Seven ways to make your first year of college rewarding


  • You'd be surprised how far a simple hello can go. Meet new people, engage in conversations, get to know your RA, go to sporting events, be active with student activities, and stay here on the weekends! Get out of your room and network.
  • The stress of being away from home, living with someone new, having an intense workload, and losing touch with your high school friends can be overwhelming. Don't let stress be a road block - treat it as just a speed bump. Slow down, re-evaluate the situation, and manage stress before it manages you. 
  • In college, you don't have a curfew. Stay up late and sleep in late or get up early and meet classmates for breakfast to review notes. It's okay to burn the candle at both ends (just not in the same night). Make sure you get the most out of your college experience - it'll be over before you know it! 
  • Find a mentor - they got what you need. They have already learned through experience. Let them share their wealth of knowledge with you. Capture their philosophy, and stay in constant contact with them. 
  • Have a plan when you come to college, and write it down. If you write it down, it's more likely to become a reality. Whatever your goals are, writing them down results in positive energy that will drive you toward success. 
  • Change is good; it shakes things up and discovers what people are truly made of. The key to embracing change is to openly communicate with others. If you are having difficulty with the lifestyle changes in college, communicate with Student Life; they are there to ease the growing pains. College life comes at you quick, be ready to react and embrace it. 
  • Attitude is a choice. If you face problems head-on with a positive attitude, good things will happen. Our attitude is the most important thing we wear - it is a direct reflection of who we are, and it dictates what our future holds.