Our
view
Don’t
just survive the new semester
With the Fall 2002 semester
nipping at our heels and quickly preparing
to make its final move to overcome our last
few endangered summer days, we all need
to make some preparations of our own, lest
we meet the same sad fate of the summer.
A very important and difficult preparation
that needs to be made concerns procrastination.
Just don’t do it.
Although procrastination appears harmless
in its early stages, it can grow into a
hideous, dangerous beast that happens to
thrive in the college environment. There
are always countless other things to do
than schoolwork. Procrastination feeds off
these things. It is imperative to the success
of the semester that procrastination is
not given a foothold.
Pay attention to these words now while there
is not yet anything to procrastinate. Later
it may be too late.
Another preparation that may contribute
to surviving Fall 2002 is of a social nature.
Be social. Or at least try.
Although it’s not the norm, it is acceptable
to talk to the people sitting around you
in class, (of course not when the teacher
is talking.)
All too often the whole semester goes by
with barely anyone in a class uttering a
word to each other, then during the very
last week of class you have an unexpected
conversation with a person in a neighboring
desk and you think, “Hey, that person is
pretty cool.” But now it’s too late to get
to know him or her.
Let’s deviate a little this semester.
Get to know the people around you during
the first week of class. Create study groups.
People who share the same major with you
may be useful during the college years to
come. Maybe you’ll meet some new friends
who will make your toughest college days
a little more bearable.
Getting to know your professors is a useful
survival technique. The more familiar you
are with your professor the more comfortable
you will feel approaching him or her with
any problems that you may encounter. Professors
can also make great references for internships,
or for getting a job after graduation.
Familiarize yourself with the campus too.
You’re going to be spending more time here
than you would probably like to, so get
comfortable. Learn where the library is.
Scope out the different restaurants, and
cafes. There’s an arcade, bowling alley,
and television room all for your personal
enjoyment. Use it, you pay for it.
With these things in mind, we will now move
on to the most important preparation for
college. Prepare to enjoy yourself. Take
college seriously, but not so seriously
that all the fun is lost. Your experience
will be what you make of it. Don’t be in
too much of a rush to get through it all
and don’t just survive it. Enjoy it.
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