Northern Arizona University Top Questions

If I could go back in time to talk to myself about college, I would tell myself that I am not going to be able to go to the college I really wanted to go to. Also, I would tell myself to apply to more colleges because applying to just two colleges is not a smart idea. That I would have liked to have more colleges to choose from. Also, if I still ended up choosing Northern Arizona University again, I would tell myself to pack more snow clothes and buy warmer clothes for the winter.

If I were to go back and tell myself what to expect when going off to college, I would say that going somewhere beyond your limits is good. Just consider that fact that you will need to be very open to making new friends. Maybe, if you are shy, go somewhere that you already have a friend or two. Above all else you should realize that people change dramatically in college and that just comes with the experience. Your best friend in high schoool may be a completely different person when they get into this new environment. It is also good to note to not stay so close to your friends back home that you forget to focus on your new life in this college experience. Enjoy it because it goes by fast!

Remember to get your enrollment deposit deferred on time. Don't room with her, you'll regret it. Maybe consider going to MCC before college, if not, make sure you get a loan. Eat healthier and start walking more often because you get diagnosed with arrhythmia. Apply to more scholarships now. You make it into Berklee singing and playing Take Five, but end up going to NAU because it's too expensive. Either take a semester off for their dorms to open or get a big loan to actually attend. Also, get textbooks. Those are extremely important.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, that would mean going back over 28 years. At the time I graduated high school in 1986, my sole desire was to get married, have children, and be the best wife and mother I could possibly be. I did not have the financial resources to attend college at that time, and in all honesty, I wanted to start my family. It was always my intention to go to college once my children were grown, which is what I have done. As such what I would tell my high school self is to enjoy the journey, that the time you have with your children will end all too soon, appreciate every moment and trust that things will work out just as they are meant to. I would also give her a hug and implore her not to sweat the small stuff. I would do my best to convince her that she need not stress about the trivial things in life and to encourage her to let go of her fears, for I know the price she will pay.

Dear JJ: I just want to let you know about all the possibilities and potential you have after high school. I am excited for your college experience and I know you can do anything you have an interest in. Luckily you went to a school that provided you with the classes that have prepared you for the scholastic and sports life that campus culture entails. Remember to ask questions of people who are supposed to be helping you (i.e. advisors, counselors and most of all, financial aid) and that you do not have to accept "NO" as an answer. Be polite, be persistent and be successful. It will be a very hard but very worth it experience in the end. Do it now. DO NOT PUT IT OFF. and most of all, enjoy.

If I could go back and tell myself one thing, I believe it would be to never give up on your dreams! I do not regret my life or my family, but do regret setting my education aside for so many years. I would tell my high school self to grasp every opportunity available to reach your goal! You are a strong intelligent girl, you can do anything you set your mind to! Find out who you are, and what you can do with your education and your life before you settle down. Stay your course and finish school, you will be amazed at the future that will open up for you! Now, today, I still believe these things are possible and I intend to pursue it with all my heart! Thank you.

It's been 4 years since I graduated high school, I am not at the place I would have imagined myself to be at this point. Stephanie I would like to tell you what an amazing person you are. Life is hard but you must keep your head up an keep pushing forward in ever aspect of your life. My biggest advice is to believe in yourself and your abilities. Stop being lazy in your classes and pay attention, do your homework. Make lots of friends but don't lose track of yourself and your goals. Make sure you save money so that you can spend a few months in France. Never stop traveling and living your life to the fullest. Don't put yourself in situations that will hinder you. Be bold and take risks and know your limits. Put yourself first, stay away from dangerous relationships and those who hurt you. Value yourself and keep in mind that you ARE good enough. Your heart will be broken but you will be okay and life will go on. Never change who are and stay humble. Good luck! I love you...I love me.

The first thing I would tell myself would have to be "apply yourself". Just getting by is not good enough. You should always strive to be the best you can be, because once you hit the real world it does matter. Life can throw so many curve balls at you, and there will be times down the road when decisions you make now will show themselves again in the future, good and bad. Do not miss out on an opportunity ten or twenty years down the road because you decided on a Friday night to go to a party and have a few drinks, or because staying out late with your friends was more important than studying for tests, or finishing homework. I would tell myself to think before acting. I would let myself know that someday I am going to be a single father of a beautiful little girl, and inform myself how important it will be to get a good education now, and find a good career so that I can be a good role model and someone she can look up to as she grows up, as well as taken care of.

Keep your syllabus. In high school you looked at it once and that was it. In college you need it all semester long. Stay organized. If you can stay organized you will save yourself so much time. I lose my stuff just about everyday because I'm not organized. Also when you have time to sleep, sleep! Going out and partying is fun but in all honesty you need time to sleep. It will really take a toll on you if you don't get a decent amount of rest. Take advantage of being a freeloader off of your parents for as long as you can. In college you either need a job or some other way of making money. Mommy and daddy can't buy everything for you anymore. Stay grounded and go to class. In college it is so easy to just not go to class if you don't want to. If you get up and go you won't regret it.

The lyrics from the song 'Ooh La la' by The Faces come to mind while reading this short prompt: "I wish that I knew what I knew now, when I was younger". I have a vast supply of wisdom to bestow upon my younger, more naive self, whether it be based on love, heartbreak, finances, goals, and ideals. But to keep it short, simple and school related, I will only contribute one of these nuggets of advice. I would tell my younger high school-aged self that education is one of the greatest gifts that I have recieved, and to take it seriously. I don't think I understood the value of knoweledge in high school. The simple acts of picking up a book for the fun of it, immersing myself in the concepts that my teachers were trying to help us understand, and legitimately being interested in various subjects eluded me in my high school years. I would tell myself to make friends with my teachers and learn more about the subjects that they were teaching, because now I underdstand that teachers are truly passionate about what they teach, and can be some of the deepest resources for knoweledge.