Northern Michigan University Top Questions

I would have worked harder in high school to get better grades and learn more about the realities of what I'm facing in the financial world. I would have taken the opportunity to take the college classes offered when I was a senior so that I could have been further ahead when I graduated. My parents pushed getting a job when I was in high school but I really didn't try very hard and I wish I would have saved more money so they wouldn't have to help me now with my tuition. All in all I wish I would have been more proactive in all the aspects decribed above!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would offer myself an endless amount of encoruagement. Prior to attending college, it seems as if high school seniors cannot wait to graduate and jump into "the college life" and often they greatly underestimate its importance. They are fooled by the stereotypes and see an expansive social life and freedom, and at first, it may seem as so. However, there comes a point where you realize that what you do matters. So my advice would be to focus; focus on the things that matter in the long run rather than the things that seem to matter now. I would advise that you confide in the people around you for support. Do not fool yourself into thinking that you can do it all on your own. Ask your parents for help, your friends, coworkers, relatives, professors, advisors. These people are there to for you. Lastly, on those days that you feel you cannot do anymore, you can. You can finish that paper or keep on studying for that test; don't give up because the final result will be worth it.

move out of state first and take minimum amount of classes, use the spare time fix your self as high school did quite a number on you. don't listen to your parents, your worth more than your father could ever know, and less artisticly gifted than your mother thinks. when you do move back, NMU is probably the best choice as much as people love to badmouth it. sit in the front row in class, yes i know the back is more comfortable and where your friends are sitting, and yes i know the laptop is shinny and has internet access, but you can chat on the internet and socialize with friends after class, its only and hour long, not that hard. also, STOP RUNNING! love isn't what you think it is, its not as dramatic as the movies make it seem. there is nothing wrong with alot of comfort and little sex. also your not the white knight, or the demon in the shadows, stop acting like it as you won't be able to keep it up. finaly its not as important as you think to know yourself just to be comfortable with it now.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself to "be open to the possibilities". I think as a high school senior I felt as though I needed to know RIGHT AWAY what I was going to do with the rest of my life. There was this pressure to pick a path for my life and travel on it with dedication- and no detours. I learned quickly that, even though I thought I was dedicated to a certain path, life doesn't always allow you to follow it with precision. There are things that happen for a reason- socially, economically, spiritually, emotionally, developmentally, etc. Nobody but YOU can decide what the best path is for yourself, because nobody knows YOU better. I would want myself to understand that there are possibilities for every situation in life, and the paths for those possibilities are endless. Why confine yourself to just one path? I only have one life to live, many paths available for my feet to travel. I would like to leave as many footprints as I can, connect the possibilities of those paths, and be open to the possibilities.

Fifty years ago, I was a married teenager, who thought that I could never go to college because my family was poor. That marriage was abusive and ended in divorce. I was not permitted to graduate with my class because I had become pregnant during my senior year. So, I had to wait a year to receive my diploma. I was forced to work because my son's father didn't support him. I remarried five years later and was a homemaker for 21 years. I could have attended college and received my degree, but I didn't feel it would be necessary. I was wrong. When I was 50 years old, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associate's Degree as a Legal Assistant. Yet, I had a difficult time finding employment in the Lansing, Michigan, area. I became a certified T.E.S.O.L. instructor and have developed online learning Web pages to help internationals and refugees learn English. Although I am successful at teaching and tutoring I cannot be paid by agencies because I don't have an undergraduate degree. I am a 68 year old college student determined to finish with a baccalaureate degree.!

When I began searching for colleges during my senior year I was overwhelmed. There are so many choices it was hard to decide where I wanted to go. My initial decision was to attend Adrian College where I was recruited to play hockey. Upon being recruited I was quick to make that my choice. However when I look back at that decision, it reflected my want to continue playing hockey and not my educational goals. I decided to transfer and found Northern Michigan University. The educational opportunities fit perfectly with my goals and not only would I be able to continue playing hockey but the geography of the area would fuel my passion for the outdoors. Therefore the advise I would have given myself would be to decide based on your educational goals. There are so many schools out there, there is one that can provide you the education you seek and everything else as well. Also take your time. By all means try to find the right school as soon as you can, but there is no shame in transfering or taking a year off. You are not stuck with your first choice.

I graduated with a 4.0 from Charlevoix High School, in Charlevoix, Michigan. I was given the title of Valedictorian, but did not particularly rejoice this title. I was proud of what I had accomplished, but at the end of high school I regretted many of my decisions. I learned that life is far more enjoyed with a balance of things rather than an extreme of one, mine being academics. I focused so much on schooling that I didn?t no allow myself to enjoy much of high school and the experiences that many of my friends had. Now that I have entered college I have tried to find a balance between enjoying moments in my life while taking my education seriously. If I could go back and talk to myself in high school I would tell myself to relax more and take things slower. I would say tell myself to stress less, yet give everything my all.

I would tell myself not to stress about leaving my family and friends. I will make some amazing friends my first weekend there and that they stick with me and support me. My friends and I do so much together and keep in touch over holiday breaks. I would tell past me that when I am at my college I am happy and that I feel like I really fit in for the first time. College isn't something to fear, but rather something to look forward to. The time there flys by fast and before I know it I will be wondering where the time went. The staff there is helpful and friendly and they genuinely want to see you make it in life. College is a good place for me to be and I start to call it home after a while. I would also tell myself to study hard and enjoy my down time with my friends. I would also tell myself to try new things, within a safe reason, because I am only there for a short time.

Firstly, I would advice meeting with your adviser. If I would have meet with an adviser I would have taken my classes in a different order. I could have gotten my requirements finished for the department first, and worried about declaring my major later. I ended up taking a lot of extra credits before I finally made a decision, and that postponed my graduation. Secondly, when making any decision going with your initial instinct is always the best way to go. I always wanted to study Spanish, but I hesitated and didn?t declare my second major until my senior year. Planning early is also a good way to get ahead. I also recommend studying abroad at some point in your college career, but it is best to go when you have liberal art credits free. The only other thing I would change is my financial planning strategy. I was the first person in my family to go to college, and nothing was set aside to pay for my education. I ended up taking a lot of loans out to finance my education. My biggest regret is not applying for more scholarships and grants.

People told me that high school would be the best years of my life, but now that I have experienced college life, I realize that college will be the best years. I have changed a lot since entering college and I have experienced more in the first year being at Northern Michigan University than I did throughout all four years of high school. If given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself some different advice than the words I listened to back then. I would advise myself to get involved in activities on campus, to join a group, like the Student Psychological Association, and to not be afraid to open up to new people. Upon giving myself this advice, I would also remind myself to study hard and keep up with my schoolwork. When I was in high school, I focused mainly on the advice I received about getting good grades in college. My college experience has been great, but I wish I had gotten more involved with extracurricular activities earlier on in college because I realize now how much they have added to my college experience.