Trinity International University-Illinois Top Questions

The advice I would give myself is to stay spiritually focused keeping The Word of God first through Jesus Christ our Lord! Through these basic instructions before leaving earth (BIBLE), I am able to gain the wisdom I need to follow God's will in life in which dictates my path academically and my purpose in life. During my academic journery, I advise my self to stay focused and grasp all knowledge & wisdom God is showing me to full-fill my purpose in life "Helping Others". Stay focused on the prize are my final words!

I would tell myself to calm down; to not be so freaked out about college and growing up. It's ok to step out and it's ok to be a little scared, but I promise it all gets better. I'd also tell myslef to truely think about the college I was selecting to attend. I know now that the first two colleges I went to weren't for me, so I would tell myself to really consider all of the educational options for me. Lastly I would tell myself to quit trying to salvage the surface friendships from highschool and to stay true to myself. That there are so many people out there who want to be friends with me because they like me. Friendships in college enter a whole new level of closeness and relationships that are going to last a lifetime. College is where I found out who I truely am and I would want my senior self to know how important it is to always be just me!

"Live because of, in light of, and for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Back when I was a senior in high school, I did not at all understand the ultimate significance of the Christian Gospel, that I am a depraved and condemned sinner in desperate need of grace, and that God fulfilled my desperate need by sending His Son Jesus Christ to take upon Himself the wrath of judgment that was due to me, and being resurrected that I too may live beyond death. I now understand that the Gospel is not just an important part of Christianity, but the very centerpiece of all of existence. I would tell myself that the Gospel is the purest of motivations for any decision or action, the clearest of philosophies for viewing life, and the most fulfilling of pruposes for living. None compares, and none will bring God more glory and bring you more delight in Him. Upon sinning, return to the Gospel, and find hope and repentance. Upon righteous actions, place your faith in the Gospel, for there is nothing a sinner can contribute to his own salvation, but Jesus's sacrifice is sufficient for salvation.

When I was in high school, and even a first semester college freshman, I was very quiet and shy. I would say that college is the time and place where you can really discover who you are. Do not let the fear that plagued you in high school hold you back from meeting people from all different types of walks of life. Be bold and be outgoing. You will learn a lot about who you are, how you react in different situations, and what kind of people you want to be associated with when you get to college. Mom and Dad are not there to tell you what to do. It is a time to be independent and strong, but also observant, humble, and willing to learn.

I would tell myself not to fall behind. The last term of high school, you really do not feel like doing anything but you just need to pull up your socks and continue on. It will all pay off in the end and soon enough summer will be there. Also, do not worry about what others think about you. So many times, the fact that you think no one likes you can really bring you down. High school relationships really do not matter. There are a few but for the most part people are still really immature at that age. By college they really start to grow up.

I would tell myself to be self-disciplined. College isn't about your parents forcing you to do homework and go to class anymore. College is about YOUR drive to succeed. If you have parents paying for it, even better! Use that money and experience wisely, and LEARN something! Don't just sit through your classes looking for ways to get out of doing the work and pay the least amount of attention. There are so many amazing things to be learned, even from the "boring" classes. You need to want to learn, so choose classes that interest you. And the ones that don't, like math, just focus on giving it your best and maybe making some friends. Make your college experience about you, now is the time to learn the skills you're going to be using in your future career for the rest of your life.

After being in a community college and now looking into numerous scholarships for when I transfer, I know that my chances of not getting the scholarships I'm applying for greatly decreases because I was not active in clubs in high school. If I could go back, I would have told my high school self, even as a senior, to GET INVOLVED!

I would say to be more open to meeting new people because transitioning into college can be very difficult especially being very attached to people back home. Also I would tell myself to be diligent in how I am involved in my community outside of school and be aware of the needs of the people in my community. Going to college can be a great experience and it can also give me tools and opportunities to give something back to my community. I would warn myself to not get too caught up in my studies and school life that I forget to take opportunities to serve outside of my school and really be genuine about caring for others in my community. Education can be a great thing but if that’s the only reason to go to college, to just gain head knowledgeand never apply it in a way that it can help others, then it becomes a waste of time. Finally I would challenge myself to doing everything that I do with excellence even when its hard, even when I may not want to; not for my glory but for the glory of He who made me.

I have learned a lot from attending college. I've grown in numerous ways and developed as a person greatly. I am extremely grateful that I am able to attend Trinity International University and I am blessed to have the means to continue to attend. I've learned so much from the fantastic professors I've had in the Biblical Studies and Christian Ministries programs, and they are great people to just get to know as well. The campus life at Trinity has been fantastic. I enjoy living on campus and plan on living there all four years that I attend. There are great times to be had and awesome new friends to make, and these will be the relationships that will last for the rest of my life. With TIU being a private school, it is quite a bit more expensive to attend than a public, state-funded school. I've always found a way to pay and continue at TIU, but I'm running out of options. Money has always been an issue in my family, and now more than ever. This scholarship would help me greatly. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience.

I have been able to see a wide variety of people, perspectives, and beliefs while attending Trinity University. I am friends with students from California, Maryland, Brazil, and countless other places who are all obviously different because of the culture they grew up in. I have seen how different people view life in general, and also how people vary, if only slightly, from my own beliefs within the realm of Christianity. I grew up in a small rural town in Wisconsin, so attending a school where kids from around the world come together had given me a wider persepctive of the world and people in general. It has been truly fascinating to observe and learn from such a wide range of people.