Congratulations! You are officially on campus and have started your college career. Being a freshman is a scary time. Your life is changing, and you are beginning your journey into your career and your adult life. This can be a stressful time full of doubts and anxiety. It can be easy to get overwhelmed, however, every person on this campus has gone through the same exact thing and we have all felt the stress and anxiety that comes from such a major life change. Listening to the tips and tricks of people around you can help you have a better freshman year of college.
The first piece of advice is to listen to your upperclassman. They have a lot of college experience and helpful wisdom. One upperclassman, Abigail Jarantowski, is now a junior getting her degree in missions and mass communications. When asked what three things that she wished she knew her freshman year of college, Abigail’s response was, “starting college means having a fresh start. You decide who you want to be. It won’t kill you to miss an assignment here and there. Go to events and have fun.”
The second piece of advice is to put yourself out there and get involved with the activities that the school provides. At SNU we are fortunate enough to have a great community to get involved with, there really is something for every person here. Some of the things that SNU provides include events that SGA puts on. Some events that they had last year included: roller-rag, heart pal, and a fall festival. These events are where you can meet and hang out with friends and grow closer to the community of SNU. Furthermore, getting involved with extracurricular activities such as choir and band are also a great way to make friends.
The next piece of advice is to take advantage of your resident advisors. They are another tool that SNU gives its students to help them succeed. They are like an automatic built-in friend whose job is to be there to help you out. It may seem like a small thing, but these people were selected and went through an interview process to make sure they were a great fit for the role that they are in. Don’t forget if you need help with anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, they are great people to have around.
The fourth piece of advice is to do your schoolwork. Always remember that while fun activities are important, your first priority is school. One of the most important lessons for a college student is learning how to prioritize your time. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that it’s better to just put in the work and turn it in when it’s due then to wait and get behind. It is always harder to catch up on work since you always have new work on top of your old work.
Lastly, something I think every freshman should know is that it’s okay to change your major. A misconception about college is that you have to have it all figured out. It is okay to change your mind or to not have a specific major. College is a time of growth and a time of change so it’s okay to not have all the answers right away. Just remember you aren’t alone in this journey. Never forget that this time of your life is going to be filled with great memories, so make the best of it and enjoy your freshman year!
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash