University of North Carolina at Charlotte Top Questions

Try not to worry too much because life has a way of working every thing out and if you could see yourself now, you would realize that being in college at UNC Charlotte has made you an exceptional person and has broken you out of the shell you once lived in. You will excell in the academics, the area you once feared and some of your professors will become your biggest life-lines and go-to people. Oh yea, and that silly fear that had you in tears about not being close to your mom any more, well now she is your absolute best friend and the weekly girls nights that you both have is your favorite part of the week.You will find your nitch in the midst of the 25,000 students there and you will find your best friends who love you for who you are. I pray that instead of spending the last few days of your high school career worrying about your next step in life, being college, you embrace the phase of life you are in now and as always, live life to the fullest.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to start way earlier with college. I would tell myself to not procrastinate

If I could go back to my senior year in high school, I would advise myself to research the colleges that I want to apply to more diligently in order to find a better fit for my learning style and my personal interests. I would also advise myself to meet with people who have the career or profession that I want to study, so I have a better idea of what the work conditions and opportunities will be for me when I graduate. I would tell myself to get involved in extra-curricular activities to balance studies and my personal life. One last piece of advice to my younger self would be to learn to keep up with my studies and not wait to study for an exam until the last minute.

Let go. Don't be too fast to hold on to what you know at home. You are meant to go out and grow. Experience the world and the people in it. Grow. You're meant for it. Don't be afraid to make new friends and find parts of yourself you never knew existed. If you dont, you sell yourself short. You'd be letting down everyone in your life thats supported you up till now. You owe it to them, and most of all yourself, to go out and soak in this world and be the best version of you that you can be. Its not nearly as scary as you think. You're going to meet an entire campus worth of people who feel the way you do, and they are going to be the people who matter, and who you will matter to. Take them in. Love them. Let them love you. Take these friends and go out and change the world for someone. Even if its just saving a kid who needed to get away for a day, so he went to so see a movie... your movie. Thats what you're meant to do.

High school was an easy ride and you are not prepared for the difficulty of college classes. The teachers in High School are so much different than in College and the workload gets tough. There will be times where you spend hours on a Friday or Saturday night studying and finishing homework instead of doing other activities of interest to you. College is about growing up and staying focused. Do not avoid your studies; it is the main reason you are there. The road did not stop when you graduated from High School. It just begun. There will be a lot of twists and turns, and tears to be shed, but when looking at the big picture waiting at the end it will all be worth it. And you’ll look into the mirror and be proud of what is looking back at you.

Well Nikki everything changed. You no longer want to major in psychology, in fact you actually want to become a teacher. It's going to seem hard and pointless at times. There are going to be days where you just cry because you don't think you will ever finish your degree. But don't worry, we got this. We have all the support we need. I know taking off those two years seemed like the worse mistake of your life, but at least you didn't waste your time going for a degree in something you were bored in. Sabrina will tell you that teaching will leave you poor but remember you are working to help the children. Because if you don't do it, then who will!

Popularity and acceptance, no matter how strong the pull maybe, is fruitless. The magic of community lies in the quiet conversations away from the parties or the football games. I would tell myself to normalize being uncomfortable, to go out and meet others from different walks of life. These converstaions hold the key to awareness which can be powerful. I would tell myself to get my hands dirty, to walk in someone elses shoes and to take more time to help others. I would want my former self to know that the feeling of being a positive member of the world far outweighs the momentary feeling of being accepted for 'not being different'. I would them to ask more tough questions and to not be satisfied with shallow answers.

My first two years of college have been challenging, rewarding, stressful, exciting, and overall, an incredible learning experience. As a high school senior, I was clueless as to how I would adjust to college. The scholarship searches, altered schedule, long drives, more difficult classes, and an entirely new group of people intimidated me. If I could return to myself as a 2012 senior I would counsel her with these three pieces of advice: be involved from the very start, take chances, and stay motivated. Getting involved as a freshman is an incredible way to make friends, create an incredible college resume, and simply have fun being involved in clubs, organizations, and activities that suit your personal academic and recreational interests. Taking chances are vital in the pursuit of meaningful friendships, your college education and your career. Staying cooped up in your dorm room may seem easiest at the time, but getting out there and making friends will pay off in the long run. Having the motivation and dedication to persevere through stressful academic situations will build a stronger personality and greater character. Although college is not easy, the knowledge I have gained makes the experiences and trials worth every second.

If I knew then what I know now, I would've told myself to get the best possible grade I could've achieved in high school. I would have been elligible for a lot more scholarships and the financial burden wouldn't have been so heavy.

Looking back on my senior year I know a few things that I wish I would have known. There is a big stigma against students going to community college or taking a gap year and I wish I would have been informed about more opportunities than just going straight to a 4 year college. Although I went to a community college, it was a last minute decision which my high school could have really helped me with. I had extremely good relationships with friends in high school and I would like to tell my senior self to stay in contact with those people. You make a lot of friends in college, don’t get me wrong, but staying in contact with those people who helped you through hard times in high school can be really great. Telling my senior self these crucial pieces of advice could really have made the transition to college much easier.