Stuff you should know by now
No one likes a freshman with scurvy!
By Dan Dick | Opinion Editor
For many young Americans, attending college is the closest they have come to real freedom after living under the often oppressive and regimented structures of high school or their parents. The troubled days of curfews and dress codes are a distant memory, soon to be replaced with the promise of untold debauchery, the likes of which are best exemplified in “National Lampoon’s Animal House.”
However, many soon realize that with the greater freedom comes parallel with an increased degree of responsibility. In college, you decide everything from what’s for lunch to when to sleep, to spending your free time to complete your work.
Those may not sound like daunting decisions, but for a sheltered teenager thrown into an alien environment with little to no supervision, they may be overwhelming.
Having already attended this fine university for five years, I can easily see why many incoming freshmen fail to complete their education in the standard four years or drop out of college altogether. For the sake of this new freshman class, I’ve compiled a brief list of the easiest ways to stay afloat during the first semester of college.
Realize that just because you can choose from a wide assortment of culinary options doesn’t mean you should pig out! Our cafeteria has an all-you-can-eat atmosphere, but don’t think of it as a gastronomical challenge. I had a friend who considered a platter of chicken wings a healthy and well balanced meal, but failed to comprehend that his intestinal dilemma might have been linked to his poorly chosen diet. Your parents weren’t joking when they told you to eat some fruits and vegetables. No one likes freshmen with scurvy!
Some classes start at the cruel and unusual hour of 8 a.m., so don’t stay up all night watching movies or playing video games. You likely have classes spread throughout the day, which means if you have time between them you should try to schedule a nap. If roommates won’t settle down so you can sleep, hit them with a shovel… I mean calmly stress the importance of getting enough sleep. Worst case scenario, take a nap in the library!
You wouldn’t be the first to indulge in a little “studying” in a silent corner for an hour or so. Having classes scheduled on alternate days can be a bit of a shock to your system. I went to a Catholic high school where every aspect of the school day was strictly regimented with busy work so that every day felt like the one before it. When I came to college, individual days were not as important as being ready for the eventual papers, projects and tests.
In other words, I could probably stay home and watch TV if I understood the material. To make matters worse, I was a commuter, so it took all the motivation I could muster to get out of the house. The temptation to skip a class was often too great. In retrospect, I deeply regret my patronage of the optional attendance policy that some professors exercise. Sensible decisions about your daily life can have an enormous effect on your college career.
Keeping yourself healthy and productive gives you the best chance to accomplish your scholastic and personal goals. So give yourself an advantage by eating right, getting enough sleep and adapting well to your new environment.
