As we reach the halfway point of my last fall semester here at Nazareth, there are a few things I wish I could tell my freshman year self. The most bittersweet part of college is learning so many new things about yourself, but maybe just a little too late like I did. I know a lot of seniors in college feel the same way, and I decided to write this letter to my freshman year self in hopes of inspiring new students to think about their decisions a little more carefully before they make them.
To my freshman year self,
Congrats! You finally made it to college. You’re ready to make tons of new friends and learn about something you actually care about. But there’s a few things you should remember before you get caught up in the whirlwind that is your first year of college.
1. School comes first. It may be tempting to have fun every weekend with your friends and skip out on studying and homework but don’t! In the end, you’ll wish you had been a little more responsible with a slightly higher GPA, although the memories might be worth it.
2. Don’t limit yourself. Declaring my second major my sophomore year was one of the best decisions I made during my college career. Starting off as a legal studies major was interesting for me, but I wanted a chance to show my creative side, which is what I got to do when declaring communications and media as my second major. Take classes that are outside your major if you have the time to explore subjects you may be interested in, you never know where you could end up if you do. I wish I had looked into different majors and minors more than I did. I think I would’ve liked to take some human resource management classes but I had no idea they existed at Naz when I started. Don’t be afraid to talk to your advisor or career coach when contemplating these types of changes.
3. Know when to say no. Taking 19 credits while working three jobs and participating in student government makes it hard to balance your time. Don’t just try to build your resume, find extracurriculars you really love and are willing to spend time on so it doesn’t feel like extra work, like student government was for me. Figure out where your limits are, maybe 15 credits a semester? Balancing your time is crucial when it comes to successfully getting your degree.
4. Respect yourself. You’ll make tons of friends during your time in college but that doesn’t mean you have to stay friends with them all. Make the right decisions for yourself and your happiness and stay focused on why you are here.
All these things are important to having your own version of success in college, but don’t forget to have fun along the way. Naz offers so many ways to get involved and have the best time, make sure to take advantage of them! Pay a visit to the Center for Student Success to figure out how best to manage your time, or Academic Advisement to see if adding another minor is right for you. Don’t forget about the Student Activities department and the Undergraduate Association, two organizations that can add a little fun to your college experience through clubs and events. There’s so much you can do here at Naz during your four years, so don’t waste it!