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Printer-Friendly ModeA message to the freshmen: take my advice for this year
August 25, 2005 —
When talking a couple days ago with Merry Jo Brandimore, director of Residential Life, for the story I did on the "Fresh Start '05" program in this issue, I realized there were two points I wanted to get across in the article.
One, of course, was what exactly was going down this weekend; the events, the times, everything. The second was how important Brandimore felt the weekend events were to incoming freshmen. And I wanted to do that for two reasons: the obvious excitement Brandimore had for the weekend, and my realization of how important it actually was to freshmen. Everything that she is quoted as saying in that article, I agree with, wholeheartedly.
As a freshman on this campus, I was lost. Terribly lost. And what I have realized these past couple of years since actually getting involved on campus is that it was not SVSU's fault, as I originally convinced myself. It was mine. I was quite the apathetic freshman - I would drive here for class and leave immediately afterwards my first two months here. And even while spending a majority of my time in the First Year Suites throughout the rest of my freshman year - I practically lived in B-2 - I still did not really care about the school.
I had three embarrassing moments my first week here on campus, mainly because I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know where my classes were, didn't know who to ask to find out where my classes were; basically, not only was I lost, I was clueless. I suppose they mean the same thing in this context, but it sucked nonetheless.
Just take a look at what is being offered.
An "Academic Essentials" event featuring classes on course expecatations, program planning, academic support. Professors and officals from offices around campus will be providing tips on what will be expected in the classroom and where students can go for assistance.
Sunday will feature the Student Resources Fair, featuring numerous tables from offices and organizations on campus providing essential information. The Vanguard will even have a table at the Fair, providing applications for those interested in a job on the paper.
I could have benefited from a "Fresh Start"-type program. Even if it weren't for a weekend but just for a few hours, it would have helped. There were small programs SVSU did before my classes started, and some of them were even "required." Like I said, I was apathetic and also realistic - I realized there is not really such a thing as "required" on a college campus. Brandimore realizes this too, but explained exactly why they put that there.
"In talking to freshman focus groups, they relayed that they would be more likely to go to an event if it was 'required,'" she said. Even though I wasn't one of those who went because it was "required," I can certainly see that line of thinking.
But here is my message to this year's freshmen: Go. Go to the events, all of them if you can. At the very least, go to the informative ones that are designed to help you during your time here. I sure wish I had. You can always meet your neighbors and other freshmen throughout the next couple of weeks, so if you don't want to go to everything, don't go to the meet and greet activities. But go, learn about SVSU, the people you will certainly need to talk to at some point throughout your time here, and the offices that make this University run effectively. It's worth it.
Take it from someone who knows: being lost and not knowing what to do about it sucks. If there is anything you can do to prevent it, this weekend is it. Take advantage of it.