If you walk on to Virginia Tech’s campus, you will see dozens of items sporting the “This is Home” slogan. And for most of us here, the saying runs true. But what about those who don’t take to our beautiful campus so easily?
We’re about to enter week six of the semester, and everyone should be settling into their routine in Blacksburg. If you’re one of our newest Hokies and you feel as though you haven’t found your place yet, here are some tips from a fellow student who was in your place last year:
1. Take a blanket or hammock over to the Duck Pond
Personally, the duck pond is my favorite spot to just hang out in my ENO and do some homework and reading. Virginia Tech has a beautiful campus, and sometimes we don’t always get to appreciate it because we’re so busy running from class to class.
2. Eat at the Chop House in West End
I know, I know. Everyone is always talking about the food at Virginia Tech, but it’s for good reason. If you haven’t tried it yet, I promise you need to. I mean, how many school dining halls serve lobster?
3. Visit the Ag Quad
Hopefully, you have checked out the Ag Quad already (because it’s amazing)! But if you’re anything like me, you might not even know it exists until someone else tells you about it. My roommate loves to study outside there, and was constantly talking about it last year. It’s a beautiful, seemingly hidden spot on campus that’s great if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax.
4. Walk around downtown Blacksburg
A unique element of Virginia Tech is that you have the ability to walk from campus to downtown Blacksburg in a matter of minutes. There are so many great restaurants, boutiques, or coffee shops to visit. Also, the Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings and is only a few steps away.
5. Meet with your professors during office hours for help
I’m sure you’ve heard this advice plenty of times by now, but if you’re anything like me, you just tuned it out. Do NOT make the mistake of being too scared to visit your professors. They genuinely want to help you, and they’re much less intimidating one-on-one. It’s typical for people to let their grades slip up freshman year because they don’t take them that seriously, so don’t make the mistake of not getting the help you need.
6. Join a club or organization– there’s something for everyone
I’m sure you heard this speech at every single booth you visited at Gobblerfest, but they were not kidding. It’s scary, especially as a freshman, to put yourself out there and go meet all these upperclassmen. But the great thing about college is that you don’t have to know someone– literally just walk into a club meeting and you will leave with at least one person as a friend. Freshman year is the best time to meet people, because everyone is in the same boat.
7. Talk to your fellow Hokies
When I was writing this article, I asked some of my friends what their favorite thing about Virginia Tech was, and my favorite reply came from my roommate of freshman year. She said that even though Tech is this huge university, you feel like you’re in a small community. No one has ever been rude or unkind to her in all her encounters, and I feel like that really sums up what it means to go to school here.
We are all here for each other as Hokies, and that’s the ultimate reason this place feels like home.
Image Sources: GIFs from Giphy.com