North Greenville University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to study more my freshman year.

don't be afraid to do the things you are interested in just because you think they may be too hard for you

I would tell myself to try everything that the campus has to offer. Don't let the actions of others affect you and make your own path to follow. Make sure you stick to your guns and don't let people mess with you. Take pride in what you have done and what you will do. Don't be afraid to talk to someone new and make new friends. Also, don't be afriad of the teachers. They want to help you achive everything in your field and will make sure you do your best as long as you work for it. Make your dorm as homie as possible, you will be spending a lot of time there! Don't let the little things bug you. Get connected with a church and get involved. Just have fun and do your best.

Dear Valencia Baxton: I am your future. You are my past. I am here to prevent you from making my college mistakes. John Adams once said, "There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live." In High School, we had poor study habits, and we were procrastinators when it came to completing assignments and preparing for tests. We will fail in college and in life if we continue with this learning style. After I was placed on probation and threatened to be kicked out of college for poor grades, I straightened up rather quickly! If I was kicked out of school, Daddy's dreams for us would be shattered. We know how important it was to him that we graduate from Purdue University. We will be the first person in our family to ever attend and graduate from an accredited university. My motivation to do better was hearing Daddy say (in my head), "My baby's going to college!" Don't let him down! Take control of your college education early. Allow it to teach you how to make a successful living and how to live as an independent woman.

Cameron Joseph Ventura as a senior in high school looks much different than the Cameron who is writing this essay. The younger edition of me, standing roughly twenty pounds heaver and face more naked, could theoretically gain greatly from a brief conversation with present day me. I would simply remind myself of the importance of remaining true to what I believe is right. I have not made any giant mistakes that I greatly regret, yet there have been times within the past that I have let myself hold back from what I should have fought for, as well as other times where I have let my atmosphere and desires lead me into being far too passionate about what I should have let go. I would like to believe that a simple admonition would be enough to encourage me to stand true to what is noble, and let that guide those around to pattern what is excellent, rather than allowing the less honorable to set the stage for how those around choose to exist.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a High School senior I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships, to try harder, and to not procrastinate. All three of these things are essential in college life. School is expensive and I wish i could have realized that last year to be more prepared for the years to come with loans. I did not try my best throughout high school and i regret that. I wish I could tell myself to buckle down and put some initiative into my work to be proud of it. Since I have started college i have learned to do my work days ahead of time. This is less stress and worry on my part when the due date comes up. If i had known how to do this last year, I would not have lost as much sleep due to worry. I am proud of my accomplishments in school, but I would do those three things differently if I could talk to myself one year ago.

I would tell myself to first off, and most importantly, stop taking my mom for granted. I never realized how much she did for me and how hard it is to begin living on my own and making tough decisions for myself. I would have known how to do a better job at putting myself out there. It seems that the only people I hang out with in college are people that live in my dorm and that is tough because when you live with people sometimes you need to get away. I would also remind myself that going home is okay, sometimes it is what you need and not to feel bad about it. I would also remind myself to enjoy the rest of my senior year, but get excited about college, yes it new and scary but it also a great experience and exciting.

Looking back as a high school senior I would have told myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible before entering college. Also, I would have recommended saving a lot of money during the summer and not spending it on unimportant items during the school year. As far as having a car on campus, I would have told myself not to drive home every weekend because it saves money and allows positive social interaction with other students. Staying on the weekends encourages branching out and getting involved with other organizations, students, and churches. As far as dealing with the transition between college classes and highschool, I would have told myself to study for tests greatly beforehand instead of cramming information the night before. Also, I would have encouraged myself to talk to professors if I was having a problem because this creates a name-to-name basis and when it comes to the end of the semester for final grades, if they noticed how hard you were trying they would boost your grade just enough to make a difference. Overall, I would tell myself to remain practical, have fun making lifelong friends, and work hard.

I would tell myself to not worry about college or what the future holds.

There are a few things you need to succeed in college: focus, willingness to learn and tme management skills. First of all you must have a clear goal and stay focused on it. This will help you as many distractions will come your way. It will also hep you when times are tough. Hang in there, stay focused and you will reach your goal. Secondly, you must be wiling to learn all kinds of information. Look at each class as an opportunity to expand your horizons. Also be willing to ask for help in learning when needed. There are plenty of places to go for help on most campuses. Lastly, be diligent in your time management. Use an agenda or a calendar on your wall. Watch your due dates and work ahead when you can. In the middle of all your hard work, also make sure you take some playtime. You will make friends that will last your lifetime. Spend time nurturing these relationships. If you listen to this advice, you will finish strong, do well academically and enjoy your experience while you are in college. Good Luck!