As you may have noticed, my blog page has experienced a bit of an upgrade. On top of the left column there is now and forever will be a donation button linking directly to PayPal.
As many of you know I am preparing to travel to Turkey on my first ever peace-building mission abroad. It takes quite a lot of pocket change and budgeting to prepare for a trip like this, which is why I am in great need of YOUR help. Dear readers, you are of course in no way obligated to donate, but if you can please do. If you can't, please share the link of my blog with others so that this writer's dream of helping to make the world a better place can be achieved.
Speaking of being a writer, I was fortunate enough to have published my first commissioned article! (Reaching loads of milestones this year!) I submitted my article to a website called TakeLessons - they are a tutoring site that links students to teachers of a variety of subjects. My article was accepted, published, and now your "humble" writer is sharing it with you! (Little demonstrations of pride now and then never hurt anyone.)
"Top Tips for Becoming A New Fish in a College Pond"
By S. Faxon
http://takelessons.com/blog/adjusting-to-college
It’s that special time of year when high school seniors are stepping into their last summer before college. While move-in day and orientations are still a little ways off, it’s important to start thinking about adjusting to college life sooner than later.
There are a thousand and one things a college freshmen will have to worry about – dorm life, stadium-style seating in classrooms, schedules, parking, and the dreaded but mostly inevitable “freshman 15.”
Of course, every student’s experience will vary from school to school, but looking back on the experiences of my friends and my own trials and triumphs, I decided to put together a brief list of helpful, handy tips:
- Be polite to your roommates. Even if they seem to be possessed. If they are doing something you don’t like, such as watching ‘80s TV shows in the middle of the night, politely ask them to turn it down or to turn it off. You’ll be surprised how much smoother relations will go if you ask for things politely.
- Get to know your professors. Even if you are one student out of 300 in a classroom (yes, this does happen). Make the effort to see them during their office hours or to meet with the Graduate Assistant. Not only does it prove that you are serious about your studies, it makes a personal connection with your professor, who may be able to open doors for you that you never knew were closed.
- Try to find the list of your textbooks on your course pages online prior to the first class meeting. You will want plenty of time between ordering textbooks and your classes starting, as professors will not wait for you to get the books. Usually your professors will post which textbooks they want along with their syllabus well in advance of the semester or quarter starting. I don’t recommend printing the syllabus, which is the course outline, just yet as they are subject to change (as a former professor myself, I can attest to that).
- Use websites like Half.com, Amazon.com or eBay to find your textbooks. Professors will likely ask for the latest and greatest editions, but let’s be honest – you’re a poor college kid and books are expensive. Ask your professor if earlier editions are acceptable and save yourself a lot of money. Look into options for renting your books, which is also significantly cheaper. And especially don’t forget the LIBRARY!
- When contacting your professors, be as professional in your emails as possible. There is nothing more annoying to a professor than receiving an email from a student asking why their grade is so low, when the email is written like a text between friends. Professors are not your friends. They demand and deserve respect, particularly when you are inquiring about a grade. If they ask for a certain subject line in an email, use it, otherwise your communication will be lost to the great netherworld of the internet.
Hopefully these five tips will help you as you’re adjusting to college and catching your bearings in the wonderful new pond that you or your college-bound child are about to enter. College is a wonderful experience and countless adventures await you both academically and socially. There are numerous ways to broaden your mind at college, but it is only possible with good effort and a little common sense.
Remember, if you like what you read, pass it along in a Tweet! You can find me on Twitter @ReadingEscape. If you really like what you read and want to help keep this writer writing, please express your appreciation either via a comment or with a donation. Either will be greatly appreciated!!!Before I say adieu for now, here's yet another plea directly from me asking for your support:
Until next time!
Your humble author,
S. Faxon
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