Saint Mary’s College Top Questions

One piece of advice would be : working hard always pays off and, it is never too late to do so.

The most important thing to remember as you matriculate into a college or university is that communication is key: Reach out to your professors, peers who are further along in their education, advisors, and couselors--they are all there to assist you in your transition. Do not assume that just because you have done your Google research that you have gotten the inside scoop on evertyhing that is available to you within the realms of college life. In your interaction with others, you are less likely to encounter the pitfalls that others have suffered merely because these people will equip you with the tools to foresee these stumbling blocks.

As I transitioned to college, people always wanted to teach me about moving away from home and what to expect. I appreciated their concern but I ultimately decided my actions by myself. A year ago I would have given myself several tips on making friends, savoring the experience and working hard. First, I would acknowledge how important it is to keep in contact with my high school friends, but never forget that moving on is vital as well. I have made the greatest friends of my life and I would tell my previous self to never take them for granted. Second, I would tell my high-school self to constantly remember how lucky I am to attend Saint Mary’s and that I should never forget it was not a right, and could be take away very easily. Lastly, I would go back in time to tell myself that working hard has always, and will always be the most important part of college. I would remind myself that I want to be a nurse more than anything and without hard work that is impossible. My friends, family, faith and hard work has made me the person I am today.

You're making the right choice. I know that right now, Saint Mary's feels like the absolute worst college for your personality, and maybe some days it is. But you will be happy. Think about it: you'll be with your family and you'll be getting an education that's second to none. I know that you're nervous about the girls there. You're going to find a select group of girls that you will absolutely love- don't worry about the rest. You want to make your way to Capitol Hill, not make friends. Do what you need for yourself, learn everything you can, grab every opportunity. Never stop being curious.

One important lesson I have learned is that in order to succeed in life two qualities are necessary, confidence and perseverance. More often than not you can miss out on great opportunities because you are afraid of the outcome or underestimate your abilities. The truth of the matter is, the only person who can hold you back is you. The moment you begin to doubt yourself is the same exact moment you set yourself up to fail. This is especially true when difficult and demanding tasks throughout your coursework arise. Although you may want to simply give up, nothing will be more rewarding than actually conquering these difficult assignments. As long as you approach ever endeavor with a positive and assertive attitude there will be nothing you cannot accomplish.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to be commited to my education. Upon entering college I had no direction or passion and didn't take advantage of the opprotunity. I would tell myself that I am smart enough and good enough to succeed and to not be discouraged by indecion. Nassau Community College offers me the best way to begin my education and that if given the time I would come to find my passion. Now years later with a renewed commitment to my ecuation I see success for me in the future.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to never give up and never take advantage of the people in my life who have guided me in achieving my goals. High School was a time in my life where I should have tried harder at everything. Now, as I am a freshman in college, I am finding that I am changing as I learn so many things that I never knew before. I would tell myself to seek help in targeted areas in my academics in which I struggle instead of hoping the problems would just disappear. At times, when I am faced with many obstacles, I have to force myself to work harder in order to succeed. If I would have learned this earlier in my life, say my senior year of high school, maybe it would not be so difficult now. I am very proud of the many accomplishments I have made in the last year but I know that I would not be here if my family was not here to back me up. I would tell myself to be more thankful for these people.

If I were given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a highschool senior with my current knowledge about college life and the transition, my advice would be this; Don't doubt your ability to surprise yourself. When I began my first semester here at Saint Mary's College I was terrified that I would not be able to keep up with the work load, that I would not make new friends, and that I just wouldn't be as happy as I was in my comfortable highschool environment where I was able to rule the school as a senior. Since my time at Saint Mary's has begun, I have found just the opposite to be true. I have accomodated tremendously to my new acadamic schedule. I even managed the dean's list in my first semester and I found my classes to be wonderfully entertaining. My social life has never been richer. The friendships that I have created here have only made my heart grow. I have found that college allows your true self to shine through, you can be whoever you want to be, you can be who you are.

In the few months I have been a student at Saint Mary's, I have gained a better understanding of my abilities, my calling in life, and myself. When I first joined the Saint Mary's community, I instantly felt welcomed and like I was an important part of the larger whole. The all female student demographic in its self is inspirational and empowering on so many levels because I know that my peers are just like me in the aspect that they want to succeed and make a difference in this world. All of my professors have taken the initiative to make sure that I am successful even in the most basic required general education courses; a quality that I think is unique to Saint Mary's and its faculty. Saint Mary's has been valuable to attend for all of the previous reasons and more, but especially because here I feel like I am not just a number, a face in a lecture hall, or even a name. Here, I am a woman who has all the potential to put her talents and education to use in the professional world and beyond. Here, I am Saint Mary's.

Discipline and determination are very key to getting an education today. This is especially true of returning students that may have been in the workforce for several years such as myself. I've missed the look in other students eyes when the "light" finally comes on and the understanding takes place. Learning is eternal. We never stop learning as long as we have the desire to achieve. I spent 5 years in the Armed Forces during war time and I've come to realize that the simplest things are much more gratifying these days than some of the things I relished as a younger man. Reading, writing and communicating my life's goal or philosophies have become a soothing past time for me. When I'm in class and sharing these things with like minded individuals from all walks of life, it makes me feel more a part of the world. I have worked in a dead end field for the past 8 years and I have just started to feel alive again while in school. Rob Coldiron