Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

Ok, first thing's first: stop dating that guy you're with, he's actually a total loser and you'll feel about 170 pounds lighter. Next, some equally important advice. Very few people are born with a natural, easy confidence that allows them to thoughtlessly put themselves out there, take risks, and try new things. But you know what? As the old saying goes, fake it until you make it. Learn by doing. Go talk to your professors when you have questions after class, find the groups to participate in, talk to strangers just like mom always told you not to. Make the opportunities for yourself, because you're the only one who will. Have a little faith in yourself; I promise it will pay off.

There are many different things that I would tell my "high school" self, however, most important thing i would tell him is to stay motivated. It's difficult for the average college student to stand out for the crowd, but the best way to do that is to show a drive that is second to none. The thing about college is, there isn't anybody to push you to try hard. You're an adult, and nobody is going to be holding your hand in Math Class, spell checking you in English, or tutoring you in History. It's up to the student to make sure that he himself succeeds. Only then will you (being me) will be able to rise above and shine and make himself stand out as compared his colleagues. A student needs to have the drive to be great, the will to do something special, and the courage to succeed.

Bri, this will only be said once, I advise you to listen. I can proudly say the future is where you truly triumph. I’m trying to help you see more than your sight allows it. You said if you had another chance you would make something of it. For you, I’m bending over backwards; I can’t bear to see you plummet. Potential’s in your palm, opportunity’s at your doorstep, That's why it’s no longer an option for you to admit defeat. Your sense of humor’s fading, your motivation's obsolete. Hanging on by a thread, Daunting I know it seems. But to know where you’re headed, Bri, you must know where you’ve been. The grass is really greener on the other side of that fence. It’s true we both know it like the back of our hands. The moment you’ve so longed for is just beginning to scratch the surface; it's finally reached your fingertips. No longer will you be discouraged from this devastating deficit, Ascended out of life’s profoundest pit. So let’s make a mosaic mural out of all of your broken pieces.

If I had any means to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior without creating a massive time paradox the first thing I would have to inform myself to do is to not be so arrogant towards school. I had many issues my first year in school because I thought I knew it all and didn't need to go to class and I couldn't have been more wrong. Now at the age of twenty-one I am still a freshman all because I decided that if college were anything like high school then it would be a breeze. Secondly and still just as important I would tell myself to not pick a college on convenience or cost but on the degrees and opportunities it offers. While I do love the school I am attending now I still feel regret for not pursuing the other colleges or at the very least not giving them the same consideration I did my current school because of the opportunities they presented. In the end I am happy with what I have but understand that I may have been happier with what I could have.

If I could go back in time to give my high-school-senior-self advice, I wouldn’t do it. I have no desire to change the course of events that created who I am today. Some of the lessons I learned in the past two years were tough, but I had to learn them the way that I did. I proud of the person I have become and of the journey I took to get where I am. I could tell myself to be more careful picking friends, but then I never would have met Stacy. She and I once stood outside during a huge storm and screamed into the deafening downpour just appreciating life. I never would have spent time with Bill who taught me not to take myself so seriously nor with Jamie who supported me when Bill’s problem got serious. The true meat of life—the beating heart that drives it forward—is the struggle. Without learning our lessons through experience, we never really live.

Get comfortable with your campus. Go and take a tour of the campus so you know where everything is, or you could shadow a student there and see what it's like as a college student. My favorite way to help get to know your campus is to just explore the place. By doing this you can find a faster way of getting from one class to the next, and find some nice places to hang out at. By doing any of these three things your campus will feel like a second home to you, plus you could make some new friends.

Knowing what I do know about college and the transition to higher education, I would go back and tell teenage me that, I will succeed. I was a very shy, self conscious teenager. I hated any attention paid to me and I was terrified of meeting new people. I was also homeschooled, so I thought myself incredibly ill equipped for the college classroom. Since entering college I have been on the Dean's List consecutively, and now have a GPA over 3.5. Sure, it's taken me longer than the traditional/average student, there have been bumps along the road, both financial and personal ( I had been diagnosed as OCD and Dystimic in 2008), but I am nearing the finishline and am immensey grateful for the experiences and knowledge I have gained. I would tell my teenage self, to bust out of her shell and jump in with both feet. I have a story to tell, I have gifts to share and room to grow. Give it your best shot and don't be afraid of what others think.

Study hard!

Although I never had to study much in high school, I would tell myself that you must study a great deal in college in order to recieve decent grades. With this in mind, don't fear college. It is not as intense as others will lead you to believe. Yes, the subject material will be more difficult, but nothing that you can not understand. The professors will be willing to help you, but you must be willing to seek that help. All in all, work hard but don't get too worked up.

Erin, you should be prepared for what college life is about to throw at you. It gives you many chances to do the wrong thing, as well as the right thing. But you will learn from your mistakes, or you can think about what you are going to do before you do it. In order to make the transition as painless as possible, there are a few things you can try. FIND FRIENDS. Don't be shy to get involved in campus activties. You can meet tons of people that way, and you can never have too many friends. They may also become some of your resources. In college you have much more freedom than you do at home. You need to make good decisions for yourself. Don't do anything illegal, cause you will most likely get caught. Make sure you manage your time well. Don't slake off, and do your homework when it is assigned. Don't wait till the last minute, it will come back to bite you. Proof read your papers! If something happens, oh well, you learn from your mistakes. But most of all, have fun and make sure you study!