West Virginia University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myslef how important gardes and studying methods are. I would let myself know how important it is to go to class everyday and do all the homework. Studying habits are hard to learn in college. I would tell myself to create a study program that works for me, one that is edited to work specificly for me. I have learned that I did not have good studying ethics in high school. I thought that I could do well on tests with the methods I left high school with. As I have completed a semester of college already i have learned I was incorrect. I would have gotten help on my test anxiety in high school. It doesnt get any better in college infact it gets worse. I would also tell myslef to work harder and get better grades. To challange myslef in classes and to take harder classes. But the most important thing I think I would have told myself would to be conifidant in myself and trust myslef that I will do fine in school and life. Keep you head up.

If I could go back a year in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is a lot of hard work and dedication. I would make sure I was studying harder than I did and filling out way more scholarship applications. I would also reassure myself that I would be on my own so knowing how to do my own laundry, cook, clean, and just take care of myself would come in a lot of good use when I reached my college days; you are responsible for your own self.

Having graduated top 10 of my class of 800 I would have been more involved with my guidence department. My mother nor father attended college so the push for education was not there. When I married my wife she and her family were of the opinion it is not if the children were going to college but where. Now at 40 years of age I am going to college for degree in civil engineering. I lost my job in construction due to econmic crisis. I would know that there is a way to find money for college no matter what your familys income. I would be persistant and like today at forty I WOULD FIND A WAY. Education opens many doors for you that as I have found in my life time closed. So for all you new graduates do not give up be persistant and you will find your way. Be especially gratefull for those who help you along the way.

I would tell myself to keep to the course that I took and enter the Air Force as planned. The military was a wonderful experience and gave me valuable skills for work, school, and life. I would tell myself not to worry about the small details and keep my eyes on the future and where to go to make certain that I had the tools that I need to succeed in the future.

I immediately started thinking of a thousand things I wish I'd have known, an eqal number of things I'd have changed, and more things that could have made the transition...well, simpler. There's this other thought I keep returning to, though. Isn't half the fun of college all the mistakes you get to make? Sure, they're the same mistakes your patents made; some might even be absolutely, completely, and most certainly the end of the whole wide world. I'm a firm believer in karma; I don't believe that mistakes are mistakes; they're difficult,inconvenient occurrances that arrise as obstacles when we're not prepared, or at exactly the right time in our lives.What are experiments, anyway? A series of "mistakes" made continuously in an effort to LEARN something.Once we stop making mistakes we stop learning; once we stop learning, we stop growing. College is one of the most challenging opportunities we are offered. My answer could be nothing, except, well...nothing; I would change absolutely nothing. I've spent years learning more "life lessons" than I could have ever, ever imagined. BUT- I wouldn't have it any other way.

I would tell my slightly insecure 17 year old self that she will end up making the right choices in her college career. I'd like to tell myself that four years are going to fly but she'll enjoy every second of her experience. I'll let myself know that no matter what tough or sticky situations she may end up in, she will most definatly find the light through the tunnel each time. There is one thing I would tell my previous self about the future she will lead; that is to stop every now and then and take in the oppurtunity that not everyone in the world can have and to know that she will be blessed with the friends made and the knowledge she will have after graduation. You are a lucky girl Anna, you will see that for sure.

Knowing what I know now about the transition between high school and college, I would definitely tell myself how important it is to really stay focused on school work. Your parents and family tell you how you need to do well but it still doesn't sink in until you realize it yourself. I would also tell myself that being organized and making a schedual of times that are set aside to study is a must in college. If you don't set a certain amount of time to studying and doing your assignments, it takes discipline to tell yourself that you have to do it now. You keep telling yourself "It will only take 10 minutes" and it doesn't. It ends up taking 2 hours. Always give your self ample to get assignments and studying done, and if you finish early, reward yourself by hanging out with people then. I would throw in that it's not a prison. There are still moments to have a good time. Just focus on school work first. This is what I would tell myself back in high school if I would have known how much college is different.

On the first day, you begin your college career, do not be afraid to wander off and meet new people. You will be surprised to find that on a campus of thousands of people you can meet one person and somehow in a variety of ways come to know many people and make so many friends. All it takes it that first nerve-wracking walk. Do not be judgmental, college is about finding your way. Some people get lost and cannot find the trail again, while others get lost and see the sign. You just be sure to carry a compass and never do something you know you will regret the next day. Just remember that mistakes are going to happen, and when they do, it does no good dwell on them. Finally, do not be afraid to sing awfully in public. Even if you include the crazy hand motions, people will like you for whom you are, and if they do not, there are many more out there that are not afraid of what other people think. Those are the individuals you wish to find because they become the friends that last for a lifetime.

If I could go back and talk to my highschool self there are so many things I'd want to know. I would definitely tell myself not to worry so much. The transition from highschool to college was definitely a scary expirence but it was also one of the best expirences of my life. I would tell myself not to be so homesick during the first two weeks and to just relax and have fun with the beginning because those two weeks are when I met some of the best friends I have now. There isn't anything major that I would tell myself to change about the transition from highschool to college. I feel like any mistakes that I may have made all ended up teaching me something new about school, real life, or myself. The only advice I have to give would be small things like bring more ramen noodles, don't put off laundry for three weeks, make sure your professors know your name, make friends with someone who has a car, and make friends that you know will stick with you no matter what.

I would tell myself to go apply for more scholarships, and different schools. Do more research on the schools I applied to. I would also go visit more schools at the end of my junior year to get an idea. Also stay involved with plenty of activities, the more involved the better the transition is.