Student Life Archives

Many people will tell you, “College is the best four years of your life.” Do not listen to these people. Kick them. Challenge them to a duel. Tell them to stop propagating that B.S.

Because that is what it is: B.S. Not because college is not fantastic. Not because some of your most vivid memories will not be made in this place. Not because you will not learn more than you ever thought you wanted to know, nor because you will not mature quantitatively more than at any other point in your life.

No, not for these reasons, because they in fact all WILL be, exasperatingly, the case. College is fan-freaking-tastic. But the “College is the best four years of your life” mantra is terrible advice, for three reasons.

The first is that a large number of the people giving you this advice (i.e. the other people’s columns that you have read and will shortly be reading) have not even lived past college. What do they know?

The second reason we ought to discard this junky advice is that it encourages an attitude totally devoid of the consideration that there even exists life after college. Whether it is getting really drunk and falling out of a window (yes) or writing a tasteless letter to Student Life that you later try to get removed from the Web site so you can actually get a job (sorry), your actions do, periodically, have consequences.

The third reason to dump this painful cliché is the point from which I will begin my actual, concrete advice (and this relates to point numero dos): you must think (actively and decisively) about life after college. For the love of all things both sacred and not: think about what you want to happen when you are done here.

This sounds initially discouraging, I know, and more, not fun. If you approach it the wrong way, it will be. The wrong way to approach this advice consists of ruining your college experience in order to work toward a successful post-college life. Be very careful of this.

The right way to approach this advice is, rather than to conform your college experience to your ideal post-college career and life (as the mistaken person does), instead conform your ideal post-college career and life to your college experience. What do you love about being here? Do that, and do it after you leave too.

The reason mature adults tell you that “college is the best four years of your life” is because they savored the college experience but did not have the foresight to come up with a way to extend that joy into a career or into a life. They tell you these are the “best four years”-and you (if you follow in their footsteps) will tell it to kids when you are an adult too-only because you yourself believed it when they you in college.

But you, with a couple extra generations of experience (and my help), know that you can both savor college and use it as a time to find something (and DECIDE on it, which is often the step that gets missed) that you want to do afterwards. The last thing you want to do, I believe, is sit in an office staring at a fluorescent computer screen, in “business-casual” attire, in a “good” job, one year after college or ten or thirty years after, wondering, “What the hell am I doing here?”

If that is where you end up, don’t just “end up” there. GO there, consciously. College is your opportunity to figure out why working in an office will suck. (Or why it will rock.)

“College is the best four years of your life” will only be true if you believe it. Now is the time to stop doing so. Your whole LIFE is going to be fan-freaking-tastic. Seize college’s joy, but make it the beginning of the rest of your life.

Dennis Sweeney is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and a forum editor. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Let me be among the many to welcome you to St. Louis and to Washington University! Very soon we will be welcoming you in person as the newest members of our Wash. U. community. You’re coming at a very exciting time. However, if I’m perfectly honest with myself, I think each year has been very exciting.this year is just more so with a couple of new twists.

First, you’ll get here in time for the opening of the new Danforth University Center, and I hope this will become your second home after your residential college. Second, the presidential campaign season is only beginning, and come October 2 at 8 p.m., Wash. U. will be hosting the vice presidential debate right in our very own Athletic Complex. You’ll have the opportunity to apply to be a volunteer for this event and you’ll be able to put your name in a lottery for any debate tickets that we may receive from the Commission on Presidential Debates.

We want and need you, now more than ever, to get involved. Make connections, find your niche and give and receive during your time here. As assistant vice chancellor for students and the director of campus life, the areas I work most closely with focus on involvement, service, and leadership-primarily outside of the classroom. More importantly, my colleagues and I want to create a seamless living/learning environment. I work with many folks who have adopted the following mission: To build and sustain an undergraduate experience of exceptional quality where students, who are known by name and story, prepare themselves for lives of purpose and meaning. We’re here to assist you.

I know everyone from your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, high school counselors, friends and even strangers you meet as you shop for extra-long fitted sheets are more than willing and ready to give you advice as you plan your trek to St. Louis. I am no exception. I can’t resist the urge because I, like others who care about you, want all your adjustments to be smooth and relatively painless. As I begin my twelfth year, I am still amazed at the role students play in making this a great place to live, learn and work.

