Too Many Fish in the Sea

WELCOME TO PENN STATE! WELCOME TO OHIO STATE! WELCOME TO NOTRE DAME!

We see these words on an acceptance letter along with words like “congratulations” and “proud” and we can barely contain our excitement. Our years of hard work and extracurriculars we may or may not have cared about have proven to do exactly what our parents said they would…get us into the college of our choice. While some choose to go to small schools, the majority of high school seniors set their sights on the big ones. The schools in athletic conferences with massive football stadiums and more students than the school knows what do with. These are the schools who are seemingly beaming with pride and success, and it seems to extend to the alumni well past their diplomas being placed in their hands.

Photo by americaspower on flickr.com

So you were at the top half of your class? You constantly got the lead in the school play? You were never benched in a high school football game right? You were way too important. The issue with these big name schools is this…look around the library right now and you might see that the majority of the people in it with you could answer yes to all of the questions that you did. It’s hard to stand out when you are just a number.

No one wants to hear it, and certainly no one wants to feel it. But as you’re sitting in a lecture hall with 400 students, I’m willing to bet that that professor doesn’t know your name. Especially considering he/she probably doesn’t even see your work, a teaching assistant does. It gets harder and harder to stand out, and find your niche, and prove that you’re more than just a number, you’re that shining star still that you were in high school-just surrounded by a lot more shining stars.

Previous to my transfer to the main campus at Penn State, I went to Penn State Altoona. With 6,000 students it was only a couple thousand larger than my high school was. I was blogging there, getting leads in plays, being a stage manager and establishing great relationships with clubs, and professors. I cheered there, hosted and judged events and was known by everyone. When transferring to main campus and becoming one of 44,000 it was quite the adjustment that no one seemed to care all that much who Jacqui Rochonchou was. Contacting a professor annoyed them most of the time, and I didn’t even know when and where events were taking place to get involved in them.

About a semester spent in my invisibility cloak was enough for me. I broke out of it and I’ve honed in on some great tips to make the most out of your college experience

1.) Find organizations and clubs to get involved with. They make your college community seem smaller when you are around a lesser group of people. You’ll see familiar faces on campus and have new people to hang out with on the weekends. You clearly have common interests with these people so there’s no excuse for not making friends!

2.) There’s also no excuse for saying that you can’t find out about these clubs and organizations that form. You know all of those posters you walk past in common areas? Yup, that was them advertising. You know that email you got 20 times about the involvement fair being held on campus that you kept deleting? Yup, that was them advertising too. Find out if your school has a spring semester one and hit it up!

3,) Check into your school’s website and see what they have listed for current students. All official clubs, events, tryouts, etc. have to be approved by the school and have an advisor so you’re sure to be able to find information

4.) GET TO KNOW YOUR ADVISOR. You may be just a number to them at first, but don’t let that happen. The more important you make your college education, the more important your advisor will make you in their own mind. They have a ton of students so it is easy for them to slip up on a degree audit, but don’t let yourself be the mistake. Make sure you’re right on track and where you need to be.

5.) Get to know the people in your major. For how large Penn State is, I find myself seeing the same people several times a day. It’s great for forming study groups and learning things about professors you haven’t taken yet. It’s amazing how resourceful your own colleagues can be, so just start smiling and saying hi every time you see them if you’re shy. You’ll establish a relationship in no time, and be able to take classes together or hit them up for information whenever you need it.

Every shining star needs their own place in the sky, even if it’s amongst a million others. So claim your spot, hold onto it, and burn that baby strong until graduation