Luke’s Advice
College is not easy — even for communication majors. Being prepared for changes is the greatest key to success.
It is a life-changing experience. I look back at my success, and it would not have been possible without my failures. The goal is to succeed, but learning from mistakes is a part of the process.
The University of Indianapolis is focused on experiential learning. Embracing the stepping stones of success and failure go a long way. In my experience, my peers have wanted what is best for me by talking to a lot of people across campus, I think it goes across the board.
Freshman year is the best opportunity to try everything and make mistakes. It is better to be brushed off as a clueless freshman than a clueless sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student. Embrace mistakes and learn from them. It is also a great opportunity to find yourself.
I started out pursuing my communication degree and a business administration minor. I took one business class and learned it was not my cup of tea. The business professors and students here are some of the best at what they do, but I was not cut out for it. All around, UIndy has world-class professors in their respective fields.
Social dynamics can be complicated in college. Some people arrive at college and think it is middle school with all the drama. If you find yourself being brought into some drama, be the bigger person and not engage with it. Schoolwork is more important than a drama-filled life. Let people say what they want, as long as you know your truth, you should be fine. We are all adults here.
Your college journey is up to you. Freshman year is a clean slate to build a strong foundation, so take advantage of it. Arriving at college is the beginning of new opportunities. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Logan’s Advice
Being a part of the UIndy community is a privilege no student should take for granted. UIndy may be a small university, but it offers great opportunities. The professors on this campus are not only knowledgeable in their areas of expertise, but more importantly, the class sizes at UIndy offer a unique opportunity for students to get to know their professors and classmates on a personal level.
It is your job to fully experience UIndy. Utilize the resources available all around you on campus to not just get by academically and socially but to excel in every aspect of your time here at UIndy. Send emails to professors, say “hi” and “bye” to them every time you have class, introduce yourself, ask them questions and start conversations when you run into them in the halls. Do not be intimidated by their titles because they were in your shoes once. If you continually interact with your professors and establish good relationships with them, it is only a matter of time before they will become mentors to you. They may share networking contacts with you for career advancement after graduation or sign letters of recommendation. Professors are there to help you and care for you, so use that to your advantage.
Introduce yourself to your classmates and get to know them beyond the class subject material. Find similar interests with them and ask what they are doing on the weekend or if they are involved in any fun extracurricular activities or clubs on campus. Put yourself out there and go outside of your comfort zone to get involved in whatever you can. Getting involved allows you to meet new people, who may become good connections for future job opportunities or best friends for life. Everybody knows somebody, so always be kind, make good first impressions and follow up.
To be a standout Greyhound, go beyond the average student and put your best foot forward in any and every way that you can. Do not settle for mediocrity, and push yourself to be extraordinary. Have an open mind to trying new things, always be eager to learn and do not limit yourself. You never know what lies ahead of you after college, so make the most out of your time and learn as much as you can so that you will be prepared for the real working world. Being a UIndy Greyhound is a blessing, so make the most of it.