Here’s my top ten list for becoming a part of the community and leaving your mark on this campus. Some may not make sense until you arrive.

1) Introduce yourself to at least two new people each day; start early to adopt this habit. Ask someone to share a meal with you; don’t be shy.

2) Do not pass “GO,” do not call home before getting your academic life in order. Get to know your academic advisor, resident advisor and all others who offer assistance. All of them can become resources and support for you.

3) Once you’re satisfied with your class schedule and have gone to your first classes, get in the habit of finding a quiet, comfortable place to study. I strongly advise that you visit Cornerstone, the Center for Advanced Learning.

4) Attend all Orientation sessions. You’ll learn lots, meet others and have fun along the way. Don’t miss “SUp All Night” on August 24-to be explained at a later date.

5) Don’t forget, Orientation does not stop when classes begin. A group of students and staff are already planning events and activities to keep you busy during “your first 40 days and 40 nights” here; you’ll also learn more about this once you arrive.

6) Sign-up for Service First. It’s a day of service in the St. Louis Public Schools, only open to new students, taking place the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend-August 30. You’ll have fun volunteering with classmates at one of the public schools and attending a BBQ and community service fair.

7) Get off campus-you don’t need a car. Shopping malls, movie theaters, grocery stores and restaurants are readily available via the MetroLink, not to mention what’s within walking distance-the Loop and all that Forest Park contains.

8) Be sure and stop by the Activities Fair on Wednesday, September 3 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in Brookings Quad. The majority of student organizations will have tables and will be recruiting new members. They want you!

9) Take care of your health. That includes SLEEP. Too many students think they will catch up on their sleep during Fall Break or Thanksgiving. Your body simply doesn’t work that way, no matter how hard you try.

10) Finally, take a deep breath, enjoy yourself and savor all of the newness of attending Wash. U. and having the chance to leave your mark on this place. Be confident of your choice; and remember, we want you to succeed.

If there is any way I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me: [email protected] or 314.935.5022. See you soon!

Jill Carnaghi is vice-chancellor for students. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Freshman year was when I decided to take the initiative to do absolutely nothing. Gone were those years of high school filled with nonstop sports and clubs, those constant appointments to be met. During my first year at college, I firmly decided that I was going to free myself from all of the hassles and commitments I had grown so accustomed to and simply revel in a lifestyle I would never have the opportunity to enjoy again.

This break from stressing factors and distractions also critically required me to severe all ties to home. Sure, I had no problem making the occasional call every week or so, which was about all I could handle, but apparently, according to my parents, this was unacceptable. But it was college, right? So, like any good daughter, I decided to ignore their unreasonable demands to contact them on a more regular basis. After all, calls mainly consisted of a seemingly benign comment about the weather back in Chicago before a full-out assault was launched concerning my grade status in each of my classes, why I wasn’t getting more involved in school activities and why I had decided not to come home for fall break after all. As fun as these conversations were, I desperately tried to avoid them, as they conflicted greatly with my otherwise relaxing, and carefree days.

Little did I know that my negligence would have a damaging long-term effect that came in the form of the beloved “parents to freshmen” section of Student Life. One night after coming back to the dorm from Ursa’s, I was surprised to find a tattered Student Life thrown onto my bed. Confused, and admittedly a bit disgusted, I turned to my roommate who offered a quick explanation: “Oh, one of your friends dropped that off for you a few minutes ago,” she said with a slight grin. Obviously, she had already read it, and now I was a bit alarmed at what story or picture that paper could possibly contain. I ran over to the bed and looked at the open page. In the treasured “parents to freshmen” section was a special message of my own: Among the many inspirational quotes provided by the other parents, the “words of advice,” the encouragements, the “I’m so proud of yous,” was an admonition by my parents to call home. Unbelievable. I was so mad at this breach of the home/school wall that I rebelled by refusing to call them for another two weeks. My friends, however, took a sinister pleasure out of my sufferings and never failed to occasionally bring back the lovely memories surrounding this event throughout the rest of the year.

Thankfully though, after “the incident,” my plan to live freshman year free of commitments and expectations went relatively unscathed. Admittedly, I almost relapsed second semester by going to a Habitat for Humanity meeting, but soon after, I immediately resorted back to my sluggish ways and can honestly say that I had an amazing year.

