The beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year has dawned upon us, and with that comes this Bearkats’ final semester at Sam Houston State University. Today, I’m here to give the newer generation of SHSU girlies the REAL advice you need to know to survive your Sam Houston years. Honestly, I deeply wish I knew these during the first, and lowkey second, year, and I hope that this piece will help someone who feels like they’re struggling with adapting.
#1: Get Involved!
I can say from experience that being involved in campus activities – whether it is student organizations or sports – is CRUCIAL to enjoying your college years. For almost the entirety of my freshman and sophomore years, I didn’t participate in any student organizations and rarely went to campus-wide events. Once I started becoming more involved, my experiences changed for the better. I have made so many friends and connections from participating in student orgs or campus-hosted events. So, no matter if you’re a freshman or nearing your time at SHSU, take this as a sign to start being more involved!
#2: Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help!
I know, asking for help can be very difficult – ESPECIALLY in a new and drastically different environment like college. However, you don’t have to do everything on your own! If you ever feel like you need additional support, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Whether it’s your friends, your professor in office hours, or services such as the Counseling Center, you are not alone in this journey. There is someone out there to provide support!
#3: Use Those Campus Resources!
SHSU has plenty of resources DESIGNED to help students like you and me! These two resources are some of my personal favs (and they deserve more recognition!):
- Food Pantry: SHSU’s food pantry is such a great resource for getting the basic grocery necessities while on a budget. With their convenient website, you can order the basic necessities and pick them up in person during operation hours.
- Tripod’s Thrift Store: A lifesaver for finding anything from those personal care items you need, to business casual pieces for that one upcoming interview, Tripod’s Thrift Store conveniently lets students pick out items for free with their BearkatOne Card.
#4: Trust the Process!
Sometimes in college you’ll feel like you’re behind in life in comparison to your peers – whether inin your personal or academic life. And trust me, I know that feeling all too well, but listen to me when I say that you have to trust the process. I know everyone says this, but things will happen when it’s supposed to happen. You have a true purpose in life, and you’re not going to get there by trying to rush the process. Don’t forget to take things slow and trust the process – DON’T RUSH IT! You are exactly where you are meant to be at this moment; don’t forget that!