University of St Francis Top Questions

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself not to worry too much. Seventeen is too young of an age to realize exactly what one wants in life. When choosing a college, it is important to look at not only what will challenge you academically but also where you will be comfortable. Excelling academically is of equal importance as remaining happy. I would advise myself that the college transition is not easy, but if one remains level-headed and focused on what they truly want, they will persevere. The best advice I could give to myself would be that as time passes you will mature and realize that the most important things are not scores on an exam or your GPA, but the friendships and life lessons that you will learn.

I would tell myself to talk to students at the schools that I was interested in. Knowing a student's point of view of a school can be really enlightening because it can give you insight into what their experience has been. I also think that an overnight visit would have been a smart move, especially if you are planning on playing a sport in college. Talking to professors in your respective field of study is always a good idea because you will be spending the next four years with them and it is important that you believe that you could get along with the professors. The most important thing is to love the school. I believe that the feeling you first get when you walk onto the campus really makes you opinion about the school. University of St. Francis felt like home to me from the second I stepped out of the car on my first visit day.

I graduated high school in Janurary of my senior year. During that time, I was not so focused on school. I just wanted to make money and move out of my mother's house. I wish I would have taken school a little bit more seriously. I would have told myself that college is the path to success. I would have looked for colleges and went on college tours. I would tell myself that I would have to study and do the assigned readings. I would have told myself to not be afraid to go to college. I would have told myself the I am great and I can do whatever I sent my mind to do. I am grateful that I am a junior in a 4-year school now. I beleieve that things happen for a reason. It was my chance to go to school when it was right for me. I am pleased with my school and the students and the faculty. Another word of adivce I would give myself would be to never lose hope.

Right now I am a 27 year old single mother of a two year old boy. If I could go back to my senior year of high school self, I would shake myself and scream in my ear to finish college right away. Life only gets much harder the longer you wait to get your degree. I would tell myself to go straight to a four year university and skip community college even though it's cheaper - it's easy to get lost at community college and not finish school. I had different students in each class and there was no camaraderie. Live on campus, it makes making friends ten times easier! Yes it seems cool to get your own apartment but it's lonely. If there was any way back them I could have fast forwarded to see what the future would be like for me, I would have done things so differently. I'm so happy I have my son in my life right now, and I'm finishing school for him. But I wish I could have finished school before I had him so I could be building a better life for us now.

There would be much advice for my yonger self and would start with the year after high school. Advicing myself to work diligently, saving funds for travel abroad I would provide examples of how beneficial this would be for my future. Gaining perspective on the world and my place in it my younger self would have experience to draw upon when navigating life. I would explain to myself that if unsure which field of study is right that a vocation would be a smart start and would not preclude me from a later career. I would want to tell my younger self that she would love plants and medicine and go into a field a nutrition before finally studing naturopathic medicine; however, then I might miss out on much of the growth that has now brought me to this knowledge. Knowing little about college, having little guidance and discouraging advisors I have struggled through college. Knowing this I would tell of the future economy, how to pair science and math classes with english, and suggest taking math and science classes immediately so that my younger self might find the good experiences more meaningful and struggle much less. Lastly, have fun.

When assuming that I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that I needed to be better prepared for the financial obstacles in order to further my education. When I applied for financial aid, my application was denied. This outcome greatly discouraged me. However if I could go back in time I would tell myself not to be discouraged and that there are many other ways of finding funds for school. I would also say that I should try to apply for more scholarships such as bright futures, and campus discovery. The ability to go back in time would reward me a chance to also tell myself that I can do anything as long as I set my mind to it. Throughout high school I was never certain what I wanted to pursue in life, all I knew was that I wanted to be successful. I knew that success was a neccessary goal, but I hadn't fully believed in myself. The advice I would give myself today would be to always believe that with faith, and hard work, my dreams would and can be made my reality.

If I could go back in time when I was in high school senior I would advice myself to enjoy the moment. A big part of my senior year I was thinking of college and I feel like I should have focused more on the present. I would tell myself to enjoy every minute of high school, take advantage of having time to goof around and spend time with my friends going away. I would also get myself in the habit of being better in time management.

Work more! College is expensive! Know what you want to do before you enter a university. Switching majors as I have done is a pain in the butt and a huge money waster. Work hard so that you can pay for college each semester and not paycheck to paycheck.

This transition from high school to college has been a long one. To go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have to go back to 1994. If I could do that, some advice I would give myself would be to never give up finding what excites you. I would also tell myself that even though college may not be a possibility immediately following high school, someday that possibility will open up and you shouldn’t be afraid to go for it. There have definitely been some speed bumps along this road between high school and college, and that is why I would tell my young self to not lose hope, to keep on working towards your dreams, to not get discouraged...yes it will be hard, but in the end, when you can finally say you got your degree, it will all be worth it.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell my high school self to relax. I thought in high school that by my senior I would need to know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Yes, one should have an idea of what they want to do with their life, but you don't need all the answers. I took two years off between high school and college, and this was the best experience of my life. Within this time I was able to find myself and really decide what I wanted to do with my life.