Congratulations to all of the incoming freshmen, you did it — you graduated high school. Now it's time for the next big step and that's transitioning into college life at UL, which is the best university in the country. You probably have a lot of different feelings, like being happy that you finally got to this point, nervous about meeting new people or worried that you won't get the grades you want. I was in the same shoes y'all are in when I started college. I didn't think I'd fit in or be able to keep up with all the work. It was definitely a transition for me because it was the first time I moved away from my parents and stepped into a new culture when I moved to Lafayette from Monroe. I'm going to give you a few pieces of advice to help you survive your first year as a Ragin' Cajun.
1. Don't be afraid to ask questions
Whether you are trying to figure out how to get to one of your classes or confused about the homework you worked on last night, don't be afraid to ask someone. That's especially true for the first couple weeks because you may not know where anything is but you will get the hang of it after a while. You could ask someone in the quad or even the library where something is because they will most likely have an answer for you.
2. Meet new people
You are at a university with over 20,000 students from all over the country and all over the world. Don't be afraid to meet new people in the quad, in your classes or even at lunch. You never know what kind of friendships you will gain when you meet new people. Every semester, you will have to get to know new people because professors like to get to know theirs students as well. Most of the time they ask you to say your name, your major, and where you're from. I know we all hate that, but it's interesting to see where everyone is from. In some classes you will have group projects, so you will have a better chance of getting to know someone and you will get to work together.
3. Hang out at the swamp and student union.
One of the most unique spots on campus is the swamp and student union. We are the only university in the country that has a swamp on campus, and we have a brand new union with lots of different cool things inside it. Most of the important places are located in the union, including Starbucks. You may also see a gator roaming around outside. You never really know what you will see on campus. Take advantage of it while you are here.
4. Don't miss class.
This is probably one of the most important things involving classes. Yeah, I know no one likes waking up for an 8 a.m. class, but we all have had to do it. If you miss even one class, you will fall behind; especially if you don't know anyone in the class. Professors like to move fast and some have things due every class period, so don't miss class. Also, get tutoring if you are struggling in class or fall behind and need help.
5. Get Involved.
This is the biggest and best piece of advice I have. I am a senior and I got involved in a couple things here and there but never really stuck with it. Here I am in my senior year set to graduate in December, and I'm just now starting to get heavily involved in things. There are hundreds of organizations on campus that may peak your interests, whether it's going Greek, getting involved in something that revolves around your major, or getting involved in something that you and your friends like to do. Get involved before it's too late. I regret that I didn't get involved sooner and wish I done more.
6. Call your parents.
You are away from home and you are starting to get busy with school, but you haven't talked to your parents in a couple days or at all that week. You should call them and see how they are doing and tell them about your week. I didn't call my parents as often as I would have liked and I wanted to tell them about all of the things happening throughout my week. Parents will help you through things that other people can't and will do everything they can to try to help.
7. Go home every once in a while when you can.
College is a tough grind and sometimes you just need a break from it and time to relax a little bit. Go home and visit with family and friends, have fun, and just relax for a couple days without having to worry about school. You are never too old to go back home and visit with your family. I wish I was able to do it more often.
8. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.
This is a big one too, because there will be opportunities that you just can't pass up. It could be the opportunity to get involved in an organization or an internship or even making new friends. Don't pass up opportunities because you never know if you will get that opportunity again. I promise you that you will regret it if you do pass it up.
9. Don't be afraid to change your major.
You come into college only with one major in your mind but it may turn out that it's not really what you want to do. If it's not for you, don't be scared to change your major. Find your passion and what you dream to do and do that. Some students change their major four or five times before they know what they want to do. I changed major my junior year of college. I would have graduated in May 2015 if I wouldn't have changed my major, but I wasn't happy and I love college, so I just stayed around for a fifth year.
10. Go to UL athletic events
Sports are my passion so I go to as many athletic events as possible. You may think that because it's a smaller school that there isn't an atmosphere, but you would be wrong because it's one of the best atmospheres. You get to tailgate before football and even baseball games and smell and eat some of the best Cajun food around. Then, you go into the games and get loud and crazy while you watch the games. The best part is all athletic events are FREE to students. I love the atmosphere that all of the teams have and it's amazing to see what they do on the field and court.
Geaux Cajuns
