College Life

Dear Sam,

As you prepare to go on your college journey, there are a lot of new things that are going to happen. Although I do not live at the dorms, I have experienced life in one during a summer camp at another college. You should always make sure to try to befriend your dorm mates, as you will be spending the better part of your time at home with them, especially when your schedules overlap. Another big thing is food. Here at UWGB, we have a relatively cheap lunch for $8 that can feed you for a day. It’s a buffet with a takeout tray, and if you bring extra containers, you can even prep for the next day too. Another alternative to that is finding a local chain of membership warehouses like Sam’s Club or Costco, as they have relatively inexpensive food, and you don’t need to be a member to eat. I’m saying, like, less than $3 for two big slices of pizza and a big drink. One of the major feelings you get is the overwhelming amount of freedom you have. You get to decide what you do now, how you spend money, and what you want to do with your days.

But you still want to succeed in school. Now, “How do I do that?” you may be wondering. It’s really simple. You need to stay organized and disciplined. Staying disciplined is not just going to classes; you need to actively engage in them, participate in the classroom discussions, and make sure to embrace all of what your professor is teaching you. Another part of being disciplined is being able to tell your friends “no” if they want to go out, and it’s your time you dedicate to studying. Sure, you could say, “Just this once,” but that is a dangerous slope to fall on, and if you do it enough, it’ll be tough to crawl back up. Another important thing you want to do in college is ask questions. If your professor has office hours, stop in if you are confused on something. Don’t just simply email them; go in person and ask. It’ll show them your determination to succeed in their course, and along with your participation in class, it may win you some favor when it comes to grading. Also, you want to make yourself a study routine that you follow through every day. You want to find yourself a comfortable and quiet place where you can study daily; it should be where you feel most comfortable doing work. You also want to avoid doing other things in the spaces where you study, so whenever you do arrive, your brain knows that this spot is there for studying or homework. Lastly, as you manage your way through college, you should also remember that succeeding in college doesn’t simply mean getting good scores; it means being diligent, determined, and showing resilience in the face of hard challenges. I wish you the best of luck in college.

Warm regards,

Gael Villalba

I have learned quite a bit about myself as a person and student throughout my past three years in college. I feel I have acquired the self-discipline I wish I had my freshman year. Balancing my social life and homework was something that took a while for me to navigate. My freshman year, I would prioritize a movie night with my friends and parties at the frats over finishing an essay or doing my homework in general. This led to a lot of late and poorly done assignments. The decline in my grades made me realize that something needed to change. I didn’t have to stop hanging out with my friends and boyfriend, but I did have to start making sure I was staying on top of my work. I actually had a conversation about this with my friends and they told me they were also struggling with this. We decided we would make Tuesday nights our library/study nights. If we were at the library, we were not allowed to leave until everyone was done with their work. If we were at one of our houses and one of us finished our work, we weren’t allowed to throw on a movie or turn music on until everyone was done. This was something that helped us as a collective. We all benefited from having these “rules” within our friend group.

Another issue I struggled with was studying. I noticed that studying in college was different than in high school. In high school, it was more about memorization but in college, it is crucial to learn the content. Setting up study groups with people in my classes was something that helped me. It was also helpful to know the people in my classes. If I was having a hard time with the subject and my professor wasn’t available, it was nice to have people to text or call who could help. It is also nice to know people just for the sake of knowing you’re not the only one struggling. Sometimes we feel as if we’re the only people having a hard time with class material, but the content can get difficult. This is probably my best tip, make at least one friend in each class. It can come in handy more than you’d expect. College can be fun, it doesn’t have to be stressful if you’re focused and prioritize your work.

 

College life is not easy to navigate. It doesn’t matter if you are a freshman or a senior, if you are not effectively managing your college life, you will struggle. I know this from experience since I did not always do well in college. Last year, I failed all my classes in my first semester and barely passed my second semester. I went on academic probation and wrote an appeal to UWGB explaining my poor performance was due to extenuating circumstances, and my appeal was accepted. I started taking summer courses which boosted my GPA up tremendously. From that point on, I have been dedicated to improving my education now that I am in a much better place and can access the resources I need.  

