Going to College

Going to college was likely one of the most memorable times of your life. So much happened in such a compressed amount of time. You went in one person and came out another. It also makes a good story for young family members looking to go to college themselves one day.

Preparation

• Before you start the story, think back to significant moments, such as receiving acceptance letters, moving into your dorm, and your first day on campus.
• Gather your thoughts and materials. Review your diary, journals, notes, or mementos that might help you remember details and significant events.
• Identify important milestones in your college journey, such as choosing a major, joining clubs, or making lifelong friends.
• Get out your photo album or access your digital photo storage account. Browse through photos of the time period.
• Jot down key memories, emotions, and sensory details that stand out to you.

Audience

Are you writing this story primarily for fun and self reflection, or will there be an audience for the story? If the story is primarily for your own consumption and reflection, don’t worry too much about structure or flow. Simply reminisce freely without worrying about spelling, grammar or sentence structure. Your virtual biographer will compile your memories into a coherent story for your enjoyment.

If you are writing the story as part of your life story, or to inspire others, give some thought to what they would enjoy most about the story. What is the key message you want your audience to takeaway from your college experience? Share this insight with your virtual biographer.

Structure and Flow

A story written for others starts with a good “hook” and unfolds with authenticity and emotion. Begin with the excitement of getting your acceptance letter, the trepidation you felt the first day of class, or another powerful moment that draws readers in. Life stories can be told both chronologically and thematically. A chronological structure is good for recounting the order events happened. A thematic structure is focused on the ideas, thoughts and feelings of the characters in the story. Your virtual biographer can weave both approaches.

One of the most important choices to make about writing the story is what point-of-view the story will take. Do you want to tell it in the “First Person” (you as narrator) or the “Third Person” (an objective narrator). Most autobiographies, memoires, and life stories are told in the first person because they are character-driven stories. They are more intimate. However, writing and telling the story in the third person offers objectivity and omniscience. Do you want to tell the story from your perspective and how you lived it, or as an impartial observer of your time at college?

Answer the Important Questions; Skip Those Less Relevant

The ‘Times of My Life’ app provides you with a Virtual Biographer (VB) to interview you about your college journey and how it changed you. Yes, it’s an AI bot, but a very smart and intuitive one. Your VB has instant access to similar stories written and shared by millions of other people. It can help you relive events, thoughts and feelings. It can help illuminate the essence of your experience, and then tell a story that is uniquely yours. If your VB asks a question that doesn’t seem relevant to your experience, just skip it and move on to the questions that assist your recall and are important to how you lived that time of your life.

Add Details

If your virtual biographer fails to ask you a key question about your college experience, simply tap the “Add Details” icon to add the memory when it comes to your mind. To add a detail, you can type it or use the microphone to record it. The VB will use your answers and the extra details you add to write a great story.

These ideas will get you in the mindset to answer questions and add details:

• Use Vivid Details: Describe the campus, your dorm room, classrooms, and other important places. Use sensory details to bring scenes to life.
• Focus on the “Why”: Why did you choose the colleges you applied to and attended? Why did you choose your major?
• Express Your Feelings: Share your emotions during key moments—excitement, anxiety, joy, and frustration. This makes your writing relatable and engaging.
• Reflect on Changes: Discuss how your emotions and perspectives evolved over time.
• Share Stories: Personal stories and experiences can make your narrative more engaging. Talk about funny incidents, challenges you faced, and memorable events.
• Highlight Relationships: Describe interactions with friends, professors, and roommates. These relationships often shape the college experience.
• Be Honest About Challenges: Talk about the difficulties you faced, whether academic, social, or personal. Discuss how you overcame them and what you learned. Don’t create a fictionalized version of yourself.
• Show Personal Growth: Reflect on how you grew as a person during your college years. How did your experiences shape your values, skills, and goals?
• Include Dialogue: Put sentences in quotation marks to let your virtual biographer know that it is a direct quote, and who said it. Incorporate meaningful conversations that had an impact on your journey.
• Summarize Key Takeaways: Reflect on what your college experience taught you. Summarize the key takeaways and how they’ve influenced your post-college life.

