With the first month of the new semester almost done, the library is starting to become more and more popular. Along with that comes the freshman who are experiencing anxiety over their first major assignments being due in their classes. Therefore, they are coming to the library in flocks. Here are 8 observations I've made about the freshman in the library.
1. They get overly excited when they see someone that they know.
Upperclassmen are used to seeing the same people day in and day out and don't usually jump up to say "hey!" with a big smile and hug. Chances are upperclassmen have their group of friends and eat their meals, go to the gym with, or live with them. However, freshmen are still trying to figure out who their friends are and are friends with everyone they were ever introduced to at this point.
2. They come to work and end up more concerned about socializing.
Following up with the whole concept of getting overly excited about seeing anyone and everyone they know, they just have to tell their hallmate's friend's roommate about their weekend and how great it was until their roommate started throwing up. Their need to inform everyone about their weekend is astonishing.
3. They sit at the comfy chairs that don't have a desk or table and expect to get work done.
As every seasoned upperclassmen knows, sitting in a comfy chair and propping your feet up on the coffee table next to it, and opening your laptop is the best way to spend four hours on Facebook. Don't think you're fooling anyone freshmen, we all know you're pretending to be productive.
4. They have a false sense of confidence even though they have no clue where anything is.
Tutors, writing and speech consultants, research assistants, the snack bar, pre-professional advisers? "No problem" says the confident freshmen who starts to break out in a nervous sweat when asked for directions. "Fake it til you make it" they said. "It'll be easy" they said.
5. They don't realize the quiet floor means you have to actually be quiet.
Crazy right? I can't imagine where that thought may have come from. If you are incapable of being quiet and doing your work, stay on the loud floor. Freshmen, interrupt a comping senior and you will learn in three short years that comp karma is very real and has the ability to destroy you.
6. They don't understand that you are supposed to study during study hours.
Looking at you, freshmen football players. Study hours were created to ensure that there was a set time that you were required to do your homework. This is college, your mom isn't going to hold your hand and make sure you do your homework and eat your vegetables. If I can hear you across the library, blasting music and yelling at each other, you're doing it wrong. Also, you're an adult now, please stop throwing things at each other or interrupting an entire three floor library because everyone can hear you.
7. They bring alcohol to the library for the thrill.
I'm not saying that upperclassmen haven't been known to bring alcohol to the library but they don't do it because they want to see if they can get away with it. They're doing it because their comp proposal is due in a week and for some reason, their adviser has denied their past three drafts or if they don't pass O-chem they won't graduate on time and go to medical school. Upperclassmen can all tell when you're passing around a water or Gatorade bottle and giggling while glancing around that you're being a freshman, and honestly upperclassmen don't really care.
8. They use the whiteboards to draw pictures on.
Whiteboards are sacred to every science, econ, psych, poli sci major. There are never enough of them and everyone has their exams in the same week so everyone needs them at the same time. So the fact that you're using one to draw pictures or cartoons on means there is an angry, stressed upperclassmen who needs to learn six chapters of psych or four chapters of cell bio in three days who doesn't have access to a whiteboard.
