If there is one gift that I can guarantee every graduate will get a lot of, it’s advice. Some of it is incredibly useful; some you wish came with a gift receipt. As I look ahead to the end of this year when I will be leaving my beloved University for that place called the real world, I am looking for all the advice I can get. Résumé critiques, job-hunting tips — you name it, I’ll take it. With a grain of salt maybe, but I’ll take it.
However, as hungry as I am for all this advice, I also find myself in a position to give it. Seeing all these new first years around Grounds — thrilled to be in college, yet still slightly mystified by their newfound independence — I think back to my first year, and what I wish I had known. If there is one thing I can’t stress enough, it’s this: if you show up to college without a plan, it’s perfectly OK. In fact, it’s even normal. I floated along, and bumped into things, and maybe even went backwards sometimes. But as I find myself in the home stretch, I think I turned out alright. So, from one clueless person to another, here is my strategy on how to survive (thrive) in college, even without a plan.
First, make friends with anyone and everyone. When I first stepped foot on Grounds, I knew no one. I was more worried about finding someone to sit with at O-Hill than mapping out my life goals. I was fortunate enough to end up with an awesome roommate who could put up with my antics — most of the time — but even if you’re not that lucky, there are so many opportunities to meet people. Introduce yourself to people in your classes or strike up conversations as you wait in line at the dining hall. Some of those people you may never talk to again, but some might become your best friends. And now, as a fourth year, I find myself reconnecting with some of those random dining hall conversations. We’re all a bit nostalgic as we face the end, and I’ve never felt closer to the Class of 2013.
Now that you have friends, start shopping around for something to get involved in. Don’t be afraid to try everything until you find out what really interests you. At the student activities fair, my roommate and I signed up for sailing club, because the poster had pictures of people in their bathing suits on boats. At the interest meeting we discovered that you actually had to learn how to sail. We never went back. Then I spent a semester crocheting hats every Sunday in Cabell, until I realized that crocheting wasn’t really my thing, and my hats wouldn’t even fit a doll. But once I found the activities that I was really passionate about, the University truly became my home away from home.
Once you’re feeling a little more comfortable — you’ve got friends, you’ve got a fun activity to talk about during rush — it’s time to start thinking about majors. If you don’t know yet what you want to major in, take random classes. First semester I took astronomy. I can now say for sure that I do not want to be an astronomer. But I can still identify the Big Dipper. If you’re thinking about taking it, by the way, it’s not actually an easy science. On the other hand, don’t rule anything out too soon. I was halfway through ECON 202 before I understood which way supply and demand curves shifted and that the interest rate was not actually an irrelevant variable. And now I’m an economics major.
Once you’ve decided on your major, after maybe switching one or four times, next comes the important stuff: internships and jobs. First, keep in mind that any experience is good experience. One time I worked at Baskin Robbins. We all start somewhere. Second, go to University Career Services. I wish I knew about them before this year because there are some serious superstars there. They have been doing this career stuff a lot longer than you have, and they are beyond willing to help you out, even if your only skill is the ability to scoop ice cream without getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
Last but not least, have some fun along the way. Spend a sunny afternoon outside instead of in the library or streak the Lawn — but not when there are thousands of chairs from Convocation on it, as I learned the hard way. You are only in college once, so carpe diem. I can’t guarantee you everything is going to turn out according to plan … but that’s the beauty of not having one.
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Arianna Parsons is a fourth-year trustee._
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