It was the year 2014...
I packed my suitcase, boarded the plane and traveled over a 1000 miles to start college in a foreign land and to be honest I was extremely excited to start. This was going to be my first time in the states and I was told that this is the land of opportunities so I was eager to see what was in store for me. I was enthused to meet new people, start my classes and meet my professors and I could not wait to get involved in campus activities. My first year of college was amazing because of the familiar faces and the shared culture. At Defiance College there was a total of 15 Jamaican students, two of which were my older sisters so I was told the dos and the don'ts of Defiance College which was beneficial for a rookie in this college thing.
The most dreadful part of my freshman year was not balancing 16 credits and two jobs, it was not even looked down on for answering to the professors questions. The most dreadful part of my freshman year was experiencing my first winter. I will admit that I was warned by many but yet I was still excited to experience this snow. You came and you were beautiful but you tricked me. I thought you would be fun to play in but after 5 minutes you were horrible and I wanted you to go away but you stayed around for months. Oh you cruel thing. But now I have some what figured out the secret..Layers of clothing.
Well.. I'm entering my Junior year this month and this is my advice for incoming freshmen and for those students who may have been floating through college before...
Yoma's advice:
1.Do your assignments on time
Everyone procrastinates in one form or another. I'm sure you have heard this throughout high school but in college, procrastinating goes to a whole new level. You can literally drive yourselves insane if you allow your assignments to pile up and then try to do them the night before, trust me, I've done it, it was so stressing and at the end it gave me a horrible headache. Plus, the earlier you start your assignment it will give you an opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings that you may have with the assignment either with the professor or a classmate. Plus, the sooner you get it done then you'll be able to find something fun to do with the free time.
2. Utilize the resources
Defiance College provides several resources for their students that do not have any out-of-pocket cost. Some of these resources includes: research consultants, writing consultants, tutors for several subjects and all the professors have hours that are for students to come and meet. Seek what resources your school offers and utilize it. You are paying for these resources one way or another so do not flush your money down the drain.
3. Be willing to ask for help
As humans we feel so timid when we have to admit that we do not know how to carry out a particular task and we need assistance from others. However, some of the most successful people seek assistance from others and there is no shame in doing that. So, if you feel stuck, use the resources that your school offers and get some assistance. I'm sure you will not regret it.
Good Luck!
