University of Southern California Top Questions

Dear Veronica, YOU MADE IT! It's your first day of high school! I know you are nervous so I have some advice for you. 1. Don't be afraid to try new things- Alright! You're in a classroom with kids who've played sports since birth. Don't be intimidated. They will support and help you! Reach out and try something new! 2. Listen to your heart- There's going to be a lot of options and choices to make. Be true to yourself and what you want. Only you can make you do or think something, so believe in who you are and you'll do great! 3. Enjoy every moment- These four years will go by fast! Make the most out of every moment despite the negatives. It will be hard sometimes but you are strong so enjoy! I know you'll work hard and achieve all you want to for college so take the time to enjoy high school. Be you and be happy! You have nothing to be worried about. Lastly, never forget you are truly loved. -Future You

Three golden rules for high school graduates to follow: You must take advantage of scholarships and grants that organizations give away constantly. I never took advantage of them, and I truly regret that now. It is also a must, that you get a job and have a source of income. With a new salary, you not only increase your net-worth, but you also gain appreciation of your possessions as well as a heightened sense of the value of a dollar. Before I got a job, I abused my parents’ money, but now I appreciate my possessions way more because I had to work hard for them. It is also a great feeling to treat yourself to some new items of clothing every once in a while. Lastly, live the college life to the fullest. It is a privilege that many kids your age do not have the opportunity to experience because of familial or economic drawbacks that prevent them from doing so. Venture out of your comfort zone and meet new friends. Have fun, but remember that this is also a time for you to build yourself so you can have a well-paying job in the future.

Savor every minute of freshman year. Living on campus makes your first year different than any other year on campus, and while being an upperclassmen has its perks, there's nothing like being a freshman. USC focuses on giving first year students the best experience. Meet everyone, attend everything (school sponsored and otherwise). Take an interesting class pass/fail; you'll have time to floor it academically in the next three years. For now, just focus on having a great time.

Savor every minute of freshman year. Living on campus makes your first year different than any other year on campus, and while being an upperclassmen has its perks, there's nothing like being a freshman. USC focuses on giving first year students the best experience. Meet everyone, attend everything (school sponsored and otherwise). Take an interesting class pass/fail; you'll have time to floor it academically in the next three years. For now, just focus on having a great time.

If you never take chances and push yourself towards your own limitations, you will never truly know just how far your success path may lead. Challenge yourself and keep striving towards new goals and you will find that your rewards will be endless. There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be, that’s life. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. Life throws curve balls at us and even though at the time it may be hard to believe when all feels lost, there is no fulfilling destination without a journey. Humans are scared of change by nature, and no one wants to take that unknown journey. Everyone desires the end result of that journey. However, if you acknowledge the normal fear associated with embarking on an unknown journey, you will be able to take the first step with a little more certainty that it will all work out. Challenges and changes will only help you find the dreams that you know are meant to come true for you.

Assumptions regarding college as a high school student: there is no extra time in a week for those who wish to succeed. Be prepared to develop a discipline for the use of your time; keeping up is much easier when you don't get behind, do not procrastinate! Do not give in to peer pressure and fun; there will be much more fun to be had when you find a good career. Be aware your basic needs as Maslov's hierarchy of needs is absolutely correct. (i. e.) You must be at your peak if you want to stand out among the competition. Partying, and other poor habits will interfere with you reaching your full potential. All your decisions "will" shape your future, take one step at a time; then, your rewards will be forthcoming as you are in control of your destiny. Choose a college that will fulfil your needs, you may be the best investment you will ever make. Do not scrimp, find real world experts to guide your path as they share the benefits of their work. Explore all avenues regarding funding for your endeavor, including scholarship opportunities, like those offered by the experts at campus discovery.

Go after your dreams, the future is now. Don’t waste time thinking “what if” become yourself though your pursuits. If you have passion for something just go for it, grab the bull by the horns nothing will stop you once you start.

I would encourage myself to be curious and open minded. There is so much out there to discover - about myself, about people, about life. I would advise myself to look at my options and make good decisions, but do not be afraid of trying out something new. College is a period of time where people can discover new characteristics and aspects of themselves, so it's time to take the opportunities and run with them. Be social and kind to everyone. I'll meet great friends to build memories and many acquaintances to build a strong network. Although college can be stressful, it is also an awesome period of life. I would say to do everything with a smile on your face and always be humble. Be humble in your successes. Be humble in classroom. Be humble in your relationships. College is also a time when many things can happen - good and bad. Remember to forgive and love many.

Stay strong and stay true to yourself; if I were presented with the opportunity to talk to the old me, these would be my words of wisdom. Having only experienced a semester of college, I have extensively grown and matured intellectually and psychologically. During finals week I received some very unfortunate news. My 24 year old sister had been diagnosed with cancer. This event proved to me that life can be hard and blunt and the way that you handle such situations can ultimately determine your success. College midterms and final exams may be hard but it is a precursor to real life experiences. It is important that you keep your goals in mind even if it seems you're not getting any further in achieving them. If you remain strong and stay true to yourself when presented with any obstacle you can only succeed. You only fail when you give up. Although I had to deal with my sister's condition, I also had to keep in mind that my education will determine my future. I had to stay strong for my sister's sake but I also had to stay true to myself by continuing my studies.

I would advise myself to listen to the advice given to all high school seniors about the college transition. I thought, as most did as seniors, that college life would not be difficult to adjust to, but it is a great change. The advice I received that was most applicable to me was regarding time management. Time in college is much less structured, creating the illusion of more free time. However, this open time should be used for studying and staying up on your classes. When you fall behind in a college class, it is much more difficult to catch up. Joining clubs is a great way to make friends with common interests and get a group of friends outside of those you live with. The most important piece of advice I could give myself is to make sure to relax with some regularity. It is easy to go crazy focusing on school and the work you need to do, but if you don't take a break from it, you will burn out. College is supposed to be enjoyable as well as difficult, so make sure you are enjoying what you are doing.