Spring Arbor University Top Questions

Don't be fake. Be yourself and let people know the true you. If you are fake or completely into making other people happy, you're not going to be happy yourself. Take time for yourself. Take time to get to know yourself. Find what you like to do, how you study best, and which topics you like best. Use that information to plan your study time, major, and room set-up. Set boundaries with roommates in order to keep study time sacred. Studies are important - they are why you're in college - so make them a priority. Make getting to know yourself a priority, too. Without knowing who you are, you cannot know where you are going and what you are meant to do in life.

I would tell myself not to stress out so much about impressing other people. I would tell myself not to let fear control my life. I would tell myself that my professors' goal is not to make me fail. I would relate how much easier assignments are when you start them right away and work on them over a longer period of time. I would stress the importance of time management, and relate what I have found works for me: when you have extra time, use it to do homework. Then, when the time comes that friends want to hang out, you will be able to without having to worry about tons of work you still have to do. Even if friends never come around to hang out later, you'll have that time to relax, or perhaps even work ahead in your classes' work if you're that ambitious, but you won't be stressing out about all those assignments you still have to get done before tomorrow morning. Lastly, I would tell myself just not to stress so much.

Dear Hannah Dennings,

If I were given the opportunity to talk to my self as a student in high school, I would emphasis the importance of priorities. There are so many ways to get involved as a college student that one must set specific goals and standards for how he or she uses time. Academics must be set as the top priority because it is why college exists. Taking time to learn the material is invaluable and will pay off in great ways. The second priority is balancing work with social living. In order to succeed on campus, it is important to become connected with the people who live on it. These connections provide a number of benefits including academic connections, potential jobs, and also life long friends. As a college student, I cannot be successful by myself, but I can benefit those around me with unique input. Finally, the last incredibly important priority for a college student is health. Balancing diet, excercise, and sleep is the best way to ensure that I am physically, and mentally able to put my best effort into my work. All three priorities must be balanced in order to have a successful college career.

Get your gen-eds out of the way through community school or clep testing, they are worth taking at private school prices. Move off campus sooner, its a lot cheaper. Apply for a campus job your freshman year, and if you are living on campus, save your money (it will help you later when you want to buy a car, or start paying rent, or paying off school loans...), since you aren't spending it on food or housing. Get a tutor whenever you experience the least bit of academic trouble. Find someone who will hold you accountable to a schedule. If you are a girl, don't waste your time pursuing relationships with guys, wait for them to pursue you. Find a church that makes you feel like you are home. That will be most important to you, and pray that a family will adopt you as a serogate daughter. It doesn't always work to force these types of connections, but to let God bless you with them. Be willing to spend a little extra from time to time if it means that you will acquire a skill or experience that will last a life time.

It is important to use your time wisely. Make sure to focus on schoolwork but also have a social life too.

Dear Self, I know you are going to stress out about this transition, but try not to. The first year can be tough as you live in a new part of the country, represent a different age bracket (college student instead of high school student), live away from home with few visits, try to succeed academically, and learn to make new friends outside your old high school bubble. Live will be getting tougher but just try to find out who you are and learn what you value more. In the end you are going to find your major and good friends. Take it one step at a time and you will succeed. You may not find what you are looking for this year, but after freshmen year it only gets better. Take chances and go the extra mile to experience life. Do not shy away from people, but let them know who you are and what you can be. You need to dream big and set goals for the future. Over all do not stress, because in time you will figure it out.

I would tell myself to calm down and take a deep breath. It's a very hard decision but you will love where you end up. Spring Arbor is your dream campus. You will learn so much about yourself and others. It will change you in ways you wouldn't believe if I told you. There you will meet you best friends and teammates. These people will be so close to you, you will view them as family. Your classes will be hard, but just stick with it and you will suceed. You will be fine and you will be surrounded by people who love and believe in you. And finally, pay extra attention in chemisrty.

Dear self, The best advice I can give you is to expect change. Going to collage is like going through a second puberty. It will be awkward and annoying, but stick with it. The hardest part is diligence. For goodness sake do your homework. Don't skip class because you didn't get the homework done. Teachers are more likely to be merciful if you show up to class verses skipping. Most teachers will give you an extention if you ask, even if your excuse is that you procrastinated. They appreciate honesty. The other advice is to make friends. Friends are going to be what gets you through those tough times. Don't obsess with girls. In fack. DON"T DATE your freshmen year. It's not worth it to try to adjust to collage life and have a needy girl at the same time. Finally, pray alot. Get involved in a church right away. Don't become stagnant with your spiritual life. Collage will make or break you as a Christian. You will either abandon him or fall head over heals for Jesus. Choose ahead of time what you want and act on what you decide.

If I could go back in time, and give advice to my high-school senior self about what is to come in the college world, I would have told myself the following. Beth, yearn to be one who makes a difference. Strive for the power to make change. Venture to take flights onto new heights. Attempt to challenge, defy, and confront obstacles head on. Seek to aim your voice above the mountains, over the crests of the mighty oceans. Yet sometimes, Beth, you will be disappointed. You will fail to be bold and speak undoubtedly. You will neglect to win your battles indisputably. You will flop and fold to stand strong in the strenuous, problematical times. And you will feel that you are sinking to the bottom of disgrace when you cannot place your toes on the demanding soil. You will be in trance where you see yourself descending to the earth below where you cannot reach the skies of hope. Nevertheless, in your despair, try. Try to reach past your failures, desolations, and despondency. Try to regain your faith, aspiration, and ambition to once again reach the words of: I yearn to be one who makes a difference.