University of Michigan-Flint Top Questions

Dear Younger Me, I know that you are quite busy right now with finishing school and working part-time, but please just take a minute to read this. Even just a year later, I have found that I have grown and matured in areas in which I doubted the need for further development. One such area that I now recognize should be strongly developed in high school, in preparation for college life, is the skill of time management. I promise you that taking time while still in high school to develop this will pay off! Otherwise, it will be a very difficult transition into the bustling, busy college life with a structure that resembles very little of the public education system. Learn to make a detailed schedule of your week, not only including your work and class times but also setting aside specified times in which to study and read for classes. Start now! Adopt this good habit while it is still an easy thing to learn! Sincerely, Your Older Self Josh PS If you are reading this, I was indeed successful in breaking the time-space continuum. Expect some sort of possible breakdown of the universe.

My advice personally, might seem unusual. Throughout life, I challenged myself, constantly striving to be the best. My goal freshmen year was just that, to end up graduating at the top of my class. The rest of my four years then consisted of me doing everything I could to accomplish this: taking 4 AP classes, studying all night, going above and beyond. Yes, I graduated Salutatorian of my class and I'm commended endlessly for that; however, I really wasn't satisfied. I looked back on my high school years and realized I stressed too much.. and for what? I am beyond proud of the accomplishment, but what I wish now is that someone simply told me, high school isn't everything. High school does not define you and neither does your G.P.A. Don't misunderstand me though, it's so important to try your best in school and prepare yourself for the real world, but enjoy your youth while it lasts. Make time for friends, live in the moment, let high school be enjoyable but at the same time, strive to achieve the goals that satisfy you. Put simply, "Work hard, play hard."

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, the advice that I would give myself would be "Stop thinking that you know everything and do your work!" I was a kid that was smart and ahead of her class. I went through a few problems in high school, but i never let them affect my school work or my overall performance. When I became a senior, things had changed. I was living in a new house with new people and I got what most would call "senioritis." I was tired of being in high school, and I felt like I knew eveything that the teachers had to teach me. As a result of it, my overall G.P.A ended up being less than great. I then realized that I should've payed attention in school and did my work even if I felt like I knew everything. No one had even tried to bring my overall G.P.A to my attention. My grades were low and my chances of getting into a university were even lower.

Two word I would tell myself, "Get involved!" College will be a beautiful experience when you get involved it is an opportunity to network build leadership skills, gain scholarships and use your full potential. Student Government will give you all those benefits, I am currently the Student Body President of my college and I have to say that this has opened so many doors for me. College is about creating yourself and getting you out of your comfort zone. In college you will enjoy it more if you keep an open mind, learn from others and help others. Getting involved will be the best choice you make.

Take your time, Samah. You deserve this just as much as the next person if not more and you can do it. It will be hard but who said success isn't? It will be filled with long nights and struggles. You'll lose hope and a few loved ones but you're going to learn more than your mind can even imagine. You're going to find yourself three times over and keep going. I love you and so does everyone around you. Make yourself proud and reach the sky. It's in you, I know.

Dear Sherri, Congratulations on finally making it to your senior year in high school. Right now you have your mind set on joining the Army. You have been active all through school. You have made many friends, some of which you will have for a lifetime. You have always been a confident, smart, excited student athlete with strict self-values and have lived up to those personal expectations. Here is the part I want you to know. High school is nothing like real life. It does prepare in you in a basic educational way for life ahead, but does in no way prepare you for all the adversities you will face. You are living in the year 1991. Before you reach the age of 39, you will have tried drugs and alcohol, you will have a son at age 32. You will also try many positive things, and it will take you many years to realize your full potential. Don't just think in the moment and give into peer pressure. Think about others in your life and think about yourself and long term goals. Study hard and don't ever give up! Best of luck!

If I could go back in time, I would definitely tell my high school senior-self to gather enough motivation to get more involved in clubs, volunteer activities, and other school organizations. During my senior year, I was forced to work a full-time job and also go to school. I was able to graduate from Lake Fenton High School with a 3.86 GPA, in the Top Ten of my class. However, I did not have very many days off, and I spent most of my free time catching up on homework and studying. I really wish I could go back to my senior year, and find time to go out and experience clubs and activites. In college, there are so many opportunities to meet people and to be involved. Because I was never involved in High School, I didn't know where to start once I started at college. My advice for high school seniors is to make sure that they are able to balance school, work, and extracurriculars as well.

Assuming I can go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to NEVER give up. College and university is the most important thing to accomplish in life and to have a great career and successful life. As a senio, one should always be ready for the next big step; Which is College. Being a college student is not as easy as being a high school student. In College you have lots of responsibility and lots of hard work to get through. In the end, all that hard work will pay off.

As a high school senior, I was more concerned with keeping out of the dreaded "Student Loan Debt" crisis that was beginning to rise in our nation. I decided to go to a community college because it was cheaper, and nearly free to me with a tuition-assistance program available at my mother's job. Working while tgoing to school full-time was a recipe for disaster. I can excel at anything, but not at everything. I learned this the hard way. I would tell myself this tale of experience. While I'm not thrilled at all about finally accepting debt, I would encourage myself to go for it, except go for the nursing field that I'm in now, and not waste time majoring in something as ambiguous as business, because the nursing field has nothing but potential. I would tell myself how much I/we enjoy the college life, and how many great friends I/we could meet that were OUR age. I would reassure myself that our church would understand, and that the time isn't now to seek to be involved in a full-time ministry. Work, I would say, could wait a few years.

Put school first. If i would have focused more when I first attended college, I would be graduated and most likely have a good job right now.