Oklahoma City University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are many things I would tell myself. The most important thing I would remind myself is to find a good college that I would like to spend some time at, and work on gathering a lot of small or large scholarships to pay for college. I would tell myself not to spend so much time trying to impress others and just be myself. I would remind myself to save the money I worked for instead of spending it on useless items that I will not be using in the future. I wouldn't forget to tell myself that I need to quit procasinating all my assignment and try to get them done as soon as I can. It's crazy how much I would tell myself in order to ensure that I will have an easier transition from high school to college. Most importantly, I would advise the younger me to not worry about partying too much, and spend more time focusing on bettering myself and creating a stable future.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would not be the conventional "work hard" or "get ready for challenges" type of discussion. I was prepared for the music rehearsals and late studying at Oklahoma City University because I had a taste of it in high school and have an older sister. No, I would warn my former self that I would encounter a surprising number of students on a daily basis that, to put it frankly, do not care. As I enter my senior year at OCU as a student that indeed does care about the things I do and the way that I treat people, I realize that the fight to stave off the predominantly negative attitudes and uninitiated behavior of some people will prove to be a sincere effort for the rest of my life. There are other people that also try to do their best to put effort and energy into their pursuits. Yet, negativity always seems to have the stronger pull. Through experience, I now have a trick to combat that negativity: be like a duck, paddling furiously underwater, while floating gracefully up above.

You aren't going to get into a musical theatre program. You are a stronger actress and that's where you will fall. With that being said, it doesn't mean you aren't talented. You are so talented, and you can't spend the first semester beating yourself up because you can't sing as well as some of your friends. It's okay to feel sad about it, but don't let it get you down, let it bring you up and motivate you to be a better singer. If you ever feel low, go speak to a councilor. DON'T wait until the end of the semester when your friends tell you they don't want to be your friend anymore to seek help. If you feel like giving up on anything, school, friends, pom, etc..... Ask for help. It's okay to ask for help. It makes you strong. You will be strong, and you will overcome the challenge.

Ashley, be proud of what you have accomplished and excited about entering college, but do not be naive about expectations and human behavior. You are a people pleaser and also worry more that you like to admit about what others think of you and this will cause you some sadness during your first semester. Don't worry, it gets better and you will start to find your "college self" and so will others. Understand that people will disappoint you and you will disappoint others, but be quick to forgive and do not hold grudges, they will only cause you pain. People make mistakes, including you and be quick to forgive yourself and not beat yourself up too much. Be happy. Be nice. Be positive. When things don't go your way or seem too tough to overcome, breathe in, breath out and move on (sooner than later). Have high expectations, but make sure they are realistic. Make sure to hug your sister a lot and tell her how much you love her. She is your best friend and you will miss her more than you can even imagine.

Throughout my first year at Oklahoma City University, I discovered how valuable prioritizing and time management is. During high school, being Student Class President while maintaining my 3.2 GPA and All-State cheerleading, was easy. Despite of what many respected individuals told me, I continued to assume college would merely be a tad bit harder than high school due to lengthier papers and the lack of daily reminders from my professors and parents. If I could, I would show myself how in the midst of my second semester, 8 organizations, 3 shows, and 2 roommates later, I was nearly burnt out. I had failed to make wise decisions when it came down to preparing properly. Although, I finished my first year with a 3.96 GPA, I had trouble deciding to say “No.” when I had too much on my plate, or choosing to get a well-needed 8 hour night of sleep. When I look back, I see an eager girl who didn’t want to miss anything. With maturity, I have realized missing some “things” is a good thing. College can get overwhelming quickly if you don’t know how to prioritize and manage your time wisely.

I would first and foremost ask myself "how much do you want this? When I was 18 I was so ready to start my college career and get away that I didn't blink about the fine details; I didn't think about the amount of money I was about to commit myself too. I fell in love HARD with a school then didnt hunt around to see if there were possibly more cost effient schools that I could have equally fallen for. I loved my 4 years at OCU but now having just graduated I look at the student debt that is now looming over me and I can barely catch my breath. Was taking all that money out worth it? I would say its about 50/50. I made amazing friends and met the love of my life but I now feel like I'm tethered down and un able to begin building my grown-up life because of the impending doom of possible default. Do things happen for a reason? Everyone has student debt right? I'd tell my 18 year old self to think really hard about where she wants her life to go. Then leap.

Apply for every scholarship no matter how strange it comes across as. You need all the money you can get and it will pay off later. Having the feeling of knowing everything is paid for is well worth all the time and effort it takes to apply for these scholarships, and then you can devote all of your focus to your passion instead of working two on-campus jobs to fight to pay for college.

Out of my college experience so far I have learned that in order to get good grades I need to study at least an hour a day after attending the class. I have also learned that attendence is important even though you cannot get into trouble with the school if you don't attend class, but only with yourself. Being in college has also taught me great independence. I find my classes on my own, choose when to go on my own, choose when to study on my own. Allmost 85{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time I am making my own decisions in college. Since i've been attending college I have been a more productive member of society and have transformed from a teenager to a young adult as I find my own way to support myself and my own way to find out what I need to do in order to become a more successful citizen. I also believe my skills such as writing and math have gone way up since going to high school and living at home. College doesn't just make you smarter, it pushes us as individuals to become more independent and responsible.

Besides gaining more knowledge in my field of study, going to college has lead me to really find myself out. Being in college here has helped me become more independent and find out who I really am and develop my own political and moral views in the world. Since this school is a liberal arts school, I have been taught in many different areas besides just science. It has helped open my eyes to all my other choices and gives me more options for a career. Going to college is not just going to be more beneficial for someone financially in the future, but it is a key life experience every young adult should go through to discover themselves.

The first two reasons I chose this colleger were the fact they are the only college in Oklahoma to offer a Bachelor's Degree in Film Production, not just Film Studies, and the fact that my mentor Fritz Kiersch is the Department Advisor. Mr. Kiersch has been an invaluable teacher for me and has helped encourage me to follow my dream career despite my older age than most of the other students. Thanks to him and the students I attend classes with I feel like a vital and creative person that has something to contribute to our society. Everyday I get to go to classes puts a smile on my face that does not evaporate until my head hits the pillow at the end of a full day of learning. A Bachelor's Degree will get me into the life and career I have always wanted and after attending this college for only one year it has made me wonder about a second career. I may go beyond a Bachelor's Degree so I may not only work in the film community but also teach college students who want to live the same dream I am working on now.