Washington State University Top Questions

I would suggest to my younger self to not chose homeschooling and running start but to stay in high school. Math in college is much harder then I expected and the extra years of help in high school would definately have prepared me better.

Going back to my seinor year I would advise myself to loosen up a bit, get a social life and take a few shop classes. All 4 years in High School I refused to take any "fun" classes; instead I took classes like calculus, physics and chemistry. I was entirely focused on getting into college and leaving my options open, however, I feel as if I lost a bit of who I was along the way. I never took any time to stop and find out what I enjoyed. Now in college I have found that I enjoy working on my car and training with the WSU Taekwon Do club. Only now am I finding who I am and developing my interests and personality. I wish I had come into my own years earlier. This is such an amazing feeling knowing who I am and what I want to do with my life.

I would tell myself that everything happens for a reason, and it really does work out in the end. And never lose your sense of humor :)

Don't stress too much! You're going to be sucessful if you put in the effort; it won't be the most difficult thing in the world.

I would tell myself that it doesn't matter as much how long you spend studying, but the quality of the time you spend studying. Knowing how to learn and teach yourself effectively is very important. I would also tell myself that pushing myself with more than I can handle, so I can graduate sooner, isn't the best choice. It's better to just do the best I can and still have a social life. College isn't just about succeeding academically, it's about making yourself a better, more mature, and more well-rounded person. I would tell myself that having fun and building life experience is just as important as getting good grades.

Succeeding academically and socially is key to your to future. In order to make a successful transition to college you must first change the way you approach your studies. In highschool most people take a passive approach to learning, on the other hand in college you must activley take steps to improve your understanding of the information. It is imperative to choose a school that can facilitate you in your quest for knowledge. Socially you must take aggressive steps to meeting new people because it is likely that you won't know that many. Steps you can take to meet new people are as simple as introducing yourself to the people in the rooms surrounding you, as well as joining common interest clubs, or a fraternity or sorority. You should not only just meet new people but try to make plans to go out and do something, because most college kids are open to meeting new people and its not weird to make plans with someone shortly after meeting them.

It is almost unbelievable to me the amount of information and life experience I learned during my first year of college. Looking back, if I were to tell myself anything as a senior in high school, it would be to enjoy who is around you while they're still there. The relationships with the friends you have in high school will never be the same once you come back, you'll change and so will they. So hold onto those sweet memories while you can, and don't take these people for granted. Don't sweat the small stuff! Life is much to short to stress out about things that are beyond your control, do what you can and the rest will work itself out. Take a deep breath and know that you're a smart, strong willed individual who has strong goals for the future. Don't let one, two or even three failures kill your dreams. Finally, be nice to your mother, and spend time with her! Family is so important. Your mother loves you dearly, and you will miss her terribly when you go off to school. Enjoy home cooked meals while you still can!

The most pressing thing to tell my high school senior self would be to actually ask out that girl I like, instead of ending up in college with no dating experience whatsoever - that's not helping anyone. I would also advise myself to be more open to joining student clubs and trying new things, especially while socializing with friends. Also, I would tell myself to prepare for the workload, especially the amount of work associated with an architectural major. But since I am only taking four classes, I would suggest that even though I have AP credit, go ahead and take that fifth class to fill up that extra time when I am actually bored - that's how I found this scholarship! Oh, and speaking of which, I would strongly advise applying for more scholarships than I did, and push the idea of getting a job on campus. Living wise, I would warn against the cold weather, but would say not to worry about living in a dorm - it's actually pretty roomy and a great to meet new people. Overall, my transition from high school to college has been smooth and exciting.

When I was 18, I had my G.E.D. and was in the U.S. Army, I had no idea of what I wanted in life. I spent a lot of time thinking about what was expected of me instead of focusing on myself. If I could go back, I would say to myself, "Look, kid. It isn't so important "what" you decide to do--but rather, how you do it. College isn't about surity of interest in a subject or wanting to know about things; instead, it's about discovery, evolving, finding passion and creating philosophies". Perhaps in retort I would cry out some negative self-deprecation so typical of an angst filled youth, yet I would continue on to encourage myself to realize my own potential by acknowledging that self-doubt, hesitance and anxiety exists within us all. I would tell myself to let go of pressure to finish things and think about what I want in life and what was most important to me in the world. I would remind myself to treasure my own ability to research, communicate, organize and motivate. I would remind myself that an inquisitive mindset causes natural change.

As a high school student I spent the majority of my time working, studying or attending class. If I were able to give myself only one piece of advice, I would definately have to remind myself to have a bit of fun. Now I am a mom with six children to provide for, a full-time school load, and a home to take care of. Time for myself is non-existent and stress is high. I would not change anything about the life I live now, but I wish I had taken the time to have fun, explore the world and examine the many possibilities our world has to offer.