By Justice Emerick
Welcome back, Pirates. Let us at The Corsair help you kick your semester up a notch with some friendly advice. . . Make friends!
Yes, you read that correctly. If you are anything like me, you started—or are starting—the college experience with one goal. Graduate. Don’t get me wrong; that is still the goal, but it could be easier with a few insider tricks:
1. Don’t isolate yourself!
Some classes are going to feel easier than others to accomplish, but try to reach out to your fellow classmates. It may be a little off-putting at first, but I assure you that most everyone else is in your position. “Do I talk? Do I not?” Luckily, some professors here at PSC try to do their part to help. For example, Sarah Johnson, my Applied Microbiology professor, has implemented a ‘meet your classmates’ discussion post for her classes. She states, “Make friends! Study groups are proven to work.”
2. Be yourself.
Some people won’t be receptive to you, and that is just FINE! People will naturally gravitate towards you as long as you are genuine. If your intentions are to make friendships that will last through and beyond college, then you will attract like-minded people. Some people aren’t meant to stay in your life forever, and chances are you will make friends for a semester and never see some of them again. Don’t let that discourage you; even short-term friends can change your life.
3. Broaden your horizons.
Whether you are a returning student or new to the campus, try not to lock yourself into a repetition box. It is easy to get caught up in the stresses of learning and navigating multiple courses each semester; you won’t realize until it hits you that you are burnt out. The point of making friends is multipurpose; you can bounce ideas around, or complain about your workload. It teaches you how to balance what you need to do and what you want to do by giving you something to look forward to (e.g., finishing a major assignment = going to the beach with your friends).
I have had a rollercoaster ride of the ‘college experience’, and I have to give credit to the people who reached out to me in my first semester and the many after it. Say “Yes” if given an opportunity, even if you don’t know how it will turn out. Say “Hi” to your seat neighbor—participate in student engagement and join clubs! Make sure you get the most out of college while getting the most out of your future. Have a great Fall semester, Pirates!