The top 5 things I learned in college! (So far!)
College, itself, is a whole new world. It itself is a clean
slate. New people, new environment and new experiences. You as an incoming
freshman are going to try new things. But once you come here, this is it. You
get the chance to meet new friends, try new things and overall become the
person you want to be. Here are the top 5 things I learned in college so far in
my experience.
There are many different kinds of activities on campus. Never ever limit yourself. There are lots of fun events to attend. For example, I attended Mocktails and Karaoke. This event is held on select Thursdays. You get to drink “mocktails” and sing karaoke (alone or with friends).
1. Try something new!
There are many different kinds of activities on campus. Never ever limit yourself. There are lots of fun events to attend. For example, I attended Mocktails and Karaoke. This event is held on select Thursdays. You get to drink “mocktails” and sing karaoke (alone or with friends).
I got to cover Adam Lambert's "Whataya want from me?" and "Sweet dreams are made of these" by the Eurythmics on Karaoke night.
Aside from events, try joining a club. This weekend, I got to film for the
school’s film club. Even though I am not a film major, it still is a fun
experience because you get to do something outside the box. I encourage you to
enjoy something new because college isn’t all about schoolwork. Being outside
of the classroom can help you learn things as well. In film club, I learned many important skills.
I learned how to improvise and think on the fly (which, can help you in the end when your original Plan A does not happen), I learned to work with other people (in a casting and a crew setting) and I learned that no matter what position you have, you are important. My first job in film club was the “slate” for Night of Your Lives 2. I didn’t get to act but being the slate was still important to the club. I had to keep track of the scenes on the whiteboard and assist the camera. It wasn’t the most exciting job but now I am a regular cast member on a sketch show called “It’s Sketchy!” and I am cast as a detective in a supporting role for an upcoming short film. This club experience taught me that sometimes, you aren’t going to get the exact thing that you want. You might get something else and that is ok. Take up the smaller position and learn from it. You may be surprised what kind of skills you will pick up. Maybe later on since you have honed your skills in the small position, you will get the bigger position. And all of this came from just trying something new!
I learned how to improvise and think on the fly (which, can help you in the end when your original Plan A does not happen), I learned to work with other people (in a casting and a crew setting) and I learned that no matter what position you have, you are important. My first job in film club was the “slate” for Night of Your Lives 2. I didn’t get to act but being the slate was still important to the club. I had to keep track of the scenes on the whiteboard and assist the camera. It wasn’t the most exciting job but now I am a regular cast member on a sketch show called “It’s Sketchy!” and I am cast as a detective in a supporting role for an upcoming short film. This club experience taught me that sometimes, you aren’t going to get the exact thing that you want. You might get something else and that is ok. Take up the smaller position and learn from it. You may be surprised what kind of skills you will pick up. Maybe later on since you have honed your skills in the small position, you will get the bigger position. And all of this came from just trying something new!
On set for Night of Your Lives 2. My 1st film club job.
2. Say yes to the mess
We are students. And a student’s
job is to learn. LaRoche’s mission statement states that the college promotes
“lifelong learners”. And sometimes, learning is not pretty. Learning can be
ugly. A good way to be an effective learner is to learn to “say yes to the mess”. Maybe
you didn’t get the grade you wanted for that math midterm. Maybe you said
something to a friend that you shouldn’t have said. Maybe you didn’t plan so
well in your time management.
But that’s okay! We all make mistakes because we are human. The important thing is to do your part to make it right. For that grade you didn’t really want, try going to office hours or a tutoring lab and grasp the concepts. For that friend you said something you shouldn’t have said something to, be honest and talk it over. For that time that didn’t fall into your plan, write a “to do” list and prioritize the next time. What you learn from these mistakes serves to make you a better learner. With being a lifelong learner, your day to day experiences teach you something whether or not you are in a classroom.
Some of the best memories I made during college were all started with a laugh, including whenever my friend Matt did this in the photo below. We were all Orientation Leaders and he decided to do this in our "silly picture". It is something I can look back on and remember the experience. Want to know why? Its because I can laugh about it!
If you learn to laugh, you can find humor out of situations. Laughter is the best medicine. Sometimes whenever something is stressing me out, I take a little time and watch something funny.
But that’s okay! We all make mistakes because we are human. The important thing is to do your part to make it right. For that grade you didn’t really want, try going to office hours or a tutoring lab and grasp the concepts. For that friend you said something you shouldn’t have said something to, be honest and talk it over. For that time that didn’t fall into your plan, write a “to do” list and prioritize the next time. What you learn from these mistakes serves to make you a better learner. With being a lifelong learner, your day to day experiences teach you something whether or not you are in a classroom.
3. Learn to laugh!
“A laugh can be a powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it is the only weapon we have.” –Roger Rabbit
Some of the best memories I made during college were all started with a laugh, including whenever my friend Matt did this in the photo below. We were all Orientation Leaders and he decided to do this in our "silly picture". It is something I can look back on and remember the experience. Want to know why? Its because I can laugh about it!
If you learn to laugh, you can find humor out of situations. Laughter is the best medicine. Sometimes whenever something is stressing me out, I take a little time and watch something funny.
Matt posing face down during our funny group picture!
4. Communicate and Network
Get to know different kinds of
people. You never know what you will find. The beauty of college is everyone is
from different places and different backgrounds. What is unique about LaRoche
College is the high amount of international students. Our student body has
students from Tanzania, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and many other
different countries to get to know. Try reaching out to someone new and network
with others. You will gain other perspectives and different kinds of stories from
others.
My 1st roommate was from Tanzania. A cool thing I learned about her was that people in Tanzania do not wear shorts that are above the knee during the summertime. Culturally, they believe that it is too short of a length.
The best thing you can do to network and reach out is to get to know students from different majors as well as your own. My friends pictured here are Kristen, Nancy, Andre and Kidareo. Kristen majors in Journalism/Professional Writing, Nancy majors in Child and Family Studies, Andre majors in Communications and Kidareo majors in Psychology.
My 1st roommate was from Tanzania. A cool thing I learned about her was that people in Tanzania do not wear shorts that are above the knee during the summertime. Culturally, they believe that it is too short of a length.
The best thing you can do to network and reach out is to get to know students from different majors as well as your own. My friends pictured here are Kristen, Nancy, Andre and Kidareo. Kristen majors in Journalism/Professional Writing, Nancy majors in Child and Family Studies, Andre majors in Communications and Kidareo majors in Psychology.
(L to R: Kristen, Me (top), Kidareo, Nancy, Andre)
From my own major (which is Marketing/Management), I
have met one of my good friends, Kiersten. This is us before our big
Advertising and PR presentation.
Meeting new people is a given in college and with all these new people, there
are infinite possibilities! I have helped a friend with a project by modeling
for a sample advertisement. I have helped a fellow classmate in math. And, a fellow classmate helps me in
Philosophy. All these people you meet can have an impact on your college life.
You will find that if you are networked and connected with people, you will
feel more connected as a whole.
5. You are your own boss!
You are responsible for yourself
and your actions. So far, your college experience is a blank slate. Fill it
with color. You decide what colors you want to use and how you want to fill it.
I’m sure that whenever you start college, you can make your own top 5 list! These are my tips so far but since college is about learning, inside and out of the classroom, I will surely have more experiences to add to my own canvas.
I’m sure that whenever you start college, you can make your own top 5 list! These are my tips so far but since college is about learning, inside and out of the classroom, I will surely have more experiences to add to my own canvas.
-Mollie
