Crystal
I have learned that high schools, universities, and the government push kids into 4 year universities without them knowing EXACTLY what they want to do (That's called being money hungry!). I am a sophomore and still have not found a Major at my school (and have to declare it by the end of this year). They all push you into four year universities and say bye, good luck, you'll figure it out later. Well almost two years later and i still have not figured it out! So now what? Now what do i do? Where is my help for that? High schools should tell kids (and have programs set up) to go and shawdow a job they might be interested in. Then they will find out what they like and dont like, and if what they like is at a technical college, then they should not feel stupid for going to that kind of school. There is too much presure put on kids now. Not everyone is meant to go to a four year university. If there was more technical and hands on support kids might learn better. Giving a kid 500 pages to read a week = bad!
Kimberly
Solely knowledge found in years of research I can use to treat the world the proper use and outcomes of exercise through many ages, contexts and cultures.
Sara
The most difficult decision of my senior year was making the decision between Washington University (in St. Louis) and the University of Minnesota. While I was in love with the Wash U campus, the school didn't offer the program that I was interested in, so I ultimately chose the University of Minnesota. Despite the reasoning behind the decision, I still spent most of the summer fretting about it, and worrying that I had, in fact, made the wrong choice. If I could go back, I would tell myself not to worry so much. Where ever I go, there will always be opportunity and wonderful people if I seek it out. I would tell myself that this is a wonderful school, a good decision, and to take advantage of all of the opportunities that I have here, including faculty experience. Most especially, I would tell myself to take more non music classes during my first semester despite the heavy credit load, as I was somewhat bored during my first semester. This was partially my fault, as I could have seeked more opportunity for myself, and partially because the classes were intro level, and thus covered much of what I knew.
Tyler
No matter what you do, do not procrastinate! If I could tell my high school self anything it would be the previous statement. College, no matter the school you come from, is a step up from high school. The courses are harder, the professors will not babysit you, and the distractions are huge. The classes may have less homework, but the amount of reading and studying required to do well is more than high school classes. I got behind on the reading in my first semester Chemistry class, and it was very hard to catch up. The lectures did not make as much sense as they do now that I read the chapter before I go to lecture. Procrastination is very easy to do when you are in college, especially living in the dorms. Someone is always willing to play video games, watch a movie, or do anything that does not pertain to classes. I wish I could have told myself to work hard during the week so I would have free time at night and during the weekend without my uncompleted work on the back of my mind.
Donald
Dear DJ,
Hi, it?s me, DJ, as a college sophomore. Now that we have a year and ? of college under our belt, I?m here to tell you that all your hard work is starting to pay off. You need to stick with taking the most rigorous class schedule that you can, as it really will help prepare you for what lies ahead. Take advantage of the knowledge your teachers possess and don?t be afraid to ask to tough questions. They are there to help you and really do care about your future. Continue to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. Once mid-term and finals prep start, you will feel like you are running a marathon. Finally stick to your goals and work ethic. Once you get here you are going to find out it is exactly what you worked so hard for and you will LOVE it. It?s awesome, so keep studying hard and be prepared to hang on for a great ride!
Pang
Attend lecture everyday, make use of every learning materials, and reharsing the materials than memorizing.
Rebecca
Knowing what I know now, I would tell that 18 year old girl to ignore the temptations of a manipulative world. I would look into deep into her green eyes and tell her she wants to strive for success in her dreams, and not to place so much worth on material gain, or getting a big chunk of The American Dream. I would put my hands on her shoulder and tell her that it isn?t easy, but that she needs to turn from the people calling her away from her true passion; away from using the gifts she was given. I would hug her tight and whisper, ?You are an Artist! Your hands are made to capture this experience on earth. Trust me, I am you. I am here; you do not need anyone else. Now let?s create something beautiful and share it with the world.?
Mary
If I were to talk to my high school senior self, there are lots of things I would advise her to do. Study well, manage your time well in order to succeed academically and still maintain a social life, don't hesitate to take opportunities. However, more important than any of those, I would advise her to not be afraid to ask questions because in the end, you really have nothing to lose by asking and everything to lose by not. Often, the question will be about a topic you are having difficulty understanding, and you will gain knowledge from the answer. Even if you think your question is one to which the answer seems obvious, at least you have garnered the attention of the professor, which is the first step to getting to know the faculty who will write your letters of recommendation. And those, as we all know, may be an important factor in getting that internship or job in the future. So ask! There really is no such thing as a stupid question--every question has a purpose.
Noah
I would tell myself to start forming some stronger study habits. Even though you know that the work load is going to be a lot tougher than high school, you are never prepared for it. Also, get out there and assert yourself with new people. A lot of college is meeting new friends and learning social skills that will be useful later in life. One more big thing I would stress to myself is to always ask questions. In high school, I wouldn't really ask the teachers anything. I would just keep to myself and find the answer in a textbook. But if you really make a strong effort to understand the concepts you are learning, you will be very successful.
Michelle
Do not fear because college is not as terrifying as it seems. Do not fear because you will get a good education at Minnesota that will prepare you for the rest of your life. Do not fear that you are far away from home because with inventions like Facebook, Skype and the telephone, you will not lose touch with anyone. You will feel more stressed than you ever have in your life (yes, even worse than those horrible four hour AP tests). You will be scared that you will never meet friends like those that you have "back home." You will even go through times that you believe that you may never finish all the work you were assigned. Do not worry though, for every other student at this school is feeling the exact same way that you are. You will find that making friends is easy. Classes may be hard, but your professors are very helpful and caring. You will find yourself balancing more activities than possible, but enjoying every single one of them. Do not fear because this is just the next step in life. See you on the other side.