By Lauren Burgstahler—
September is back again and the semester is as fresh as that new binder smell. But with new beginnings also come new challenges, particularly for those new to the NJCU community, such as freshmen and transfer students. So The Gothic Times presents you with a few universal truths that will hopefully help you avoid the rookie mistakes that most of us has to learn the hard way.
Every professional college student knows that half the battle is showing up. The other half is showing up on time. Now, I’m sure you’re an exceptionally hard working morning person with multitasking skills, but if you’re not, you probably shouldn’t take that Friday 9 a.m. class.
Show up 15 minutes early to everything; even waking up. Whether it’s traffic, weather or a gigantic line at Starbucks; you’ll be thanking yourself later when you’re not walking into class, late and awkward.
Now, if by some miracle, you’ve arrived on time; you’re actually going to have to sit through class. But the important thing to remember is that you are a beautiful, unique snowflake and so is your teacher. Every professor has a different way of teaching, testing and scoring. You may or may not think your instructor is a genius. You may hate them. Maybe you just think they’re alright. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.
Your best bet is to figure out your teacher’s style and what they’re looking for from you. If your sleuth skills are spotty, then your best bet is to ask your professor. You’d be surprised at how many people are afraid to ask their instructor a question. Don’t be one of them.
Still, the most honest advice I could give you is to be realistic about your expectations. Know yourself. Own it. If you love sleeping until 11, don’t stress yourself out with a 9 a.m. If this is a transitory semester for you, then just maybe put that Calculus class off until next semester. Don’t overwhelm yourself just to keep up appearances, because there is no right way to be in college.
More often than not, the transition through college is just as much a social growth as an academic. You might be a commuter looking to feel involved. Maybe you’re a dorm student looking to bust out. There’s only so much that four walls and some plaster can do to create a feeling of community.
It’s up to you. Get a group of dormers on the PATH to New York City for the day or drive to campus on a Saturday for a fund raiser and open-mic night. Feeling bored? Suggest some events to your RA. One of the benefits of NJCU being a close-knit community is that it only takes a little to feel a whole lot of change.
So, let’s consider what we learned here: That we are only human, so we should leave ourselves room (and 15 minutes) to breath. No one can read minds, so it’s important to communicate in class and with your professor. Most importantly, whether in life, school, or with others; we should always be present and proactive. We should always put our best foot forward. So, with an eye towards success, The Gothic Times hope these tips will be useful to you.