Welcome to Monmouth University. It's as beautiful as the pictures make it look and it's a great school to attend. That being said, let me give you some pointers.

First and foremost, appreciate where you are. Monmouth is an incredible university to be a part of and no, they aren’t paying me to say that. I picked Monmouth because when I walked onto campus as a new, nervous high school grad, I felt safe. I felt that Monmouth was a place where I would meet new people and be given great opportunities -- both which turned out to be true. It is a great community to be a part of so try not to take it for granted because not everyone is privileged enough to get a college education like Monmouth has to offer.

Next thing you should know is that you should never be afraid to ask questions. You will get lost on the first day of class. I personally am going to be a junior this year and I can honestly tell you that I will still bring my map that I got at freshman orientation on the first day. And if you aren’t so fortunate to have a handy dandy map, don’t be afraid to ask a peer, professor, or police officer. Remember that if you are ever having trouble catching up in class, each professor has mandatory office hours specifically made to help students get extra help. People are friendly and they will help you. All you have to do is ask.

Take advantage of all the resources you have. There are so many free perks on campus that people don’t realize are there. Did you know that the health center is open five days a week? They are there to act as the substitute mom since yours isn’t there. From a simple cold to an emergency, the people there can help you feel better. Not only do we have doctors for your physical health, but your mental health as well. College can bring on stress. That is why Monmouth offers free psychological counseling. All you have to do is call and make an appointment. Also, have you seen that library? There is enough information and resources in that building to write a 300-page paper times 10. Did I mention there’s unlimited free printing?

Be sure to pace yourself. Scheduling can become difficult when you have to take certain classes and have only two time options for them. Work with your advisors to plan out what to take and when to take it. You have to pace yourself outside of classes as well. Give yourself time during the week to study and get homework done. Also give yourself time to sleep. Too many college students give up sleep to go out with their friends or study and it will come back and bite you in the butt. Quick tip -- if you have an 8:30, do not expect the line at Dunkin Donuts to be short just because it’s early, because it won’t be and if you don’t give yourself a little extra time, you’ll either be late for class or miss out on that coffee. Don’t run yourself into the ground.

Lastly, enjoy yourself. Get involved. Discover the person you want to be. No one cares about who you were in high school. It’s all about who you want to be now. There will be a student involvement fair the first week of classes. At this event, every club on campus will have a table there and each one will be eager to meet you, I promise. If you don’t find a club that you really click with, start your own! Students are constantly making new clubs and it’s very easy to accomplish with the help of a few other classmates and the Student Life office. My first year at Monmouth, I didn’t get involved in much because I was too worried about my classes and I was a quieter person. Now I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long because I could have been doing a lot more than I am right now. On the bright side, there is no cut off to join organizations. I can join whenever I want and people are always making me feel welcomed.

I’m grateful for everything Monmouth has to offer, and I’m excited to share my experience with anyone. As I said above, welcome to Monmouth. Choose to make it the best years of your life.