Caitlin Brady is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Welcome to Washington University. You begin your undergraduate careers at a time of profound institutional reflection and a discussion that-like much of what you will experience in the next four yearsñwill be both specific and abstract. This announcement, then, is a welcome both into a community of scholars and into an exciting conversation about the very nature and purpose of that community.

Since its founding the United States has always assumed an essential connection between the values and ambitions of a free society and the work of higher education. Throughout his presidency George Washington recognized this interdependency and urged the creation of a national university. Following his own tenure in the executive office, Thomas Jefferson devoted his remaining years to the creation of the University of Virginia as a model of higher education appropriate for a republic. For more than two centuries the special relationship between colleges and universities and democracy has been reaffirmed in a multitude of ways, and in periods of crisis and transition has been a subject of much consideration. Whether in calls for expanded efforts in science and technology during the Cold War or in the GI Bill’s dramatic expansion of educational access that followed World War II, the fates of freedom and the broadening implications of democracy have been regarded as inextricable from our conception and implementation of advanced teaching and learning.

In this opening decade of the 21st century, with new challenges in virtually every aspect of our lives, it is again time to renew the discussion of the University’s role in a free society. As a citizen of a particular city and a particular nation as well as a global community, how does it (or how do we) address and reconcile these often complicated and sometimes conflicted responsibilities and partnerships in a manner consistent with our educational mission?

Washington University’s Democracy and Citizenship Initiative will be a year-long effort (involving faculty, students, administrators, and staff) to better understand American higher education’s relationship to the values and ambitions of a free society and, more specifically, to examine the meaning of citizenship for Washington University in its relationship with the greater St. Louis community, the nation and the world. This will be a University-wide project, one involving self-reflection as we consider the particular nature of our institution and the responsibilities and opportunities we face. An important part of this exploration will be an ongoing consideration of our relationship with the city and locale that have helped sustain us for more than 150 years, as well as with the nation whose democratic ideals rely on a commitment to education. Universities face the double challenge of educating citizens and of being a citizen with responsibilities to the society of which we are so intrinsically a part. At the same time we are also an important link between these communities and the larger world-in teaching and scholarship but also through our institutional partnerships. The challenge of being part of such differing constituencies with obligations to each requires us to consider who we are as a university and how that identity influences each of these relationships.

During the 2008-09 academic year we will attempt-through committees and discussion groups, conferences and other events-to engage as much of the University community as possible and through this year-long conversation to identify the key issues that we face, while establishing an agenda for the years to come.

Washington University is not alone in recognizing this as a critical moment for American higher education; colleges and universities around the country have begun a variety of projects to consider the social and educational challenges of our time, to think anew about the nature of our academics and the missions we pursue. The meaning of the Liberal Arts, the interaction of science and society, the nature of institutional citizenship and many related subjects being discussed on campuses across America. For these considerations to be most helpful they must be specific to particular institutional circumstances and visions. The Initiative on Democracy and Citizenship imagines that the conversations to take place at Washington University in the coming academic year will be about Washington University, a reflection on our sense of purpose and our community and yet-with the very specificity such an approach requires-will contribute to a larger discussion concerning the future of higher education in a free society.

We welcome ideas and participants. Please feel free to e-mail.

Wayne Fields is a professor in the College of Arts & Sciences and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

I am writing this article while sitting in my office listening to music and avoiding the work I have to do. I am an intern in the Office of Student Activities and one of my projects is to create a master list of co-curricular involvement opportunities for students on campus.

“Involvement” is a very broad idea, but it will define a significant portion of the experience you have here. Academic excellence is certainly the most important goal you should have as a Washington University student, but your tenure here should be summed up by more than your degree and the amount of tuition paid. Your experience should be a priceless era that you will be continually engaged in for years and years to come.

My advice is to let your exploration of Wash. U. be guided by two questions. What skills and abilities do you want to gain from your experience here? What impact do you want to leave on the campus community and the larger Wash. U. legacy? As you continue on over the next four years, keep asking those questions. The answers may change, and that’s okay.

