The new school year is beginning and countless ventures lie ahead. Regardless of your class standing, there are always things yet to be tried and no matter how fulfilling the previous year was, we look to this new school year as a fresh start. We evaluate the past and hope that, this time around, we make the most of all that’s given to us.
For freshmen, however, the new school year can be intimidating. Having to blindly approach this unfamiliar land we call college, freshmen are not initially aware of what UC Davis offers. More importantly, they are not aware of what being a freshman in and of itself offers. How can you blame them though, especially when they are preoccupied with dodging fellow bikers, finding classes, and exploring college nightlife?
So to all you freshmen out there, here are some benefits of being, well, you! These are benefits that most students don’t come to fully appreciate until they are no longer a first year.
1. As a freshman, you are constantly aware of campus events. With the help of residential advisors, their emails, and their posters, you are always notified when there are social events such as fairs, sports games, flea markets, concerts, and performances. If not through the RAs, you will hear about these events, nonetheless, through word of mouth because you are always surrounded by hundreds of other students in the dorms. This is definitely an advantage for freshmen because, once you no longer live on campus, it is much easier for these events to go by unnoticed. Take advantage of this knowledge so that you can get involved within UC Davis and meet some amazing people.
2. You live in the dorms, one of the most, if not the absolute most, convenient places. Classes and campus activities are within biking distance and you do not have to rely on Unitrans, the school’s bus system. As a result, you do not have to go to campus early or risk being late to accommodate the bus schedule. You also have the ability to return to your living quarters for even the shortest breaks between classes. Having this benefit of setting your own transportation schedule ends up saving you minutes upon minutes, which can amount to a good chunk of time.
3. By living in the dorms, you have access to many resources provided by the school. Regardless of the fact that these resources are probably included in your housing costs, they are still available and open to every dorm resident. You have access to a computer lab and numerous free prints, something to fall back on if your own computer or printer is not working. There is an academic advising center with advisors available to answer questions about classes, schedules, extracurricular activities, and majors. In addition, there is a free tutoring service that covers a wide array of subjects. All of this is within walking distance and provided especially for you!
4. Finally, you are rarely bored because you are constantly surrounded by so many people; yet you are still given personal space in your room and quiet time to study in the study lounge. More than likely, there is also someone in one of your classes who lives in the same housing as you, allowing you to easily find a study partner and possibly make a new friend. Since you are living among the same people for a whole year, you are practically forced to make friends and acquaintances. In the next three years, you will see these familiar faces and forever have a special bond because you lived in the same housing freshman year.
Distance, location, resources, and people collectively create the freshman experience at UC Davis. Once you are actively aware of these benefits and you willingly take command of them, you can begin to make the most out of your first year.
Sources:
http://www.thevoiceofcollege.com/the_book.shtml