The University of Texas at El Paso Top Questions

Firstly, I would've noticed the signs of my ADD sooner, rather than halfway through my school career. I thought I was stupid, but really my inability to focus was due to disorder. I've managed to maintain good grades, but with difficulty. I would tell myself to not isolate myself and to try to talk to people, even though it's nerve-wracking. I would tell myself to try and get scholarships, instead of just expecting my parents to help me with the cost. We've managed the tuition and fees all on our own and it's been difficult. I would tell myself to look into getting a job, and study what degree I want before changing three times. Lastly, I would tell myself to NOT PROCRASTINATE.

I would advise them to be careful of how they manage their time. To be social people. To learn how to use their money wisely. To choose a major that interest them, not to choose majors based of what they could earn after graduating. Not to be afraid of asking questions. To listen in class. Meet people that are interested in the same Major. To bring their own home made meals. To get involved in extra curriculum activities. To take advantage of the students resources the college has to offer. I would also tell them to save their money. To apply for scholarships.

The transition between high school and college is a surprise to many students. I remember a my high school teachers would say, “I am going easy on you compared to what college professors would do” and they were absolutely right. Throughout high school, students have someone guiding them through life. In college, only the student has the power to take the initiative. When I was in high school, I never realized how much was being done for me. Daily reminders of upcoming events, receiving all books and materials for free, and transportation were things I took for granted. Now that I have been deprived of most of these things I would be thrilled to go back in time and give myself the following advice: “Valerie, you will need to find a way to motivate yourself into taking the initiative to get what you need. Focus on your life’s goal, owning your own business, and use that to make you want to reads the chapters ahead of time, study longer, and do your best. Take advantage of the help you receive and once it is not there either seek help or simply help yourself because only you have the power.”

I can recall being a young Haitian immigrant in Brooklyn attending school at Prospect Heights high school. There were a lot of diversity, but being Haitian had a stigma to it that i could not fully understand but kept being reminded of. I carried a picture of wyclef Jean from the Fugees glued to my notebook in order to get through the "transition." Now that i am older, and pursuing a bachelor in French and linguistics. I am driven to succeed in order to help the haitian community. I would love to echo in my ear during those days when i would drag my payless shoes : " There is no disgrace in your nationality, you are from where heroes come from. Dessalines, Toussaint, and many more. I would continue and say, you knew who you were before this cold journey and you have to be braver now. Keep your passion for languages and do not turn away from your own people because others have not welcomed you. Remember the rain that made your corn grow, and never forget that your umbilical cord is still planted in Haiti. Others may have rejected you, but you have a land that will welcome you."

I always dreamed of going back in time to change the mistakes I made when I was younger. If I had the opportunity to go back in my senior year I would tell myself to focus on what I want in life. Get myself inform of colleges nearby that would fit my schedule. Do not waste your time working small jobs because in long run all that work would not pay off without a degree. Most important do not say you’re going to take some time off from school. The more you wait the harder it will be to get motivated to start the process of getting in the habit of being in school. Once you made it in college try not to get overwhelmed by all the study you will have to do. Always try to stay ahead of your assignments. Most important belief in yourself, without that mentality you will not go far.

If I could travel back in time I would tell myself not to be afraid of the future, and specially of college, I would tell myself learn from my past mistakes, enjoy my present and prepare for my future. To research and learn about college and what it is like, because fear is nothing but fear it self, and we only feel fear of what we don't know. I would advice myself about taking all the chances I have in life and i would also give advice to stop procrastinating, because in life, time goes by really fast. I would encourage myself to apply for all the programs & scholarships I qualify to, because you can get in if you don't apply. I would tell myself to follow my dreams, and to work hard until they come true, no matter how hard it seems, because no matter what people say, we are capable of accomplishing anything we put our mind into.

Do not set aside your friends and family. Meet new people, all kinds of people. Don’t judge, but choose your friends carefully. Whoever provides you with any kind of happiness, keep them close. Whoever shines up your day in any way, hang on to them, for they are the ones that keep you going. Travel constantly, travel far. There is a world out there full of people, of wonders, and different ideas. Your world should not be limited to your environment. And do not keep what you learn from traveling to yourself, share it with your people, help them grow as you have done. Last of all: Read. The mind is a machine that runs on knowledge. Books are for the mind, what coal was once for trains. Every book you read gives you a different story, a different perspective of life. Every book you reed makes you bigger, makes you a better man.

If I could go back to high school senior year I would tell myself that I should consider more possibilities in the world. I would tell my self that the world does not revole around me and I would most of all tell myself that there is more in the world. I would tell myself I should learn to study. I would have told myself that yes, you do lose some of your friends,but life will give you new much more faithful ones. I would most of all have told myself that yes I can finish college without needing to panic so much. Panic is just in the way, just take everything in stride.

From what I know now I would go back and tell my high school senior self, how important it is to study ahead of time and to always make friends in which you can depend on and that have great goals set for themselves. Seeing the ambitions of others is a great way to motivate yourself and once you have a great ambition, working as hard as possible and getting through college will be the most rewarding experience you'll have in this early chapter of your life and will be one that will lead you to the career you've always wanted.

The transition from high school to college was very confusing. I found myself having to work extra for an A than ever before and it was stressful. However, after my first year of college I have found that if I could go back to high school I would tell myself to not settle for anything less than an A. Seeing how I have a 4.0 GPA, it makes me realize that despite my 3.7 high school grade point average, I could have done better. I would go back and work harder at attaining above average grades because high school compared to college is easy. I never had to read or even do anything outside of the classroom and homework was scarce. However, I am glad that I went through this experience because it allowed me to realize that no matter what situation I am in, I should always work hard and do the best that I can.