Umpqua Community College Top Questions

I graduated at 17 & had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had no interest in studying more, much less focusing on a career. I ended up going to college but goofing off and it cost me in both tuition. The best advice I would have for myself would be to get out in the world for a couple of years and see what I enjoy doing for work. I ended up in a job doing working with a construction crew. That experience was the inspiration I wish I'd had as a senior. I'm not saying college isn't right for many or even most seniors. I'm suggesting that although I always had the plan to finish college one day, I may have saved myself considerable heartache by finding the path for me first. If I had the option, would I go back & tell myself all this wisdom? No. Even though it would make my life easier to have a degree already and have a successful career, I would have missed the challenges and the learning curve that has made me who I am today.

I would tell myself to not be afraid of change and to get into a good school as soon as possible and not to wait for life to happen to me. Because if I do, I will regret it for the rest of my life.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self about the transition from college to high school. I would tell myself that it is not as scary as you think it is going to be, but it is going to be the beginning of your future. Leaving friends and starting all over again is not as bad as it sounds and that you will make so many more friends and have the time of your life.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would want to tell myself how important my education was. I would let myself know that no job is a guarentee and if I want to be able to support myself and my family, education is the key. I would teach myself about economy ups and downs. I wish I could go back and tell myself I am no where near in my life where I would like to be because I didn't finish what I started when I first left high school. I would explain to myself where I was financially in my life and where what step my career was at. I would let myself know how disappointed I was that it took getting laid off from long time employment to get me back on path to full fill my career and education goals. I think if I could say all of this I could motivated myself as a senior to stay focused and on track. I think myself as a senior would want to make sure my career path changed so I wouldn't be where I am today.

If I go go back to when I was a high school senior I would told myself to take more classes that will count as college credit. I also would have tried to spend more time learning how to study, take notes, and write essays. I would have told myself that college is a lot different than high school because in college you can't cheat your way through and it is important that you actually know the material you are covering in class. I would have told myself that the test are going to be tougher in college so to actually practice studying in high school. I also would have said to take some psychology classes to help me be more successful in my college courses in psychology. Basically, konwing what I know about high school and college I wish I would have spent more time studying and taking notes in high school in order to prepare myself for the transition.

Hi Carol! I am you from the future, can you believe it? Well, I am, and my name is Kimberly. Right now I have a chance to help you to avoid the (some funny, some just awful) mistakes that I made, so that you don't have to make them too. First of all, about your family: let them go with the love they cannot show you. This experience is one of those "character-building" things that fall under the category of "things I cannot change". You'll never please them, so just continue on your path, practice kindness whenever possible and spend as little time with them as possible. Also, no expectations, even for help with college. It is a little hard, but you are an amazing, smart, multi-talented and good person! You can do almost anything you set your heart and mind to! Remember how you talked your way into survival camp when you were ten?This way, you can apply for help with the medical schooling they wouldn't approve. Hopefully these suggestions will keep you away from party life and grounded in reality, but if not, please just remember: to thine own self be true.

When I was in high school, I was not asked about college, or maybe I just dismissed the possibility of going to college because I knew my family did not have the resources. I do not believe that there were opportunities and resources made available to students today, and actually did not take the time to check what options there may have been. Although I do know that now anyone who has a desire to attend college can do so with a little effort. Well maybe a lot of effort, but it is possible for anyone to get a college education, even if their family does not have the resources.

The first statement to myself during my senior year is learn yoga, and start a weight train regiment. You will need a way to relax and boost your immune system, because by your sophomore year in college stress levels are high, and the amount of sleep is low. The second thing would be start cramming as many activities as possible, not only to build volunteer, but also to learn to realistically budget time. After these nuggets of information, I would say that college is going to make me a lot stronger than when I began. Typing 500 words on a given topic is going to be nothing. I would also tell myself to prepare to see engineering principles everywhere, from sitting in an airport to why your parent should not terrace the backyard. I do not regret anything I have done. Community college was the smart choice for me even if it does not feel that way my senior year. I would conclude my discussion by saying even if I you completely ignore everything I have said, the next two years will be a little harder, but you will still have joy, triumphs, and friends to share these experiences.

I would tell myself how to succeed at scholarships. It's very difficult to express yourself on paper to judges in order to pay for an education. There is an art and a method to writing scholarship essays. When I first began attending college, I filled out hundreds of scholarships, but I filled them out wrong, or I just didn't word them well, or I didn't come across right. So, I didn't win many scholarships, which made paying for college difficult. So the most important thing that I could tell myself is how to fill out scholarships so that I say what I want to say how I want to say it in a way that is easily understandable. Over the years, I have gotten much better at expressing myself, so I would tell myself that knowledge so that I could focus more on my education and classes and less on paying for them.

I would tell myself not to put off homework and applying for scholarships. I was homeschooled, so I began attending college when I was in my high school senior year. Attending Umpqua Community College was my first look at a real school, so it was a huge transition for me. However, I loved every minute of it. One thing I would change though, I would not be so quiet and unsocial. During my first year, I didn't interact with many classmates, and that is one thing that I would change. Mostly though, I would just tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible, and I would give myself tips for a more successful application.