10 Tips for First Years from a Senior
For first years, anticipation grows more lively as summer nears move-in day. As a senior, I’m feeling antsy myself - my final semester at Chatham is just around the corner. It’s my last chance to look at campus with fresh eyes, cross things like “sledding on Chapel Hill” and “meeting the Eden Hall Campus goats” off my bucket list before I graduate, and prepare for the most thought-provoking (and room-deadening) question asked of every senior: “So, what’s next for you?”
Between take-out, late nights at the library, campus ghost stories, and study sessions, your four years as an undergraduate are a foundational time of growth. For every moment, there’ll be a memory to look back on. Fellow Cougs - especially those coming to campus for the first time - welcome! Here are some things I learned over the years:
Students at the Emerging Leaders Retreat.
1. Show up to a campus or club event.
Joining the Communiqué student newspaper was one of the most rewarding ways I spent my time as a Chatham student, and I didn’t intend on joining the staff when I dropped in for my first meeting. Stop by the student activities fair on Wednesday, Sept.1 and join the email lists for some clubs to stay updated on their events. See something interesting on a flyer, the ChathamU app, or myChatham Happenings? Show up!
2. Take initiative when making friends.
People get busy fast, so be the first to reach out - it’s a move many of your friends will appreciate. Chatham students are very approachable - maybe more than you imagined before coming to campus! Organize a study group, ask people if they want to grab a bite to eat, or get coffee at Café Rachel on your way to class.
3. Address the FOMO by spending time off-campus.
The world feels small when you don’t leave the quad. Also, FOMO is a trap. Shake
it off by venturing off-campus, and by finding some occasional activities to do alone or with friends in the city. I study better at coffee shops (Té Café and 61C in Squirrel Hill are my long-time favorites), so that’s where you’ll find me most afternoons. As many charming spots as Chatham has to study, relax, and hang out in, Pittsburgh also has lots to offer. With a bus pass, and a lot being within walking distance to campus, you don’t have to travel far. If you feel like you’re somehow missing out, expand your bubble.
4. Nurture your hobbies.
Do your thing. If you loved photography in high school, by all means, continue! Start a sports podcast, create a bookstagram, garden, rollerskate, or work on your side hustle, regardless if it has nothing to do with your major or your professional aspirations. Stay grounded (and well-rounded) with what makes you happy.
5. Mind your health & avoid “grind culture.”
The popular adage among college students that goes “sleep is for the weak” is not your friend. Powering through a semester while neglecting your mental and physical health is like running a marathon on a sprained ankle. If you don’t listen to your body’s signals, stop, and get help, it will break. Choose efficiency and rest over burnout and unrealistic productivity, and your quality of work and health will thank you. Check out what Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. Lei Wang, says about beating anxiety, and read up on mental health and wellness on Pulse.
6. Expect change and use it to explore new things.
Squeeze the opportunity out of an unexpected turn of events, and be ready for plot twists. I changed my major three times, and it only took one communications class for me to realize that I wanted to pursue a degree in journalism. As I stayed in touch with my old friends who graduated, and fell out of touch with others, I also met new people in my classes who I grew close to as the semester progressed. Make a backup plan for whatever academic or personal change comes your way, but go with the flow once in a while, too.
7. Do your future self a favor - figure out the life organization style that works for you.
Strike a balance between social life and coursework, and plan time for both using whatever method you can maintain consistently. I like writing all of my assignments in a paper calendar as soon as I get my syllabi, and organizing my week day, adjusting due dates, and scheduling time for myself with a bullet journal. Be honest with yourself: do you focus best alone in your dorm room, at the library, or in a group at Café Rachel? What time of day do you retain the most information? As you figure out what kind of strategies are best suited to your learning style, consider Google Calendar reminders, Notion templates, inputting your assignments on the MyStudyLife app, or keep a bare-bones routine with checklists or post-it notes.
8. Do the optional readings & read outside of class
In the spirit of academic curiosity and exploring different subjects, use your time in college to read as much as you can. Read the texts for your courses, examine the annotated notes in your optional PDFs, check out a book you’re recommended by a classmate, and peruse articles mentioned in passing. It will help you stay on top of current events, make connections between different course subjects, and bolster the quality of your written exams and essays. When I first started college, much of what I was recommended and was assigned to read inspired me to delve into different subjects. Some grew into academic interests I’ll pursue in grad school, and others developed into personal interests I wouldn’t have known much about otherwise. Props to my professors for their great recommendations and to my friends for their book lists on Goodreads.
9. Work on campus.
Working as a student employee is a great way to meet some of the big names at Chatham, see how the school runs “behind-the scenes,” and learn more about campus happenings. You’ll also boost your resume and gain new skills while working a job that fits seamlessly in your class schedule. Working at the Office of Student Affairs was how I learned how to start a club, got a better lay of the land as an underclassman, and found out about different events on (and off) campus.
10. Talk to your professors and go to office hours.
Part of what makes Chatham feel like a community are the small class sizes and meaningful connections between students and professors. You’ll never feel lost in a throng of students in a lecture hall. With that in mind, take the first step, and get to know the faculty. Beyond just being a familiar face in class, talk to your professors and visit their office hours long before finals week comes around. Think about the recommendations you might need down the road and the questions you might have about your major. Professors are experts in the field you’re studying, so take advantage of your conversations with them!
As a first year, some parts of student life will click as soon as you move on campus, and others might take longer as you settle in and find your groove. College is equal parts planning and equal parts serendipity, so take lots of pictures, make use of every resource offered to you as a student, and remember that when people told you how time flies, they weren’t kidding. I hope to see you on the quad - or in the library - this fall!
Irina Bucur ’21 is a student journalist for the Communiqué majoring in journalism and minoring in film. Her academic interests include Eastern-European identity and media studies. In her free time, Irina reviews Eastern European literature and cinema on social media. You can connect with her on Linkedin or check out her literary project in-progress on Instagram @thestoriedbloc.