Wake Forest University Top Questions

I knew coming into undergrad that I would be challenged by the intimate setting and academic challenges of my university. I also knew that that was exactly what I needed to grow. College is not about finding what is easy. It is a unique time to discover yourself, your passions, your goals, and be surrounded with people who share common interests and aspirations. Something that I learned during school that I still draw on to this day is not to be afraid of looking dumb. Often times we are our own biggest threat to growth. Fear of how others will perceive us holds us back. Those who are willing to look ?dumb? learn the most by being open with others and themselves. It is ok not to know all the answers. My time in school showed me that it is better to be the most real version of yourself than a second rate imitation of someone else.

Though college is one of the best times in a person's life, the transition into college can often be difficult. After a semester at Wake Forest University, I've come to realize that the most important thing to do is to be fearless. Especially in a new setting, it can be difficult to reach out to people, whether they be peers or professors. However, the only way to bridge that gap is to put all reservations behind you and just approach people. I met my best friend at school simply by going up to her and asking what language she spoke, and if I had only done that sooner, I would have spent less time feeling lonely. It it also important make connections with professors because those alliances can result in unique opportunities. As a science major, it is my utmost wish to be able to do research with a professor. Last semester, I regret not being courageous enough to approach professors about such possibilities, but this semester, I am working hard to change those circumstances. For, it is only the bold and the fearless who are able to truly follow their dreams and acheive their goals.

First of all, I would tell myself to take some more AP classes in order to get a head start on credits heading into my freshman year of college. I would also tell myself to take the AP Macroeconomics test as well as the AP Microeconomics test instead of only taking the AP Micro test, because Wake Forest requires both in order to receive credit. However, credits aside, I would have much to tell my younger self. Being a naturally shy and reserved person around people I do not know, I would tell myself to be as friendly and personable as I can during the beginning of the year. Meeting as many people as possible and fostering positive relationships is crucial to a successful collegiate experience. I would also tell myself to be prepared to open my mind to new ideas and many different types of people. The culture shock was tough for me at first but I was able to eventually acclimate myself to life at Wake Forest. In terms of academics, I would tell myself to be prepared to work harder than I ever have before and always ask for help when needed.

As the daughter of a teenage single mother, I learned that all odds were against my attending college. My new college friends had older married parents who were paying the $200,000 for them to attend WFU, unlike me, paying my own way through. I am the first in my family to attend college, and so my family couldn?t help me with these new experiences. I learned what a sorority was, struggled with my classes, and attempted to understand the southern drawl of North Carolina. I questioned if I belonged at WFU. My first semester had many ups and downs, but I learned important lessons. First, never doubt myself. Money doesn?t make someone better or worse. I?m smart, despite my financial disparity, and I deserve to be at WFU. Second, stereotypes have no place in my world. I do not conform to the stereotype of having a teenage mother, of not having college-educated people in my life. I try to not allow stereotypes to skew my view of others either. Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, ?No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.? They are the words I have come to live by.

Calm down. This is only the beginning to a series of forks you will encounter in the roads ahead. Take a deep breath. Forget the notion that you have to go to college in order to succeed in life. Instead, think about why you really want to go to college. What is it that you value? How do you want to enrich your life? Breathe. Your next steps will be on your own. As frightening as that may sound, there is no need to worry since you will have all the resources you need to cushion those nasty falls you will surely take. Contrary to what you've learned sometimes strangers are there to help. Be sure to learn from the many mistake you will make, since these are the lessons that will last your lifetime. Realize that like you everyone else is becoming independent, so while becoming independent together may be comfortable and fun, your series of forks will be different from their forks. Be open to new ideas and personalities. Use but don't abuse your youth. Most importantly, learn to trust your gut . It will serve you well, especially when people are giving you advice.

If I were decide my criteria for college, I would look for more interaction with the community--I want the typical college town. I didn't realize how isolated one could feel on a campus, and I originally thought it would be nice to be far from home. Winston Salem and Wake Forest have no interaction and, honestly, neither really does Wake. The people here are awesome, and the classes are taught by knowledge and good people, but I don't know anything that goes on outside of Wake. On Friday nights, the only things going on happen on campus...there isn't a cool resturant or arcade in the town. I want the ability to walk downtown and grab a bite to eat, an experience that is impossible at Wake, considering the campus is surrounded by four-way highways. I suppose this oversight happened because I didn't stay overnight, and I merely visited during the day. Everything looks great during the day, and you honestly get caught up in excitement. Wake certainly has the "wow" factor when you walk through the campus, but if I were to understand the dynamics of the university, I would have attended another.

Don't play games.

I would tell myself, as a high school senior, to think more carefully about which college to attend. When I was making my decision about which college to attend, I did not spend enough time considering the financial aspects of college. The main thing that I was concerned with was the school's reputation; I wanted bragging rights and to be able to say that I went to a nationally recognized school. Also, I would tell my past self no to doubt her abilities, academic or social. I was so worried that I would not be on the same level as my college peers academically or socially, which caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. However, here at college, I have found that I was not accepted to Wake Forest by mistake--the admissions committee must have seen something special within me. I have succeeded academically and socially here at Wake Forest, something that I never thought that I could achieve. The last thing I would tell myself would be to appreciate your parents, because they will be the two people, among others, to support my every decision and choice, no matter how outlandish, wishful, or spontaneous they are.

Be ready to work exponentially harder than you did all through high school. Be sure to be outgoing and meet as many people as possible because in college and in the real world its a lot more of who you know than what you know. The connections you make in college are the ones that will help you all throughout your life. You are given a lot more freedom both academically and socially which is great but could be very detrimental to you if you abuse it. College is the greatest four years of your life so enoy yourself and have as much fun as you can but always keep in mind that your academics absolutely come first because once you graduate, it is your academics that will get you a great job not all the parties you attended.

I went into college with no expectations about the people, I just wanted to figure out where I would fit and who my friends would be. Even though my school is generally very conservative and has a checkered past with any type of minority students, whether it regards race/ethnicity or sexual orientation, there is always a place for someone at the school. Since we are such a small community, there is never a day that a person will go without as least one person who cares about them. Also, a great positive of thsi school is that all of the professors here want to see you succeed. Working hard in your courses only helps you, because if you don't understand something, professors are more than happy to work with you and explain everything to you. Our classes are extremely small, with my largest class being 45 students, and my professors always had names down by the end of the first full week of classes. Wake is a great environment to flourish academically and socially. There is always something going on and students are generally always happy.