One of the greatest things about working on a college campus is experiencing the freshman year vicariously through the thousands of newcomers each fall. There's something about that experience that makes me feel young, even though the freshmen consistently remain at age 18 each year while I keep ticking away into my 30s.
As the class of 2017 arrives at college for their first year of studies, let's reflect on five things I'd do all over again and five things I would've wanted someone to tell me before I embarked on my great college adventure.
If I could do it all over …
1) I'd still keep my dorm door open whenever I was awake. When you're an 18-year-old female, it's much easier to walk by someone's open door, make awkward eye contact, share shy smiles and eventually introduce yourself. An open door is like a beacon that you're open to meeting new folks and looking for a few good friends. Keep your doors open, folks, otherwise you're going to come off as standoffish.
2) I'd still go to class. I maintain that if you maintain perfect attendance, you'll at least pass all of your classes. Skipping a few is a slippery slope that leads to skipping a lot. Once you've actually made it to all of your classes, a bit of effort outside of the classroom will enhance that passing grade to an A or B. However, I think in 93.6% of the cases, perfect attendance is going to get you at least a C.
3) I'd still join my sorority all over again. Being five hours away from home, Greek life helped me find what felt like a home-away-from-home. Sure, tons of people will argue that you're paying for your friends, but I'd do it all over again in a New York minute. Besides the sense of belonging, it was a great way to learn time management and enhance my leadership qualities. If you're not playing a sport or seeking to become active in a large organization on campus, I'd recommend checking out your Greek community.
4) I'd still build relationships with my professors. As cheesy, nerdy and kiss-butty as it sounds, I loved my relationships with my professors. They became my role models, and it was actually fun to learn from my new mentors. The beauty of today's world is that those relationships don't end when you matriculate … instead, you can be lifelong Facebook friends. And you never know when an academic conference might entice your favoritest professor of all time to show up in your future city of residence for a fun night out on the town for a friend-to-friend chat fest. Growing up does have a few perks!
5) I'd still leave my dorm room as much as possible. Yes, this is still the same gal that started off with No. 1 above, but getting out-and-about is an important part of the college experience. I was pretty straight-laced my freshman year (well, compared to the subsequent years), but once I started to loosen up and conform a bit to the college lifestyle is when all of my best memories were made. So, take it from me and lighten up a bit before the best four years of your life pass you by.
And if I could do it all over again while taking back a few mistakes …
1) I would have called my family more often. I was so excited to meet new people and stay up late and nap in the afternoons - all of the rights of a college freshman - that I mistakenly neglected keeping my family abreast of my life. In hindsight, there might have been a few times that Mommabear and Ol' Rodney wondered if I was still even alive (this was in the era before 24/7 email access and cell phones), and I'm genuinely sorry for that. Mommabear was so excited that I was living the college life she dreamt of, and I should have called home more often to share those experiences with her.
2) I would have refrained from the $5 one-topping Papa John's special on a routine basis and visited the dining hall more often. The 'Freshman 40' isn't attractive on anyone … 'nuf said.
3) I would have walked to class more often. Sure, taking the bus was remarkably convenient, especially in the winter months when the Midwest wind was whipping through my coat and straight to my bones, but I should have taken in the scenery a bit more while I was at Western. Plus, it would've counteracted some of those calories mentioned above in No. 2.
4) I would have learned to do my own laundry before I moved away from home. Sad, but true. I probably did about seven or eight loads of laundry before I learned the difference between fabric detergent and softener. Besides calling home and asking Mommabear what to do - and I've already established that I didn't do that nearly enough - I had very little options aside from asking others how to properly wash a load of laundry. (Again, this was pre-Google.)
5) I would have left more of my belongings at home. It's college for a reason, and yeah, you're supposed to rough it a little. Mommabear and I both probably went a little bit overboard in making my dorm room feel like a small house, and it was all well-and-good until I had to move out without her assistance. You ever tried to fit a four-foot ficus in an already-packed Hyundai Tiburon?
What sage advice would you pass along to the class of 2017?
No comments:
Post a Comment