Rogue Community College Top Questions

I would tell my younger self that college does matter. I attended community college part-time right out of high school and wasn't very motivated or interested in it. I had passing grades but they weren't that great. It's been almost 10 years since I graduated and I wish I had stayed focused on college and tried harder. If I had, I feel like I would be a lot happier right now. I would be in a carreer of my choice doing something I enjoy doing rather than working a job that I don't like just to pay the bills. Putting in hard work and determination now might seem difficult and not worth it, but it is. A few years of hard work now pays off with many years of happiness and riches.

Do it. This is the best decision that you will ever make in your life, so ignore what everyone else is saying and just do it. They say that starting college early is a mistake, that Senior year is amazing. They say you will regret this. You won't. Do it. You can get away with sleeping through high school classes, but you can't in college courses. Do your homework early, get to sleep on time, and pay attention in Macro Economics instead of dozing in and out. It makes much more sense when you know what the teacher said before. Become well aquatinted with caffeine, but better aquatinted with a full breakfast. Take advantage of instructor's office hours. When writing essays, ask real people for help with grammar, but use spell check first, and an online generator for APA citation formats. Punctuation is important. Talk to other people in the Student Union Building. Spend time on campus simply to talk to people. Join a club as soon as you can. Make friends, because they will last longer than this four years. But most importantly, take a deep breath, know you'll be okay - and do it.

If you think High School is difficult; wait till you get to College! High School isn't the easiest thing in the world; but it's the key to entering a successful UC or Cal State. You better start preparing for college right now in High School! Take as many AP classes as possible! Don't take any useless electives! the requirement is only two! Take more Math, and English classes! Don't slack off in class! earn a "c" or better; Because you'll remake those classes later! Study for ACT and SAT Exams; prepare!You better PARTICIPATE in school! Enter clubs freshmen semester! Universities accept students consistent with clubs! Start taking college courses now! Online classes! If you're not studying that day; you're doing "community service" hours! Universities require volunteer 50 to 100 hours! go to Local Library and help out! ! Get a job! Get a drivers liscense! take Drivers Ed Junior year or Senior year! Do it! Senior year APPLY FOR UC'S AND CAL STATES! FAFSA helps pay for university! It's FIRST COME FIRST SERVE! DON'T SLACK OFF! If you do; You'll feel like a loser out of high school!

I would say, self, don't even worry about the fact that you don't personally know a single person who has graduated from college. There are organizations set up to help first generation college students to succeed. Planning and organization will be important and will help you to have a more enjoyable experience. Plan out your undergraduate schedule of classes as soon as possible. Use the information from the year before, as class times won't change much. Schedule exact times for homework and if you have three hours worth, do it sooner rather than later. Leaving room for emergencies and social events, that just can not be missed, is a huge stress reducer. Know that the grades you get will affect your ability to get scholarships in the future, but if you go to class and do all you're asked to do, you will get good grades. The college experience as a whole is wonderful and not to be missed. There will seldom be a better return on your time. Put in two, four, or six years and make perhaps $50,000 a year or more for life. Bottom line is, just go, time will pass anyway.

When I woke up this morning, it felt like I'd been here before. I soon realized that I was in my old room. I had some how made it back to 2002. How did this happen? Wait a minute...I can make things better for me. Maybe even teach myself something about college life. I got ready for school as I normally did, even doing my old chores. I got to my first class and had asked someone what day it was. It was January of 2002. I still had time, somewhat, to fill out college applications and find funding for school. I still have a chance at getting into the college I wanted. Suddenly, I realized, I have another oppertunity to get my grades up too. I had a chance to graduate knowing that I worked hard. Something slams to the ground. Snap back to reality. I am here, 25 years old, going back to school for another career. College isn't as scary as I thought it would be. I wouldn't want things to be different. I believe that things happen for a reason. I want to be in school and want to make a difference.

If time travel were available, the one thing I would tell myself as a high school senior would be this, to not drop out and break up with that boy. I dropped out of high school, half way through my senior year I was dating this boy and I thought I was missing something, I had convienced myself I was not going to college. Hear I am seven years later, realizing, that I NEED to go. So to go back to my senior year, I would shake myself and say get up and go to class, its not that hard. Do not drop out and do your best, since college does matter, you have high aspections and you are an amazing person, college is for you. Don't you want to be a smarter person, and provide for your future family? If the answer is yes, which I knew it was. Then the only answer for you is COLLEGE!

The best advice I could give myself is to apply, apply, apply in class, and in life. This is one of the best times in your life but you have a whole world ahead of you. Study also, the further ahead you are when high school is over the further you will be when you enter college and less it will cost . College is very expensive.

I would go back in time and express to myself how incredibly important each and every assignment is. I recall thinking to my self on more than one occassion how useless certain assignments might be, however in hindsite, I see that all things in Highschool happen for a reason, and the reason is to get us prepared, whether it be for college or starting a life of our own. I would probably also wish to tell myself that despite what you see on TV, College definitely isn't just about hanging out with friends on weekends, and going to the local pool hall. There are so many responsibilities, including keeping track of assignments on your own, and making sure you as an individual keep on top of all things necessary yo pass through the semester.

I would tell my self to enjoy the experience and not to sweat or worry about the small stuff. I tend to get all worked up and stress my self out about home work or tests or not "getting it, like the rest of the students". Instead, I would tell my self, do the best you can and enjoy learning new things. I'm not a real fast learner, thus when difficult things come up like my Electrical Systems class for my Diesel Technology degree that I am pursuing. WOW... that class is difficult, and yet it is practical information, that I know I will look back on and say "I'm glad that I took that, and glad the teacher was patient enough to help me get through this" Like my previous education with K-12th grade, I can and will be successful. Yes, it will intail hard work, but don't sweat it. Take one day at a time, and learn from my mistakes. Remember that no body is perfect, and help others out who are struggling as well, for you were in their shoes before as well.

The first piece of advice I would give myself is to take it seriously. My senior year I was mostly bent on having fun, and I would have told myself to work a little bit harder at school, because there's time for play later. I would have told myself that it really does count. The fear and anxiety of such a huge life change wasn't completely neccessary. To be honest, leaving high school and joining the real world was one of the easiest transitions that I had ever made. I would tell myself that, and also that I should relax a little and just enjoy the last year of high school and being a teenager.