When I first came to Wash. U., I knew I wanted to do more than just go to class, but I wasn’t sure what I was passionate about. In situations like this, some students tend to do nothing, and others, like myself, tend to do too much. I got over-involved very quickly. Within the first semester of my freshman year, I was the treasurer of a student group, a member of the Orientation Executive Board, the host and contributing editor of a television show, and a full-time student in my spare time.

The story of my freshman year is a testament to how easy it is for freshmen to get involved, but it is also an example of what can happen when you don’t intentionally guide your experience by asking the important questions. I was passionate about being a leader, so I led. I wasn’t necessarily passionate about what I was doing, so I led others and myself with no direction. I wish I would have taken my time to think carefully about what I wanted to get out of being involved on campus.

You may have been a leader in high school, and may assume that you should continue to do whatever activities you participated in. You may have been solely committed to your academic pursuits and may think that you won’t have time to study for college classes and do other things. Whether I’ve described you or not, throw all of your assumptions out of the window. Take a minute to discover what you’re passionate about and begin your journey as a Wash. U. student.

You may go on to become a student group leader, start a community service organization, conduct published research, become class president, a teaching assistant or something I haven’t listed. “Involvement” is a necessary component of being a Wash. U. student, but you should carefully pursue it so that both you and what you’re involved in benefit from the experience. Take a moment to find your passion, and everything from selecting a major to shaping your legacy will become a lot easier.

Jeff Nelson is a junior in Arts & Sciences and Student Union Vice President of Administration. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Wash. U. forces you to take Writing 1 because the administration thinks you can’t write. The Orientation Executive Board gives you Choices to dissuade you from doing what you’ve probably been doing since your sophomore year in high school. Student Life commissions me to write you an advice column because they think you’re starving for the same advice you’ve been getting throughout your last year in high school.

What none of the well-meaning administration and students gives you is credit. Not to say some of you don’t need a little pointing in the “right” direction or that none of the advice you receive will be useful. Take it all in. From the laughable suggestion to get eight hours of sleep to the “don’t-date-anyone-freshman-year-or-else-your-social-life-will-be-doomed,” every bit of advice you’ll receive about what to and not to do freshman year has a basis in sound reasoning and good intentions. But, truth be told, there’s really no wrong way to do freshman year.

Now, the smart alecks amongst you may immediately say, “What if you fail first semester and have to transfer to another college? Isn’t that a wrong way to do your freshman year?”

Only if you assume failure is wrong. Wrong is a moral judgment. Failure is a mistake (or series of mistakes) that ends in an undesired result. So, if you fail, it doesn’t mean you’ve done wrong (depending on your moral philosophy), it simply means you’ve made a mistake(s). Can a mistake be wrong? Certainly. But even so, the majority of the mistakes you make freshman year probably won’t be wrong (again, depending on your moral philosophy).

Of course, this argument probably wouldn’t hold up with a dean or other official who could strip you of your scholarship, privileges on campus, etc. But within the realm of how you choose to live your first semester, this is a perfectly fine mindset. If you can accept your failures and the mistakes that led to them, then, in my estimate, you’re doing freshman year right.

Stewing over failures and mistakes and trying to avoid them will only waste time and experience: two of the most valuable things you’ll have throughout college. Don’t try and walk the straight line or spend all your time trying to be the “well-rounded student.” That’s what high school’s for.

You’re in college now. This doesn’t necessarily prove that you know what to think (or even how), but that coveted acceptance letter suggests that you definitely can. With that said, sift through every piece of advice you’ll receive and figure out what’s best for you. You may make a mistake, you may fail, but it will be your mistake and your failure.

If the mistakes you make and the things you fail are the sole results of someone else’s thoughts and beliefs, then (in my estimate) you’ve ventured into being wrong. As long as you’re the primary owner of your first year experience, you’re in the right (again, in my estimate).

Of course, all of my advice ill-disguised in a non-advice column is subjective. Feel free to tear everything I’ve said apart. Feel free to ignore me completely. Feel free to peruse a more useful advice column that tells you all the good places to eat, party, etc. It’s up to you.

Wandalyn Savala is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

There are things you know going in, things you learn along the way, things people tell you that you’ll never believe and things you wish someone had told you to begin with. What follows is a list, in no particular order, of what some of those things are for me. I hope they serve you well.

1) Your freshman floor is where you live, not who you are.

