Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

Live your college life with no regrets. You don't want to look back on things 10 years from now and wish you did something different.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stay focused. I graduated in 1988 and the cost of college was a fraction of todays prices. I have 2 children that I have helped or I am currently helping pay for college. My first child graduated from a private 4-year liberal arts college and my second child is attending a 2-year community college, while I am attending a public 4-year college. I would tell myself to "stay on task" and "stay focused" . I would explain that "you don't want to try to finish school when the youngest child is starting school". I would explain to myself the concept of the "empty nest" and how you and your husband can travel without children in the spring and fall when the kids move out but not if you're going to school yourself. I would tell myself "you will always be able to meet friends for a drink so study today, get your work done and celebrate whatever later!" Things happen for a reason but I wish that I had finished school 25 years ago instead of being older than some of my teachers.

Knowing what I know now about college life and the transition, I would have told myself to be outgoing on move-in day and welcome weekend. Once welcome weekend ended, it seemed like everyone had already formed friend groups and I was left alone. I would have told myself, as a high school senior, to go to every event possible, even the sorority-related ones. College is more fun with friends, but you need to seize the opportunity to make friends in order to get friends. I also would advise my high school senior self to not worry so much about the transition from high school to college, that the professors understand the change that freshman are going through and they try to help as much as possible. College isn't as scary as it seems and I wish that someone told me that when I was a senior in high school.

The advice I would give myself is to develop efficent study habits, and to develop time management skills. Those are the best two pieces of advice I could give my high school self because in high school I was a procrasinator. I did everything at the last minute and I knew I would pass a test so I didn't feel like I had to study. This attitude backfired once I got to college because no matter how much information you know you should still study. No matter how good you work under pressure you should still give yourself time to work on assignments. This advice would've been great because I could've had way more opportunties if I was more prepared. I would've figured out what study skills fit me bestas well as manage my time so I had time to do what needed to be done. And with both of those skills I would've been more prepared for college. So those are the pieces of advice I would've given myself.

If I was able to go back into the future and talk to the senior self I would give my younger self a notebook and pen and tell her to sit down and start writing, there were so many mistakes and failures I accomplished the list could go on for hours. However out of all the information I would give I would tell myself to stay focus! It is okay to party and enjoy social activities with friends but please stay focus on your school work. It may sometimes seem like you’re going to die from all the stress, but don't give up you will succeed just stay focused and don’t give up. It is very easy to get distracted your first year away from family and friends, especially if you are staying by yourself. However you will succeed create a plan, practice discipline and don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are so many opportunities and programs to help you if you are struggling don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Finally don’t be afraid of your professors introduce yourself, speak to them, they won’t bite.

College is a whole different world from High school. It is one of the most amazing expriences I have had so far, and I am only a freshman. If I could go back and speak to my high school senior self, I would tell her that other individual's opinions do not matter. As a senior I felt like I did not fit in with any high school crowds. All I would worry about is my classmates' opinions. I have now realized in college that loving myself is all that matters. I would also tell myself to never let any person or unpleasant experiences get in the way of my happiness. Only I can control my destiny. I would like myself to know that she will become a strong woman who is intelligent and happy being just the way she is. I would also want myself to know that she will meet amazing new friends who will help her become the person she strives to be. Along with those friends, her family will help her every step of the way. Life may get hard, but the good times always outweigh the bad.

I know you're scared. The prospect of college is a scary thing; leaving your family and becoming responsible for yourself are huge steps to adulthood. But I also know that you're excited beyond measure, as you should be. College is everything you are hoping for and more. In just a few months you won't feel like fresh meat, you'll have amazing friends that can help you through your problems, and you will be happier than you ever have been before. It's okay to be scared. It's only natural to be when confronted with the great unknown, after all. However, that's the wonderful thing about the unknown; it has the potential for so, so much good. Life won't be perfect, but when has it ever been? You are about to make great memories, share laughs and tears, and find out so much about yourself. Don't be afraid to take advantage of every opportunity placed in your path because, believe me, it's worth it. You'll be fine. No, you'll be better than fine; you will be amazing.

There is a lot of things I would tell my high school self. I would tell myself that college is what you have spent your whole life trying to get to. I would tell myself that once you get to college, you can never go back to high school, so enjoy your time now, you are in for a treat after high school. Once you get to college, high school is just a memory and all of your friends and teachers are no longer going to be a part of your everyday life. Some advice I would give myself is to not stress too much about going to college, it is wonderful and you will learn to love it. I think some of the best advice I was given before going to college was to buy rainboots and take lots of naps! Rainboots get you through the ugliest of days, and naps get you through all those sleepless nights spent studying. One last thing I would tell myself is, college is a place to find yourself, you learn more about yourself in the first semester of college than you did all throughout high school. Lastly, enjoy college!

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition from high school and college would be to straigten out my priorities. Two years after graduation (2012) marked the time where I began to get healthy by following a strict meal plan and weightlifting every day. I would tell myself to start now because being healthy and fit brings greater opportunities down the road. Another piece of advice would be to get a second job while in High school because the amount of tuition and expenses that come with college start to add up fast. This piece of advice has great meaning to it because I absolutely refuse to take out a student loan to pay for my tuition. I have been saving my money ever since I've been working to be able to afford college tuition on my own. Another piece of advice I would tell my senior self would be to start filling out scholarship applications. I learned in college that many scholarships are not applied for because of laziness or people not looking for the opportunity. Knowing all of this would help towards my future goals.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school self one thing, it would be, "Just do it!!!" There were countless times when I wanted to ask a professor about something extra, visit a club for the first time, go to a date party, or try a new activity offered in Kent, and I decided not to because I was out of my comfort zone. I wish I could urge myself to "just do it" because that uncomfortable feeling marks an opportunity for growth and adventure! Whether it was a social event I backed out on or failing to attend the club for my major, if I had someone confident tell me to go for it, I would have gone. In college it is crucial to push yourself beyond your limits and comfort zone. Challenges and struggling show that you are on the verge of learning or discovering something new. When I was faced with the decision of whether or not to do something and I did it, I was never disappointed. Just do it!