University of Arizona Top Questions

Dear Gaby, You are beginning to discover the person it is you truly want to be, and quite frankly it is a bit terrifying. However, don’t let these worrisome feelings consume your thoughts, remember to appreciate the present. If there’s anything that I hope you take away from your Senior year it’s this; be genuine with every action you make, and never be afraid to ask for help. You may feel that you have to act or think a certain way, but know that you don’t. Be genuine with everything you do, and you will be greeted with many opportunities, and welcomed by those who truly love and accept you. It’s okay to admit when you don’t know something, and you should never be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. No matter how hard you try, there are some things that you simply cannot do alone. Humility is a beautiful thing; embrace it. Continue to be open-mined, creative, and aware. Perhaps we can meet for coffee sometime, since I know it’s your favorite. Sincerely, Your future self Spoiler alert : Things in your life work out (the way they are meant to).

Be Yourself. There is an opportunity for everyone in college. If you are looking to join an inner tube water polo team, then free your Saturdays so you’ll never miss a game. If you want to join a Harry Potter fan club, then break out those old costumes and brush up your jargon. No matter who you want to become in life, college is the place to do it. College goes beyond the classes that determine your career path. College can shape all aspects of your life, so it is best to show who you are beyond the textbooks. Find out who you are and then become involved. Find others that share similar values and traits. Your involvement throughout college will not only solidify the adult you’ve become, but it may also open up unexpected doors along your journey through life.

Knowing what I know now about college life, the advice I would give to myself is this: try harder and take more interest in my future. I've done alright so far, but there are a lot of opportunities I've missed because I simply didn't care or didn't try hard enough. I feel that I am capable of quite a lot more, and yet I've always tended to do the bare minimum to get by. If I tried harder and took more interest in my future earlier, I think I would be far better off now than I am and probably far more successful. I'm still trying to fight those old tendencies, but these days I'm much better about it. It's common sense now, but I wish I could tell myself to plan and work for your future. It's far more important than you realize, and will be here far sooner than you think.

First I would not wait till I graduated to decide what career field I wanted to go into. The ealier you know what you want to do, the more time you have to make important decisions and to do research on different colleges. Then you can decide which college is best for you. The expense of college can be very costly, so if your parents are not prepared to pay for it you can start applying for schorlarships, grants or loans. Which all take time and have dead lines to meet. I would talk to my parents or a guidance counselor for advice. Definitely apply for the all the scholarships and grants first, that is money you do not have to pay back. Student loans accure interest and can become hard to pay off. I graduated from cosmetology school and could not find a job in that field, but I still had to pay the loan. College is very different than high school. You have a lot more responsibilities because you are an adult now. Make sure you are determined to do well, and are prepared to study a lot. If you want it you can achieve it!!

College is about receiving an education and new experiences. If you ever have an opportunity to do something great, take it! If you want to see the world then go study abroad and see the world before you enter it. College is where you learn about what you want, don't let your friends or family influence your choice of major, it's your life do what you want and you'll be happy. Also don't worry college is FUN just make sure to get your priorities straight and get help when you need it. Always aim for an A and if you do get a C it not the end of the world just keep trying and you’ll do fine. Remember the parties will always be there, so instead do your homework procrastination is NOT your friend. Enjoy college and take time to plan out your future and embrace your opportunities even if it changes your plan. Have fun and study hard!

Going back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior would perhaps be one of the most fruitful things I could possibly ever do. If confronted with my past self I would tell him to to apply himself and to look ahead to the future now and not later. Being motivated in high school was a tremendous struggle for me and I certainly did not apply myself nearly as much as I should have. The transitition to college has been difficult as a result of that and it took me a few years in community college to finally get motivated to work hard. Going back I would tell myself that college is indeed a big deal and slacking off now in high school will make it diffuclt for me to bounce back when it really matters. Applying myself then would have shown me the importance of making eduacted decisions on which paths to take concerning my future as well as learning the diligence in doing everything necessary to pursue scholarships and financial aid. A nice and purposeful converstation with myself from high school would most certainly be one that would change the course of my future.

If I went back in time to my senior year, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible and to not get distracted while in college. In college you can party as much as you want but at least do all of your homework right and make sure it is correct. Also, I would tell myself not to spend money on every single thing I see. I would say to at least save one hundred dollars a week from my debit card and to try to get a job if possible so I can have some extra money in my pocket. I would also tell my self to make sure I always attend class. The absences can really catch up to you if you don't pay attention to them and don't attend your classes. Last, I would tell myself to get to know the professors. The professors can really help you in tough situations and communication is the key with them.

One thing I would change is to have lived on campus the first year. I did not understand the importance of this. I now see why most schools require students to live in the dorms for their first year. This is so they can see the activities available and be able to meet students in their same classes and struggling through their same problems. I did not live in a dorm my first year but I luckily had some friends that did so I could get the same experience by hanging out in the dorms with them. Another major thing I would tell myself is that it is okay to have fun and be able to balance it with school. First semester I did not do anything but sit in my apartment alone most of the time and it was miserable. But second semester was way better because I actually participated in school events and activates with friends.

I would tell myself to seriously consider going to school, especially of you are young. I would tell myself not to follow a group that turned out to be a religious cult when I was young. I am from a small town and there were no cults there and it was better that way. I would tell myself not to get hooked up with any weirdos, such as religious fanatics and to be myself. I would tell myself to live a normal life and go swimming, play sports, or go to school. I would tell myself to lead my own life, because in a religious cult it is hard to do that, because you are taught from the Holy Book to literally give up your life. I would tell myself that in the real world there are many wolves in sheep's clothing. I would tell myself to stay home where it is safe and go to school, because it would be better that way.

College is a big task that some people can't complete but by redefiing your high school mentailty with a college mentality that consists of being able to make decisions, being aware of time, and being always informed of information, you can be a sucessful college student. First, you have to make your own decisions because once you step in that collegiate classroom, your stuck by yourself with no guidance from anyone. The decisions you make in college will either make or break you in life. Secondly, time management is a critical skill, so it shouldn't be taken lightly because its not a luxary and every minute counts in college. Lastly, when you have a question regarding an assignment, please don't hesistate to ask because there's no second chances in college to make up for failure. Therefore, I'm advising you that college is a test because it divides the losers and winners, so you always need to be on high alert to prevent failure. Thus, going to college can be a growing pain but overcoming this pain will help you become a successful college student and by learning from me, you can avoid these mistakes.