This one is kind of hard for most freshmen to grasp-I’ll admit to having struggled with it myself for a while-but it’s also a really important thing to realize up front. You’ll make friends on your floor, and you’ll make friends off your floor; don’t limit yourself. It’s geography, not destiny (unless you lived on Fo2).

2) Speak in class, but only speak when you have relevant/intelligent things to say.

You’re graded on quality, not quantity, of participation.

3) A lot of your course books are in the library.

Especially if you’re taking lit classes with nine million books per semester, cross-reference your syllabus with the library listings before you hit the bookstore. If you’re going to be using a book for half the semester then it’s probably better to buy, but if it’s just one or two lectures, embrace the library (and post-its). You’ll save a ton.

4) Call your parents. Don’t drunk dial them.

5) B does not mean “bad”/ It’s okay to drop a class now and then.

Given that we’re all students at a top-20 university, I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’ve probably all been on the AP/IB/make-honor-role-or-perish track since we were three. However, once you get to college, you’ll find that the rules change somewhat. It’s not the end of the world (or of your GPA) if (God forbid) you get an A-, and it’s also not the end of the world if you have to withdraw from a class. So you couldn’t handle 21 credits (shock!), so what? Withdrawing from a class every semester will probably throw some red flags, but if it’s only once or twice, don’t sweat it.

6) Make use of on-campus resources.

I heart the Writing Center.

7) Make your own choices about alcohol.

For the most part, the idea that you’ll be subject to outrageous peer pressure is an urban legend. As long as you’re comfortable with your decision, and as long as you don’t criticize or pigeonhole your classmates for making their own decisions, it’s all good. Drink or don’t drink; just don’t judge.

8) Professors are people, too (but it’s still okay to be afraid of them).

Yes, they’re intimidating. They’re also (mostly) very nice people, whose job it is to teach you. Please, let them. Also, if you plan on med school/grad school/law school/etc; make sure to take full advantage of office hours for at least two or three of your classes. Professors can’t write you recommendations if they can’t remember you.

9) Have fun! After all, “it’s college!”

Good luck!

Sara Remedios is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and a staff columnist. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Rachel Yoon

As not to mislead you by the title of this article, please refrain from making assumptions that there are long-held traditions here at Wash. U. of connecting the aforementioned items. In fact, my first piece of advice to you is on behalf of your floormates: do not eat ramen noodles for breakfast. You can smell them from all the way down the hall and at 7 a.m. this is not exactly a tantalizing aroma. I speak from experience.

The title of this article, rather, is meant to evoke images of the stereotypical college experience (at least how I pictured it): diets consisting of ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese, wearing pajamas to class and attempting extravagant designs of body paint in order to cheer on the campus football team. I promise I am not trying to crush your pre-collegiate dreams, but I must warn you that this stereotype does not fit your future alma mater. There are great things in store for you, but you are more likely to find them in our unique (and sometimes a little quirky) campus culture rather than the layman’s image of college life. For example, though we have some great sports teams, you will probably find yourself cheering on some of our fabulous a cappella groups in Graham Chapel or enjoying a cultural show in Edison Theatre with the same enthusiasm others might divert to athletics. Your competitive side, however, will come out in full force during a water balloon and mud fight on the Swamp that takes place every April.

As far as food is concerned, I have yet to see anyone go hungry on this campus. The University will assure that you have a more than adequately sized meal plan, but if you do happen to run out of points, at least 50 percent of your classmates will be attempting to sell off their surplus supply. Late-night eater? Not to worry. Bear’s Den is open into the wee hours of the morning, and if you just can’t live without ramen noodles, you can use your meal points to stock up on the prized cuisine at Bear Mart. With a campus chock full of food options, fitness centers and even a dietetic consultant, a few wise choices will keep off the so-called “freshman 15.” So, if you would like to eat your ramen-noodle loving heart out, feel free. I prefer a grilled chicken salad with a smoothie from the DUC Cafe.

It is with a little pain in my heart that I pen/type this last bit of forewarning. People do not wear pajamas to class at Washington University. Perhaps it is due to the 10 minute walk that separates the dorms from the classrooms, or maybe we all are just too embarrassed to let our favorite professor see our fuzzy bunny PJ pants, but, alas, even for those early morning classes, it is a rare occurrence. After hearing story upon story from my admittedly “party school”-attending college comrades about rolling out of bed minutes before Intro to Psychology, I was a little disappointed with this discovery. If you find yourself needing to be amused by wardrobe selections, I know someone who wears shorts year-round and I could also direct you to a few professors who make some “interesting” wardrobe choices.

