Trident Technical College Top Questions

High school is undoubtedly the most important time in one's life to make major decisions for their future. It is the time to fill out college applications, take standardized tests and bring up that grade point average. As for me, I sadly did not do any of those things. If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self about what I know now, I would tell myself to be more committed. Even though I did graduate, I would tell myself the decisions I make in high school effect later life situations such as being a successful student in college. Taking the time out of my day to study and grasp the information the teachers were teaching, would have set me up for a greater success rate. In college, its all about time management and dedication. Taking the time to study and complete assignments is a must. There is no hand-holding in the adult world. Although I am proud of my achievements in college so far, completing assignments with concern and concentration in high school and having the will-power to finish out strong would have been better preparing myself for the college life.

If I could give my high school self advice using the knowledge I know now I would say, "Cassie, you are so much smarter than you give yourself credit for, take those honors courses, challenge yourself, and have faith." I was so afraid to fail, and disappoint myself that I did not challenge myself in high school. I would definitely tell myself that if I try hard in high school, it will make the transition to college so much easier. Life itself would be so much easier. I never thought I was going to be capable of being on my own right out of high school, but now that I look back, I was a lot more mature than I could ever imagine I was at the time. I would encourage myself to be more independent and go away to school, because I know now that I could have done it. There is not a doubt in my mind now, I was ready for the transition then. The best advice I could give myself would be to just take the leap into the real world head on with no fears because failure was not on my path.

Seeing as to how I'm 10 years out of highschool, there are a lot of things that could be said. I think that most importantly, the advice that I personally would give is this: "Please don't give up!! Do not succumb to parts of the world that settles for a dead end job! Don't leave school just because of a stuggle that has been experienced. Follow through and get into college!! It will take you places you never knew existed. Above all else remember this, do NOT give up on yourself. Do NOT allow anyone's opinion steer you in a direction that you don't completely agree with, and most importantly, ALWAYS live your life with your faith first, yourself second, and then everything else after that." I made a lot of rough choices throughout my life, and this last year and the few years to come, are my steps to a new direction. I know now that had I chosen this path 10 years ago, my life would definitely be in a different place. Now, that is my new goal, to become what I didn't choose then, before it's too late. Thank you.

Youngster, I understand that at this moment in life what you desire most is to get that fancy new car, new clothes and take that beautiful girlfriend of yours out on dates. Your reasoning really isn't that bad on the subject of why you shouldn't go to school right now but allow me to provide you with reasons that even your guidance councelors couldn't. That new car you want, will impress your girlfriend but that education will inspire her. Those clothes will make you look good but you could buy more and better clothes once you become an engineer. Those dates you want to go on, imagine this, a cruise or maybe a plane ride. The destination of your trip could be overseas and it's all possible if you let go of your small time ambition and allow yourself to dream of a bigger brighter future. Also, college is as fun a place as you think it is. The work in college is as hard and rewarding as everyone told you but when you start using that knowledge it becomes priceless. You like being a know it and the first step is learning it all.

If I could go back in time to myself as a hight school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy the moment. Don't always be looking ahead so much that you miss out on what is right in front of you. Enjoy college the first time. Be active in campus clubs and go to school football games. Don't just rush from class to work and back again. Life moves to quickly and we are only young once. Once that time in your life is gone, you can't get it back. College is much harder the second time around when you have a family and a job. Work enough to pay for school and drive that old junker your parents gave you! Don't work so hard to try and buy a new car and insurance. LET THEM HELP YOU! There is no shame in accepting help form your parents to get though school. They want you to succeed. They love you. Don't be in such a hurry to be independant. Once you get there it's not always what it is cracked up to be. Breathe. Live. Enjoy the moment.

Dear Sarah, Please study for that test, put down the phone, do some homework! Fill out those scholarships before the deadlines instead of hanging out with your friends. Forget the petty drama, look into the future. Question your descions and your future career. Who are you? Don't follow the crowd, make them follow you. Be on time, wake up early, stop complaining! Knowledge is the key to great success. Take advice and don't be shy to share your ideas. Never give up on your dream, the time it will take to accomplish it is going to pass anyway. Don't be afraid of failure, it teaches you. Get involved . Show who you are to others, express yourself. Lastley, don't try to rush the future time moves quicker than you think. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw bowlines. Sail away from the harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

I would go back in time, and tell myself to attend college straigh out of high school. I waited along time to do what was needed for me to grow mentally as a person mainly because i never liked school. In my age i now realized its not about doing what you like, but doing whats needed. I would explain this to the younger me so he would understand you dont know everything, and to have the life you desire then attend college.

All I can say is try harder! Put forth more effort to make the best grades you can. College is expensive and paying for it while you attend is difficult. You're smart and you can get scholarships if you just apply yourself more. Also, take Spanish every year of high school and strive to learn every word of it that you can. It is a beautiful language that will be so easily learned by you, so start now.

I worked many jobs after I graduated highschool. If I were able to go back and offer myself advice, I would tell myself the following: "Focus on school and really apply yourself to your studies. Even if you work on the side, make sure you take the time to get your schoolwork done. You may hit some bad times ahead, but don't let that get you down. You've got a support system of family and friends that are going to be there the whole way through making sure that you accomplish your dreams. Your career choice may change down the road, but don't let that scare you. Make sure you take the time to figure out what you'll enjoy doing and where you believe you can help people best. The light at the end of the tunnel may seem dim now, but you'll get there! Take it a step at a time and all will work out for the best!"

If I could go back and tell myself what I know now I would have told myself to learn how to study, how to effectively learn the material instead of memorizing it just for a test, and how to follow the path that is best for me instead of what everybody else thinks is best. I would tell myself if you don't learn how to study now you are going to struggle so much motivating yourself to study when you get to college, going and hanging out with your friends is definitely not more important than that test, project, or paper, even though it may seem like it now, it's not. You can't just fake your knowledge forever by memorizing it for a few days because, it is all going to build up off of that one piece of information that you knew for a day. Lastly, don't follow the path everyone else thinks you should go for even when they say "you'll never make money doing that". Money isn't everything, don't make yourself miserable in classes you hate because someone told you that you should take them, make your own path instead.