Sam Houston State University Top Questions

I have found a purpose for myself at Sam Houston State in the least place I expected, my freshman English course. My first assignment was to write a personal narrative over the previous summer. That was the time when I transferred to Texas. Hell is a quaint word to describe what went on during my household while packing up our house. I had recently been transferred from a private institution as an insecure physics major. This was my first college English course. An epiphany came over me as I was reviewing my final draft. I was writing this sobering tale through my eyes, realizing the true extent of my father?s coercive and manipulating nature that I refused to see in the beginning. Suddenly my priorities and aspirations didn?t make any sense any more. The university was flexible where I took philosophy and literature classes as electives to explore who I really was and what I wanted to do with my life. And I walked away each time with a higher level of awareness about the world around me, making my previous life a mere shadow. I have learned more about life here than I could've possibly fathomed.

I believe that furhtering ones education is the best way to secure the future for your family (sibling, offspring, etc.). Advancement opportunities are not always available with lesser educated individuals. Knowledge is power. You must continue to learn every day of your life. I want to further my education in order to secure my place in this ever-changing world as well as allowing me to provide for the education of my children.

The most important thing that I have recieved in the past four years is the knowledge needed to make it in the real world. Going to college far from home forced me to do things for myself. I learned everything from paying bills, to taking care of a home, to learning how to fight for what's really important. I realized the importance of achieving goals and the hardships that can get in the way of those goals. I was faced with challenges to find ways to stay in school and I learned the meaning of the saying "where there is a will, there is a way."

I have refined my ability to manage my time and think critically about situations. I have learned that education is not all learned in the classroom and that the social aspects play are very large role in your educational and intellectual development. But I think the most critical thing I have gotten out of my college experience is to not take life too seriously. Relax. Work. Do what you have to. Do what you want to. Don't worry about the little things or what everybody else thinks. But try to do the right thing, to do your best. Live life.

I am the first one in my family to attend college, and so far it has been a great and rewarding experience. I have learned many things, educational and about the real world. I look back, and see myself in a different evironment, and with no knowledge at all, if I had decided not to continue my education post high school. My college experience has also been a challange, due to the fact that I do not have anyone at home to assist me with any questions in reference to school, yet with what I have learned, I am able to assist and encourange those in my place. I have also faced financial obstacles, being from a single parent home is hard, yet the hardest it has been, the more I value and appreciate my education. Having to work and attend school is not easy, yet is a rewarding experience; it also gives me more opportunities in the job market. I know, success lies ahead of me, if I continue working hard and dedicating to school as I have done so far, and then I can assist my older sister and younger brother to finish their education as well.

As a highschool senior, I was not educated as much about college and its processes. If I could go back, I would be in the front rows of college awareness meetings. I would have educated myself on where to go for things like financial aid, grants, and scholarships rather than wait for someone else to push me to investigate on my own. I would say," Kizzie, get up now and finish that essay for your scholarship. It needs to be post marked by tomorrow," or "Push harder!" If I could go back I certainly would have done more community service. Pushing for valedictorian would have been my goal. WhenI was a senior in highschool I didn't mind being "average" academically. Looking back now the best piece of advise to give myself would be to inform myself and push to my fullest potential.

Try your best to show your friends now that you love them so when you get to college you won't regret the time you spent with them. Get to know the Lord as much as you can and be open for new sides of God that you have never seen before. Be thankful for what you have and don't take the time you spend with your family for granted. Make an impact on the underclassmen in high school so that they will have a lasting impression of you when you graduate and earn a respect for you that will enable you to have an impact on their lives in the future. Hang out with your younger brother as much as you can, and when you visit home while in college, don't make plans with friends until you first ask him if he wants to hang out. Listen to your older sister, she has already been there two years and she can help you find what you need and who you should hang out with. Pray about what you need to do in order to prepare for what's ahead. You are a good kid, I love you.

I would tell my senior high school self that it is important to get an internship early and to get a job on campus as soon as possible. I would also say that it is important to save your money and to not waste it on things that you do not need for college.

I would tell myself to do what I did. I found a career path that I am incredibly happy with. I found people that understand and know what I'm going through. My high school life wasn't very good but i certainly do enjoy my college life. I love attending SHSU. I would definitely do the same thing I did. I am quite happy with myself as a student and as a person. I love working with the people that I work with. I love attending the classes that I attend. College is a big step, however, the decisions we make are very helpful for our future. I stopped telling myself what I loved doing and started exploring what I do love doing. Theater is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would absolutely do it all over again.

If I could go back to my senior year in high school knowing what I know now about college life I would give myself a lot of advice. The first piece of advice I would give myself is to listen to my mother. My mom gave me so many opportunities to learn, grow, and experience things but I took them all for granted. I missed out on those things that would of made college easier and more fun. I remember argueing with my mom about taking calculus. She wanted me to take the course but I didnt want to take it. I won that fight but now Im struggling to keep up in my math class. Secondly, I would listen to my high school teachers and study harder. I could pass most classes with ease but never put in the time needed to really do well in class. I settled for a B instead of working a little harder for an A. Finally, I would advice myself to do more community service. The earthquake in Haiti was a wake up call to me. It made me realize how much I could do right here in my own community.