I don’t tell you all of this to disappoint you or give you a harsh kick of reality, but rather in the hopes of exciting you for the unique experiences that are in store. Wash. U. is a great place to be, and you will find yourself quite happy with the way your expectations pan out.and the ways in which things are totally different.

Finally, remember that all of this is just one person’s opinion. Though myself and my esteemed colleagues work hard to dole out bunches of advice to you all, don’t let anyone else’s opinions or ideas determine your college experience (except for maybe the great scholars of your chosen field). For now, try not to worry too much; it will all work out. I promise.

Tricia Wittig is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Congratulations, you’re about to start your college career at Washington University in St. Louis. You must be a smart kid. Don’t worry, you’ll forget that by the time you leave. No, the classes aren’t impossible. You might have to work a little harder, but you’ll still do well academically if that’s important to you. When you get to campus and you move into your dorms and your parents leave, look around. Every other kid here is about as smart as you. Maybe not in the same ways-maybe he’s a harder worker, maybe she has no common sense. But, everyone here is pretty intelligent. So, what does that make you?

Many of you have built your identities around being intelligent students with decent study skills. Over the next four years, you’re going to get the opportunity to discover other things about yourself. They might be extensions of what you already know-that you’re a jock, an actor, a charmer, a writer, a researcher, a politician. But for a great many of you, you’re going to discover new parts of your personality in this environment. So what can you do to make sure you get the most out of your college experience?

1) Take some risks. Now, I’m not saying you should make clearly idiotic mistakes: drinking copious amounts of alcohol with people you don’t know; trying to seduce your RA; not only skipping class, but also not copying notes, going to your professors’ office hours or doing any homework. But, try out for a play, even if you don’t know how. Talk to strangers. Flirt with that cute guy in Intro to Psych. Wash. U. may not be a huge school, but there are more than enough people and activities to fill your next four years, if you put yourself out there.

2) Go to Cornerstone. Suck it up; everyone goes at least once. If you are having trouble in a class, or if you anticipate having any trouble in a class, the mentoring, group study, or Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) sessions they have at Cornerstone will be invaluable. If you do really well in the class, sign up to be a mentor. Not only is it one of the best paying jobs on campus, it looks great on a resume. They also offer different seminars about time management and note taking, and while you might be scoffing to yourself-“Excuse me, I know how to take notes”- there will be many more activities pressing on your time now, and you might be inclined to cut academic corners.

3) Watch what you eat and go to the gym. If you go to the dining services’ Web site, you can look up the nutritional information of everything you eat. Those chicken tenders that you’re going to order at least twice a week? That’s right, they’ve got 800+ calories and hundreds of percentage points of your daily fat intake. You’ve heard about the Freshman 15. Go to the gym-even if you’ve never been inside a gym before. I promise, you’ll feel better afterward. Especially in the winter, when you unexpectedly find yourself with SAD.

4) A bit of practical advice: don’t buy extra meal points. At the end of the year, half your floor will have way too many, and you can mooch off them.

5) Schedule an appointment at the Career Center. You might not want to think about it yet, but you’ll have to leave Wash. U. in another four years, and you won’t want to go home and eat ramen in the basement.

6) The most important thing to remember as an incoming freshman? DON’T OVERLOAD YOURSELF. It’s a common impulse-you’ve been an overachiever your entire life, and you’re excited to have found so many activities and people to be passionate about. The thing is, semesters get harder as time goes on. What you think you’re juggling fine in September will start to bear down in late October, and come finals will be a crushing weight. Add on Murphy’s Law, and you will be more prone to getting the flu/panic attacks/hospitalized for some random reason. Schedule time to relax.

That’s it. Don’t come in with too many preconceptions about what you will find in college. Some of your expectations will come true, but you might be surprised with what sticks to you the most when you leave. The students and faculty here have been truly remarkable these last four years-don’t mess it up for us alums. Have fun, and good luck.

Pamela Ju graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2008 and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].