Only completing the assignment will not lead you to academic success, sometimes you need help. One tip that has helped me is by reaching out to the learning center, working with a tutor, and talking to an academic success coach. This is helpful because a tutor will teach you how to understand and learn an assignment that is difficult to comprehend and complete by yourself. Reaching out to an academic success coach is also helpful because they can give you tools on how to study based on your schedule and your personality.

Studying is not meant to be the same for everyone because everyone is different. I have ADHD so the way I study is different than someone who doesn’t have ADHD. Knowing your struggles or how much you procrastinate can affect how you study, and it is important to know how in a way that suits you. Overall, it is important to reach out to the resources available on campus and not be afraid to use them since they are meant to help you. Know that you are not alone and never feel ashamed for asking for help.  

 

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Throughout high school many teachers loved to talk about how “your college professor won’t let that slide.” or it was always “do you think your professor will accept this.” The answer is yes they will. The work can be more time-consuming, and you have to learn self-discipline and time management but don’t stress too much the professors are pretty understanding. This one time I knew I had to do an assignment that day that was due at midnight, but I had to work I was in a factory and I wasn’t able to get any data to work I took a picture with my boss and emailed it to him when I could, and he extended the assignment three extra days for me. The professors know we are young adults and that emergencies happen.
 The best advice I can give you, so you are not burning out and getting overwhelmed with homework is to have a planner. This will make it so you can break down the work, and don’t do it all in one night, try breaking it up over a week. Once you get in the habit of having a planner and checking off your task you may notice the feeling of relief when you’re done. Also, make sure you are consistent with getting your work done on time and turned in because the main issue students run into is the fact they did the assignment wrong they just turned it in late. So, making sure you have self-discipline, a good homework schedule, consistent study time, and a good place to study will benefit you and your academics. Study rooms or the library is a great place to study without any distractions. If you are looking for another place to study, try finding a nice place outside. You can get fresh air, and sun and even meet other students on campus. It might be nerve-racking at first, but it will be worth it. You got this Sam and good luck!

Glazed Donuts

Mrs. Toonen

First-Year Writing (T-R)

18 April 204

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/articles/wait-list-frenzy-how-to-choose-a-college

Hi Sam,

I heard that you are starting college soon, and that is so exciting because it’s a whole new chapter in your life. You get to meet new people and make lifelong memories, but as someone in college, I am here to tell you about all the things that you can expect for the four years you are there. There are going to be new friendships that you will make because you will meet people from all walks of life, and some of these connections may become lifelong friendships. Be open to new experiences and try to connect with others. There is also going to be that academic challenge because the courses are going to be more demanding, with heavier workloads and higher expectations. Be prepared to manage your time effectively and develop good study habits.

With a heavier workload, you need to have good time management. College can get busy with classes, assignments, and social activities. Stay organized and create a schedule that works for you. Prioritize your task and make sure to make time for studying, self-care, and having fun. This next piece of advice might be the most important because, with the number of things that are going to get thrown at you, you need to know that reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but strength. College is a challenge, and it’s completely normal to face bumps along the road because, trust me, we all do. There is academic support, mental health resources, and career guidance services in place to help you whenever you may need it. Lastly, enjoy the journey! College is not just about getting a degree; it’s about personal growth, making lifelong memories, and discovering who you truly are. Embrace the ups and downs, celebrate your achievements, and cherish the friendships you’ll make along the way.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Glazed Donuts

 

 

 

 A New Beginning

        This past semester was my first semester at UWGB. Also it was the beginning of my college life. This is special for me because this is the first ti

me I am studying far away from home. It’s all new for me, combining excitement and worries during this semester. However, I am glad to tackle these challenges and overcome difficulties by myself, which helps me to grow as a better person. For example, the biggest struggle I’ve faced in moving away from home to the United States is the ability to take care of myself. In the past 18 years, I lived with my family, so I only needed to focus on my studies. Although I have no experience in housework, cooking, and looking after myself, I manage to do it. Over the course of this semester. I made great progress with cooking and more importantly I have become more independent.

