University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Top Questions

The first piece of advice I would give myself is to study way more. It seemed like I studied a lot in high school, but when I entered college I realized that I would have to be studying a great deal more. This transition could have been made a lot smoother if I had studied more in high school. The second piece of advice I would have given myself is to not worry about the future so much because when it comes its not as scary as you think it is.

Dear high school self,

Get out on the first day and look for clubs to join around campus. You get to meet tons of new people and its a great way to network for possible future careers. Enjoy the college days because you only have four years to have fun and make mistakes, then we are off to the real world.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to apply for college, financial aid, the ACT test, as well as other scholarships sooner in the school year, because it will make everything for college not seem so stressful. I would also give my self the advice of having consideration to living on campus. Even though living with parents is cheaper, it would be more fun and fulfilling college experience to live on campus. The final thing that I would give myself for advice would be to put more money towards savings. By putting most of my check into savings, a little more could always go in, and not to go inot savings for money unless it is a major necessity or it is for school. Other than school advice, I would suggest to have fun and to continue to work hard at school, and even finding the best way to study would not be a bad idea.

I would tell myself to take a deep breath, and relax. I spent my entire senior year trying to plan out everything about my college experience, and it just is not something you can plan out. You have to experience college by just diving in; no matter how much planning you do ahead of time, college always surprises you. There is no way to prepare for the craziness that college brings to your life, so the only thing you can do is hold on tight and enjoy the ride. College will be everything you want it to be and more whether you worry or not, so you might as well stop worrying. The friends you make in college will be different than expected, in the best way possible. The opportunities you have access to will be more than you can ever imagine. The ways college will change you, will be absolutely life-changing and completely unexpected. You will conquer your fears and face challenges others only dream about. Instead of trying to prepare for the unknown, just enjoy the time you have left, because before you know it, college will be over.

Andrea, Intentional exploration of the unknown often leads to great discoveries. Remember this as you enter into college. This is a new adventure for you; a new state, new people, new opportunities. Take advantage of them by saying "yes" and investing in these four years. Say "yes" to conversations with strangers, for you will learn something new, and that stranger might turn out to be your best friend one day. Say "yes" to study abroad and exploring foreign countries, to learning about other people and their culture. Devote your time and energy to the people in your new community; expand your world by being a part of theirs. Tear down the walls you have built for yourself, and discover just how big this world is. For in doing so, you will find that you are strong, valuable, and brave. You will learn more about yourself and come to find that being present is more important than being perfect. So say "yes" to running a marathon, going on a blind date, getting involved in a campus organization, making a new friend, spontaneous dance parties, and the countless other new adventures college will offer you. Trust me, it is worth it.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have told myself not to choose the option of having a random roommate. My first thoughts about college and living on campus was,oh gosh, my roommate is going to be my best friend and we will do everything together. That was definetly not the case for me during my first semester as a college freshman living on campus. The transition from having my own room and space to living with a complete stranger with different beleifs and intentions was extremely difficult. Due to this experience I would tell my senior self to go on the website provided by the univeristy and talk to incoming freshmen to see if anyone else is looking for a roomate that has similiar interests. If I did this in the first place I would have saved myself time and stress because living with a stranger is a lot harder than I thought. I also dreaded coming to my room because I was scared my roommate would be in. This also made me sad, knowing that I am not even comfortable in my own room.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would provide myself with some serious advice and tell myself to take it to heart. First, I would tell my self to enjoy the time I had with my familiy at home. Being with friends is great and all but I would tell myself to cherish every moment I have with my parents at home. They are the reason why I was able to go to college and I missed them went I left. I would take advantage of mom's home cooked meals and dad's awkward joke telling because those were the little things that I missed dearly. I would advise my senior self to be prepared for the streess that college has in store. The long hours of studying can really wear someone out but I would let myself know that it is worth it. High school difficulty is nothing like college difficulty but you learn so much from it. I woud also tell myself to start working out more seriously since fitness is such an important factor in overall well being and can really improve myrself.

In August I started my first semester at Viterbo University and while reflecting on my life I realized our society is simply: messed up. Three months ago I lived in a middle class family, was given hand typed notes from my teachers, and had to raise my hand to go to the bathroom. Now, I live with a roommate who I’ve never met before, am expected to know how to survive on my own, and know the job I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. Somehow amidst the craziness I survived and made my first semester of college the best time of my life.College is all about being organized. I kept a planner that told me everything I needed to do a week in advance. As organized as I was, flexibility became my biggest struggle. I changed my major throughout the semester and by the time November rolled around I enrolled in at UW-Eau Claire as a transfer student in the Spring. I’m excited to see what lies ahead and know that with an open mind, determination, and organization I have the opportunity to make this next semester even better than the first.

"Chin up". These are the first words I would tell my high school self. Leaving a small town school for a large campus was one of the many transitions I made when breaking from my high school cocoon and bursting into the new world of higher education. I had grown so close to my community, and feared the heartbreak of losing them. Most of all, I trembled at the image of a cold, impersonal, and formal atmosphere on campus that so contrasted the way of life I was use to. The thought panicked me; and I would tell my high school self that there is nothing to dread. Although there are more students on my campus than residents in my town, the atmosphere at is far from chilly and aloof. There is a joyful and optimistic air that radiates from both the students and faculty. There is a smile around every corner and someone kindred to chat with in every hallway. The sense of community is omnipresent on campus; it is nothing I, nor anyone in high school should fear of losing by attending college. So "Chin up", it is nothing to worry about.