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