University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Top Questions

It's funny how often we dwell on the past--despite our knowledge of the impossibility of returning. I think that's what makes us the most human. If we didn't regret, we could never grow. It's a part of evolution. It's necessary to cringe in hindsight. So knowing what I know now, what would I change? Well, my life has been filled with unimaginable blessings of freedom, opportunity, and expression; I have found such joy at college that I never saw coming when I was in high school. It's so easy to become caught up in the politics of high school and the incessent, gnawing need to be liked and accepted. But looking back, I laugh, becuase what was so gall darn important that I hid my inner light in order to be "normalized?" I wish I had tried out for the drama club and quit volleyball sooner since it didn't make me happy. I wish I had not done my homework and instead went out teepeeing houses. I wish I had smiled more. I wish I hadn't been so safe. I wish I could've allowed myself to be vulnerable.

The biggest thing that I would stress would be that you have to make an effort if you want to meet people and become friends with them. You are not sitting in classes with the same people all day, so it is much more difficult to "accidentally" make friends. Instead, you have to make sure you attend events that interest you and talk to people there. You have to leave your dorm room door open and be willing to put down your homework for a few minutes to talk to someone and make a connection. Most importantly, try hard to remember people's names - it makes a difference in how they remember you! The other thing that I would tell myself would relate to practicum experiences. These experiences in the classrooms of schools nearby are what help you in your future career and could help you get your foot in the door for a future employer. They are not just a requirement for a class you are currently taking, but rather a tool that will help in your future career. Take advantage of every moment and all of the skilled professionals you are able to work with.

The advice I would give myself I could go back in time would be not to take anything for granite. It may not hit you right away, but it has now. If I could go back I would take school more seriously instead of athletics because I feel that's what my high school was all about. I wish I would have been more involved and informed about financial aid and scholorships. The only advice I could have gave myself was simply to strive and believe on what I wanted to do at the time. The advice for the past doesn't make a difference now. I am in the present and not the past. Therefore, I will not dwell on the past, but simply move forward.

I am now a second semester college student and it’s hard to believe so much time has passed. I was really scared to leave home and go to college because I had never been away from home for so long and I didn’t know anyone else at school. If I could go back and give myself advice before I went to college I would have told myself that it’s okay to try new things, even if you don’t know anyone else doing it. I was really worried about not making friends and fitting into the right group, so I made sure to click with friends as soon as I could. I missed out on a lot during orientation week because I spend so much time only focusing on that one group of friends. I wish I would have explored other options and connected with more people because the friends I have now only like to drink on the weekends. That isn’t always fun for me and I always get dragged along with them. So, if I could go back I would tell myself to branch out more and not be afraid to try new things.

Wow. Advice wise, I would say prepare for the workload. It really isnt hard, but there is a TON. And once you meet friends, join clubs, and get a job, you tend to shy away from all the work. But stay dedicated. Also you dont need to feel pressure to drink, people will accept you the way you are. Also, the best time to make friends is literally within the first day, so DO NOT BE SHY. After that, it really is hard to make friends, so if you are a quiet person, really open up those first few days. Utilize all of the different things on campus, such as the financail aid office and the career services, they really want to help. Finally, go to office hours for your professor, you never know what might come from it.

Going back I would explain to myself how important your GPA really is and how easy it is to mess it up. Also how it is even harder to repair it! I would also tell myself to take the time to figure out during my senior year what I would like to pursue as a career. I am thrilled with my decision to go back to school at 27, but looking back it would have been great to have figured it out back then. I would have graduated and been in my choice career by now. Better late than never though! I also would have told myself that school really is worth it, and it can be one of the most exciting, fullfiling things a person can do with their life.

If I could go back and give myself advice, I would tell myself to focus more and to be prepared to grow up fast. In college, you are in an environment where the instructors work with people of different ages and backgrounds. Their teaching styles are very different from the styles that you have witnessed in high school. They expect more out of you than the teachers in high school. Most of the time, you will have to teach yourself outside of the classroom. You will need to be able to focus more in order to pass all the classes and in order to meet the standards that are set at the college level. College will be a new change in your life. You are going to have to grow up quickly once you step foot on that college campus. You will be around people who differ from you. You have to work with people who have different viewpoints than you and you will have to be able to accept it and move on. College is a new world outside of high school. You will have to change and make sure that you can keep up with the change.

I would tell myself, “I know you think you’re not quite ready to move out and go to a “big” university, but I think you’d be able to handle it just fine. It’s not extremely different from home life as you think. I also realize that you’re still unsure of what to study, but that’s okay; you can get started on your generals, while taking a variety of classes to see if any spark an interest. Just remember, don’t simply go for the easy classes; keep taking classes that challenge you as you are now. Also, realize that some classes satisfy more than one degree goal, so check into those that interest you instead of taking the “obvious” classes. And don’t be afraid to change your major; follow your heart! There are plenty of schools out there that will surely fit you and have everything you want and need, so do some more research; ask the counselor for help coming up with a list of schools to visit that meet your requirements. Lastly, remember to get involved in something, and don’t stress too much about your grades, you’ll do just fine!”

First off, I have never been very well personally organized. The main thing I would tell myself is to reconsider how I organized my studies, homework, and time. I spent a little too much time having fun and not enough focusing on the grades i truly wanted to achieve. This only occurred during my senior year as well. Next I would have alerted myself to pay more attention to ACT deadlines, as I applied a tad late, but still was able to take the test. I tended to focus more on the day to day activities rather than the large picture for college requirements, since I wasn't really sure where I was headed in my future. Third, I would have told myself to participate in more community service and join more clubs. Yes, I did participate in my community as a volunteer as an assistant Spanish teacher and community tables, and yes I was part of organizations such as my school's Spanish club, Psychology club, Political Science club, and National Honor Society, but I personally could have put myself out there a little more. Finally, I just need to be me. College is tons of fun!

I would advise to allows keep track of my money and try and be open to new ideas and how people interact. It is scary to be in a new setting but it will be the best experience. People are different and think differently than others so being more open-minded would have helped more. I would say that money goes quick and keeping an eye on it is necessary. I would say to be sure and focus in school and make new friends but don't get involved in anyone's drama because that will only bring me down and cause more stress in life. If I would have taken that advice, I would not have been so stressed out about how others thought of me and take on problems that weren't even my own. I would say just focus and have fun because the classes will only get harder and this is an experience that only happens once.