South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Top Questions

Apply to as many schools as possible, reevaluate your priorities in learning and career advancement

I would tell myself to get going on completing scholarships, college is hard enough the way it is and worrying about how you're going to pay for the next semester makes it even harder. I would tell myself to go in ready to learn. It isn't like high school where you have one class that has consistent homework. Every class has multiple assignments due each week. Studying for tests is also much more important. In college you cover multiple chapters before you take a test, and it isn't easy. I would tell myself to be willing to try new things and to step out of my comfort zone often, that's what helps you grow as an indivdual. I would tell myself to pray hard. Only God knows the path for you, and you have to trust in Him alone to get you through school. I would tell myself to not take myself to seriously and to be willing to laugh at myself when I mess up and view it as a learning experience rather than getting stressed out. I have so much more that I would say, but 200 words isn't enough.

I'd have to begin with telling my old self to knuckle down and work hard on preparing for college during his junior and senior years. Tell him to suck it up and take more college credit classes because they're less expensive during high school. Above all I'd tell myself to apply for more scholarships and grants. College is not cheap and takes all you have to get started. Just remember that you pay back loans whereas scholarships you right out thank you cards and shake the hand that's giving it to you. Don’t wait to contact your roommates. The transition from home to college is easier if you create a relationship with them during the months ahead. After all this sank in I’d remind him to study. High school seems like a breeze when you begin college classes. Prepare for those small quizzes, they add up fast. Don’t procrastinate either, professors don’t grade late papers and frown upon students who show up late for class. If only my high school self knew this information, believe his older self, his first few weeks of college could’ve been a whole lot easier.

I would tell myself a few things. I think I made the right decision on colleges. I would have wanted to know that I am going to get a little homesick, but if you push through it, you get over it. I would also tell myself to get a job my first semester, because it is nice to be making money and I got bored. Make friends with everyone and try to get involved with several clubs at the school.

I would advice myself to be more involved in school. In high school I was part of many clubs, Future Business Leaders of America, French Club, College Club, and Sign Language club, but I never ran for club president or organized an event and I really wish I had. Recently in college I volunteered for a retirement home for the deaf and I really enjoyed it. I got the opportunity to practice my signing and I met many interesting people. Volunteering showed me the importance of our community and how we can help. I now realize that volunteering and participating in extracurricular activities look excellent in college applications and make you a better student and I would have encouraged myself to be a part of that. I would also warn me on scholarship applications. I really wish I would have applied for scholarships sooner to help pay for college. I wasn’t a bad student, I took AP and honor classes and studied a lot but I feel that I could have been a more well-rounded student, now I’m in college and this is where I can do everything I missed out on in high school.

If I could go back to high school to give myself some advice, I would tell myself that being myself is not nearly as daunting as I thought. I had a very close knit group of friends in high school. I was only myself around them, and not really anyone else. I was too afraid of being known as the “weird girl” to everyone in my grade. The truth is, the people who I thought were making fun of me, actually had no idea who I was. I was obsessing over nothing. When I got to college, I did not have my close knit group. I was really worried about making new friends. Now at college, I’m fine. Most everyone was considered a “nerd” or “weird” in school. But the even bigger truth is that NO ONE CARES. If they like me, they like me. If they do not, I do not care. So I would reiterate to myself, DO NOT CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK. Be you and be fine with it.

Start developing on your work ethic now. You won't be able to jump into weeks of homework assignments starting from a summertime lull. Begin working on a schedule for homework time, practice getting up on time, and remember to crack open those textbooks before the first day of class. All that preparation will save you time, stress, and bad grades.

I knew college was going to be different. Different people, different place, different foods. Eventhough I knew all this I wasn't prepared for college. I was homesick for most of the first semester. I know now a lot that I shoud've done. I would tell my high school self that in college you have to try everything. Find out what you like and if you like it go with it! Also dont be afraid to make random friends. Your friends at college are you family away from home. A big no-no is having a significant other when going to college, especially if your trying to do long distance. My boyfriend held me back from a lot. After breaking up I found true friends and was way happier. All in all, do what you want and experience new things. It college, its when you find yourself.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, i'd advise myself the importance of "right now." I guess i didn't understand what my parents and teachers were talking about when they'd say "It's important" or "Think about your future." I assumed it would be easy, but it's not. The real world is around the corner and it's pretty scary. If you don't prepare yourself, you don't get far. Take this advice: if a teacher tells you it's due next Friday, do it now! Don't hesitate. Your future isn't going to wait for you. Opportunities aren't going to wait. Your future is now. Do well today so that there's a better tomorrow.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd beg for myself to open my eyes and think about my future. I would tell them, "Hey, stop floating around in space and slacking off at school! Your future is important!", because my current position isn't exactly the greatest. I'd insist that if I didn't take immediate action to plan my future and improve my grades, all they'd be doing is a lot of fast food jobs trying to get by. I'd tell myself that I have so much potential to strive for a better life, that I wouldn't have to live under the poverty and uncertainty that my parents put me through. If my high school self got discouraged and unsure of my words, I would say that I have the ability to make a difference in my life and in others' lives, too. I would learn that I love to help people out in the future, and I would tell them to go into field where I would make a difference in others' lives. I would do my very best to give myself hope.