My Story is a freshmen blog series written by our talented HC Bryant staff. We decided to start this because we’ve all been in those shoes that ached in nervousness, excitement, and confusion before beginning our first day as Bryant University freshmen. We know you are about to put on those shoes and figured you’d love to know exactly what to expect…so ready for your freshmen year?
I think it’s safe to say that my freshman story is a little different than most incoming students. Why is my story a little different you ask? Well, I’m confined to a wheelchair, and with that, comes those extra burdens your average person may not have.
I came from a high school where the faculty, staff, and students knew who I was. Everyone knew my name, they knew what I was capable of, they were aware of my physical limitations, and I was able to build strong relationships with everyone around me. However, in the fall of 2008, that was all about to change. I was on my own for the first time in a place where no one knew who I was. I knew from the very first day of classes that I needed to prove myself just like I did in high school, and that it was important to advocate for myself at all times.
One of the biggest problems I’ve had to face because of my disability is that many people seem to have the wrong impression of me. Many people see me in a wheelchair and automatically assume that I can’t speak for myself, that I’m not very smart, that I don’t have friends, and so forth. I can understand their reasoning, but at times it can get pretty frustrating. Going into Bryant, I feared that this would be the case even though it isn’t true. I wanted to show the faculty and staff at Bryant that I was very capable just like everyone else, and I did just that. My first semester of college went extremely well to my surprise. I received straight A minuses for all of my classes, and made the Dean’s List. However, my good grades didn’t just come from endless nights of studying.
I constantly kept in touch with my professors throughout the semester. Within a few weeks, they were all well aware of my necessities and willing to help. At times, I would feel physically weak and unable to keep up with the tasks my classes entailed, but my professors were so accommodating. I cannot stress enough how important it is to build a rapport with your professors. Introduce yourself on the first day, go to their office hours, and tell them if you’re having a problem. More often than not, the professors at Bryant want to help you and want to see their students succeed. They have played a significant role in my success here thus far.
You are about to embark on the greatest four years of your life, and you are what you make of it. Believe in yourself, even when you’re inundated with papers, projects, and studying. In times of stress, just remember that you are one of the lucky ones to have the opportunity to go to college. Before I started at Bryant, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the workload that was about to come my way. I was anxious and scared, but I went in with the mentality that I could conquer the world. I want the incoming freshmen to know that no matter their situation, if they have the confidence to succeed, they will persevere. Enjoy the journey!
Guess what? We would absolutely love to hear back from you! If you are an incoming freshmen and either have questions, comments, or even would love to get started with us this fall, shoot us over an email at HerCampus@Bryant.edu, like our Her Campus Bryant University Facebook page, or comment below!