San Diego City College Top Questions

Where do I start? If ONLY I could go back... I would tell myself to believe in myself, keep my eye on the big picture, concentrate on my studies. It is important to be able to take care of myself. If I can do that then any decisions I want to or have to make can be made solely on that want or need and not depend on my current situation. Never depend on someone else because of the three "D"s Death, divorce and disability. Search your heart and find the "thing" that you are meant to do with your life. If something doesn't feel right, don't conitnue with it because you are afraid to change. I first went to college for Hotel/ Restaurant Management thinking it was what I wanted to do. It never felt right and my heart wasn't in it. I have always had a connection with children-now twenty years later, I have returned to school to become a teacher. If I had followed my heart, I would have become a teacher along time ago and had a long, fulfilling career-doing what I truly love and am meant to do.

First, BREATHE! Do not let this overwhelm you. Find a school, program or system that fits YOU! Each is so different that you can spend time finding the best fit possible. When I was 18 years old, the greatest distance between me and my family was the deciding factor in school selection. Next, remember what you enjoy. Factor that into the school selection decision. You like urban areas, diversity, options, nonconformity and challenges. Think of this in steps leading to a degree. You could attend a community college to recieve an associates degree, and then another college for a bachelor's degree and then decide whether grad school is for you. You could also complete some time at one school and then transfer to another with a better "fit." There are rules regarding transferring, admission/degree/credit acceptance and those can move you forward. Complete your general education classes while evaluating the school, culture and possibilities. You have choices. If the school fails you, move on. Never forget that your college GPA is an important influence on your future. Take classes that interest and engage you but sustain a high GPA if you intend to transfer. Again, remember to BREATHE!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself when I was a senior in high school I would tell myself to wait to go to college and to get a full time job while I figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I always thought it was important to go to college right after high school, and because of that I went to a college that I really didn't want to. My grants weren't enough to cover the tuition so I had to take out a loan. Now it fustrates me to pay it off because it was not anything towards what I really wanted to do. I feel like I wasted valuable time and money because now I have to work extra hours just to pay off my loan. Even though it took me a year to find a career that I know I will love it is worth the wait and with if I had a full time job I would have saved a good amount of money.

If I was able to go back in time to where I was a high school senior I would start doing my work since the beginning. When I was a senior in high school I got a lot of work that accumulated to the last semester. I was really stressed out and many of my work weren?t done the way that I would have wanted it to be done because of the lack of time. I would tell my self to get a head start and begging working with my work. That will also have helped me to enjoy my senior experience more. I would tell my self to enjoy my senior year and to take my classes more calmly. Also I would prepare for college with saving up money and applying to many scholarships so I didn?t have to worry about the money later on.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to study for exams, pay attention in class, and don't leave homework to the last minute because I don't know what is to come in the future. I would also advise myself to take the SAT's and ACT's so I can get into a good University, apply to more then one University, and most important of all do not turn down NAU. Another advice I would give myself is to not give up on my dream of becoming a professional soccer player, volenteer more in school and in my community, and join more clubs so I can learn about other cultures and students in school and in my community. The last advice I would give myself would be to give it all at one hundred and ten percent so I can succeed in life.

If I could go back in time with the knowledge I have now, I'd feel more confident in who I was. For certain, I now know that you can not make anyone else happy, and no one else can make you happy. If I was in high school with that opinion felt, I would focus on my own personal efforts and would not sacrifice so much time trying to impress my friends, and family. I've learned that I am the best person I can rely on. I'd take Advanced Placement Classes and listen to my own advice.

Go away for college. Do not worry about the money, you'll find away.

As a high school senior I was obsessed with taking on a full load or work. I was home schooled, taking an AP course, and working two jobs. Despite this formidable amount of work I still managed to attain the highest GPA of any other year in high school, a 4.2. From this experience, time management would have to be the most important skill in higher education. Completing all necessary reading and assignments is stress free if one simply keeps enough time allotted to such work. I cannot comprehend the use of such methods of studying such as cramming the night before a test or increasing one's caffeine intake just so one can churn out a 10 page paper by the next morning. If I were to talk to myself at 17-18 years of age, I would have to say that, though I fared quite well for myself grade-wise, I could have saved myself a good amount of stress if I have maybe worked only one job instead of two. Education comes first, and for a more healthy body and mind, it is good to push one's self but to also know one's limits.

If i had the chance to go back in time i would definantly tell myself to try much harder! Get better grades so that you can get accepted to a four year university right away! I am currently in a community college and with all the budget cuts it is extremely hard to get the classes i need. And to be eligable to transfer to a four year university you have to take all the required classes that they have listed for you but since many of the classes got cut i find myself looking at other community colleges for the classes and it is very stressful trying to attend more then one college just to take one class. But i know that eventually all my hard work will pay off, i just really wish i would have took high school a little more serious.

Don't wait too long after high school to decide go to college. Do it right way and you will do much better.