The University of Alabama Top Questions

The primary thing I would want to tell myself is to stay positive and remain humble. Humility is such a rare quality in college freshmen, although I feel it is so incredibly important. Those who are not humble are tumultuous and unhealthy. However, I would also remind myself that humility does not mean thinking less of yourself, it simply means to think of yourself less. I would tell myself to make gratitude the center of my life. Wake up every morning with a thankful heart. I have learned that confidence is so important in college, and I know that I was lacking in that area while I was in high school. So to end my advice to my younger self, I would quote the late Maya Angelou and tell myself, "No one even holds a candle to the light God already has shining on your face." Thank you.

If I could go back, I would have many tips to teach myself. Making new friends is very important, and they can help you by studying as a team. Having true friends is key, the friends that want to see you succeed. I am not the partying type, and I am glad to not be associated with bad influences. Staying organized is far more important in college. I have had two exams and a research paper due at the same time during my freshman year in college. That was never the case in high school. I have learned that repitition is key to success. You need to communicate with your instructors. I have paid to go to school there, and I have paid to talk to my teachers for help when I need it. Faith is crucial when being a full time student and a full time worker. I have a dream of becoming a nurse, and I have accepted all of the stress that comes with this load. I do my personal best, and ask God to allow me to stay strong and do what is right. In the end, you know what the transition takes.

College is important, there are more opportunities available than you can participate in. With that in mind, be sure to think things through - what will help you develop most? Whether through internships, co-ops, clubs, or research it is essential to stay active. From classes alone, one does not develop fully.

If I could go back to my final year of high school I would have taken care of choosing a university to attend a lot earlier. During my senior year of high school I knew what I wanted to major in, but I did not know what school I wanted to attend until late in the school year around Spring. After visiting many schools, I finally chose a school that I felt I would be successful at, but I had made the decision so late that I missed a lot of opportunities for financial aid. This resulted in me missing out on grant money, as well as scholarships that I would have been eligible for if I had searched and applied much earlier than I did. Getting the application process out of the way ahead of the bunch would have put me in a much better position for financing my education, and that is the main concern I have with college.

College life has been the most challenging, rewarding, and impactful series of events that I have ever experienced. However, if I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, one of the most profound pieces of advice I would give myself is this: do not be afraid to fail. Too often have I been told that in order to be successful in college, I must be social and outgoing, but also study hard and get good grades. No one told me what I should do in the event that I do fail at something, whether in a class, in a relationship, or something else. I have learned that not doing well in something that I usually excel in has made me not only a better student, but also a better person. I reflect on what I faltered in and immediately improve on it. My peers have noticed this quality in me and have complimented me on it, and it is something that I cherish dearly of myself. So indeed, I would tell my high school senior self to not break down in the face of future failure: it will only make you stronger.

Dear high school senior, After graduation, there will be a huge transition in your life. College is nothing like high school. You are going to feel vulnerable, yet independent. When you attend Northwest Shoals Community College, you will be satisfied with the atmosphere because the classes will be an average size and the majority of students will have a similar background. You will get to live at home, yet you are going to manage your own time. It will be a difficult transition from high school, however, because teachers will not be telling you what tasks to fulfill or to follow a certain schedule. Your success will completely depend on your motivation. When you attend the University of Alabama, you will have an even more difficult transition. The University is about twenty times bigger than the community college you attended and the social scene will be much different than you grew up around. You are from a small town and Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a very diverse city. You will be exposed to differnt cultures, religions, and backgrounds. You will, also, be living in your own apartment. It will be a frightening experience, but don't give up. Achieve your goals.

When I was in high school I would often get caught up in the juicy gossip of the day – the “blank said blank about blank” and all other excuses to terminate a good friendship or spread gossip about an ‘enemy’. Now that I am in college and have settled down the emotional schizophrenia of high school, I hear the stories from my younger friends about the same things that, 2 years ago, I would have been telling and I see that it’s not about the actual event, it’s about the excitement that follows the gossip. I now realize that it is so stupid to let these little things control your life. If I have a problem with somebody I address it with them calmly, if they want to react negatively then the blame is on them. And if I somebody has a problem with me I try to understand what I can do to neutralize it, if there is no reasoning with them then I let the moment pass. I only get one life and I can’t waste it trying to correct every bad thing anyone thinks about me.

Go in and take advantage of every opportunity that comes at you whether it interests you or not. If you still dont like it once you're involved you can always stop. Its worse to pass on an opportunity and later wish you took it. And studying your brains out instead of going out for thirtsy thursday? Totally always worth it, so dont feel bad when you stay in while everyone is out.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have to give myself the advice of making a habit of not procrastinating and time management. I have a planner to decide when I am going to do certain things but I always forget to look in my planner. I should have made that a better habit when I was in high school rather than try to start now. I also have a problem with doing something I like (i.e. Reading) and doing it for a long enough time that I don't leave myself enough time to get the important stuff done. That's a time management problem for me. So the things I would have to inform myself if I could write a letter to myself as a senior in high school, is about learning to not procrastinate and to manage my time better.

I would tell myself that money will come after graduation and that you don't have to work so much. Credit cards you pay your school with can be paid off later. It will be hard and it will seem unfair that others get financial aid because they got pregnant and you don't because you decided to wait. House chores can wait till after you finish your school work, school is more important. And, no matter what happens to Papa, he will always want you to do well in school and pull yourself together. You need to see that hard times will pass and the better you keep yourself together and push through those hard times the easier life will be later. Also you need to keep all rewards, certificates and evaluations given to you to help build your portfolio.