Dear Seniors,
As usual, it has been a pleasure to work with you, see you grow and watch you through your final years of high school and prepare for the next step in life. I have a few pieces of advice to share. After being a freshman success seminar professor for many years and from working with teens for decades, I’ve learned a few things. The overarching theme is to gain social capital while in college! Here is what I mean-
Go to Office Hours: What are office hours? Professors and TA (teaching assistants) hold office hours either once or twice a week. They sit in their office and you can either stop by or meet with them virtually to discuss a recent paper you just received back, your overall grade, a question you may have or to gain guidance on how to navigate college in general. Establishing relationships with faculty will help you succeed in college, create connections outside of the classroom, effectively demonstrate communication skills and possibly build rapoire with a teacher who you might need to ask to write a letter of recommendation for either an internship, job or course.
Find a mentor: This can potentially be the result from attending office hours! But if not, seek out your academic advisor, coach, professor or another administrator such as a dean who is willing to work with you through college. A mentor can really coach you through the ups and downs of college life.
Build Social Capital across groups: This is key. Don’t just have one click of friends. Not only does that limit your social life but this limits your social connections that later in life could be a connection to an internship or potential job offer. Have friends in different groups- so join three types of clubs: 1. An academic club, 2. A career-related club and 3. A club just for FUN!
Use Campus Resources: There are so many great offices that colleges provide. You need to use them when needed such as the writing center, academic advising, health center, mental health services and the gym. No one goes through college without using the great resources on campus.
Go to class: This goes without saying but you will miss relevant information and you will be behind in the course if you do not attend class. Plus you will find your college experience more rewarding by attending class and you will do better grade-wise as well. Attend!
Give yourself Grace- The first semester is meant to be rocky. The first 6 weeks are full of “OMG, I’m in college” phase but after that wears off, you start to feel the realty-check that this is where you are for now and you need to settle down, attend class, forge relationships and live a balanced life. So, go easy on yourself. Everyone feels homesick but know that if you keep a set schedule and stay balanced, it will pass.