        In general, I am satisfied with my working habits. But there are still some bad habits need to be corrected. With my mother no longer urging me to arrive at school on time, I often late for morning’s class. The reason I can’t get up in the morning is that I stay up late at night which means I delayed my assignments until the end of day. However, this habit it is not only bad for

my health, also it affects my learning efficiency. At the same time, if I am late for class, it will influence class atmosphere and make teachers feel disrespected. Additionally, when the professor no longer reminds me to hand in my homework over and over again, I sometimes miss due dates. Obviously, I need to get rid of my procrastination and learn to properly manage my time. In addition to improving some skills, developing good working habits will be of great help to my future study and career. Although I still have a lot of room for improvement, the good news is that I have changed a lot since I became aware of these problems. I hope I can be better in the future.               from xiaohongshu.com

Dear Sam,

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of the challenges of college life such as tuition prices, time management, workload, and the various stressors of living on your own. What I had wished I was more prepared for was, the challenge of carrying on in your classes when going through stress from your personal life. I’ve heard it said that college is an introduction to adult life. Because of this, working through times of emotional distress in college is good practice for adult life. It is important to clarify that universities typically have a policy that allows students to take a leave of absence when in serious emotional distress such as loss of a close loved one, but what about the less significant forms of grief? Like loss of a beloved pet? Or a breakup from a romantic partner?
In my experience, stressors in this category can be particularly challenging to deal with in college, especially during one’s first year. Along the way, I’ve learned some methods to cope and prevent these stressors from affecting my academics. First off, the act of writing out a schedule for the week or the day is a practical practice that helped me a lot. I think organizing my schedule, helped me feel less disorganized. It also frees your mind to focus on one problem at a time. The biggest lesson I learned, was knowing when to ask for help. The truth is, if it’s truly a hindrance to your academics, your professors (most likely) will want to find a way to help you work around it. It’s important to remember you’re not alone when going through these things, and whether it be from tutors, professors, or advisors there’s help available to you because knowing when to ask for help is part of adulthood.

iStock.com

I wish you the best,
Vince LomBarbie

Avery DeBlaey           

Professor Linda Toonen

First-Year Writing M-W-F 11:40

15 April 2024

 

Best Years of Your life: What to Expect

Dear Sam, Going to college can be  nerve wracking. It’s the time of your life, the time to choose and the time to take charge of your future, but beyond that, the stress of the unknown can be incredibly scary. So here is what to expect. College food is typically not the greatest and you might find yourself missing a home cooked meal from time to time, but it can also be incredibly nutritious and typically there are many options to choose from. Many schools have restaurants or other food locations within the campus and if you find yourself tired of the food in the commons you can always just go there. For something I had to overcome, I had to overcome being very picky. I had to learn to eat what I was given so I wasn’t starving in classes .

In regards to actual schooling, your first year classes will be the easiest by far and will go upwards in difficulty, don’t be afraid of that though considering that passing the difficult classes depend on how you spend your time. Spending time in class by attending class everyday, spending time studying, and always doing your homework. These will help you keep a good gpa in even the toughest classes. Another thing is to keep in contact with your professors. They are very understanding individuals if you actually let them know what is going on.  Doing these things have an overall positive impact on your grade. If you don’t let your professors know what’s going on they assume you’re just skipping. I learned that the hard way last semester. I got really sick and I had no motivation to email my professor and my grade was poor because of it. 

Dear Sam,

When I was a lot younger, college felt like a time that was so distant and far in the future that it would never arrive. Now that it’s arrived and I’m in the thick of it, it’s already going by quickly. However, I’ve found that there are a few good things to do to slow it down and keep pace a bit. Finding and joining in on-campus events such as nature hikes, recreational sports, and game nights has provided me with a sense of something new: friends. Everybody joining in on campus events will be trying to find their place and their people to settle with, and the goal is to just have fun with it! I’ve learned that it’s everybody’s first time in a year like this. There are new people, new clubs, perhaps new classes every year. Everywhere you turn, you’ll have a new opportunity to find something you may like. 

While the purpose of college in part is to have fun and try new things, there are new responsibilities that come with it too. Academics and keeping track of assignments will clear the way to a proper routine where fun can be had while maintaining good grades. Show up to class, there will always be something important that will be missed if class is skipped. Late work is not taken as lightly as it might have been in high school, that’s why it’s best to get started on homework as soon as possible. Times seems to go by faster when work is not done, due dates just keep on coming. The best way to get as much out of college as possible is knowing when things must get done and when it’s time to try something new.  

– Uncle Tacitus

 

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