Congratulations! You’ve made it to Wednesday. Only two more days and you’ll be free for the weekend, hopefully.
The first few weeks are hard for anyone, especially if you are new. If you are, welcome to UDM.
My past few years here have been nothing short of amazing and I’m sure that yours will be for you as well.
To make things a little easier, here is a list of just a few of the things I learned over the past three years:
> Don’t freak out if you don’t do as well as you planned: Everyone wants to succeed, especially in school, but sometimes there is just that one test or assignment that brings you down. Believe me, I have had my share of them. That one failure only pushes you harder to do better the next time. Don’t let that hold you down. Learn from it and move on.
> Be nice to professors and staff: Having good relationships can pay off in the long run, especially if that person is teaching you. Have a good attitude and participate in class. That doesn’t mean you suck up to them every chance you get – I have seen this and it generally does not end well – but keep in mind that they are the ones doing the grading and giving out assignments. Give them the respect they deserve.
> Get involved in your own way: UDM has countless clubs and activities that you can participate in. Go outside your comfort zone and try something that you generally wouldn’t. These four years are supposed to be the best four years of your life. Later on down the road, you won’t want to focus on the would of, should of or could of scenarios.
> Don’t be shy: Say “hi” to random people on campus. You never know who you’ll end up talking to.
> Walk through the right door: There are two doors into every building for a reason. One is for walking in and the other is for walking out. Use the right one and make everyone’s commute between classes easier.
> Wear layers: As everyone knows, the temperature varies between the buildings on campus. One minute you are dying of the heat in Briggs and the next you are freezing in Commerce and Finance. Bring a sweater for these climate changes.
> Live it up: As I mentioned above, these four years are supposed to be the greatest ones of our lives. Have fun, but obviously not too much. Too much fun is just as bad as not having any. Everything goes well in moderation.
> Plan accordingly: Keep on top of your work. Start it as soon as possible and then celebrate when it is done. Your future self will thank you.
> Get advice: Listen to the advice of your professors, advisor and upperclassmen. It will come in handy later on and someday you will be the one passing it on.
> Ask for help: If you are having trouble in class, make the most of the resources available to you. Your professors are a great place to start. Most of them will go out of their way to help you succeed. There is also the Learning Center on the third floor of the library and the Writing Center in Briggs.
> For guys: We upperclassmen girls are flattered for the attention, but it is never going to happen. Thanks, though.
> For girls: There is a big difference between an 18-year-old and a 22-year-old. Turn the other way. You will regret it later on.
> Love your safety net: First off, have a safety net. Second, make sure that these are the people who will be there for you no matter what. These are the people who you can go to with all of the stress and the pressure. These are the people who you will hold you up and tell you that everything is going to be all right. They will be there for you just as you should be there for them.
