University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I could spend hours talking about all the lessons I've learned and how much I've grown up. I would tell myself, "Sacha, take more time for yourself. Stay focused on your studies and expand your social group. Go to the sports game and have lots of fun at prom - go with the girls! Work hard but have more fun, make memories. But remember to keep the grades up, hard work pays off. Don't make your life all about one person, spread your love to others who need it too - especially to yourself. Definitely save your money! You're going to need it and there's no need to spend on stupid things now that you already know you don't need! You're going to be alright, just remember to stay true to yourself and you'll be even better." There is so much more I could say to myself if I could only go back, but those are a few of the important things I would really want at the top of the list.

College isn’t just meant to give you an education and a degree. You'll get the most for your dollar and the most out of your college experience by living on campus. Check out all the clubs and activities you are even remotely interested in: the intramurals, greek life, multicultural clubs, the hiking club, the muffin club (and there will be some crazy/awesome ones like this), whatever. Go to the gym, use the athletic facilities, take the free aerobics classes. Watch free films in the theater. Go to parties with friends, and meet new ones. Come junior year, start searching for internships. Use the career center to help you find them, to assist you in producing a killer resume and cover letter, and much more. Get a work-study job and scour the internet for grants and scholarships (the financial aid office can help you with this, as well). ALL FREE AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. It all comes down to being proactive and putting yourself out there as much as possible. It took me two wasted years commuting from home to figure this out, so, please, don’t make the same mistake your future self already did.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would remind myself that everything takes time, and to remember there's a reason people attend college. Entering a university such as UNH can be overwhelming and it takes time for friends to develope. Don't lose hope or sight of who you are. There are so many different types of people on campus that will appreciate you for yourself. With that being said, remember that you're here to learn. College is the most expensive piece of paper you will ever buy; make the most of it. Pay attention in class, go to bed early if you have an exam, and stay in some nights as a refresher. Your body will thank you. Don't get caught up "partying" the first few years; when graduation rolls around, people will want that Honors cord. Also, invest in relationships with your professors, try something new, and go after an internship - your resume and references will get you a job senior year when everyone starts freaking out about "the end." Save your money, you'll need it. And make memories you'll always want to remember.

Stop worrying. I know all you can think about is finding the school that is the perfect fit for you. The reality of it is that no school will ever be the perfect fit. No matter what school you choose you will go through a period of adjustment. You might feel uncomfortable and out of your element for a while, but this is natural. You will make choices about who you want to be and what you want to do and soon enough you will find your niche at whatever school you choose. Don’t be afraid that who you are is not good enough in the “college world.” There are wide ranges of people at school, some of whom will become your best friends. Everyone will be going through the same adjustment period that you do, so you will never be alone in your struggles. Stop thinking so much about the future. Instead, use this time to appreciate your friends and family at home. No matter what, utilize and value your time. Time spent worrying is not time well spent, for things will naturally fall into place eventually.

If I could tell my high school senior self anything, it would be to save my money better, and appreciate the last year of high school as much as possible. As a senior I knew college was expensive, but I didn't really think it would be all that bad. I was wrong. I wish I had saved my money better and been more responsible so I could help my parents out with the costs more. I would tell myself to smarten up and pick up some hours at work because you're going to regret being lazy during the summer. I would also tell my highschool self to relax and enjoy my last year for what it is worth. As a senior, I couldn't wait to just graduate and move on in life. Now that I'm in college, I realized that I should have appreciated the small amount of responsibilites I had. I would tell myself that growing up isn't all it's cracked up to be, so enjoy these times while you can. Even though getting older has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks. So enjoy this last year!

I would tell myself to go with my gut. I knew that I wanted to do something in business and then did something completely different and my grades ended up suffering from it and now, two years later, I am still struggling to get my GPA back where I would like it to be. I would also tell myself to get involved earlier. I made a great group of friends my first year and then didn't really try to expand past those initial few. In the spring semester my sophomore year I decided to join a sorority and it was one of the best decisions that I could have made. Although I still have these great friends, I just made so many friends and feel so much more engaged and involved on campus and it is just a rewarding feeling. I know that greek life isn't for everyone so I just encourage everyone to get involved in something that they enjoy, whether it be a club or organization or intramural or a greek chapter. it will just really make your college experience the most worthwhile that it possibly could be.

Give yourself some slack. I stressed a lot about the fact that I came in undeclared. I wish I hadnt done that, theres more time to decide then I thought. And even then undergrad is a good opertunity to get some ground work for what you think you might want to do but you can always go to gradschool and change your mind if you decide. So just RELAX!

Be proud of the obstacles you've overcome to achieve your goals, Kendra, and give back to the world all that it has given to you. There is no need to worry about your past or the negative criticism most adults/teachers gave you; your mother's incarcerations, and your father's absence in your life, do not define you or your future - you do. You've already chosen the right path, the better path, by deciding to attend college. All you have to do is believe in yourself and in your dreams. And in those moments when your feel self-doubt and your dreams seemso far away, remember what you're Spanish teacher/Cheerleading coach told you: "You're special. Your gift is your compassion. You care about others and helping them improve the quality of their lives. Never let that part of you fade out! Instead, use it to your advantage. If you do, I promise you will feel the good of people and you will find your place in the 'real' world. And in those moments when you do feel lost, make sure you call me! You are never alone. I will always be here for you."

My advice to my high school self would be to create better study habits early and to retake the SATs. The work that college students do is at a far higher level than a high school. In high school, I was used to being able to procrastinate my work but in college that is not an option. To be a successful college student, it is important to finish work early and work on multiple draphs of work before submitting it. Knowing what I know about the UNH scholarship process I would have retaken my SATs once more and possibly have gone to tutoring sessions to earn a better score. SATs determine the amount of money students receive at UNH, a fact that my high school self did not know. For many college students money is a stressful topic so it is best to do as much as possible to lessen the stress while in high school.

Organize your time very well! I know a bunch of people are telling you that and it may get annoying but that is probably the most important advice they will to you. Managaing your time will help you learn how to balance your time between work, classes, and assignments. It will also help with getting a good night sleep because with the right amount of sleep you will be able to stay up all day and not take any naps and get things done. Most importantly make sure you have your priorities straight. Yes you want to enjoy college and make friends but you are there for education. Plus if you organize your time you will have time for friends and enjoying college. Friends will always be there however your education is what takes you to places. Just remember be smart and use college to its fullest potential.