San Juan College Top Questions

If I'm able to go back and let my younger self know about college life and making the transition, I won't be here answering this question. I'd rather not go back anyways because everything happens for a reason or two. I think I'm where I need to be. I'm hopeful about my future because I see everything in love.

Education is continuous and it is what you make of it. Continuing to go to school has made me stonger and independent. To be stonger and independent is a valuable ingredient for the future.

I always thought I took college seriously in high school. I took AP and Honors classes, was a member of the National Honors Society, and always had a future plan. However, I was so naive to the real world and what college should require. Similar to other seventeen and eighteen year olds, I was full of myself and just a little selfish. If I could go back and give myself some new advice, I would tell myself to be more adventurous and giving. Sports, academics, my church, and other extracurricular activities were important and I was a busy person, but I should have done more for other people.I should have really gone outside of my comfort zone and tried more to make a difference. Now I find myself yearning and searching for ways to make a difference in the world. I don't just mean with minor, side activities, but as a career and a lifestyle. I want to be an Erin Gruwell or a Leigh Anne Touhy and have a positive impact on someone else's life. I wish I could go back and open my eyes to the realities and needs of the real world.

I would definitely advice myself to not give up so easily. It does get better, trust me. Stay away from the people that you think you need to impress, because they are nothing when compared to your education. College life is fun and there you can find better types of people to hang with! Take Dad's advice and go to college!

Don't quit! My advice to my high school self would be very resonant of the mantra I have been spouting to my own children since returning to college. Life is too long to try and live it all upon graduating high school. I have realized that college is not just about obtaining a higher level education, but also teaches you to cope/manage the ups & downs of everyday life. Money, class scheduling, time management, application processes, and dealing with advisors are all what I like to consider "conditioning" exercises. All those factors are what initally overwhelmed me, and subsequently caused me to drop out of college. But the ironic part was, I still had to learn to deal with those type of situations, just in different settings! Now that I am an adult, with my own children, college (by comparision) is a breeze! The only difficult part now, is the managing of life factors (husband, children, housework) and schoolwork. So, that is why I make myself an example to my children and tell them to push through while they are young, energetic, and have minimal life obligations to contend with.

Knowing what I know about college today, I would definitely have a few wise words to say to myself back in high school. ?Stop!! Go to college right away because you?re going to have a baby and you need to prepare yourself?. I graduated high school as a single parent all I had in mind was being able to go out and find a good paying job. Being out of high school and not attending college I found an okay paying job and thought everything I needed to be successful was right in front of me. I know something had to change when I got the news that I would be expecting my second child. Being in college would?ve given me the opportunity to be almost finished with my pre requisites and entering the nursing program. If I would?ve attended college right out of high school and prepared myself a little more. If I would?ve know that another child was in my path I would?ve went to college and better prepared myself for the struggle ahead. I?ve learned from that mistake and have taking charge of myself to getting motivated to attending school again.

I would tell myself to go to school sooner. I waited eight years to return to school, and after my first semester I learned what I was missing. Although, I am glad I did wait and experience what I exerienced; yet, if I had the chance I would indeed encourage myself to go sooner. The whole college experience is a crutial part of the comming of age for our youth. We learn how to grow and intergrate into society. We learn how to balance our check books and to budget our lives. Making life long friendships.

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior, I would tell myself to just take it easy and enjoy it. It isn't as bad as it seems the first time you have to stand in line to register and the first time you go in to class not knowing anyone. It is where you will become the adult your starting to be. You are going to mature there and meet a lot of new people, although some of those people can be a little on the weird side, accept them because they are trying to fit in just like you. Don't judge anyone by their cover even if they are the older lady sitting in the front with all the knowledge and experience. They tend to be the coolest people in the class. Don't look at college like it's a pain, but don't look at it as unimportant because it will help form the rest of your life. Look at it as a great oppurtunity that some kids only dream of!

I graduated high school in the year of two-thousand five. I was a shy, timid girl with a few close friends. Honestly I did not know what to do after high school with an exception of leaving my home and going off to college. I did not know anything about relationships with other people and how to make long lasting friendships with new people. As of today, I am very different than when I was a senior five year ago. I am more outgoing and self-confident. I speak up in class and build friendly relationships with my instructors soaking up each kind of new information. If going back in time is scientifically true and I had an opportunity to do so, I would tell myself to not care about what other people think and take a risk in meeting new people because they can help shape her into a well-rounded person. Another important information I would also tell myself is to stay focus and never get tempted to get side tracked. College is a great start to be independent but that person needs to know why they are attending college and for what purpose.

There are two main things I would like to tell my high school senior self. One is that college does not pay for itself. Two is that attending a community college first is not a bad thing. When I was a senior my main concern was getting into my dream college. I was accepted into my dream college. I thought that after getting accepted I would just eventually find a way to pay for college. People stressed applying for alot of scholarships but I did not listen. After I realized I did not qualify for pell grant I knew I could not come up with thousands of dollars in one summer to pay for in the fall. That is when I learned that it is great to get accepted but I also had to look at the costs of not only tuition but living expenses in general. I decided to attend a community college first. I thought that this was a sign of my failure. However after attending, it is actually a better experience. I am paying alot less for general classes and saving up for my degree major classes once I transfer to a university.