Montana State University Top Questions

I would tell myself to do better acedemically in high school and to acheive a higher GPA to receive scholarships or potentially a full-ride. Also I would tell myself to find and apply for as many scholarships as possible. If your like me and have no support from your family even while being in school and you are having to pay for every single thing you have in your life by yourself, a $100 scholarship is the best news ever!

You have to recognize what you enjoy to do in life and go to college for just that. Put the money aside and just go for what you’re passionate about. You know you enjoy designing, building, and adventure. However, I knew someone who had the same interests in high school and went to college for renewable energy because he knew it would be a growing industry to get a job. Later he realized he didn't just want a job. He noticed that when he graduated there was an uneasy and uncomfortable feeling when we was applying for jobs and that's because he lacked the passion. Even though he applied for jobs he never got them because deep inside he knew that he didn't really want them, so he never got them! His real passion was in environmentally conscious design. So he decided to go back to college for exactly that and knew that this time around he would tune more into the connections he would make and the experiences that would find him. So my advice to you would be to recognize what you enjoy doing, do that, and the money and job will follow.

Dear me, Don't be scared. You're smarter than you think. Life is about to change so much you won't have any time to worry about what you might lose and that's ok. The people who matter will still be there in the end. Live in the moment and hold your GPA dear to you. You will excel so much if you keep your head in the game. Also, focus on your academics right now and try to get yourself a scholarship. It may not seem important in your shoes but it will be worth it down the road. Love, You

If I were able to talk to my highschool self, I would need to tell him one important thing: "there is nothing in this world that can stop you from accomplishing what you put your mind to." After an incredible first day of school I was given life-changing news that my dad had passed away of a heart attack. I was stunned and lost on what to do about anything: my family, the funeral, school.... anything that was previously concrete in my reality was now altered completely. After a few days at home I knew in my heart that my dad wanted me to be at school and become who he knew I could. I returned to school that following Monday taking 17 credits as a freshmen, one of which was Calculus 3, so I had plenty to catch up on, but I knew my dad was there to get me through it. After first semester finished, I had earned a 4.0. If I can get a 4.0 in the same semester as my dad's death, I'd like my highschool self to know there is nothing he can't do, no matter the circumstances.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school senior self anything, it would be: "Don't stop believing in yourself. Life is going to throw so much at you in the future. You can make it through anything if you believe in yourself. Don't worry about tomorrow, keep your eye on the goal but take things one step at at time". As a college student, I often want to tackle every project at one time. It is tiring and wears you down. As a high school student, I wanted to do the same thing. However, in the world outside of high school, it is important to take your time and do things correctly.

If I could go back in time to give my senior self advice I would tell myself that saving fifty dollars a paycheck will really help out in college when it comes to buying books or paying for tuition. School was alot more expensive than I orginially thought it would be so when the time came to pay for everything I was unprepared for the amount it would cost. I would also tell myself that the dorm rooms are alot smaller then you think so you dont need to pack as much as you originally planned to. Lastly i would tell myself that college is a fun time and you get to meet alot of new people so expect to learn time managemnt!

If I could give myself any advice, I would have told myself to get more involved with the campus activities. It is easy to get isolated on campus if you do not take the initiative. Campus offers many wonderful opportinities to meet new people and make friends. It is a great way to help college seem less overwhelming and and to enjoy the experience of learning that much more.

Passion isn't enough, but it's a start. As a senior, I was obsessed with the date of graduation and completely confident that college would be a breeze for me simply because I was interested in the subject matter. I wasn't prepared to pay back the interest on my loans, or to live off of campus food. The first day, I fully anticipated a gorgeous man driving in to sweep me off my feet. College takes work. Once you get into the flow of things though, that's when the real fun begins. The future is bright because it is hazy though, and retaining that hope and confidence I had in high school is still a key part to being successful in college.

Listen up kid, your irresponsible and it's going to take you lots of places, some of the good, most of them bad. It'll build character but to forget all that, character means nothing without responsibility, responsibility for your actions, for the actions of others that you contributed to. Real responsibility doesn't just involve "I'm sorry" it involves real actions that show where your stand, words don't fix mistakes (admittedly they can help). Everybody messes up, a lot... So keep your head on straight, stumble with pride, dream like mad, get in over your head, get comfortable feeling uncomfortable in the most responsible of ways, but most of all, don't get caught in those little traps your brain will set for you that can really drag you down. Most of all, wear your mistakes with pride because it's really only in failure that we learn about ourselves, the world around us, and most importantly we learn how to dust ourselves off. Besides that responsibility is charming and will make you a humble person. You can attain all the knowledge in the world and be a fool but you can't be wise without responsibility.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I would go back and tell myself to stay in touch with your friends. Freshman year can be very daunting and overwhelming for many people. They leave their high school where they had a standing schedule and friends, and they come to college where they may be alone and have to fend for their selves. In this senerio it is best to have your friends with you. They can help you work through those initial jitters and get into the swing of things.