University of Alabama in Huntsville Top Questions

I would go back and tell my self I need to better job of searching for school and that visting the campus is very important. If I knew the campus was going to be like this I would have never applied. I would also tell myself to work harder in getting my gpa up. College is what you make and the transition feels like going to summer camp for a extended amount of time. Alabama A&M is college that is liveable not enojyable.

Coming out of high school I knew I was going to be away from most of my friends and family in my hometown of El Paso, Texas. If I could go back, I would tell myself not to worry so much about maintaining those relationships and rather focus on making new friends and connections here in Huntsville, Alabama. I spent a huge amount of my time just staying home chatting online with my friends. Two years later, I barely talk to anyone from El Paso and am barely working on getting friends outside of work or classes. I also spent a long time thinking college was going to be easy since I breezed through high school so easily. I would go back and tell myself to never get complacent and although I know I can easily pass and get a solid B in a class, I should always strive to be that A student on the top of lists.

To my younger self, as you leave high school and enter this crazy world called college, I'd like to advise you in a few areas. First, college is serious and you need to actually start caring about your grades. Don't be lazy, and start planning for your future. Second, don't be so dramatic. Life is too short to make a big deal over the little things. Your high school problems seem so improtant now, but you'll later find out that they are very insignificant when it comes to your overall success. So stop worrying about boys, girl drama, and the ocassional bad day because it is going to get a whole lot worse and your skin needs to be tougher than that. My final piece of advice to you, young one, is to have fun. You're about to be in college and now is your time to make stupid decisions and laugh about them later. Do things that make you happy and dont worry about what people think. That, my darling, is the key to your success. However, it this is easier said than done...I know from personal experience.

I would tell myself not to care what others thought about me and to try my hardest regardless of what they say. Its okay to stay in on a Friday night and study. Learn how to study efficently now because if you wait until college, you'll fail. Accept that you're not going to stay in touch with old friends the way you are used to, but that you'll meet even better friends in college, and that the friends you make will probably be able to help you with classes so don't be afraid to ask for help. Use your time wisely, you have less of it than you think. Don't skip class, yeah you'll want to, probably everyday, but don't! You'll likely miss the most important thing that will be on the exam and be utterly lost. Just go to class. Most importantly, have fun. Yes, classes are important because your career depends on it, but this is college. Make lots of friends, go out, join clubs and orginizations, go Greek, become a leader. Just go out there and make memories, it'll be worth it. Have fun and gain knowledge

Advice I would give to my high school senior self is to not stress as much. I would tell myself to have more self confidence in everything that I do in my college career. College is a very big step and the first step is always the hardest. Its a completely new lifestyle; you will meet new people, face new challenges, and deal with new day to day obstacles. I would tell myself to not procrastinate on my assignments, as oftentimes in college it will come back and hit you hard. Most importantly I would tell myself to not worry about the past or the future, and focus on the now. College is intimidating, but you need not to worry about what you will become. You should strap yourself in; you are already on the rollercoaster. All thats left to do is enjoy the ride.

There would be a lot that I would tell myself, but there are two major pieces of advice I would have pushed. First, foster lasting friendships. I moved halfway across the country after high school and I only see the lives of the people I graduated with on Facebook. I congratulate them on accomplishments and occasionally like a song they post or a sarcastic comment, but that is the extent of our contact. It's slightly depressing, but I was more focused on school work and my boyfriends. Which brings me to my next piece: focus on yourself rather than Mr. Boyfriend. Because I craved love and affection, I sacrificed my commitments to extracurriculars like cheerleading and speech team to spend time with the boys I was in love with. I have only recently understood that its unhealthy to put aside your desires completely for someone else. I abandoned my teammates and friends when I should have really participated and socialized more. Maybe invite Mr. Boyfriend to competitions, or have him help practice, or even more crazy, do something alone! I am actively applying my own advice today, so it would have been drastically influential then.

First of all, I would tell myself to get a job. Now. Don't wait, and don't think you can just come up with the money somehow. The fees and book expenses will drain you quickly, so you need to be saving as much money as you can right now. Also, you should focus more on volunteering and community service, especially with medically-based organizations. The more experience you can get in your intended major, the better and easier it will be for you. Futhermore, treasure the time you have in high school right now with your classmates. Next year you will hardly see them, and it's better to have fun memories rather than sad memories. Lastly, learn how to make your own schedule. Next year, your head will be spinning so much with everything that needs to be done that even a little bit of structure will help. Plan when you will study, work out, read the Bible, or do anything else important. Do all of these things I have told you to, and you will have a much better and less stressful freshman year and a better college experience as a whole.

I would tell myself that make sure you have a plan on what to do, or somewhat of a plan. However, be dynamic and make sure that you make room for that plan to change. You're are just eighteen years old, and in high school you are still having to ask permission to go to the bathroom. Now you are having to choose what you want to be for the rest of your life. Do not stress so much about it, its okay to make mistakes, just make sure you find something you absolutely love doing, set a goal or goals for yourself, and then work your tail off to accomplish those goals. Never give up on your dreams, no matter the obstacles, stick it out and become anything you set your mind to become. Also, remember that making mistakes is part of living. After you get knocked down, get right back up, and keep going. Do not forget to stop and help those who need you along the way, because you never know when you may need them. Make mistakes, learn from them, and live your life to the absolute fullest!

Pay attention, work hard now, earn scholarship money while in high school, take classes that will earn college credit while in high school, don't wait till the last minute to do things! Mom and dad, your teachers and counselors really do know what they're talking about - LISTEN! If I could do it over, I would work harder and smarter before I got to college!

Don't be afraid to try new things! Get out there! Don't let anything or anyone hold you back! If you want to succeed in your studies you have to put in the time to study. You will learn how to balance fun and school work. Ultimately the decisions you make about school and life affect you, no one else but yourself, you have to live with your decisions and you are the one that has to make them for yourself!