Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

If I could converse with myself as a senior in high school, I would primarily tell myself that God has his hand in everything. Even when you do not feel he is there, and your path is covered with fog, His hands are the ones guiding you on. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Call on him regardless of how small or extreme a situation may seem. Both semesters will bring their struggles and pains, but you will come out of them triumphant. With every situation you will go through, you will grow through and flourish. Take those lessons you learn along the way and keep them close, allowing experience to serve as a guide. I would tell myself to trust my parents. They have walked this Earth longer than you have and they only want what is best for you. More times than not, an obstacle that you are facing they have gone through before. They can speak words of wisdom and be your biggest cheerleader, if only you allow them to. Lastly, cherish your friends. The bonds you form now can last a lifetime. Life with them will be a rollercoaster, but they will become family.

Do what makes you happy. Sometimes you'll feel like you have to do something just because everyone else is doing it, or your friends will make you feel bad about something you want to do, but ignore all that. It doesn't matter what everyone else is doing, or what everyone thinks, as long as what you're doing makes YOU happy. And as soon as it doesn't, that's when you stop. Not when others tell you to. Not when they make you feel bad about yourself. When YOU decide that you are no longer happy. Go on adventures, meet new people, and enjoy life. These four years go by quickly, and at the end you want to feel like you've learned everything you went there to learn, including how to love yourself and make yourself happy.

To Lauren, This is the ghost of Christmas future. Boo! Haha. No, I'm just you from the future, here to present you with wisdom and the winning lottery numbers. I know you're going to Romania soon, and trust me, college will be a breeze in comparison. So since the existential crisis that arises from leaving the nest is no problem for you, I have different advice to give. Dont shut yourself in. I know when you come home from abroad you're going to feel out of place, because you didnt belong there and you don't remember how to belong here. I promise, the people you meet in college will accept you in a way most of your high school peers won't. And you will need these people, because there will be days when you're locked away doing homework for days on end, the sun and moon rising and falling with no regards to time, and you'll forget what the sound of laughter or the touch of human skin is. Your friends will be the ones there when you crawl back into the light to remind you. Don't be afraid. Forever you, You

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to apply for as many scholarships that you can. College is an expensive institution and without the necessary funds, a person's dreams and aspiriations can be hit by a major finanical roadblock at any moment. Finding avenues to fund your college education is important. If you have trouble writing a scholarship, researching other ways to get funds such as a campus job or internship is extremely important.

It would be beneficial to understand that college is nothing like the high school experience. There is more freedom; freedom in time and freedom in what direction a person can go academically. But with freedom, not to be cliche, comes a necessitated responsibility. It is important, especially in the first semester, to understand the value of good time management and organization. This will allow for an alleviation of some of the intense stress that can be present when making the transition to college life. It is also very important to not get overwhelmed by one thing or another. Do not get tofocused on your education and forget about the social opportunities that college can provide. This could end up being detrimental on a somewhat physical level as well as on a mental level. Keeping these ideas in mind can help provide a rich and gratifying start to college.

Study hard and don't fall for the trap of procrastination. Also look for as much scholarship money as possible and don't be afraid to ask questions or for help.

Christina going to college is a very awesome thing. Expect to change a lot, and please don't be worried about that. This change is going to be a good thing you are going to open your eyes up to a lot that life has to teach you (as well as college). I sound like a mom but just in this one short school year I have already matured in a way that I though I had already done. Also do not be worried about money, and I mean money for the future. Just study what you think you are called to and things that you will enjoy doing during your like. Lastly please understand the importance of financial help for school. It is probably the best idea not to wait haha. Just enjoy college for what your experiences will be because they will be great. (Invest in a massage pillow, it helps with stress!!!)

My advice is to live life to the fullest and enjoy it. Don't spend time caught up with the "what if's" and regrets or you'll never move forward. Work hard for what you want and don't expect others to just give it to you. Learn from past mistakes and prepare for future ones. Everyone is dealt different cards in life, and you can either choose to give up and throw the game, or use what you've got and make something of it. As for college, it's a blast. But don't lose sight of what's important. Also, don't sign up for those 8 AM classes when you don't ever get out of bed before noon. It never ends well.

I would tell myself to take applying to scholarships seriously. It's harder to find scholarships for college students than it is being a high school senior. In high school I was severely bullied. I was pushed down stairs, spat on, called king kong and had lunch throun on me everyday at lunch. I spent most of my time worried about not having friends and "being fat" that there was no time for anything else. I would go back and tell myself to snap put of it because at the end of the day, none of that matters. I would better prepare myself for studying as well because, if i'm compleytely honest, I never studied in high school, I never felt like I needed to and I never knew how to). I would go back and learn my best study habbits more earlier because one could not make it through college without it.

In high school, I could stay up all night...two nights in a row! I ate whatever I wanted and barely studied, but still managed to make great grades. When I got to college, I had a bit of a rude awakening. I actually had to study for my 18 credit course load, couldn't eat whatever I wanted and learned that pulling all-nighters weren't as easy anymore. Also, as a teenager, I wanted so much to hurry things along and become an adult. By 16, I already had a job, my own car and could support myself. By the time I got to college, I was burnt out from trying to be an adult and realized I should've spent more time in high school cherishing being young and carefree. Now, with 20/20 college hindsight, I'd tell my high school self to start good habits earlier and to relish in, well, being a teenager. These two words of wisdom may seem to be at odds, but I believe it's possible to start good lifestyle habits, while still remembering to cherish each life stage along with all of its joys and uncertainties.