Advice for First-Year Students

Aw, the first day of a new school year! Yes, we start on a Wednesday, though I'm not sure why. In any case, it has been an interesting day and, as a student in their fifth year of college, I think I'm able to say that some of the new folks could really use a little help. I don't mean that they aren't good students or anything like that, but these poor first-year students are walking around with dazed expressions. There's so much that faculty and orientation groups, etc. just can't/don't tell first-year students! So, that's where I come in (maybe it's the mom in me?). I have read various and numerous posts about what a student should take to class and what they should or shouldn't carry in their bags, but they leave out quite a bit. Here’s a list of items that may have been left off of the lists from other people, in no particular order.

1)    Tissues. For Pete’s sake people, nothing is more annoying that listening to people sniffling in class and, if you’re the one sniffling, then you know it’s not fun to be the one causing the disruptions. And I know that you can’t always get up and leave the classroom to get a tissue. Go to the dollar store, like Dollar Tree in this area, and spend a buck on a travel pack of tissues to take to class with you. Or, snatch a handful before you leave for class and stuff them in your pocket, you bra, whatever works best for you. But please, for all that is good and holy, take some dang tissues!

2)    Hand sanitizer. Well, for obvious reasons. But, let’s say you have a cold and have been using the tissues we just discussed. Don’t be gross about it. Use hand sanitizer when you’re done. Also, a lot of door knobs and railings are covered in bacteria and, unless your immune system is that of Superman, you’re likely to pick up some nasty stuff and take it with you. You also might be meeting a lot of new people, including faculty, and you don’t want to be the person who just touched a dirty tissue and proceeded to shake someone’s hand.

3)    Lotion. Maybe it’s a girl thing, and that’s okay, but the water at my school is very drying and I can’t flip through a book or hold a writing utensil properly with overly dry hands. I get that a lot of guys don’t want to carry around lotion and that’s fine, but if you need it, use it! I take it with me everywhere. Besides that, it can be used to tame flyaway hair, too. It’s just useful.

4)    Pens AND Pencils. Because we all have that one (or more) class that likes to use Scantron sheets for every test or quiz. And, if you’re familiar with these things, you know that they require a #2 pencil, just like elementary school. It never fails that someone in each of my classes will fail to bring a pencil and be asking everyone, including the professor, to borrow one. Don’t be that person.

5)    Extra pencil lead or a sharpener. This is self-explanatory. Many classrooms these days don’t have pencil sharpeners anymore and I’m not a fan of mechanical pencils as I write too hard.

6)    Stapler. Professors don’t have them in the classrooms. I have full-size stapler at home and mini-size that I take in my bag with me. See? Cute and tiny.

7)    Calculator. I don’t even have a math class this semester, nor do I have a science class that’s math-intensive, but I always have my trusty TI30X scientific calculator in my bag. You just never know when math is going to sneak up on you.

8)    Snacks. Even if you have a meal plan, it’s easy to get hungry throughout the day and no one wants to sit through a lecture with a growling stomach.

9)    Water. Or whatever you prefer to drink. You’re going to be thirsty throughout the day. It’s true.

10) Chargers. For your phone, iPad, computer, whatever. That should go without saying.

11) Umbrella. Yes, rain happens. Don’t be caught without it, especially if you’re having a good hair day or if you have classes in different buildings. Do you really want to sit through a lecture dripping wet??

12) Emergency Bag. This is an extra I’m throwing in because I’m a needy person. Not really, it’s just that I like to be prepared since I don’t live on campus (see my post about commuting for more on that). In this bag I have various items such as some of those mentioned above, my glasses, extra contact solution and a case, allergy medicine, headache medicine, bandages, hair ties, a comb, safety pins, and feminine hygiene products. I change the items in the bag to meet my needs, so I might have a travel-size hairspray or makeup. Even if I lived on campus, and we have a small campus, running back to the dorm or apartment would be very inconvenient and not practical on days when I have multiple classes back-to-back. You can see the size of the bag in relation to my hand. It’s not a large bag and it holds a lot, so the items I listed here really don’t take up much room.

 

Now, keep in mind that this post isn’t covering the normal items everyone should be taking to class, like notebooks and text books.

Okay, a few other things I think are important for first-year students, or any students really, are as follows:

-Don’t leave the house with wet hair. Come on, people. We’re all adults now. Get up early enough to dry your hair and make yourself presentable, please.

-Take some time before your first day to find your classes. I did this in high school religiously and continue to do so now. I’m fairly familiar with each building where my classes are located and I know where I’m going long before I ever start class. This will help you so much and ensure that you’re not late.

-You don’t have to introduce yourself to everyone. It’s okay to be a little quiet and keep to yourself sometimes. Not everyone is super extroverted and that’s okay. You’ll still make friends and you’ll still get along fine in classes. And, let’s be honest, everyone has days when they just don’t feel like talking, especially to strangers. You have the whole semester to meet your classmates, so don’t feel like you have to stand up in front of the class and greet everyone as they enter.

I hope this helps someone out there at least a tiny little bit. I’ve been there and done that so I’m more than happy to pass on a little wisdom to others. Of course, if anyone has questions please contact me!

Here’s to a great semester!