After spending the last few years as a student at Nazareth College, I really can’t believe I graduated in May of 2018. It seems like move-in day and freshman orientation were just yesterday. Looking back, I definitely feel like I made the most of my time at Nazareth. I’m so appreciative of all of the wonderful opportunities Nazareth provided to me, and how each and every one will make a difference in my future. I’ve definitely grown a lot as a person since coming to Naz, and there are very few things I would’ve done differently. In looking back, there were a few pieces of advice I wish I had known before beginning my time at college that could’ve made the transition to college life easier.

One thing I would advise freshman to do is to get involved on campus right away, rather than later on in your college career. There are so many opportunities to get involved on campus, and I’ve definitely taken advantage of many of them. Whether it was participating in Nazareth’s Day of Service tradition during freshman orientation, where students volunteer at local charities in Rochester, or working on projects for departments on campus in my marketing classes, I made some of my favorite memories at Naz outside of the traditional classroom and learning setting. However, as a freshman, I didn’t know many people on campus, or how to get involved in some activities outside of my classes. This is why I would definitely suggest joining a club as a freshman. Nazareth has over 50 clubs and organizations, and while there were more than a few that piqued my interest, I decided to focus on my studies before doing any extracurricular activities. As time went on, I realized that being a part of a club is actually a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests, network with people who work in a field you’re interested in, or even find a job after graduation. As part of the marketing club at Naz this year, I got to visit and connect with three local marketing firms as part of an advertising agency crawl. These opportunities were really complementary to traditional classroom learning, and something I wished I had taken advantage of sooner. Nazareth typically hosts an Involvement Fair at the beginning of the academic year for freshman to learn more about the different clubs and organizations on campus, so there are plenty of chances to introduce yourself and meet people with similar interests.

Pretty quickly into my freshman year, I learned the importance of time management, and as an upperclassman, I still see the value of a well organized schedule. Projects and homework in college can sometimes pile up quickly, and it can be hard to keep track of meetings and due dates. Combine this with a part-time job or internship and you can feel overwhelmed pretty easily. A few days into my first semester, I bought a planner to keep up with the tasks I needed to complete. To this day, I keep a notebook with me at all times to jot down quick notes and reminders. However, a lot of planning and scheduling has become digital, so I had to find new ways to become organized. Many of the professors and faculty at Nazareth use Google Calendars, which allows students and professors to communicate on times that work best for both individuals. I also ended up using Handshake quite often during my time at Nazareth, which helped me look for jobs and internships, and schedule appointments with my Career Coach. The tool I used most frequently at Naz was Moodle, which was where professors put important documents, like the class syllabus and due dates. Moodle is a great tool to make sure you’ve submitted all your assignments on time, and can help you keep track of important dates coming up. Most Naz students can tell you that they check Moodle daily, and it was certainly an important resource for me each semester. Familiarizing yourself with these simple services early on in your freshman year can help you become an organizational pro, and relieve a lot of stress during hectic weeks.

My final tip for incoming freshman is to take some time to reflect on your time at Naz as soon as possible. As a senior turned recent grad, I find myself taking a lot of time to look back on my experiences at college, and how they’ve made a difference in my life. Some of my most important moments and decisions at Nazareth were made in my freshman year, and it can be difficult to remember everything I did three or more years ago. I would recommend spending some free time at the end of each semester writing down some of your favorite memories, or experiences that really had an impact on you. If you took a particularly memorable class, joined a club, or even just had a great day off campus exploring Rochester: write it down. Later on, you’ll be thankful to have a list of memories to remember the most important moments of your college career.

I can tell you that my time at Nazareth seemed to go by in the blink of an eye, and it’s important to make the most of your time while you’re still a student. While the transition to college life can seem stressful, these tips can help you make the most of your freshman year.