University of Florida Top Questions

Carefree and relieved that all of my hard work is finally over. That is how I felt at the end of my senior year of high school. I thought that after my graduation, life would be easy. I worked hard throughout school, and I was ready to reap the benefits. However, I overestimated the amount of benefits I would receive. Now that I have completed my first year, I would tell my high school senior self that it will not be as easy as I thought. I would advise myself to take all of my classes just as seriously as I did in high school. While my grades did not slip severely in college, I slacked off more than I should have at the beginning. On a completely different note, I would also tell myself to learn how to cook. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Ramen noodles can only last a college kid so long. Food at Thanksgiving and Christmas break reminded me of the joys of having variety in my diet. Taking class seriously and learning how to cook are the two most important things that I wish I would have known back then.

I would tell myself not to worry and stress. As a high school senior, I was worried about fitting in, making friends, and the work load. I would tell myself college is just another step and that I could do it. I would also assure myself that everything was going to work out and to stop worrying so much.

If I were to have time with myself as a senior in high school, the main thing that I'd emphasize before entering college would be the development of good habits. Specifically, the habits of self-control and time management are extremely important. At UF, there is always an opportunity to engage in some kind of social, athletic, or other kind of activity. This can be great but can also be very distracting and in some cases harmful. Every activity offers some kind of promise for happiness, but the ability to control yourself and give up that immediate happiness for a more long-term one, like that of self-fulfillment based on excellent academic performance, etc. is very important. Along the same thread of thought, the 24 hours we receive everyday can disappear very quickly if not managed properly. Eating, sleeping, class time, and work (in some cases) take up the majority of the day, so the remaining few hours becomes increasingly precious. The ability to harness that time and use it in the most effective way like for studying, nurturing important relationships, etc. is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to develop before entering college life.

I would defnitely take my AP exams more seriously.

I came into college knowing that it would be hard, but also thinking that it would be a piece of cake. I've been so use to excelling in school at when a serious challenge arised, I couldn't conquer it. If I was given the chance to go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell my self three things. First, I would explain how college is really going to be. I think hearing the challenges from myself will get me to actually listen because I've been there already. Second, I would remind myself that failure is inevitable and that I have to power to rise up again. I would not however tell myself what to do to excel because that could alter time. I realize that to get where I am today, I needed to fail. They're called life lessons, something everyone needs including me. Third, I would ephasize the importance to enjoy life, encourage myself to try new things. Sometimes forget that change is not necessarily bad because I don't want to change myself. Just because life changes, does not mean that my values have to.

If I could talk to my high school senior self I would tell him, first and foremost, “do not slack off on scholarships! The economy only gets worse and while you may have a sufficient amount now, they will take away from it each year. Not out of spite, but out of an inability to afford it! Believe me when I say that the last thing you want is to have money restrictions and worries during, what should be, the greatest years of your life” The second thing that I would tell myself is that, “college is not like high school, it does not wait for you or anyone else! It is moving at its own steady pace and if you are not moving then cannot imagine just how much you will be missing out on. So please, Jodell. Don’t wait as long as I did to be yourself, to think about yourself. In college it is all up to you to take care of things. There are many people who can help but you have to seek them out, which means that above all you have to know what it is that you need, and what you want.”

Coming from a magnet school and being in the top 5 of my high school class, I really thought I was on top of this new college thing, but I was completely wrong. Living on your own with no parents to supervise you, the freedom of choice to do whatever you please (as long as it is law-abiding), and having the choice of becoming whatever you want to be is really exciting, yet a very shocking life change for students entering college. In college, I've learned to make the best with what I have and to always keep pushing forward to be all that I can be. If I had the chance to go back and talk to high school me, I would tell myself to not be oblivious to a helping hand and always be attentive to whatever college opportunities there are. Go to college tours, harass your counselors about scholarships, and get involved. Yes a high GPA is well achieved, but books are not everything. Being interactive within and without school helps you learn real life lessons and become a well rounded person for college and yourself.

"Do not go to school for liberal arts" I went to a community college right out of highschool for liberal arts. After two years, I had gained very little and had still not decided what I wanted to go to school for. At that point, I had to start working. When I lost my job due to a layoff I went back to school, but this time I went for something I knew I would like to do, Graphic Design. Now, I know I am gaining a lot out of my classes specifically because I want to be there. I am very interested in the subject matter, and I am always trying to be better at it. The best advice I could give myself would be to ignore everyone and actually do something you want to do with your education. I know now that when I find work in my field it will be work I am actually engaged in, and I think that is the best thing anyone can hope for in a profession.

The advice I would give myself would be to not be afraid to try new things. College offers you the opportunity to find yourself and to find something that you truly love to do. If you prevent yourself from keeping an open mind you will miss these chances to find what college has to offer you. I truly loved my first year at the University of Florida because I always kept an open mind. I always was willing to try new things and explored what the campus had in store for me. For example, I took a public speaking course this past semester. When I signed up for the class, I was worried about speaking in front of people. Instead of dreading the challenge of public speaking, I embraced it. I put my heart and sould into it and got something great out of the course. I feel that I am better prepared for future job interviews because of the tools that the class offered me. If I had not given the class a chance and kept an open mind, I would not have been able to enjoy the benefits that the class has given to me.

For my high school senior self- I know that you think that you are not smart enough to go and there is not enough money to pay for college... but that is very far from the case. As I have finally come to realize, we are workaholics. That goes for both work AND for school. It is possible to do both and succeed. You just have to stay focused so you can make something of ourselves. That head of ours is a good one, and don't ever doubt that. There will be times where you will want to give up. Don't make that mistake, as it it will cost you almost two years of untransferrable credits. Pursue your artistic goals and never settle for being mediocre. Don't be afraid of going off to a particular school because it was "too far". Go! Embrace the journey that is life! Follow your dreams, hang in there, and it will very much be worth it in the end.