The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

Hi there. It's me, Gabe, from the future. You're probably staying up late working on your homework, and you're really competitive and believe that grades are the ultimate goal. I'm here to tell you that it's not. Grades are only part of the equation when it comes to making the transition into college life. It's hard changing your mindset from being purely academic in a public school environment to being selective and niche with your interests in college. You will get a B, and it will be okay. You don't have to stress yourself out because you can't learn everything. You're not supposed to be good at every subject. You're going to college to get a degree, so put your heart and your focus into what you love. You'll meet the best people, and you'll have the best times, but only after you let your guard down a little bit. Friendships are just as important as grades in college, and these friends will be the ones you move out to Los Angeles with, and you will share a common dream. Be a dreamer, and be a finisher.

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self, I would start by giving myself a hug, hoping that comforting feeling would umbrella over the next couple steps. Then, I would punch myself in the stomach, to prepare myself for the feeling of hugging your parents goodbye for the first time, not realizing until that moment how much you will truly miss them. Then, I would trip myself to teach myself that it's okay to fall as long as you get back up again, even if its one foot at a time. After watching myself stand back up, I would wipe the dirt off my shirt to teach myself that you need to surround yourself with good friends to get through some of the most unexpected moments to come. Next, I would repeat those four steps to all the other students around, to teach myself that almost every single freshman is going through the exact same thing you are, and it's okay to feel scared and out of place. And lastly, I would end by giving myself a campus map, because I know how handy that would have been the first day of classes.

You are capable of more. Instead of passively drifting through the traditional educational process, do more. Be an active participant in your education. Think critically about every aspect of what you are trying to learn. There are innumerable resources available to you, so when you find yourself confused, you know where to look for guidance. Ask questions. Ask your teacher. Look it up online. Ask a classmate to explain it to you. Do not be satisfied until you truly understand. When you become accustomed to this proactive approach to learning, you will find yourself to be a master of the material, rather than feeling attacked by it. This effect builds upon itself. Now you will be able to answer a given question from a classmate on something you may have previously struggled with, and by helping your classmate, you will further solidify the material in your mind. By applying this method to your education, by asking questions and not being satisfied with a fuzzy understanding, not only will you see the benefit of immediately becoming more proficient in your current classes, but you will become a better learner overall, and this will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. Life is an experience, and every stage of your life is a stage to be enjoyed! Society has taken a fast paced route, focused on advancing to the next greatest thing or the next phase in life. Meanwhile, we rush through the most valuable commodity in existence -- our life's experiences. As you proceed through college, and the rest of your life, make sure to work towards goals because you genuinely enjoy what you are doing, and success will come. Remember to smell the roses, taking time to introspect and enjoy who you are, what you are doing, and the beautiful occasion that is life. By allowing yourself to genuinely experience a broad range of the facets of life, you will be able to find your passion and your niche, and grow to fulfill your potential and serve society, happily.

Get ready to grow intellectually, emotionally, and mentally! Know that it is okay to be forced out of your comfort zone and you will only succeed because you chose to venture out of it. Disregard any temporary problem, wheher it be romantically, financially, or otherwise, those problems are not forever and life will go on. Be sure to put yourself out there and make yourself vulnerable to any opportunities that will reign over you. If you keep your mouth open too much and not your eyes, you could definitely miss opportunities pass you by! Be persistent, go after what you want, and it is never over until you claim defeat. Creating opportunities despite circumstances, and you deserve to go after anything and everything you want. You can achieve and aspire to anything you want to do or be, but that is only possibl if you're willing to put in the work necessary to do so. Love yourself, love your family, and remember that there will only be good times ahead of you. Do not lose sleep over anyone or anything, because if one thing's certain about life: it goes on.

Upon entering college you have a unique and extraordinary opportunity to create yourself despite prior experience. If you crave adventure, let nothing hold you back! Study abroad, join outdoor clubs, and jump off canyons in Switzerland. You will never regret the weekend you went sea kayaking, or the spring break spent, not at the beach, but backpacking the Grand Canyon. This is your chance to truly live and you will never be as free to dare as you are at this crossroad. Do not fear the pursuit of curiosity or adventure. However, while discovering your passions, never forget that your ultimate goal is education. Learn how to think, how to question and how to empower yourself with knowledge. Do not forget to plan for the future. Think realistically about job opportunities, and the cost of graduate school. Do not take your professors or your classes for granted, for the wisdom they hold is invaluable and irretrievable if wasted. Do not skip class. Take part in paint wars, and blood drives, play intramurals, volunteer, sit on the grass, and stay up all night with friends to watch meteor showers. Enjoy every minute of college, for what starts here changes the world.

Now that I successfully have my first semester of college under my belt, there are a few pieces of advice that I would give to my high school self. I would tell myself to not stress about the smaller things whether that's a printing or dining hall problem. The stress does nothing to help the situation thus giving it completely worthless value. I'd also tell myself to be prepared to have professors like and dislike my writing style. I'd inform myself that I would need to be prepared to shift my writing to meet their needs. Lastly, I would tell myself to go out more with friends whether to dinner or a movie. I would try to tell myself to have a bit more of a balance between the school and social aspects of my life.

To my high school senior self, if there is anything I could share with you before you graduate, these would be my words of wisdom. Have fun. Enjoy the time you have with your friends and the parties you attend. Live in the moment and create memories for those will last a life time. College is a world of fun but it isnt enjoyable unless you learn how to enjoy your life in the moment. I pray you learn, that when college comes around, do not get stressed or anxious when it comes to grades. Yes, do your best and try your hardest, but realize your grades are not the end of the world. You are going to have classes challenge you. Stand up to them, but understand in the end you will be breathing and alive no matter the outcome. You are going to meet a lot of people witihin the next four years, make connections, build relationships, and enjoy life with them. Embrace the people you meet for those will become your bestfriends, and also help you out in the future. College is an era where you find yourself. Have an open mind and again, Enjoy your life.

DO NOT pull an all-nighter. It's just not worth it. You think that you can write a paper in 8 hours and you CAN, just not at 2AM when you haven't slept. Always read papers outloud. Your professors are 300 times more picky and sharp than your high school teachers. They know if you haven't read something over. Don't worry about meeting your best friends during Freshman orientation. I know it seems like they are cool, but your true friends come during Junior year when you fall and break your foot and they carry you to the hospital. They don't even make fun of the fact that you fell off a curb. Call your parents. It seems like they are happy that you moved all the way to Maryland but Mom misses you and Dad can't remember where he left all his tools that you guys used when you were fixing that bike. So call them. Don't eat fries in place of lunch every day. I know your roommate does and she's fine, but heart disease runs in this family and that is just tempting fate. Most importantly - have fun!

Get involved in organizations so that you can easily identify your talents and work on imporving them. Apply for as many scholarships as you can and save money while you still can. I would say, be realistic about what you want to do in life, and how you want to impact the world. Also identify your true passions, and make sure you're on track with the classes you need to take in order to graduate on time. Read as much as you can to get used to the reading load, and work on studying effectively. Time management is crucial.