University of Kentucky Top Questions

When I was in high school, I was outspoken. When it came to my friends, I would tell them what was on my mind. Yet somehow, it was hard for me to speak to people outside of my group. My teacher changed that. He forced me to join his Yearbook Staff. I was mortified. I was forced to work with other girls that I did not know. Yet it was an important message to me: don’t be afraid of what you haven’t experienced. I’ve lost this essence now that I am in college. This is NOT a message from college me to high school me, this is a message to college me from high school me. You don’t get very far in life without experience. If I don’t get out and experience what life has to offer, then what will be the point of being here? Being connected with others is a skill that I required in high school, but somehow lost on my journey. It is a skill that is used in any field, especially mine. In order to be connected, I need to meet new people by joining groups that are on campus.

In the instance that I travel back in time to speak with my high school self, I would tell her not to worry so much about the future. Release all apprehensions about the imminent events to come, because no matter how bad it seems, you can depend on your loved ones to lift your spirits. Enjoy life as it comes, and be thankful for every experience given to you. Give everything you have, and be the best version of yourself you can be. Don't do this for the opinions of other people; do it for yourself. Write everything. The worst enemy of creativity is self doubt, so release your inhibitions and show the world what you are capable. Never give up. Above all, share your love, because that it what will get you through the day.

Matt, please do not try to finish your senior year taking the easiest classes possible. I understand you want to have fun with your friend and enjoy lots of free time outside of sports and school, but down the road when you get into college you're going to want to be prepared. You're going to wish you had taken some more of those dual credit classes when you get to college. I know how much you want to be an engineer and I can assure you that will not change in the future, but down the road you're going to wish you had better prepared yourself for college. I am telling you all of this because I did not make the best preparations for myself. My first semester was a rude awakening. All that stress that I experienced could have been avoided, and that would have been by doing what I needed to do in high school to prepare myself for college. The easy way out of high school was nice for me at the time, but once I got to college I regretted it. Don't do what I did. Prepare yourself.

Go to a more liberal college in a larger city

To Stick With It And Follow Your Dreams

The advice I would tell myself would be to not ever change myself for people who do not wanna be my friend. I would tell myself to make as many friends in high school as I could because that would give myself the experience of becoming a better people person and to have the comfortable and having the confidence to make more than just one friend on that special move in date. But not only would I tell myself to make more friends, but to sort of just go with the flow. The high school drama is not gonna fly in college, so I would definitely tell myself, also, to not take everything so seriously and that the real people who wanna be your friend, will be there for you whether people like you or do not like you.

I would tell myself to stay focused on school and work and, if at all possible, I would reccomend to live off of campus as there are too many distractions for one to really focus on their academics. A party-like atmosphere only discourages staying in on friday nights to study and often pressures people to go out. Though I never partied, I'd still would advise myself to not be bothered about the lack of study habits of those around me, as, someday, my persistence will pay off.

I would tell myself not to stress about the little things because overall it all works out.

Looking back in time I would definitely guide myself over the trials and tribulations that I have come past thus far in my life. I would definitely tell the younger me to not be afraid to take chances. I would tell myself that you are young and making mistakes are what shape and mold you. I was afraid to be different, afraid to step outside of the box and try new things. I had poor judgment on characters with people that I hung with. I let people take advantage of me because I did not want to tell them no. But had I known then what I know today I would have steered myself around the small pot holes in my life. I would have told myself, “That boy that you are so in love with now, is not doing anything positive toward his future, let him go! Take AP courses because they will get you out of a few classes and help you glide through others and most importantly enjoy your senior year, appreciate the home cooked meals, the free living at home, and learn to save your money. Because when you get to college everything will change!”

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would make sure I knew about how important it was to keep looking forward but live in the moment, not to be afraid, and-- no matter how many times I had heard this as a younger girl, I didn't care or believe it or hold it true-- that there are many fish in the sea. Senior year, I tended to think too far ahead and get intimidated by the idea of college and think I had an inability to succeed. I would tell myself that there were other people that didn't get that full 4.0, I would go back and tell myself it was okay that I was good at the things that I was good at and that it didn't need to be based on another person's sucess. As a senior, I needed someone to tell me that I had self-worth, and that those guys and romances I wished I had didn't matter. I would tell myself that there's someone just like that guy who's distracting and ruining me now, and he's even better. Waiting for me.