New freshmen often walk around with questions, not sure whom to ask. Dr. Jackson, who taught a class during FYI week, has some advice for these students.
What do you think are the top resources for schoolwork assistance that are available for students?
The first is going to be your professors. It’s a number one choice, always the most important. Number two would be TLC, the Tutorial Learning Center, and number three would be any of the reference librarians. They’re fantastic to go get help from in person, good at pointing you in the right direction. You can just show up and they’ll be there to help you with any project you’re working on.
What have you seen new students do most often during their first year?
Not going to class and then not communicating about not going to class. Often, what happens is sometimes students don’t come to class and don’t give professors any documentation about not going to class. If they don’t come to class for serious reasons but don’t communicate, it’s harder for them to fix problems that we could have fixed earlier on, had we communicated properly. Also, time management as a whole. Students can get very easily overwhelmed with classes and trying to juggle a bunch of things, so I think time management is very important too. Don’t overcommit to yourself. Also, If you have to miss a class, DO NOT approach your professor beforehand and ask, ‘Hey, am I gonna miss anything in class?’ Don’t do that. Your professor is going to say, ‘No, we’re just all going to stand around staring at each other. So no, you won’t miss anything.’ You will always miss something is you don’t go to class.
What did you learn from your personal college experience?
I was a terrible freshman, I overcommitted myself, I was in the band, which was fantastic, but it did separate me from the social sphere of my dorm. If I would have been more proactive and less shy about going door to door and introducing myself after band, I would have been more involved and included in the community of my dorm. Just be aware of how you’re doing and keeping up to date on self-care because you have to take time for yourself as well as for schoolwork and social life.
School is, arguably, the most important part of college, but making connections, making friends and meeting new people is a huge part of the college experience. For anyone who’s shy, terrified of talking to complete strangers or even just don’t know where to start, Dr. Jackson gave some awesome advice.
What advice do you have for students who are shy and don’t know where to start with getting involved with activities and people?
There are many activities students can get involved in around campus. For example, the club fair coming up this week, which has all different kinds of clubs, some more academically minded, like (shameless plug) History Honors Society. But you could also get involved in Greek life, there’s social awareness clubs like fem club, another shameless plug, which I’m an advisor of, and of course, there’s athletic clubs as well. Getting involved in dorm activities is a great way to meet people too.
