As I enter my senior year, I am able to reflect upon what helped get me to where I am now in my college career.

I entered my first year at DeSales in 2020 during the heart of Covid-19 where it was difficult to make friends and get involved on campus. I learned a lot my first year and wish to help students coming into the university by giving them my insight on how to make the most out of your college experience.

Tip #1: Make friends within your major

Something I found that made classes more enjoyable was making friends with the other students in my major. Establishing a relationship with people on the same career path as yourself will set you up for success as you will be with these people throughout your 4 years. You can form study groups, work on projects together, and share similar values and career goals. As an education major, I love discussing student-teaching experiences with my friends. I am able to gain insight to their style of teaching as well as learn from their experiences in the classroom. The core group of friends I have in my major is something that I would not want to ever give up. And you never know, they may be the hiring manager at your dream company one day. 

Tip #2: Get involved… but don’t spread yourself too thin!

The great thing about being at college is the freedom to choose what you want to do. There are various clubs, organizations, and events to get involved in. My advice is to join as many areas on campus where your interests lie. Joining a club does not mean you have to devout all of your time and stay involved for 4 years. Go to a meeting and see what it is about and if it is worth your time. Don’t join clubs or organizations just to ‘build your resume’. Join because you actually want to be involved, will find joy in them, and will be able to make a difference. Do not forget to prioritize your time for yourself and school work. Join a few clubs or organizations that you can be an active member in, so that when you do add it to your resume, you can talk about it with sincerity. Take everything in and reflect on how you imagine your time in college is spent. 

Once you get your foot in the door with different areas on campus, look for leadership opportunities. Most student leader positions don’t hire until the spring for the following year.

Resident Advisor (RA), Character U Mentor, Career Ambassador, and other positions look for upcoming student leaders who are willing to learn and grow with the DeSales community. I applied to be a Resident Advisor and Career Ambassador in the spring of my first year and am thankful to have been accepted into both of the on-campus positions. I have grown into both of the roles and it has helped shape me into the natural born leader I am today. It has taught me time management, work ethic, and professionalism. 

Tip #3: Ask for help!

Coming into college, I had no idea that there were so many resources available to me on campus. The transition from high school to college was a challenge for me. The classes I was taking were more challenging than I had experienced from high school. I decided to take advantage of my professors’ office hours and ask them questions about the courses to get a better understanding of what I was learning. Every professor puts aside hours for students to either stop in their office or make a virtual appointment to ask questions about what they are learning in class. By doing this, my grades continued to improve and I built a connection with my professors that I normally would not have built from the just classroom. Reflecting on my junior year, I spent most of my free time between classes stopping into my professors’ offices to ask questions and to make sure I was understanding the assignments to complete. This proved to be beneficial as my grades improved significantly from my first two years and I felt confident about my career path.

Another way to ask for help is through on-campus resources like the Wellness Center, Writing Center in the library, Academic Success Center, and Student Accessibility. The wellness center provides free counseling services for all students who wish to seek the opportunity to talk to a professional staff member. In regards to working with peers, students have the opportunity to reach out to their Resident Advisor if they live on campus, Character U mentor, or a member of Peer Advising Counseling Educating (PACE). As a Resident Advisor in a first-year building, I always encourage students to take advantage of what the university provides for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to a member of PACE or the Wellness Center. If you are struggling in classes, go to office hours, the library, or the academic success center. If you need advice then go to your RA or Character U mentor. The most important thing to remember is that it is okay to ask for help… no one ever said you had to do it alone!

The lessons I have learned throughout my time at DeSales University have made me the individual I am today. The transition to college is scary, challenging, and humbling. But after going through the transition, my college experience has been enlightening, engaging, and exciting. My advice is to take advantage of your resources, make lots of friends, and get involved. The four years go by in the blink of an eye. I cannot believe I am entering my senior year and am able to look back on what got me to where I am today.