Lane Community College Top Questions

When giving advice to my senior self I would tell her she can succeed and reach her goals. Advising her that time is valuable, don't waste it. To start looking for scholarships now, don't let them be intimidating because they're there to help. I would make sure she knew to enjoy this last year of home school and not to fear college, but to look forward to a new adventure. I would tell her to be bold when she gets to college, speak in every class, and to get to know her teachers and peers because they are kind, helpful, and will give advice or help based on their experiences. Most importantly, I would joyfully give her the news that though spelling, reading, comprehension, and writing are difficult she will be one of two students in her Writing 115 class to get an A+ and will then go on to get an A+ in Writing 121 as well. This is important to me so she can go to class with thoughts of success and not of C-s, to show her it is possible, it just takes work and a little bit of belief in herself.

Hey, so, a bit of advice to miniature me, Stop focusing on every bit of your future. Stop telling yourself you're a failure, that the only few friends you do have won't be your friends anymore when you go to college, and that you won't make friends, because none of that happens. In fact, you make a ton of friends. You do really well. You are what you think, Enya. So stop thinking so negatively! For the love of all that is great, please do your homework. Chemistry sucks, but if you actually pay attention in class, you learn that you actually will do well. Oh, and make sure you make a good impression on teachers. Don't freak yourself out too bad, though. Just participate more, do as much work as you can, and stop overdoing things. You'll save yourself a lot of stress, and gain a lot of awesome rewards in turn. Keep working hard. Stop taking your computer to school. It's a distraction, really! Get healthy. We still don't eat well enough in college. And sleep more! Just take care of yourself. Just keep moving forward.

Quit stressing, college is so much better! High school is about who has the most money or knows the right people in our tiny home town. College is about who applies themselves the most and is determined to reach their goals...you will shine! Don’t compare yourself to fellow students in the same way as high school. High school attendance is required, college is an academic choice. Life isn’t a competition and you can build fantastic friendships built on helping and being helped. Seek tutoring or admit when you are struggling to understand a concept! If you don’t understand something stated one way, try to think of it in different terms, or try to explain it to someone who has a better grasp of the subject matter. You will find people in college who are driven with goals and aspirations similar to your own. Enjoy dating and relationships, but maintain your focus on getting good grades and becoming your own person. High school social standing doesn’t matter in the real world!

I would drive home the importance of taking studies seriously and prioritizing coursework over social activities. At 18 I was not fully aware of the impact that my choices then would have on my future. Hasty decisions in youth wield incredible formative power over life's trajectory. I would also emphasize that it's perfectly fine to take a few years off between high school and university. Work, travel, and discover yourself. Don't rush into something you aren't ready for, and take time to find the subject that you are truly passionate about. That will make all the difference.

I would tell myself to focus on myself. To not worry about what other people are doing, cause in the end they're not the ones who are going to be there with you. I am the only one responsible for my future no matter what opstacles get in the way, what matters is the way I get passed them and not stay behind because of them. Yes there are going to be people who try to bring you down and destroy what you aspire for, but you don't have to be better than anyone else only better than the person you were yesterday. You are your only competition so always make yourself better. Change is going to take time you're not going to accomplish what you want in one big jump you have to take careful baby steps all the way up there. Learn from every step you take cause every little thing you experience is something that can change your life and who you are. If you just rush into something it may turn out to be something you don't want and after it'll be hard to turn back. Let your mind explore.

I would tell myself to pick a better major so that I can make better money and have a better quality of life for myself and my family. In High School I injured my knee that prevented me, at the time, to finish my senior year of football. Over the years I graudually wore my knee down to the point of needing reconstruction. I maintained a job, married the girl of my dreams and pursued a degree in what I love, what I know, what my family business has always been. Every day my knee injury causes my family and I more pain. Because of my lifestyle and my job my knee is beyond repair. Because of my choices I now have to change my career. The easiest transition is to go back to school. Maybe, if I made my career choices a little better, life would be a little better.

Assuming I was a senior, I would say to myself, try to save a little more money. You're going to have nicities that you want, but the means to fund them will not be available. Take the year off, going to Costa Rica was an amzing experience, and don't mind the other people in your group. When your Girlfriend tries to get you to get rid of your computer, don't. You will regret that. Otherwise, you're on a great path. And try to get Financial aid turn in quicker for work study.

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self about college, I would tell younger self that the jobs will not last, and working two jobs and making a lot of money gets old fast. It is almost impossible to be successful without getting some college education under my belt. My younger self was determined to never go to college, my parents made it just fine, why couldn't I? I would tell my younger self that times change, the economy changes, and the job market will indeed crash. Your future family will depend on you to have a decent job, and working two jobs to make a living will be impossible. Go to school now! You do not want to be 28 years old and still going to college because you played around after high school, just go now, and get it taken care of!

What I needed to hear would sound something like this: “Tina, listen up! It is crucial to your future that you stop letting fear run your life. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of change are really the only things that can hold you back and keep you from flourishing as an adult. It’s important you realize right now, you are smart and you have what it takes to be successful. Open your mind, and embrace your fear as a normal part of pursuing a higher education. In doing that, you would shed the weight of constant doubt that you carry, freeing you to build a future that you can take pride in.” I would explain that there are academic, financial, and personal resources to help each student along the way, to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and alone in the process. I’d enlighten her to the fact that she has a learning disability, then provide information about Disability Resources and the accommodations available to students with learning barriers. It would have been a lot to absorb, but I am certain my life would have followed a different path had I been given such profound advice.

Dear me,