A Guide For Freshmen: The Sophomore's Perspective

As the summer semester comes to a close, you, the class of 2020, prepare your young hearts and minds for secondary education along with the life that comes with it. You may be feeling a large mix of emotions, including excitement, anxiety, fear or just a general sense of wonder.

Some of you do not create your own expectations of what college is like, others rely on what their friendly sophomores have experienced to try and grasp a feel of how to prepare. What you, the freshmen, have yet to learn is that every story will not be the same. While it seems logical to ask us, the sophomores, about our experience as a secondary student, in the end our story will not matter.

Your first year experience will be what you make it. We, the upperclassmen, are only here as a guide to get you started. So, from this sophomore to you, the many freshmen, a helping hand is extended in hopes of putting your minds at ease and making your transition to college a little less stressful.

1)     Do not get lost in Narnia.

In order to not get lost, it is best to take a friend and your campus map to find your building and what room you are to report. Doing this will ensure that you know where you are going and not be late to your first day of class.

2)     The early bird gets the worm.

Have you ever heard showing up 15 minutes early means you are on time and showing up on time means you are late? Well, if not this is a good lesson to learn.

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Professors will usually show up early to get set up and take roll for the day. Being on time really does mean you are late in most cases. Professors need all the class time to teach what you need to know for exams and to stay on the course schedule they took their precious time to create. Be courteous, respect your professor’s time and your own. Be in your seat early in order to show that you care and not be counted late or worse, absent.

3)     “Responsibility demands sacrifice.” — Princess Bubblegum, Adventure Time

To be successful throughout your first year and the rest of your college career, understand that you need to develop personal motivation and discipline. Everything that happens from here on out is your responsibility, not your parents.

You are in the adult world; there are resources that can help you but do not expect anyone to hold your hand anymore. Professors will not treat you like children. There are expectations that you need to meet to succeed. Knowing when things are due or when it is time to register for next semester’s classes in order to have the schedule you want (or to avoid 8 a.m. classes) is solely your responsibility.

When you are doing homework or studying for an exam, do not do it in your place of rest (a.k.a. your dorm room), go to the library in the quiet area and stay there until you are completely finished with the task at hand. There is time for fun but you have decided to pursue secondary education to learn, not waste tens of thousands of your or your parent’s money to slack and just spend time partying.

You are the only one that is in control of whether or not your future is the way you dreamt it to be. The only way your dream will become a reality is if you are willing to make the necessary sacrifices it takes to earn what you are striving to achieve.

4)     Professor = Boss

Going to class is like having a job; attend, study, make good grades and eventually, four years down the road, you make money. Do the exact opposite and you either get put on academic probation or in worse case, get kicked out of school. This scenario is the equivalent of getting fired and not making money.

Start off your “job” right, introduce yourself to your professor at the appropriate time on the first day. Seeing your face, hearing your name and understanding that you are respectable enough to introduce yourself is a good start for being a good “employee.”

In order to remain in your professor’s good graces, show up to class early and try to sit in the same spot or area throughout the semester (preferably in the first few rows). When you have questions, utilize office hours. Not only will this be beneficial to you for obvious reasons, your professor will see that you are making every possible effort to succeed.

On the other hand, if you do not show up to class often, or come into office hours and are about to fail your class due to being irresponsible, do not expect much from your professor. If you are not doing what is required, why would your professor waste their time to dig you out of the hole of failure you created?

5)     The right-hand man.

Teaching assistants (TA) and supplemental instructors (SI), are your professor’s right hand. The teaching assistant is a graduate student that works for your professor. They know everything about your class material and exams (especially since they are the ones grading your Scantrons). If your professor is not available, teaching assistants are a good resource for help when needed. They will treat you the same way as a professor, keep that in mind.

Supplemental instructors are students that made an “A” mark in the class you are taking. They hold tutoring sessions multiple times a week. The time you spend in SI sessions is certainly not wasted. If you attend, the SI will take attendance and later notify your professor that you were in that session. During sessions, the instructor will go over the most recent class material and answer any questions you have. When exam time is fast approaching, attending your SI sessions are a great way to study. SI’s are tutors; however, they do not know every single thing that is on your professor’s exam like the TA’s.

6)     The more the merrier.

Do not underestimate the power of friendship. Making friends with the person or people that sit next to you in class is the best way to find a study buddy, especially if the class is not based on group work. The classes you should really focus on finding friends in are ones geared toward your major. You will most likely see these people again in the future. Take note of who is in the multiple classes with you. Approach them first. You already see these individuals two or three times a week, so introduce yourself. Even if you are not in the same major, you may have found your new best friend for the time being.

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7)     Do not be a loner: get involved.

Though making friends in class is beneficial, student organizations is where most of your friends come from. In your first year, get involved in two student organizations. Find a club that is geared to your major, join an intramural sport, or find something you have never tried. Attend your student organization fair and explore the endless possibilities.

8)     Never a dull moment.

Have some time between classes? In your dorm with time on your hands? College campuses never have a dull moment. Take advantage of campus events like movie nights, stand-up comedy, or something big.

UNT had R.J. Mitte come for a conference this past fall and Bill Nye for a different conference in April. Not only do you have campus events, there are always tables set up from different student organizations, off-campus housing, small businesses and more for you to check out between class or when you are just taking a walk. If you just want to stay cozy but still want to do something, your dorm will have events during the week for you to enjoy as well.

9)     A healthy body equals a happy mind.

Keep yourself active; have at least an hour of hard exercise. Exercising will help relieve the stress of your day and keep you looking good too! Go for a run, join a group yoga class, lift some weights, do whatever suits your needs. Working out is great, but without a healthy diet, your mind will not be at its maximum potential.

Put in good carbs, proteins, vitamins and drink lots of water. Though it is hard to come by as you progress through school, try and get a good night’s rest. Getting a good amount of sleep will help recharge your batteries and keep you functioning normally throughout the day.

10)     Journey into the unknown.

Wherever you attend, there is an outside community. Take time to explore the area. Find local places to eat and shop, learn some history about the city and observe what life is like away from campus. You may find a new favorite hang-out or a place to go with friends on the weekend.

11)     Do not forget your roots.

While you are having the time of your life at school, your family is struggling to adjust to life without you, especially your mom. If you live too far and you cannot go home until the holidays, give them a call. Your parents had you around for 17-18 years of your life. It does not matter if you are the only child or the third child, they will miss you more than you can comprehend.

Their hearts break as they leave you in your new home and both your lives change forever. Again, do not leave them hanging, call them and tell them how things are going. This does not need to be an everyday occurrence, but talk often so they have a peace of mind to know their baby is doing okay and that you still love them.

12)     Know yourself to be yourself.

From personal experience, you learn new things about yourself during your first year of school. Having an understanding of who you are as a person is what helps you grow in the future. College is the time to explore and get to know you. Do not think you have everything figured out when you plunge into this mysterious world. You are not the only one who is trying to figure themselves out. Do not pretend like you have it all together. These next four years are a learning experience, so take the time to soak in the knowledge and lessons from each experience you have.