MISGUIDED MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

5 TIPS FOR BETTER FRESHMAN YEAR SURVIVAL:
ATTEND ORIENTATIONS
This is the most important tip that I suggest to all new
1 students going into college. Attend your orientations
over the summer. This gives you the opportunity to
meet your future class-mates and know more about them.
Attending orientations also gives you the golden opportunity
to start getting comfortable with the campus.
If students enter college with an open mind, it would really help
them to cope up with the surprises of the initial year in college.
Being optimistic will make students happy and excited about
their college and open to any kind of change. It is this openmindedness
that ultimately puts you in a proper mental shape.
With an optimistic outlook towards life, you will automatically
be prepared for the unprepared.
Your college can be a place that endlessly offers you
surprise packages. Adjusting to all these changes may sound
uncomfortable but we should remember that “the only thing
that is constant is change”. Change is a necessary part of
growth. Coping up with any change can be extremely difficult.
But with the secret CPO strategy, you will be mentally tuned
to accept these changes in the right manner and your comfort
level with the college will start increasing with time.
Remember, every new experience comes with anxiety,
uncertainty and grief. To cope with this new phase of life that
brings with it some exciting opportunities to learn more about
yourself and about life, you need to be in perfect ‘mentalshape’.
The CPO strategy will help you be in that shape and will
prevent you from feeling lost in your college.
GET INVOLVED IN COLLEGE ACTIVITIES
One more way of surviving your freshman year in
2 college is to keep yourself mentally active. The best
and most healthy way of implementing this is to
actively participate in your college club activities, sororities
or sports teams. Apart from other advantages, this will keep
you constantly engaged and will lessen the moments of your
home sickness.
BE DISCIPLINED
Discipline in your life takes you to greater heights. So
3 try to bring in a certain amount of discipline in your
everyday activity. Get yourself into an orderly style of
living your day-to-day routine (like wake up hours, preparation
time everyday, extra-curricular activity on a regular basis
and so on). Your main aim at this point of time is to work hard
and get the best possible grades. Devote your energy and
resources towards this end.
GET ORGANIZED
College life needs to be taken a lot more seriously than
4 your school life. It is here that you are building a strong
foundation for a successful future. Be more organized
in your approach towards studying.
LEARN TO SEEK HELP
You must get to know your academic advisor in a
5 proper manner. This person happens to be the most
precious resource at your hand. With the able guidance
of the academic advisor, all your issues pertaining to your
course conflicts, changing course, deciding on your subject
of specialization etc can be handled in an amazingly easy
manner to the best of your interests. Never hesitate to go for
professional help when you think you are in need of it.
You are at college as a result of your hard work at school and
the efforts and prayers of your loved ones. Do not leave any
stone unturned in laying your groundwork for a successful
college career. Try to survive your freshman year in the best
possible manner.
ABOUT THE WRITER:
TANYA KNIGHT
Have fun as well as learn as much as you can and get the most
from your college life and you will be able to look back at your
freshman year with a smile later in life…
As America’s Education Coach, Tanya is a skilled advocate for the importance of higher
education. The acclaimed author of Who Says You Can’t Go to College?, she is also an
engaging public speaker and personal mentor. A graduate of Columbia College, Tanya also
holds an MBA in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is currently completing
her Doctorate in Education Leadership with a focus on retention. Tanya’s diverse client
list includes high school students, adult learners, school districts, colleges, universities and Fortune
500 corporations. Each and every client receives personalized services that draw on Tanya’s extensive
experience working in the fields of education and human service for more than 10 years.
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