Luther College Top Questions

Dear Me, Life seems to be wide open right now and rightly so. You are young, vibrant, and very intelligent. You should plan your life carefully based on these qualities and the hand that life has dealt to you. You've been told that you have no way to get an education becuase of your financial status. While it may be true that you may not attend Ivy League, you can still plan your educational and professional life carefully with some discipline and assistance from those who know, like college counsellors. Because, let's face it, what does your uneducated family know about going to college other than your family doesn't have any college graduates? Now go! Quit your whining and self-doubt and get that education you will need, or you will end up being 43 years old and watching 22 year old children get promoted over you time and time again because they bothered to go to school.... you don't want that. With much love and hindsight, The future you.

I sat at my desk around ten on a Wednesday night trying to remember what the assignment was in calculus that day. I reached for my assignment notebook on the shelf above me, flipped to the correct date, and gasped. I had written down my calculus assigment, all right... right above the note "meet with Prof. Rhodes at 2:30." I had completely forgotten to go to the meeting! Responsibility is important to me, so I was burning with humiliation as I sent an e-mail to my proffessor apologizing for my memory lapse. The start of college brings with it a whole new set of responsibilities. It can be hard to keep track of all my new classes, rehearsals, meetings, and other obligations. Learning to make (and use!) a calendar was the most useful adjustment for me as I transitioned into college. Not only does the calendar help me to remember what I have going on, but it gives me visual feedback on how busy I am, allowing me to better balance my extracurricular involvement. I feel much better knowing that I am in control of my busy schedule- and Professor Rhodes appreciates it, too!

Start in the medical field which is sorely needed at this time. My parents gave us the option after graducating high school to chose what we would do. I grew up in a blue collar working family and went to work right away. Now knowing what the options of college is I would have taken a short vacation to see the real world and then enrolled in college to finish my education at a lower age group.

In high school, I held myself to the highest standards. I had to get A's in everything and that was really the most important thing to me. When I started college, I had that same mentality, but I began to realize that while grades were important, the most important thing was for me to actually engage in my learning. I began to speak up in class discussion and really relate to what I was learning in class. If I had learned that earlier, then I might not have been so stressed out when I first came to college. College is about learning, but it's also about meeting life-long friends. And without those friends, I realized I never could have gotten through the most stressful times in my life. So if I was going back to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to make the friends that would stay with me and learn to engage in my learning. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't get anything out of my college years, and I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Knowledge is power and college gives you unlimited access to so many different resources. Understanding that, my single piece of advice would be to take all the new opportunities that you can. College is a place to explore and find out more about yourself. The only person that can hold you back is you, so don't be afraid of doing something unfamiliar. If you want to go to that jump rope meeting, the luncheon with the anatomy professor and the ethnic dance forum..........GO! Most events are free of charge so the worst that could happen is that you decide not to go back. However, in doing so you are finding out your likes, your dislikes, and who are as a budding adult. For most of us, college will be the greatest pool of easily accessible knowledge and opportunities that we come across in our lives. You only have a few short years so take the leap, explore your interests, and you will graduate a better, more knowledgeable student with no regrets.

If I could give myself advice as a high school student, I would emphasize on study skills. Note taking was something that I had to learn how to do properly in a hurry. High school was a breeze;college is not. I would also tell myself, however, not to stress too much. The thought of going to college was a little scary for me in high school. Therefore, I would tell myself not to worry, and that everything would turn out just fine. I would tell myself that I will make the transition smoothly, and that I am now succeeding in all of my classes, and I have met a great group of people here to back me up every step of the way.

College is definitely an experience. You can never completely prepare yourself for what's ahead because something unexpected always pops up, but it makes the experience even better. You can be yourself at college; it is a place to discover who you are and what life is like. You do not have to keep up the same image you had in high school-that is all in the past. It is not worth worrying about what others think because they are in the same boat as you. Do not let any oppportunity pass you by to have fun or try something new. The transition into college is exciting and sometimes scary with all of that freedom at your fingertips. Give yourself the chance to explore new horizons. You can ponder over new ideas from class discussions and form your own opinions, you can find friendship in unexpected places, you can test the waters with the unusual looking cafeteria food--or maybe not--but the point is, you can achieve anything at college. It is a place for you to grow and to live. And you know what? It will all be okay.

The best advice I could give would be to listen to your parents, and pick your school based on both your personality, and your academic goals. I did not want to attend Luther. Honestly, I threw a fit when my mom forced me to visit because I thought it was ?a dorky music school?. My mom, a health professional, had been advised to send me here because it was one of the best schools to prepare for medical school. None of my friends were going here, and I was stuck between the terrified thought of ?I have to make all new friends? and the arrogant thought that ?I?m going to be the coolest one here.? Naturally, I was wrong about the latter. Making new friends, however, came easy. Everyone was in the same boat, and meeting people was easy. I?ve found some of the best friends I?ll ever have ?better than my high school friends. As far as academics go, my mother was right. It is a great launching pad into a medical career. So my best advice is that mother knows best, and choose your school wisely- basing it on your ultimate life goals.

Apply yourself.

Going away to college is a life changing experience full of individual growth and surprises. Don't be afraid to get help, using a tutor or talking to your professor, because everyone wants you to do your best. Set yourself up for success from the start! It's okay to be scared, you're making a big transition. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Your advisor, RA, professors, and peers are all there to support you. Get involved and don't be afraid to take risks. No matter what the outcome, you will become a stronger person because of it. Everything is a learning experience, whether or not you realize it. Embrace every opportunity you can and give yourself the chance. You only get one college experience and you don't want to live with regrets. You will be happiest if you live a balanced life. Finding this balance takes a constant effort and will change constantly. The effort you put in is exactly what you will get out. Don't cheat yourself. Just remember, there are many people who have already experienced this and there are many people currently experiencing it with you -- you are not alone.