University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Dear Self, College is going to be quite a crazy experience. Let me offer you some advice: 1. Put yourself out there! Yes it will be scary. Yes it is completely new. But it will be amazing. Try new things and make new friends. Take some risks. It will all be so worth it. 2. Do what makes you happy. Everything and everyone is going to try to tell you differently, but you do what you enjoy. And follow the path that is best for you. 3. Study hard! It is not going to come to you as easily as it did in high school. It is going to take some work, so do it! 4. Living with tons of other people is strange, but that is the fun of it. Don't be afraid to be yourself, they will love you for it. 5. Lastly, do not dwell on the past. This is a new adventure and you got to make the most of it. Make so many memories and have the best experience you can have. Don't worry everything will work itself out. Work hard, have fun, be you! Love, Your Future Self

I'm sitting alone in my apartement eating a bowl of cereal for lunch. None of my roommates are home. One of them probably won't come home tonight at all on account of the fight we had earlier that day. I check my grades on my computer and frown when I see that I scored under average on my last Chemistry lab. I reached for my phone to call my Mom, and even when she doesn't pick up, my thoughts take me back to my familiar childhood home . I'm sitting at the kitchen table. My Dad runs in the door from work and my Mom serves bowels of chili. Back in high school for a moment, my Mom asked me about my day at school. Instead of shrugging her off, I stopped, grateful to have her ask, and gave a full answer. Then I turned to my Dad and asked his advice on how to confront my teacher about a grading issue. He looked suprised and I realised this was not normal for my high school self. Now I realize I should have savored the advise, wisdom and company of my parents while I was at home.

I would be more invloved in many school groups and activities too meet with more people and to expand my networking.

As a high school senior, I suffered from severe depression. I originally started at St. Mary's College of Maryland, but had to drop out due to those mental health issues. Knowing everything about college now, I would tell myself as a high school senior that everyone who is new to college is struggling with making the transition. The most important thing to remember is that you need to take care of yourself, and if you are feeling sad or lonely, to get help. Reach out to those around you, whether peers or professionals on or off campus, and tell them how you are feeling. Everything is easier when you have someone by your side to support you.

Apply for every possible scholarship that you can be possibly apply for!

If I could go back in time to give myself advice, I would most likely pursue a different career path. I would emphasize the importance of having good time management and being independent when transitioning to a new environment. Also, I would encourage myself to work closely with my professors, especially those in my major because I learned the importance of networking and building strong relationships. It's beneficial to have someone who knows your academic capabilities in case future jobs require references or recommendations. You never know who may be able to help you land your dream job. In addition, I would remind myself of the importance of developing close friendships in college. I've met some of the most amazing friends in school, so I would encourage myself to participate in more extracurricular activities and social events to meet more people. Lastly, I'd be sure to point out where to find the best value textbooks for class and any money saving tips. After all, every penny counts to a college student!

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself various words of advice. The first thing would be to learn better time management and to stop procrastinating. This is one of the most important things in order to succeed academically and it would have helped make my first semester less stressful. I would also tell myself to breathe and not worry about being unsure of the future. It starts to work itself out and there are a vast amount of resources available at school; questions can be answered and new things will be learned. Another thing I would talk to myself about is the adjustment to living without parents and with a roommate. It isn’t as difficult as it seems and the friends I have made on my floor are great ones that I hope to maintain throughout my life; they have made it easier to cope without my parents and siblings. The last and most important piece of advice I would tell myself is to enjoy the simplicity of high school and know that college is a change but it is worth it.

Looking back, I have found that my senior year of high school acted as a false sense of security for my college preparedness. If given the chance, I would warn myself that above-average grades in high school do not equate to time management skills and good study habits. Similarly, I would warn that taking the most challenging courses high school has to offer will still in no way prepare me for a college course. I will suggest that the peer pressure I thought I dodged in high school will hit me full-force once I get to college, and that not having Mom and Dad around is not exactly the blessing it may appear to be. I will tell myself that I am not ready to act like an adult or even to act independent, and that I should really learn to accept that fact before I get to school. I will then reassure myself by claiming independence will come in time, maybe quicker than I expect, and that hard work will help me be the person I want to (but never thought I would) be.

Dear Lara,Nothing in life is given to you on a silver platter. As a college student you have to be independent and figure out all your priorities. Your grades might not be very well right now but if you study and do well the next 2 years you can be put on a different path. When your parents filed for bankruptcy you realized how different and complicated things in life could get. Everything that was always handed to you was no longer there. At this time you started dealing with depression and anxiety, which led you to pretty much give up on yourself, but you cannot think like that. You were put in a difficult situation and overcame it. You realized you have to work in order to make money and buy what you want in life. College is the same way, it is going to be stressful and your life is going to change completely but you have to stay positive and believe in yourself. College will make you realize many things, including figuring out who your friends are. Don’t let loosing a couple people bring you down. Everything happens for a reason. Just remember that.

Dear High School Jasmine, I know that you think you are set on your future career plans but don't be surprised if college opens new opportunities and doors for you in other academic fields. There is so much out there and I don't want you to miss out on opportunities or jobs because you think you already know what you want to do. Try new things. Talk to the guidance counselor about other options. Allow yourself to have new experiences so that you know for sure that your undergraduate degree is going to lead you to a career path that you will love. Good luck! Dream big and don't sell yourself short. Love, College Junior Jasmine