Advice About College from an Orientation Leader

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on advice I would give to those doing research about colleges to apply to, those in the application process, and those who are still adjusting to the school they chose. I want to preface by saying that in no way am I trying to claim that I know everything because I am only a sophomore; however, I engaged a lot with the opportunities Stonehill College has had to offer me over this last year, so I wanted to offer my advice on my experience so far. I am hoping this article finds people who need to hear some of these points. 

1. GET INVOLVED. The first piece of advice I give as an orientation leader is to always get involved with the opportunities your campus has to offer. Putting yourself out there is the best thing you can do when adjusting to a new place because it can help you establish yourself on campus as a new student while pursuing your passions, and clubs are a great way to help you make new friends! Personally, I can say one of the best things I did my freshman year was get involved with the English Society at Stonehill because I was able to pursue something I was interested in and met fellow English nerds on campus. 

2. Apply for any leadership positions that come your way that you have an interest in because not only are they good for your resume, but they also help you gain valuable experience and skills that you can apply to other experiences or jobs. Building a network at college is extremely important, so remember to take advantage when opportunities present themselves. 

3. Remember to take it one day at a time. It is easy to become overwhelmed as you are trying to plan your future, but it is okay not to have everything figured out. Your mind is likely going to change about what you want to pursue, but college is supposed to provide you with the opportunity to explore your interests and figure out what you may want to pursue further. If you are one of those people who have known what they want to do since they were 5, I envy you. However, if you are like the majority of us, it is acceptable for college to be a learning curve. 

4. Reflection is part of the process. It is easy to get caught up in the workload of classes and being involved with clubs, but remember to take some time to take care of your mental health. It can be as simple as making sure you eat three meals every day, or taking an hour out of your day to go for a walk. Whatever it is, make sure you take breaks to let yourself rest and remember where you are. If you start feeling down, remember that there is a younger version of you who always wanted to get to the place you are now, so you should be proud of yourself.

5. Stop judging humanities majors. I could write a separate article about this because way too often I see people disregard the significance of humanities majors. Mainly I am speaking as an English major who often gets asked what I am going to do with that major in the future, and I want this point to be a reminder that there is great value in being an English major because it helps you develop critical analytical reading and writing skills. Or as a communications major, I am developing my skills as a public speaker and not only are these skills necessary to have for any career, but they can help open the door to an array of possible careers. For example, due to my passion for writing and public speaking, I am considering looking into law, and if it were not for both of these majors allowing me to develop these skills, I would never have realized that is the path that is right for me. Also, those who choose to pursue majors like English typically do so because it is something that brings them great joy, and I believe nobody has the right to take away that passion from them. 

In conclusion, college is a time of considerable change that helps define the person you become and the path you end up pursuing once graduating. This is a reality everyone recognizes; however, I want this article to serve as a reminder to take time to take care of yourself. Also, set aside time to see friends and have fun. The connections you make personally are just as significant as the ones you make professionally, and you should leave college feeling like you have made the most out of those years. 

• college
• mental health