Advice from a College Graduate

By Mahlon Smoke

With summer soon coming to a close and school starting back up many students may feel nervous about the upcoming school year, no matter the grade and especially kids going into college. For freshmen who are going to college, this is a new and exciting experience, but for other returning students, it’s tiring, and I understand, especially with mounting student loans, balancing a social life with studying, and of course, figuring out what to do with your degree and career afterwards.

Going back to college can be overwhelming and stressful, for some more than others. That’s the case for a lot of people, so remember that you are not alone in your stress. But if I can, I would like to share some things had learned when I was going to college. Especially for freshman.

Take advantage of your resources that are available to you. This can be through a tutoring center, friends, professors, or career centers. They are available for a reason, to help students so don’t be afraid to at least check them out once. Professors are especially good to talk to, depending on the teacher of course, but if there is one you like to talk to and who is willing to help their students – go for it.

Check the syllabus. This is something that a lot of students tend to lose and don’t keep up, but the syllabus will help in knowing what to expect from the class and when. But beware - the syllabus is subject to change depending on the teacher. So be sure to pay close attention to it throughout the semester. Copy it, make a list of important exams and always have it with your notes and on your calendar.

Do not take early morning classes. This one may seem silly but often times many students are working late and need a few extra hours of sleep. Of course, there are times the early morning classes can’t be avoided. In that case do the best thing you can do and that is getting to bed early. And when it’s time to schedule your next semester classes - try to schedule later classes.

While the advice I give is subjective, I hope these will help someone along the line. If I can leave with one last piece of advice; you don’t have to declare a major right away. It’s okay to wait till the second year of your college/university. College is a time to explore and find yourself, in a new environment, new people, and new experiences. Everyone goes at their own pace and their own time, it’s okay to take a little longer to decide on what your career will be.