By: Shayna Griffith Staff Writer
Advice for
To Do
Your first year in college can be an exciting new experience: you’re starting a whole new chapter in your life where you can experience independence for the first time, meet new people and have a huge opportunity to shape your future career. All things considered, however, college as a whole can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially as a freshman. As I’m getting prepared to graduate, find a job and start my life in the "real world," there are many things I wish I could go back in time and tell my freshmanself. Luckily, with four years of experience, I can pass the knowledge on to current and upcoming freshmen. So, if you are starting your college experience this year, I have some advice for you.
Ask for Help The most important thing I have learned in college is that it is okay to ask for help whenever you need it. Things like tuition and financial aid can be hard to understand and filling out form after form is just annoying. Being a first-generation college student, I had no idea how the FAFSA worked or how to even fill it out. At first, I tried to do it all myself, which quickly became a daunting task. So, I reached out to the Registrar here at the University of St. Francis (USF) to help me with my financial aid, and it was shocking how easy it became once I just asked for help. No question is a stupid question, so ask it! It will save you so much stress in the long run.
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April 1, 2022
Today's Goal
This next piece of advice may seem obvious, but you would probably be surprised at how many people don’t follow it. Use a planner and write things down! I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay organized and keep a planner in college. Unlike high school, you will have a much bigger workload, especially if you’re a student athlete or have a job outside of school. Keeping everything organized mentally is a good way to get overwhelmed and stressed out, so planning things out on a schedule or calendar can make it so much easier to handle. I started using a planner my freshman year, and now I do not know what I would do without it. Write down due dates, deadlines, meetings, study sessions or anything else you think is important to remember. If you have a particularly hard time staying organized, you can also set reminders on your phone for the really important stuff. One of my favorite parts of college has been the organizations I have been involved in. During my freshman and sophomore years, I was so focused on getting good grades that I forgot about the fun parts of college— getting involved in clubs and organizations. Admittedly, it is important to maintain good grades, but it is also important to use your time in college to meet new people and make new friends. One of the best ways to do that is through clubs. Here at USF, there are so many different kinds of clubs and organizations, you should not have trouble finding one right for you. If you can’t, make your own club! Despite what it may seem, studying is not the only thing there is to do. On the same note, pay attention to events the university holds, as these can be great opportunities to network and learn outside of classes.
