Mount St Mary’s University Top Questions

The advice I would give myself would be about friends and family. I would go back and tell myself that not all of your high school friends will stick by your side, a lot of them will hurt you in more ways than one, especially when you are going to a different university than them. However, I would continue by saying not to worry, that whomever is meant to be a part of your life will be and those who are not will leave but instead of dwelling on what is wrong with you and why they all left you alone, focus on your family. Family is important, your whole world can be turned upside down in seconds, from losing your home to your grandmother being put in a home and your brother being very ill, cherish every moment you have and do not worry about any of the negative energy that enters your life. Focus on the positive and make the most of every opportunity given.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is simple: be real. It has been made clear to me that no matter what you do in highschool people don't remember but what they do remember is how genuine you are and how you treat other people. I wasn't a bully or anything but I was always out to please those around me without first being myself. In highschool you don't need to attend every sporting even so as to seem very supportive, and you don't need to rack up your resume with a million small service items but what you need to focus more on is living in those moments that you are given. Don't pose for a picture for millions of people to see and to have them think highly of you, pose for the glorification of that trophy you won fighting with your best of friends on the basketball team. Know that being yourself is providing people with the best form of yourself that you can offer to them whether they like you or not.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry about making friends. In high school I thought college life was going to be terrible since I was shy and reserved. I thought that since I do not drink nor do drugs, I would not make any friends since I always heard that there were crazy parties in college with alcohol and drugs. Even though these parties do exist in college, I have found that there are people just like me who feel uncomfortable around drugs and alcohol. I was able to apply to live in a special program my freshman year which established friendships around something other than parties, alcohol and drugs. To live in the program everyone had to sign a form stating that you would not drink or do drugs or you would be removed from the program. This program definately helped me find my niche within college and has formed life-long friends.

Advice to SelfAliyah you are about to embark on one of the greatest journeys of your life. I have come back to give you a little bit of advice that will help you along the way. If you knew then what you know now you would make better choices. So, I am here to help you make better choices. First, always trust your gut instinct they are there for a reason and God will not steer your wrong. Second, be careful of smooth talking upper classmen no matter how “fine” (looks and speech). Third, don’t take things so seriously, let go and have the time of your life. Life just gets harder and then you will look back and realize that you haven’t lived. Go to class but use this time to make friends and enjoy this phase of your life. Also, the one that you really aren’t into is really worth investing into, he is a keeper. Lastly, you are worth the time, the energy, and they pain. You will see that you worry for nothing. Aliyah, don’t forget to breathe.

Don't be afraid it be yourself. When everyone comes to college, they're trying to figure out where they're going to fit in, and you DON'T want to get in a group where you can't be the real you. Know yourself, love yourself, and be true to yourself, because only you can tell people who you really are. It may not seem like it, but there are a lot of people out there who want to get to know the real, bona fide you. Be goofy, be real, say weird things, laugh at yourself, trust people, talk to them as you pass them on the path. The next few years are going to test you, and there will be days that you won't know how you'll go on, but I promise you won't just get through it, you'll go farther than you ever thought possible, and you'll be thankful for those hardships because they will make you so much stronger. Wake up every day and just love the heck out of life, and try to go to bed each night knowing you lived as awesomely as you could.

By attending Mount St. Mary?s, I have been given the tools necessary to overcome any obstacle which comes my way. With the support from my family, my insightful professors, and my experiences at the Mount, I feel that I am capable of overcoming any obstacle that is put in my way. Our president focuses on providing us with sufficient resources to achieve each of the four pillars; faith, leadership, discovery, and community. These four pillars have been bestowed upon me during my college years. Each of these pillars have been valuable in helping me grow into the person I am today. I have discovered myself while at the Mount through developing my faith and my morals. The small setting of the Mount has allowed me to take the leadership role in many of my classes. I am able to feel a sense of accomplishment due my leadership. Without the teachers, faculty, and students my college experience would not be the same. The Mount community has become my family and my support through out my journey. Overall the Mount has shaped me into the person I am today which will benefit me in my career and throughout my life.

You need to be tolerant of all different types of people. The kids that you thought weren't the type you would socialize with could very well be most compatible with yourself. You should be involved with as much community service as possible. This in itself will give you a start to your education.

I would tell myself to broaden my search. In high school i did not feel comfortable going to a school far from home. I was planning on going to a school either in Connecticut or Vermont. I was accepted to all of the schools that i applied to but at the last minute decided that i did not want to go to the University of New Haven. This is when i made the late decision to apply to Mount Saint Marys a small school over six hours from my home that i had never heard of. I adjusted really fast not being able to rely on family or be able to go home whenever i felt like it like many other students. This is why i wish i applied to more schools in the Pacific northwest now that I know I would be able to be safe and secure far from home.

Knowing what I know now about college life, if I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a great amount of advice to give. I would first say that the transition from high school to college is quite a big change, and that the number one sentiment to remember is to keep true to myself. College exposes students to a mulitude of new experiences and opportunites to learn and grow. Most of these are postive changes, as they allow students to become responsible adults and to explore the world around them. However, the ones to look out for are those that tempt students to change themselves in a way that is not becoming. When students get their first taste of freedom, they want to try all the new experiences available, and are therefore susceptible to those negative opportunities. Therefore, the advice I would give myself is to go into college with a strong sense of who I am and the reason I am there. I would tell myself to remain focused on the goal and not to allow outside temptations to steer me off track.

The advice I would give to myself as a high school senior is to make sure that you apply for as many scholarships as possible once you get into college and start attending classes. Even as a current college student, you can still apply for and win many scholarships. The opportunities are endless. I would also say to try to get summer internships at places where you are interested in working after graduation. Internships are a great way to get to know people and make connections that will be helpful later in life and after you graduate with your degree. It also helps to keep in touch with these people just to touch base from time to time and if you ever need a reference or a recommendation.