The University of Texas at San Antonio Top Questions

As valedictorian, I think I would tell myself to keep up the excellent studies and work.

Enjoy this year; you will be leaving behind many of your friends and teachers. Live in the moment on the tennis court. When you look back, you’ll realize how much you accomplished both as an athlete and as a leader. Appreciate your family and let them know your feelings. Spend as much time as possible with grandfather; he will leave us sooner than expected. Your first year of college will be filled with difficulties, including your parents’ divorce, your grandfather’s death, and your struggle with depression. Prepare yourself now. It will be the single most important factor in your life. Use your time in school wisely, learning good study skills. Study hard and complete all available dual credit courses. Apply for every possible scholarship or grant. Do not waste your opportunities.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to DREAM BIG. I would tell myself that now is the time to make mistakes, to learn from them, and to let them make me a better person. I would encourage myself to follow my heart, and to never forget the compassion that I have for people in the world. Never be afraid to ask questions, never be afraid to share an opposing viewpoint, college is a safe environment to debate. Never miss a class, it's lost opportunity to learn something new. Always sit in front of the class, the teacher learns your name faster, and usually ends up becoming more of a mentor, than a professor. Make friends, surrounding yourself with other people who have goals to better their lives are a positive influence on your life. Never miss an opportunity to see a special guest speaker at your college, enjoying the wisdom of important people before you can enrich your life in ways never thought possible. Never be afraid, always do your best, do not be afraid to fail, always try again, and never forget why you first walked through those college doors.

Now that I have completed somewhat two years of college at The University of Texas at San Antonio, I can honestly say that I was in for a surprise when I entered my first college classroom. I was stunned by how much I learned the first months of my academic experience, I met the most fascinating and amazing people, and I begin to live the ultimate social college life. Its true what people say about running with the wrong crowd, it can really change your life. I'll admit I struggled for a while during school, I was stressed, and scared to move on in my life. Than I took a step back from everything that was going wrong in my life, and I decided to ask for advice from people I could depend on. My only advice would be to, keep moving forward because the past has already happened, the most you could look forward to is the future. Transitioning is an easy step overcome over time and adjustment. However, the crucial reminder throughout college would be to strive to make your place, and don't worry so much about fitting in.

Things get better, do not give up, go above and beyond.

I would start by making better grades in high school because they do count. Paying attention to different Universities and applying for scholarships earlier on. Preparing myself for college in ways such as scholarships and good study habits. College isn't easy at all and I would have told myself you're going to have to study alot more than you think, college isn't about how many friends you can make it's about the grades and making the best ones you can by studying.

Be prepared

I would give my self the advice of taking the time to write and make a schedule of what is needed to be done. So then you can stay on top of things as well as not work through lunch and run across campus to turn in that paper for writting in. Trust me it will save you $6.00 plus tax for that smoothe as well as allow you to stop having the pre med student next to you keep checking your pulse while your ready to fall over onto the floor.

I would not go back and tell myself anything different. The choices and experiences I had is what made you I am today. I have had some good things in my and changing my past would alter the outcomes I have had. I would not change those events, experiences and memories for anything.

Expect both pleasant and unpleasant surprises. College is almost nothing like the past four years of high school that you have gotten so used to. You will be more independent than you have been ever in your life thus far; the fact that you get to schedule your own classes at your convenience is a testament to that. You will find a heavy burden on your shoulders as you are no longer told when or how to study. The choices you make will dictate how your experience. There will be times when you say to yourself, "Why the hell am I even here?" (not all professors are interesting). There will be moments when you question your attitude and motivators (or lack thereof). Perhaps most importantly, there will be instances where you will question who you are and what your purpose is. No matter what the answers to these questions are (I'm still searching myself), you must promise yourself that you will make each day a great day, write each paper as if you were crafting your own child , and live your life as if you were gonna drop dead any moment. I promise, you'll be just fine.