Don’t Just Tell; Show

Instead of just stating facts, show what happened through detailed descriptions and actions. For example, Instead of simply saying you overcame challenges, describe specific situations and actions that demonstrate your perseverance. Photos, narration, and music will also help you “show” the story. The ‘Times of My Life’ app is excellent at helping you visualize the story in multimedia formats.

Write the Story; Add Media

• After the interview and after you add whatever details you think are important, you will have the option of writing the story yourself, or having your virtual biographer write the story. It only cost $0.00 to have your VB write the story — and will save you hours of work writing it yourself. You can always edit what the VB writes.
• If you prefer to write the story yourself, use your answers from the interview and the details and notes the app captured, to guide your writing. Tips for writing the story yourself can be viewed by tapping the “Tips” icon in the app. Additional tips are listed below.
• After the story is written you will end up at the ‘Enhance Story’ screen. This is where the magic happens.
  • Tap “Add Media” to insert images and/or video clips into the narrative of your story.
  • Tap “Narrator” to choose a narrator. NOTE: A narrator is great if you ask your virtual biographer to write the story in the Third Person. If it is written in the First Person, then YOU are the narrator of the story.
  • Tap “Music” to add background music to your story, assuming you plan to publish it as an audiocast or a video.

Edit and Revise

After the story is written by you or your virtual biographer, you can “share” it for free through he app with friends and loved ones. Their feedback can provide valuable perspective and help you improve your story. After you get their feedback you can go back and edit the story as desired — or ask your VB to rewrite it with the feedback!

Publish Your Story

One of the best features of the ‘Times of My Life’ app is that it will produce the story in multimedia formats.

• Tap PDF to create a nicely formatted printed version.
• Use Audiocast to download an MP3 file.
• Click Video to download a high resolution video, complete with narration (if you choose a narrator), background music, and your uploaded images and video clips.

Sample Outline

Introduction

• Background: Introduce yourself, your family, your high school environment, and your academic and extracurricular interests.
• Initial Goals: Explain your aspirations for college and why you wanted to pursue higher education.

The Application Process

• Research: Describe the process of researching colleges, including any visits, meetings with counselors, and discussions with family and friends.
• Preparation: Detail your preparation for standardized tests, writing essays, and gathering recommendations. Share any challenges or memorable moments.
• Applications: Narrate the process of filling out applications, choosing schools, and submitting materials. Highlight any significant feelings of excitement, stress, or anticipation.

Acceptance and Decision

• Responses: Describe receiving responses from colleges, including any rejections, waitlists, and acceptances. Capture the emotions you felt during this time.
• Decision-Making: Share how you made your final decision on which college to attend. Include factors that influenced your choice and any important discussions or events.
• Preparations: Explain the preparations for transitioning to college life, such as attending orientations, buying supplies, and saying goodbyes.

Transition to College Life

• Arrival: Describe your arrival on campus, first impressions, and the process of moving into your dorm or apartment.
• Orientation: Narrate your experiences during orientation, meeting new people, and familiarizing yourself with the campus.
• First Classes: Detail your initial academic experiences, including attending first classes, meeting professors, and managing the coursework.

Building New Relationships

• Roommates and Friends: Share stories about meeting your roommates and making new friends. Highlight both positive interactions and any conflicts or adjustments.
• Social Activities: Describe your involvement in clubs, organizations, and social events. Include any significant experiences or leadership roles.

Academic and Personal Challenges

• Academic Pressure: Discuss the academic challenges you faced, such as difficult courses, exams, and time management.
• Personal Growth: Explore moments of personal growth, including developing independence, managing finances, and dealing with homesickness.
• Conflict and Resolution: Introduce any conflicts or dilemmas you encountered, and explain how you resolved them or what you learned from them.

Milestones and Achievements

• Accomplishments: Highlight significant achievements, such as academic successes, internships, or personal milestones.
• Memorable Experiences: Share memorable experiences that shaped your college journey, such as trips, projects, or meaningful conversations.

Reflection and Conclusion

• Looking Back: Reflect on your overall college experience, including how you’ve grown and what you’ve learned.
• Future Plans: Describe your plans for the future, whether it’s continuing education, starting a career, or other goals.
• Final Thoughts: Conclude with any final thoughts or messages you want to convey about your college journey and its impact on your life.

By following these tips, you can create a comprehensive and compelling story that captures your journey from applying to college to experiencing college life.