Things I wish I Knew Four Years Ago

By Richard Sanchez on July 30, 2012

As I prepare for graduate school, I reflect on the tremendous opportunities and the more troublesome instances of my time as an undergraduate. While no one can really know how they will handle college, there are always tips to help through the tough times. College should be aimed at placing students outside of their comfort zones, in order to help them develop as an adult. Now that I have finished, or at least finished four years of college, I believe there were certain things enabling me to enjoy my time, academically and socially, as an undergraduate.

Attend Orientation: While it may seem obvious, there are those who see these events as cheesy ice breakers. While that may be true, there is much to learn from such ridiculous introductions. Some good friends were made that way. As someone who, at the time, had never been outside of New Jersey, I found the orientation events conducive to meeting new people. Most of whom had different cultural cues than the east coast. Orientation can be a great learning tool for understanding the people and culture of your surroundings. Learn about the school, other people, and most important, take the time to reflect on how you handle certain events to better understand yourself and those around you.

Get Organized:  High school is over. It is time for personal responsibility to shine. A great time of independence, college can make or sometimes break the academic spirit of students. Do not add disorganization to this stress. While some professors can be incredibly helpful, they cannot always be there to cater to your needs. So make sure, to keep track of work, exams and assignments. Then double check. It can make the stress of work easier. Forgetfulness is a trend that should not be fostered in higher education.

A staple of college life, John Belushi portrays the same bewildered look many of us have on the first day of college.

Balancing Social and Academic: Mainly an arena for academics, higher education does not have to be without its fun times. It is tough to make it through the world alone, and college can be a great place to network with those you may very well be calling colleagues one day. Joining social groups such a Greek Organizations or even club sports can create life long possibilities. Even if this life style does not suit you, contacts can be made within relevant fields for study groups and smaller events. The dorm is always a good place to start. I remember walking through the halls the first week of school and having conversations with other students as a way to get to know people. Academics and social engagement do not have to be polar opposites. Researchers believe the two are highly correlated and that extracurricular activities could lead to better grades.  So study hard, and then play hard.

Get to Know Professors and Advisers: This should not be optional. After all, any decision to go to graduate school or actually anything requiring a recommendation should come from this group of people. The best way to get noticed, is to connect with the educators in your field. Take advantage of office hours, as they are meant to help you. Your adviser helps you schedule classes and deal with conflicts, and can be a reliable source for help, even if you change departments.

Dealing With Homesickness: I cannot tell you how often I would see students leaving campus every weekend to go home. While family is important, the college experience is meant to separate you from home, to aid in maturing. Prioritize your life. You cannot move forward, if you are stuck in one place. Studies show homesickness may stem from more than home. It involves our thoughts and instincts concerning love, protection, etc.  It may be hard, but no one ever says life is easy. They just say that it’s worth it. Take time to figure out the real reasons for homesickness, and then move on.

Be Prepared to Feel Overwhelmed: For those rare few who can easily make their way through college, this post is not for you. For everyone else, there is much to handle in your life right now. Expect to have moments where everything seems too hard and quitting feels like the only option. However, it is in these moments that our true potential reveals itself. How we confront our stress can determine the course of our life greatly. Handle these tough times with grace, a  steady mind, and a thirst for adventure. You never know. One day you will look upon yourself as a completely different person, and these challenges as the source of change.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. There are many other resources helping students accommodate to this new lifestyle. The best advice I have received was to conquer your fear and try new things. Fears are meant to be overcome internally and can be a source of great strength. Life is too precious to be afraid all the time. So get out of that comfort zone, and explore your campus today.

 

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format