University of North Texas Top Questions

After I look back on my experiences throughout high school, I see myself bound to my future. I was constantly in the college center even as a freshman, trying to make a plan, an agenda, searching for campuses I could attend or workshops that I thought would be pre-requisite upon entering a secondary institution. I was so bound to my educational future that I lost sight of my educational present. I wasn't a bad student nor did I really struggle with the high school curriculum, but somehow I felt like I wasn't giving my all because of my focus on the next big step. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to slow down, to not be in such a rush to get out of high school. All my teachers said that high school were the days that they wish they could have back and if they could go back, they would. It's what molds and prepares you for the next big step, a very important component when talking about entering into college.

I would tell myself to stop stressing about the Air Force Academy (AFA), and focus on what I truly want for myself. I should have started researching all the degrees and applying for colleges before starting the AFA application process. I wish I had physically gone to visit other schools and consider them as prospectives. Before taking Dual Credit and stressful AP exams I wish I would have researched if they would even transfer towards my degree. I would have told myself to start UNT with a positive attitude. For me UNT was just a mediocre school and I wanted to be extraordinary, but when I was applying for the Air Force Academy I was so sure I was a shoo-in that I hadn't applied to any other schools or scholarships. I received my rejection letter in April and it was too late to apply to any of the other top notch Texas schools, but UNT had rolling applications. I thought the school would be too small and too close to home, but it turned out to be everything I needed and more. The transition to college life was made easier with the support of family and friends.

The first thing I would tell myself is, don't be scared. In high school they make college seem big and scary, but it really isn't. You will have fun and you will learn so much. Another thing I would tell myself is that when people say that you will most likely move on from your high school friends, they are right. You won't entirely lose them, but you won't be as close to them. However, I would tell myself not to worry, because you will make new friends, great friends that will be there for you and won't judge you for the things you have or haven't done. I would tell myself to stop procrastinating. In college, things get difficult if you procrastinate. If you do, be prepared for many nights of staying up until four in the morning finishing drawings. Don't do that to yourself. Get some sleep. I would tell myself to be prepared to learn. You are going to learn so many new things that you did not even think you would ever get to do, and it's going to be great. And lastly, have fun.

In high school, for me was many years back which there was no technology like now. On the other hand, I enjoyed school; even though, I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do. I was wasting my time the sudden unbridled personal freedom was a disaster for me I did not do nothing great because of my teenage age. I was living at home with my parents and my eight younger siblings. I was unemployed and had only worked a few odd jobs since high school. I had taken some classes without any idea of what was going to happen in my future. My family did not afford to pay for some fees and books; I had to borrow from my class mates which I didn’t like. I tried very hard and always wanted to be a winner; on the other hand, I didn't have all the materials needed for my classes I challenged myself, learned new things and become success. Also, I learned, and then adjust my course to make sure my path was always forward. I was never able to decide if there was any point in going to college without a real focus.

One of my biggest regrets as a high school senior was not taking college seriously. While my classmates were busy filling out scholarship applications and getting accepted into their dream universities I put forth only the effort needed to ensure I would walk across the stage in June. Looking back I wish I had been more proactive about studying. If I could talk to my younger self I would urge him to not take 7 am classes. Sometimes there are lessons you can only learn through experience. I learned, rather quickly, that getting up at 5:30 every morning was unreasonable for me and my grades suffered as a result. When I transferred to community college in the fall I brought my poor study habits with me. I felt that if it had been enough to get me by in high school it would serve me well for the next four years in college. I would tell my past self to not wait until the night before a test to finally open up the textbook and start reading chapters. Most importantly, I would tell myself to have a greater sense of urgency. College is all about learning to adapt.

I would have told myself to focus on taking AP tests and find scholarships. I did not realize how expensive college is. I would have suggested myself to take community classes in place of core classes at a university since those core classes do not pertain to your major so there is no reason to spend thousands of dollars on them.

Don't try to rush the process of growing up, enjoy life while it's still easy and make sure you take in everything you are going to experience. This is the last year that you are forced into learning, after this you will be able to learn and grow in a lot of different ways and find who you want to be in the world. Don't try to do everything at once, and dont always say yes to everything that comes your way, cherish things more.

The advice I would give myself is t not be scared to make new friends, keeping grades up is not difficult; meeting new people and connecting with them is. I guess something I'd really wish I'd known is that I'm not a morning person, and morning classes are not the best option for me.

I would tell myself to make sure I knew what classes needed to be taken and what classes could have waited till later; knowing this would have speed up core coursework alot faster. Knowing now that I very well could have achieved having a part-time and going to school full-time I have would made sure that I got a job that was perfect for my school schedule. As well I would tell myself that joining the lacrosse team is not important because joining is not going to be what will keep me school. What will is money, which is what I would have recieved if I worked a part-time job. But I would also tell myself to not worry and just breathe; the transistion is not hard. Make sure from the begining know what your values and goals are and do not stray from them throughout your college career. This will help keep things in perspective and make it harder to stray from the path that you set for yourself.

At eighteen you know everything. But that confidence has yet to set foot on campus, and when it does, you will be astonished by how college takes everything you think you know and decimates it in the most beautiful of ways. Because it’s not going to be the experience you meticulously planned and prepared for. It’s going to be so much more. College is not just the certificate that will hang on your wall, or the resume you’ll agonizingly polish. It’s about discovering that some of the most valuable lessons are learned outside the classroom. It’s about crying yourself to sleep, laughing until you can’t breathe, and finding courage in places you’d never look. It’s the friends you never expected to meet, and the goodbyes you never thought you’d make. It’s heartache, healing, hoping, and taking chances that you’ll try to talk yourself out of. And it’s wonderful. So plunge your feet into the water and approach both college and life with an open mind and heart. And remember that going the extra mile may give you a blister or two, but the end is well worth it.