My heart is pounding a thousand times, I feel as if my blood
is gushing through my veins like liquid electricity. Oh Damn! I’m so confused
or am I scared? Let me take a deep breath.......... Will I be accepted by my
classmates? Will I be able to make new friends? Oh my God I’m going crazy with
these questions popping up in my mind. The first year college students often battle
these emotional questions during their transitional phase from school to
college.
Everything seems new
and tempting. Freshmen are away from home for the first time and may tend to
have a thrill pertaining to parties, relationships, peer pressure, covering
costs, sex and social groups. The first few weeks of the college are crucial as
you tend to make critical decisions that can have a major impact on your experience
in the rest of your college years. Here are a few guidelines that can help you
to enjoy your college experience.
1.
Academic success comes with proper planning, organizing
and time management. You should get to
know your professors well so that you can clarify your doubts pertaining to
your studies. Design a calendar for studies. Follow it regularly and it will
work wonders.
2.
Roommates during your college can be your best
friends. Remember your roommates may
have issues at an initial stage but as time passes by you tend to develop a
bond of mutual respect. If a roommate is physically or verbally abusive you can
always have a word with the Resident Assistant or the Dean and request for a
room change.
3.
Orientation programs will have a lot of students
who are like you; of the same age and equally scared. Such programs will always
help you to make a lot of friends and also understanding your college campus
well.
4.
There will be a lot of peer pressure pertaining
to sex. All you need to know is that it’s
an individual choice and should not be an outcome of peer pressure.
5.
You should always use money wisely. You can also
take up a part time job to meet your needs.
6.
Campus safety: This is perhaps the most
prominent issue. The first year students are the ones who are most likely to be
the victims of sexual assaults. The period from new student orientation to that
of thanks- giving break is often termed as “The Red Zone” by many researchers. This is the time when maximum sexual assaults
occur and are reported. So students have
to be vigilant in parties, gatherings.
Ensure that you don’t put your drink down. Someone can spike your drink.
At the same time you need to have the campus security number programmed in your
cell. This is always a smart decision. Female students should always carry
pepper spray in the purse.
Every college needs to have a program
to educate and create awareness about sexual assault on campuses.
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