North Carolina State University at Raleigh Top Questions

I would advise: "You need to try to avoid procrastination in order to perform your best and feel relieved when you get your assignments done ahead of time. Also, make sure to use the resources you have to your advantage. Furthermore, failing to plan is planning to fail. You need to learn to plan things ahead of time and make sure you have a backup plan because sometimes things won't always happen the way you want them to. Focus on what is in front of you but don't forget about what could happen.” I also would advise “to go outside of your comfort zone sometimes and don't be afraid to take risks. No risk means no reward. Do things that will make you feel proud of yourself." If I had chosen to follow this advice, I would now most likely have gotten some type of internship for the summer and not be at home. I could have gone to the Career Development Center earlier before all the openings had been filled. If I had developed a plan earlier on and focused on that plan, I would probably be one step closer to reaching my career goals.

My high school years were very fulfilling but somewhat challenging in that, I spent my last two years at a different high school in a different state - my dad was in the Navy and we moved my sophomore year. In my high school do over I would push myself to become more involved in more extracurricular activities such as school clubs and sports. I was a varsity tennis player, but could have contributed and benefited from playing other sports. I volunteered and participated in the school gospel choir, but i could have done more! I am very introverted and was very anxious about meeting new friends and adjusting to the dynamic college environment. The changes made in my high school do over would have given me more experiences in dealing with others and adjusting to different environments and situations. The changes would have also helped me more successfully balance excelling academically, growing personally and experiencing more opportunities available across the college campus. I would say "prepare yourself so you can take full advantage of all the college has to offer!" The college classroom environment is different, the time management demands are different and, the opportunities for discovery learning are amazing.

Leave it all on the field! There are times (especially senior year) when it will feels like you can slack off and not try. Even if that is true, you need to work as hard as you can on every aspect of your life. Make every possible effort to improve yourself, whether it is in your academics, sports, or social life. You will regret not doing the extra credit or not studying for ten more minutes to turn that B+ into an A. You will regret not running that mile to get in shape or not trying as hard as you can in a game that doesn't matter. You will regret not going to another lunch or to that movie with that person who you thought would always be around. In high school, these things might not mean much and might be worth nothing. This past year, I've learned that these things might not matter in high school, but high school is not the end game. Giving it your all will make you a better person and prepare you for the rest of your life.

"Do what makes you happy." These are the exact words that I would tell my high-school self. I think I've always been really concerned with succeeding in whatever ambitions I may choose in life, but throughout high school I don't think I ever took the time to sit down and decide to spend my life working towards a passion of mine because I was too concerned with pleasing those around me. However, several years ago, I lost my brother, who spent a lot of his time doing what he truly loved: cooking and spreading the love of life to those around him. Ever since he passed away, I've had trouble coming to terms with myself and the path I was taking, though I recently decided that I should be following in his footsteps rather than forcifully hacking my way through a jungle of despair and uncertainty in the present field I am studying. As a result, I have started the persuit of my life-long dream of becoming a concert violinist, and though I hope to succeed in this endeavor, it would have been far easier to make this realization in high school.

Dude, if you only knew what I know now! The most important academic thing to do in high school is learn how to study. Sure you have been getting by with just completing assigned work, listening to the teacher and quickly reviewing before a test. But to achieve success in college you are going to have to read the course material, and I mean ALL the material! The class lesson in high school generally includes all you need to learn, and sometimes some other boring stuff too. The lecture in college is just the starting point for what you need to know for the tests. In college the only way to really learn the course material is to read before attending the lecture and then review notes and/or reread the text after the lecture. Although you have been successful in high school, it wouldn't hurt to read and review the material more. If you do, you will be better prepared for college - where it is absolutely necessary to study beyond attending the classes. Most importantly, if you develop good study habits now it will be one less thing to worry about as you adjust to life in college.

I would tell my high school self to try harder. I need to take my academics more serioulsy and be open to more to ideas about learning and how to learn. The biggest thing about college is that the professor will not hold your hand through the entire class, they expect hard work out of their students and they expect the students to be prepared and participate in class discussion. I would tell my high school self that get involved and become more comfortable with myself and with what I have to say about a topic. I needed to learn how not to procrastinate either. I needed to learn how to have better time management and divide up my work where I would not be up till two in the morning. I would also tell myself to become more involved in what is going on around you. That is a great way to make friends and to learn how to deal with new types of people and understand that not there are always going to be different opinions that is important to hear and take into account.

Don't worry so much. There will be days that you are overwhelmed and frustrated and don't know what to do. But in the end, worrying won't help you get anywhere. Try your absolute best at everything you do, keep your head up, and trust in God. He is the reason that I have done so well so far and He never fails to help and guide me. Prioritize your time to make sure that you have enough time for classes and studying, but don't wear yourself out with it. Make sure to have a good balance with academics and social life, and don't miss out on opportunities to get involved and have fun with your friends. Take care of yourself, keep your mind wide open, don't be afraid to be who you really are, and get the absolute best experience that you can. You're only going to be in college for so long- so take advantage and get your money and time's worth. Have fun, work hard, and stay strong in your faith.

It's funny to look back at how insecure and shy I was in high school. I think most everyone ends up "finding" themselves in college - where you're able to slide in with a group of friends that share your interests, not the ones you've just grown up with and have become close friends with by default. I certainly did - the friends I made in college are now, five years later, some of the dearest people in my life. I guess I would have told my high school self that college is of course about chosing a career path and preparing for the future, but it's also largely about defining yourself and learning who you are. I wish I could have embraced that sooner in my college career - and I wish I had become more involved in like-minded student groups and pre-professional organizations back then. Being around people who care about the same things you do is such an amazing feeling - I wish I had gotten more involved back then.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that I should only apply to three colleges and that I should pick the college that I feel embodies my morals, my career goals, and has many activities to be involved in. I wasted many stressful hours my senior year applying to six different colleges. This was not necessary for me to do and if I could do it again I would only have applied to my top three. I feel that it is important to go to a college with students who can relate to my personal morals. I am overjoyed that I didn't go to the same college as most of my highschool peers. I got the opportunity to meet many different types of new people and create many lasting relationships that I wouldn't have otherwise made. It is also important to find a college that can introduce you to employers and give you opportunities to be seen. Lastly, it is extremely important to attend a college that has many activites for students. Pick something new and exciting to do, the opportunities are endless.

Going back in time I would tell my high school self to get to know myself better. Try out internships and do volunteer events for things that interest me. Find out what I like and things I don't. I would tell myself to take the challenging classes and see what happens. To not be afraid to fail. I would value my application process more and look at schools out of state and see what they have to offer. I would not let money be a huge deciding factor of my application process. And most importantly I would enjoy my last year as a high schooler. Hang out with my family and friends and soak in the memories.