Keene State College Top Questions

Knowing what I know now, having experienced far more of life and love and friendship and failure and success, I would have to tell myself that that the wonders of the world can be expressed and understood through the pages of a book, but they can't be found there. I was, and still am, a voracious reader, and a lot of my knowledge was gleaned from books and stories on all sorts of topics. But having become a central figure of my college community by being an RA, and having learned from the experiences that come with that position, has shown me that most valuable things in life are the bonds we share with the people around us. I was never really involved in any extracurriculur activites during my time in high school, and that's something I've come to deeply regret. If I could go back and tell myself just one thing, it would be to become as involved as I could, to learn about the people around me and to enjoy the we had together, because the beauty of life is not only in where the journey takes us but who we take the journey with.

Everyone strives to impress one another, changing appearance to fit in, acting a certain way to feel like they belong. Although change is sometimes better, I feel people often mistake these strives for perfection with growth. Acting or dressing a certain way does not change who you are, it just changes your appearance. People may view you differently, but the way you view yourself will stay the same. It is not until you realize being yourself is the first step in growth. I believe over the course of my life through High Shool I made many attempts to fit in. It was not until recently I experienced what would change my outlook on “being myself”. Although first impressions may be based on looks, real connections are much deeper. Connections are based on personality, being able to listen, and being able to communicate. Throughout the connections I made I never once acted as somebody I was not and it was not until it was all over did I realize searching for this growth was no longer necessary. I felt I had already grown! I have learned being in touch with myself is what makes overcoming obstacles of life much easier.

If I could go back to my senior year and give myself advice about college it would definitely be about managing my time more properly. Although at this point in my college career I believe I have a better understanding of it at the beginning I was clueless which effecting my grades in a way I wish it hadn't. As someone who works thirty five hours a week and is a full-time student it is very difficult to balance class, homework, work, and a social life so time management is extremely important. I would have told myself that I need to make sure I had my priorities straight and that I really need to focus on school and work since working is one of the major ways I plan to put myself through these four years of school. If I could have told myself that managing my time in college is going to be much more difficult than it is in high school and that I really need to make a plan for myself so I can do the best that I can than that is the advice I would have given myself.

I would tell 18-year-old Nick, "Read more, watch less television, and concern yourself less with popularity and popular culture. The enjoyable things in life are the things that require deep thought, which is often difficult but brings with it a rewarding sense of accomplishment. Has it ever dawned on you, Nick, that the geniuses of the past concentrated on their fields of expertise for the reason that those fields are the most intellectually rewarding? If not, you should."

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself is this: take care of yourself. Transitioning into college was more difficult for me than most people, I have type 1 diabetes and really struggled to keep it under control in the first few months. I was finding that I was so concerned with getting perfect grades and going above and beyond what was expected, that I rarely slept and was unable to control my diabetes. Because of this, I was constantly sick, and began to struggle to keep up with work. If I had started the year thinking about my health first, and knowing that I can't do my best work if I am not well, my freshman year would have been a lot easier.

Do everything to the best of your abilities. Don't focus so much attention on work. I understand working two jobs while going to school can be overwhelming for a high school student but make time for yourself. There are so many opportunities that will present themselves if you are just open to them. Learn a new language and how to snowboard like you,ve always wanted to. Now is the time to live, enjoy life. Never give up on your passion of helping others because I can tell you that when your 18 you help save a life!

When we meet it’s a gray day. The kind of day that reminds me of Hong Kong, not England. When you’re my age, you’ll be able to tell the difference. How is that? Hong Kong will be your proof that it was a smart decision to choose the less expensive school. No matter the time period, we’ll run into each other at the Darien library. There the library is quiet, like a morning on a lake. You won’t find that at Keene’s library. That’s ok. You should study with your friends in the halls and in common rooms. But if you need to disappear and find a quiet spot, do it. As we talk, two glasses of diet coke form rings of water on the table. Our preference for soda over coffee hasn’t changed over the years. You know that college students make friends at meals. But that’s doesn’t just mean spontaneous, dorm-wide dinner gatherings. You need to compare schedules and plan a few meals with the same people for every week. Even if you end up only drinking soda, those are the meals that cement friendships.

"Let it go." Those three simple words. I would repeat them over and over to my high school senior self if I could travel four years into the past. Let go of the drama, let go of the pettiness, let go of the things you think are important, like your clothes, your looks, and how many friends you have. Let it go and focus on what matters, like your family and your goals and visions for the future. Do not get caught up in the confusion and terror of graduating high school. Let go of the things you have worried about and enter college without any baggage attached to you. Let go of the small things, and set your sights on the great big world in front of you. Embrace college and let high school go. Make new friends, forget old drama, don't worry about the hottest trends. Be yourself and let go of everything else. Oh...and give your mom a big hug and a "thank you."

To my high school senior self: When approaching college and looking at the options ahead of you, continue to make the decisions that are right for you. Don't dwell on whether you were the most popular girl in high school or the outcast book nerd. The people who matter are the people who will support you in your search of finding who you are. Don't be afraid to take chances, because the riskiest chances can help you learn the most. Make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you, even if your friends aren't. FInally, learn how to do laundry before moving into your dorm room in August. Trust me.

I would advise my high school senior-self to never wait to ask questions, regardless of their complexity or simplicity. Throughout college I have learned that the longer I wait to ask a question or resolve confusion, the more lost and confused I become. I would also advise my senior-self to make an effort to join as many school clubs and organizations as possible. Joing clubs and organizations help freshman students meet new people and explore various areas of interest that may, or may not, be related to one's major. Joining clubs and organizations is especially important for freshman students who decide to live off-campus because it allows the student to form social relationships that are similar to those formed among students living on-campus. Though social acticity is very important to the well-being of a student, the most important piece of advice I have to offer is to stay focused on your academics. As a freshman it is very easy to slip into "party mode" and neglect school work, but you must remember there is always another party. My overall advice: keep you head in the game and your eye on the prize.