Truman State University Top Questions

"Work hard. Make strong friendships. Schedule down time." These are the three phrases I would utter to the six-years-younger version of myself. Each of these small packets of advice summarize what I learned as an undergrauate. First and foremost, work hard. Especially toward the beginning of freshman year I watched countless friends and peers experiment with partying, thinking their freshman year grades would not matter later; fast forward three years and they realized how big an impact the decision to put social life over academics had on their future. Working hard is vital to success in college, but it is so important to balance that with the next two statements for a healthy, happy college career. One of the best aspects of college is meeting so many new people. Find the ones who inspire, encourage, and laugh with you and you will have an invaluable support system for the difficult times. Lastly, with classes, homework, meetings, and study groups it feels as though free time is a myth. Don't be fooled! Schedule time each day to recharge from the stress of a busy schedule. In the end, taking breaks will maximize your productivity.

If I could go back to and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be unafraid to take risks and be proactive. I graduated from college once and am now making plans to go back for a second degree in preparation for graduate school. Even though I worked all the way through college, I did not do much to plan for a future outside of school. I hoped opportunity would just drop into my lap simply because I had a degree. I now realize how foolish I was. I worked hard in college, but I did nothing to prepare for life outside of it. When I go back, I will not wait for opportunity to happen. I will make it happen.

Past me, shape up. You burn through so much energy trying to seem intelligent and better than your peers that you're not actually learning anything. Take more psychology classes, they're really going to help out when you go on to your master's program. Don't get involved in relationships at summer camp, they're pretty much going to ruin a year of your life. Date people you're really interested in, not just people who are convenient. You've already started learning that with Erin and Sarah, but believe me, there's a lot more of that knowledge that'll get dropped on you before you finally meet your wife. Good luck with everything, I hope you still enjoy the hell out of everything, and maybe learn a thing or two along the way.

Dear High School Senior Me, I know that you're getting to the point where you are done with high school so, you don't want to do your homework or pay attention in class. I beg of you, don't do that! This is the time when you need to create a time management system that you can use in college. College is much harder than high school, as you probably imagine. The workload is a lot heavier, and writing a paper in 2 hours the night before is not going to get you an A like it does now. If you don't develop a time management system now, while your classes are easier its just going to get harder and harder and you will buckle under all the stress. Which brings me to my next tip. Find a way to manage your stress now so that you don't become a complete mess down the line. You're friends will change, so don't rely soley on them for your stress relief. Find a way to let go and relax, without becoming addicted to television. Love, College Sophmore Me

I would tell myself to never give up. Although it is your last year do not let "senor-itis" get the best of you. I know its been a tedious job, but keep looking for scholarships, keep on perfecting your personal statements for those essay questions. Do not let fear stop you from wanting to go far away and study at some college that is not near from home, because in the end it was one of the best choices you could have made. Join clubs in college, its the best way to make friends with people who share the same intrests as you. Work hard, college is way different than it was in high school, where everything came easy. Study hard and find time for yourself and have a social life too. If you have a healthy balance of those three things you will do just fine in college. I know you can make it. -Love from you (Karla)

If I could give my high school self advice it would be to not take for granted the opportunity my athleticism has given me. Consider all options and determine what is right for the future, not just what I’m comfortable with now because who I am as an eighteen or nineteen year old is not who I will grow up to be. Don’t be afraid to step outside the box and be something other than the stereotypical “dumb jock”. If I look far enough within myself I will find the courage and strength needed to be the leader I should be rather than the follower I am.

I would tell myself not to slack off because grades are more important than going to that birthday party or hanging out with your friends. The worst thing you can do is tell yourself that you can finish it later. Procrastination is a terrible habit and it will tear you apart in college because waiting to the last minute, although possible, is bad. You may think you work well under pressure now but if you were to take the time to work on your projects and papers, you will come out with a better end result. When you do not procrastinate you find that you have time to go back through and check your work and catch all of those small mistakes. Your grades will shoot up dramatically as long as you keep up every day. You will be able to do whatever you want with your free time because Mom and Dad will be so happy to see that you are doing well in school that you will be able to go out with your friends and do what you want to do. Stay on top of your school work and you will be much happier in the end.

I would tell myself to not focus on being social and to place my academics above all else. Joining a sorority is an experience that I will keep near and dear in my heart for a long time; however, it is also something I could have done without for a little longer. I would tell myself to love myself for who I am (or for who I was then) because in college you will encounter many different people. Some of those people will change you and you have the ultimate say in whether they change you for the better or for worse. I would also tell myself to listen to my mother. My 18-year-old self was so happy to get away from my parents protective household; however, I failed to realize that everything that my mother told me then has proven itself to be true time and time again. She really is the only person that truly has my best interest at heart and she wants to see me succeed. I would love to go back in time to tell my self that, however, I can only learn from my mistakes and continue to move foward in success!

As high school ends, classmates will earnestly request one thing of you: “Never change!” Whatever you do, don’t listen to that advice.If ever there is ever a time that is specifically set aside for exploration, transformation, and the kind of unfettered intellectual play that epiphanies are made of and life paths sprout from, this is it. Soon you’ll be immersed in a whirlpool of ideas – it would be a shame if you didn’t let that change you. Get to know international students and write letters to friends in faraway places; send thank you notes and get in the habit of reading the newspaper everyday. Find that sweet spot between structure and improvisation; do your homework and keep your promises, but be sure to also draw pictures and dance. Play it like Miles Davis: seek the balance between form and freedom that makes life, like jazz, so great. Before you know it, you’ll be catching yourself stretching into new skin, turning a problem over and inspecting it from all sides, truly listening rather than merely hearing. A better, fuller version of yourself will be stepping into the light. Forget never changing. Stay open.

You are a senior now and about to embark on a new chapter of your life. People have said that the college years are some of the best years in a person's life. While that may certainly be true don't use this saying to pressure you to make this happen. Don't feel like you have to join every club, attend every football game, befriend every peer and impress every professor. Don't get me wrong, it is very much important to make the most out of every opportunity. However, don't feel like you need to participate in any and everything to fulfill the standards of the "college life". Pursue the things that truly interest you, academic and non-academic. Take your time, breathe, discover who you are. So what if you don't meet your future husband in your freshman biology class or your research project doesn't get published. Don't look to other people to determine what your college experience should be. Please don't be afraid to step out and try new things. The best college experience is one where you are happy with the choices YOU make whether big or small.