Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

If I were to go back in time and give myself advise, I would urge myself to continue my education beyond an Associate’s degree. I earned an Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management in 2006 and entered the workforce. If I were to travel back in time and speak to myself I would congratulate myself on the accomplishment but also explain that the degree I earned would not be sufficient for competing in the job market down the road. Having a Bachelor’s degree is very important in today’s job market when vying against many other qualified applicants for a limited number of positions. I feel that this would be the best contribution that I could give myself several years ago, to continue my education. I only wish today that it had been possible to receive this information from myself. I believe that it is the only way I would have found it to be credible.

Start looking for scholarship money now. It costs too much money to go to college. It is easier to have someone give you money than to take out loans.

After experiencing collegiate life, the advice I would give to my high school self would be to attend a smaller university closer to home. Upon graduation I chose to attend the one of the largest universities in the country 2,000 miles away from the small community where I grew up. It was my hope after graduation that I would be able to escape the unhappy memories of high school by attending a university far from my home. However, I was blissfully unaware of the hardships that I would experience in my new environment. I was naïve to think that I would be able to adapt and find ‘family’ at college. While others flourished among the other thousands of student I struggled to find my place at such a large university. I realize now that in my desperation to fit in I made many mistakes. By being at a smaller university closer to home I would have been able to adapt more easily; avoiding many of the problems I encountered. As I have since transferred to a smaller university closer to home I can tell myself that I did not need to move away to have new positive experiences.

If I had the chance to I would tell my high school self to calm down. There is not much need to stress about college because academically I am prepared for the work. On the other hand, paying for college has been tough, so I would have told myself to try harder to find a job. I would tell myself to work nonstop at it because eventually it will help decrease a lot of the stress that I now feel. I would have told myself that all those times spent sleeping in on the weekend could have been used more wisely and that all though I understand the job search had been hard, in the long run it would have definitely helped.

What I would say to myself is, "Hey man, you really need to start taking your school work a lot more seriously, ESPECIALLY MATH! I know you think it sucks right now but all this is a cakewalk compared to what college is like. If you're not paying attention now, how do you think you'll do in a class like INTUITIVE CALCULUS, which is a requirement for your major by the way. Yes, I know you've heard this all before and you're going to keep hearing it. Trust me though, you need to listen. Doing good here in high school will also help you on that ACT exam your teachers are making such a big deal about. Also, you need to be more responsible with your money. I know it's cool having your first job and some steady cash flow, but college IS NOT cheap. It's ok to buy a few nice things, but don't over-do it. In college you'll be intorduced to the wonderful world of never-ending BILLS and also SCHOOL EXPENSES (books being the main expense). You need to start saving now! Listen to my advice, please.

If I only knew then what I know right now. I think most of us have had that thought from time to time. If I happened to stumble across a time machine and had the chance to meet up with my high school self, there are a few words of advice I would give. Firstly, I would tell myself that it was alright to feel afraid and that college was something strange and foreign to many people. To me, it was a whole new world, one I had never explored before. I feel like fear held me back from doing a lot of things. Things such as joining new clubs or going out of my way to befriend classmates. Secondly, I would tell my past self that it was alright to not know what career path to take and not to worry so much. College is meant to be the place where you'll decide. I spent so much time stressing out about finding a major, I forgot to have fun sometimes. These small pieces of advice are words I know I would have liked to hear at eighteen. Even so, my college experience has been one amazing journey.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself in High School, I would give myself Financial, Educational, and Self-Help advice.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself not to worry so much about trying to figure out who I am while still in high school. Just because you go into college not knowing what you want to do with your life doesn't mean you're not going to graduate on time. I would tell myself I don't have to know what I want to do with my life. I spent so much time trying to pick a major I have already changed, but it took me until college to realize that was okay. I would tell myself that it's okay to try new things and that I shouldn't be so scared to try those things. In high school, I thought college would be difficult so I had to be perfect. I would go back in time and tell myself that it's okay to explore and realize you're not in the right place. Because it's not until you reach that moment that you actually find out who you are. I think, as a high school senior, I just needed to hear that everything would turn out okay. And it has.

I would tell myself to make sure you know who you are before going into college. It is a big adjustment, and most people will do anything to just fit in. If you know who you are before, you will not fall into peer pressure and get dragged in all different directions. Make sure to get a planner and in the beginning of each semester, take the syllabus from each class and put everything in the planner. The best way to do this would be to mark the exams in red and the homework in black. Time management is key because there is a lot more time in college than in highschool. It is better to do the assignment right away even when it is not due for awhile because you will end up forgetting.

Dear Kelley Boatwright (Age 17), Listen up and take the SAT and ACT, or you will regret ignoring this advice. Do not let your grades suffer from stress at home. Please don’t get caught up in whether or not somebody cares about you. Care about yourself enough to realize that this isn’t the time to pine over someone; this is the time to set yourself up for everything you want in life. Do not look for others to help fill a void within you, instead improve and prepare yourself for the future. If you want someone see you differently, you must first change yourself. Stop being afraid and realize that you have more options than you think. Do not dwell on the life and mind altering events of your past, they will paralyze you. You are the only thing that will hold you back. Do not become complacent and stop striving for more from yourself. You are better than that and you know it, just don’t forget it. Most importantly, don’t lose yourself. Keep your neon rainbow aura of quirkiness and never, under any circumstances, stop creating. Sincerely, Yourself at age 27 (with two kids)