University of Houston Top Questions

To stop running and wasting time; if I knew then what I know now, I would make some very different decisions. I regret nothing, but I wasted a lot of time.

It is not often that one can speak of the future with the knowledge of experience, but today I would like to advise you with what I know. I have come back to tell you that college is the stepping-stone to a better life, and high school is no joke. You need to focus now and put in effort because in college much more of that is required. The professors are invested in your education and they care for your grades, but they will not be holding your hand every step of the way. Prepare now for what is to come in the future, because only then can you fully experience the greatness of college. You must become responsible, because only you are the one that holds the key to your future. Make sure you have great time management skills in order to take full advantage of both the academic and social aspect of college. Develop successful study habits and take advantage of all resources available. It is extremely important to learn how to balance school with fun. College will definitely be different but it is not impossible to get through. Remember this and you can achieve your goals.

I would tell myself to work harder and to apply to as many scholarships as possible. I would also tell myself to begin taking college courses right after highschool, such as summer school and mini sessions. Knowing that time is of the essence I would tell myself to manage my time wisely and to use every opportunity I can to make the best of every situation. Struggling makes you the person you will be tomorrow, so don't quit when things get tough. Always, always, always study and do not procrastinate. When you push things to the last minute you panic and don't do as well as you could have done. Most importantly, try your hardest. No matter what.

If I were to travel back in time and talk to my high school self, I would tell myself to keep studying and do the best I can because although the first year of college will be easy, the rest of your years are going to be tough and you should never give up on your work. I would tell myself that if I want to be successful when I graduate, then I should do everything I can to graduate with high grades and show dedication throughout my college years. I would tel myself that once I get to engineering school, it will only get harder from there, but I should not worry about a thing because I will do great as long as I study hard and put long hours in all of my work. I would tell myself to never give up, and to be the very best in order to move forward and strive for success.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, would tell myself to work on better study habits and get use to studying more often for tests. I would also tell myself to get more involved outside of school and work on being less shy and more comfortable talking to new people. Another thing I would say is to look for scholarships early and work really hard to make sure that you have enough finacial aid because time goes by quick. I would also tell myself to work on my procrastination. I would say to start on essays and projects early. Along with that i would say to push myself in my writing. I'd say to try to go beyond the minium on my essays so that I will be prepared to write longer essays in college. The last and probably most important thing I would say is to get myself back organized. I would say to get use to using some type of planner or calendar again. This would be not only for school activities, but anything going on in my daily life.

Soon you will start college at University of Houston. College is challenging academically, mentally and physically, but you can handle it! Manage your free time wisely. Turn all of your assignments in on time. Read all of your assigned readings. Highlight key words in your textbook. Make flash cards while reviewing for an exam. If you don't understand something, go to tutoring, or contact your professor or TA. They are helpful resources. If you are not feeling tired after studying for the day, then you are taking the easy road and must push yourself harder. Of course, you must also make time for a fun break from your studies. I suggest taking a night off from studying one day a week...Friday night, or Saturday night. For fun, only go to school-sponsored events, such as movie nights, hanging out at the Recreation center, or cheering on the Cougars at a game! Trust God, work hard, never give up on yourself, and read, read, read! If you follow my advice, you will do well.

Give yourself time to decide what direction you want to take. I know you don't want to be in college forever and so you want to know exactly what direction you're going in when you begin, but let yourself breathe a little bit. Get those core courses in at the beginning and take a few other courses that sound interesting to you. Find something you love and pursue that. Don't worry about how long it's going to take you, focus instead on doing something you love and doing it well.

The one advice that I would give myself is that college is not high school, and to have a new mindset about school, in general, when entering college.

Stay strong and confident in your own abilities. It's easy to forget all the good traits about yourself when confronted with a big, wide world of the unknown. You'll soon discover in the coming years that you thrive under pressure, can create amazing works of art from nothing, have a knack for communication and that you can create lasting friendships that you'll cherish for years to come. You'll discover a nation full of natural wonders and unique people with warm hearts. High school is supposed to be filled with difficulties, but don't let that deter you. Sometimes the paths we take with the most obstacles lead us to the best rewards.

The most important advice I would give myself is to be persistent, consistent, and insistent. Work, especially in college, is not going to be neither easy nor moderate. College is a privilege that not may have the option of doing nor have the drive to complete. Be persistent in the work as well as learning the concepts. Being consistent with the teacher and work will be definitely help with prioritizing the work so it doesn't seem as much. Finally, be insistent in the concepts and tutoring opportunities. Continuously ask questions and wonder how this can apply differently.