Ah, to be a freshman again. As a senior, I envy that you have your entire college experience in front of you. You have four amazing years where you can do anything. You can change the entire direction of your life if you choose, then change it again, and then change it a third time. And then you can start your second week of class. There isn’t too much time left to change my approach to college, but here are a few particular steps that I would recommend for you to get the most out of your college experience.
1) Be open to everyone’s “idears.”
Yes, you read that right. I’m from New Jersey (just like many of the people you will meet here), so I am sometimes prone to saying “idear” instead of “idea.” And it makes sense. All ideas should be held dear, or at least considered. This year, the University of Chicago sent a letter to its incoming freshmen inviting new students to engage in a rigorous debate, writing in part, “diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength of our community.” Take this letter to heart, and apply it here at Georgetown. Listen and have a civil conversation with people with different points of view. Let them make their points first, and then you can respond. College is more about discovery than anything else. Don’t just confine yourself to your safe space. You won’t learn anything if you congregate exclusively with like-minded souls, so seek out people with different views.
Before I came to college, I was aggressively liberal and would negatively judge anyone who told me they were a Republican or a conservative. Nowadays, I have not changed my ideology, but I have a surprisingly large number of conservative friends. We may debate the issues, but we never yell and we always walk away feeling like we have learned something from each other. You will probably be in situations like this too. You will meet new people who come from new places and hold new ideas. So go see speakers you disagree with, seek out a dialogue, treat all ideas dearly and with respect, and I guarantee you will learn more than you ever have.
2) Pick your friends wisely.
You have the opportunity to make friends from the get-go. You’ll get to know your NSO group and your floor immediately, but that does not necessarily have to be your permanent group. I lost out on the opportunity to make a lot of friends because I spent nearly all my time as a freshman with the friends from my floor. So many friends of mine are people who I feel like I should have met earlier. Don’t fall into this trap. Go meet other people.
Once you join clubs and start classes, you have the chance to find people whose interests match yours. For example, if you love trivia night and watching Jeopardy!, you should join me and my friends in the Quiz Bowl club. Find a club that matches your interests, and if there is none, go create it. Go and start a conversation, since everyone’s in the same boat. Friends may come and go. I’ve had a different cast of friends in each of my three years here, but some people stay close with the people they met on day one. And anyone can be a friend, even upperclassmen. In many cases, older friends are ready, willing, and able to help you make the most of your time here.
3) Stay healthy and give yourself time to relax, have fun, and explore.
If I had to describe the life of a Georgetown student in one word, it would be busy. Between classes, studying, internships, and clubs, time for rest and leisure comes at a premium. But limit yourself. Make time for the important things in life. Get your rest. Make sure you take some time out, even if it’s one night a week, to see friends in a non-club, non-class context. Meet a friend for lunch at Leo’s or spend an hour chatting with friends in your common room. Go into D.C., either on your own, with friends, or on that trip to dinner offered by that one club you signed up for at the student activities fair.
If things ever feel overwhelming, CAPS can help. If CAPS is too busy or if you hesitate to see a therapist, reach out to your RA or your Chaplain-in-Residence. In the latter case, many chaplains open up their doors and serve treats once a week. I still go back to my freshman dorm chaplain’s open house regularly. And for what it’s worth, I’m not religious at all. It’s just one of many opportunities to find someone who will care about you.
4) Don’t worry about your first semester grades.
The adjustment from high school to college is not automatic for everyone. You may have been a straight-A student before college, but do not freak out if you get a B, a C, or worse. There is no need to worry yet. For your first semester, focus more on making learning the objective rather than a means to a good grade. Spend time getting to know your professors at their office hours. Even if the class is a large lecture, professors want to get to know their students and help you. Going to office hours differently can even make the difference when your professor is grading your final paper.
This is not a comprehensive guide, but if you follow these tips, it should help you benefit more from the one-of-a-kind experience that is a Georgetown education. Keep a positive outlook and have fun. Your results may vary, but hopefully this helps.
Hoya Saxa!
