-grade self that meeting people like myself—individuals that want to do well for their communities, families, and selves—were friends worth waiting for because they would provide motivation, support, help, and clarity in moments of chaos. I would tell my high school self that the tougher the teacher, the more I would grow, and no matter how weird I, or my changing major turned out to be, my passion for education and love and talent for mathematics would persevere.

If I could go back, I would give myself four key pieces of advice. First, I would tell myself to step out of my comfort zone more in those first weeks of school to better meet people. Second, I would encourage myself to go to more of the campus-sponsored events such as the dances, dinner on the town, and bingo. Both of those pieces of advice would have helped me to meet more people and get more invoved on campus. The third piece of advice would be to buy a hat and a good pair of winter boots. I was not prepared for winter in Cleveland, so this piece would have helped me to keep my feet dry before all the stores were sold out of boots. Finally, while the written roommate agreement is essential for ensuring a good roommate relationship, I would tell myself NOT to include my aversion to “manufactured cheese smells” in the agreement. This piece would have saved me much ridicule and good-natured teasing in the long run. All-in-all, while my transition to college was not a bad one, these pieces of advice would have improved those first months of college.

Having just completed my first semester at college, my advice to my high school self would be simple - don't be afraid to meet people. I went to public schools, and I literally grew up with my classmates. The kids in the drop-off line at preschool were the same ones walking across the stage with me at graduation. Being thrown into a new environment, at a new school, in a new city, I was nervous about finding a new group of friends. But I discovered that those first few days at college that everyone is in the same boat. I may be really nervous about sitting next to a random person in the cafeteria, but that person might not know anyone else they're sitting with either. It's an awesome opportunity to have a clean slate and to meet people without fear of wedging in to an established clique - to meet people that might someday turn out to be your best friends.

I would tell myself to truly visit every school possible.

I have always pushed myself even harder than my parents push me to do my absolute best in school. If I had the opportunity to give myself advice, I would remind myself that college is where one goes to school because one wants to further their education, not because they are required to go. Instead of stressing out about the differences between high school and college, I would encourage myself to look at how similar they will be for me. Because I was always my own motivation in high school, college will not be such a huge transition. I also know that college is a lot more competitive than high school, because everyone has their own desire to be there. Therefore, I would encourage myself to simply do my best, not compare myself to other students, and keep in mind that I should do all that I do for my own benefit. There is no point in wishing I had done what anyone else has done because they are in a different situation. I am very proud of all I have accomplished, and I would not change anything that I have done to make it to this point.

I would give myself the advice: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! I was recruited for the honors program after my freshman year at JCU. After getting over the stereotype of "bookworms, nerds, etc" I enrolled in the program, and it was the best thing that happened to me during my college career! It challenged me in ways I had never imagined and I gained not only a tremendous education, but the personal confidence that the knowledge I have can never be taken away from me. Know that your education teaches you to creative problem-solve & you will be able turn the status quo upside down. As a young working professional I now desperately crave the challenge of graduate school. I know that it will give me the power to become a leader in the workforce, and gain more power to steer my career path. The more education you have, the more power you have to control your own destiny and the opportunity to help others. Lastly, you can lose your friends, your family, your home, or your money but the one gift you will have no one can ever take from you is your EDUCATION!