University of Rhode Island Top Questions

If I could go back and give advice to my high school-self, I would tell myself to relax. Trying to decide and commit to choices regarding my (hopefully) long and prosperous future is daunting at age 18. The game plan at that age was highly reliant on what my parents had in mind for me, and looking back, I wish I had taken some REAL time to figure out what I was interested in, and mold my choices from there. It can seem like graduating from high school and entering college was a footrace to get to a finish line of a degree. I don't know why I felt like I had no time. It's not the case. There is plenty of time to get your bearings, discover your passions, and go for them. Even though I didn't want to hear this advice at the time, choosing a vague major for the first 2 years of college would have been the best thing I could do because I would have had the opportunity to explore my interests and not feel like I was hurrying to an end that I was unsure of. So, just relax!

if i can go back to the future when i am in high school i will probably be more organized so it could prepare me for college. i will tell my self that now is the moment to e serious and focus on school.i will also tell my self that if i need help to ask for it.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to participate in college. I was never the type to make friends or attend social events. Now I regret that after four years I have not made any memories that are not academic. Having a high GPA is important, but college is a chance to meet people, try new things, and do what would not be possible in any other situation. I would tell myself to talk to people in class, go to campus events, be less serious.

As a high school student, I always saw myself in the future frame. But I never imagined how much work would be needed to realize that future frame. I am not necessarily referring to academics but mostly socializing. I always did very well in my classes, even when they wrestled with me. But I did not realize how much work was going to be needed to make my presence known in classes, such as asking questions or class presentations, which I absolutely hated in high school and struggled in college. I found ways of removing that fear but it was not permanent because I did not push more. A fear that I knew from the very begenning would handicap me from interacting with people, thus I recluded myself even when I had tremendous ideas. When I voiced myself people would be surprise, but i always second guess my potentiality and didn't think that I could do better. If I could rewind the clock and go back in time I would probably find better ways to remove tmy fear, it would have been easier. Its a fact, I will need to deal with people and hiding is not the solution.

I would tell myself a few things. First, I would tell myself to take the AP classes offered despite the steep price that they seem because it will save you thousands in college. Also, branch out into other fields! I already knew Anthropology was what I wanted to do, but there are not a lot of job oppertunities now. I would have loved to double major in natural resource sciences to broaden my horizons, but I found it too late. The last thing I would like to tell myself is to get involved on campus even though I lived and live at home. I always regretted not joining the rowing or rugby teams, as I would have loved to play those sports. But I was afraid. My most important message would be just that, to not let the fear of the unknown overwhelm and control my choices because I regret them more than words can say.

My 20 year high school reunion is this Summer. I have many life experiences that I’d love to share with my high school self. When it comes to college the first thing I would suggest is to go to a less expensive college. I was not eligible for financial aid. Those were the days before internet access for scholarship searches and my counselor was not very helpful. I worked on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska to attempt to make enough to pay for a semester. I had to stop going as we just couldn’t afford it. I believe that if I had been smarter about my school choices I wouldn’t have had to nickel and dime my education completion. The other advice is similar to that to a bride before her wedding, “Make sure to slow down and enjoy every moment”. When we are young and eager to get out in the world we don’t realize how quickly life passes you by. A student needs to remember to not only work hard in their classes, but to meet new people, try new things, take care of your health, and live each moment to the fullest.

Dear Past High School Senior, You're in the final stretch now, ready to shake off the weight high school and take those glorious steps towards freedom. You're feeling like you should have been taking these steps years ago, but just remember that the transition won't be as easy as you think. Enjoy your last moments of being teenager and start preparing yourself for independence. Get a job and search for scholarships. More imporantly start taking time to really become at peace with yourself and find activities that keep you grounded and reduce stress. There will be many times in college where you need to be alone from everything and you'll actually miss home. Find something that keeps you happy, healthy, and calm in times of strife. Make time to exercise no matter how busy it is, or how tired you are! I promise that you will need it! There will be a lot of good in college and you'll learn so much, but there will be a lot to test you as well. So start building that armor and get ready for bumpy but amazing journey. Love, Future College Student

My best advice to a highschool senior is ,"Stick to your goals and be persistent". Once you graduate high school you are not only making the transition from high school to college, but from mother's nest to the real world. You can either sore through the sky and reach your dreams or give into all the chaos of college partying and fall flat on your face when you leave the nest. Remember, there will be set backs and challenges that you will have to solve on your own now that your parents and teachers are not holding your hand; but when you surpass these challenges the sense of accomplishment that you will feel is tremendous. Keep your eye on the prize and focus on the career you have chosen for yourself. When you are given an assignment study and repeat the lesson over and over. Nobody forces you to stay in college or go to class; it is all about your self motivation and the drive that comes within you. Prove to the world that you are a success and NEVER GIVE UP.

Take a deep breath and find out what truly inspires you. If you find out what your passion is, hold onto it and always remind yourself why you chose this path. Once you know the path that you want to take, hopefuly it is the one less traveled, then you can plan for the future. Take notes, make friends, exchange emails, and talk to your professors. They are there as guides, use this opportunity to go far in your educational career. Look into and talk about what classes you need to take in order to graduate on time, but don't stress out. The first year is full of mistakes, but you learn from them all and come out stronger in the end. From there, plan ahead and anticipate mistakes and what you can do to prevent or correct them. Overall, find someone to confide in, to take study breaks with, and enjoy life. College will go by far too quickly. Remember everything you learn from this time, both inside and outside of the classroom. Your experiences now will come to define who you are, what you believe in, and how you will change the world.

If I could revisit my high school self I would advise myself to be more confident. Since being in college I have been exposed to a diverse population of people. I have seen that most people have the same insecurities as others and are often unaware or apathetic of all the mistakes I may make. With this increased confidence I would tell myself to go out and make friends. Early adulthood is when and individual lays down the foundation for the rest of his or her life and making friends is an essential part of that foundation. Friends, I have learned, are not only for socializing but they can help me with academic or moral dilemmas. They also expose me to new experiences that enrich my life. As a high school student I was shy and awkward, I wish I could go back and tell myself that there is no reason for such behavior in a world of such diverse yet similar people.