Check out last week's post for tips 1-3
4.
If you need to use something, use it. If you have dandruff, don’t hide that
head and shoulders shampoo. I prefer Clear scalp & Hair therapy shampoo. The
truth is, if I don’t, then I get dandruff and like to wear black so I gotta use
it if I want to be looking fresh. If you have some special face cream that
keeps you from being a crater face, use it. Let other people know your beauty
secrets. Don’t be ashamed to do the things that make you feel confident (within
reason. probably don’t wear a cape to class but if you do, do it
confidently.)
5.
Be nice to your parents. If you feel like they are hounding you for
information, they likely miss you and are showing interest in your life. If
they don’t call and you feel they have forgotten you, they are probably trying
to give you your space. They don’t know how this college thing works with you
yet either. Even if you have another sibling who has been to college, you
haven’t and you know you’re different than they are. If you are feeling
smothered, say something. If you’re feeling neglected, say something. Open
communication and honesty, people. That’s the key. Whatever you tell them, do
it nicely. You’ll kick yourself for being a jerk to them.
6.
On the same wave of communication, if you need help, seek it out. The ladies at
the registrar’s office at Indiana Wesleyan were information angels. Older
people in your program can help in telling you which classes and profs to take.
A prof can suggest other resources for studying or reading. Also your advisor.
Well, maybe.
6a. Personal anecdote: When I came to college, I was predeclared,
aka I didn’t pick a major. I was assigned a “find out what you want to be” course
as a freshman rather than an “all the freshman who picked your major together
so you can get to know them” group. This course was lame for a number of
reasons, including that I was pretty sure I wanted to study psychology but I
didn’t want to commit because I was scared of the stigma. I actually waited
until the end of my second semester to declare a major. This was problematic
because I had an advisor meant for people who were predeclared. He didn’t know
a lot about individual programs because that’s not his game. The university
auto-assigned me an advisor for my major and my minor. When I was registering
as a person who had a declared major, I didn’t know I still had to get my
classes approved. I thought that was only for people without a major. So I picked
my classes, marched to the office, and said, “I am looking for this guy because
it says he is my advisor” and that guy happened to walk in and he was like
“listen, little lady [or something equally condescending], you are mistaken. I
am the advisor for addictions counseling which is your minor so that is wrong”
but I had no idea how to switch my advisor so I said “OK but could you just
click accept?” and he said “ok” and he did. Turns out, I needed to be in a
sophomore seminar that I didn’t know existed. An advisor would have known that.
It ended up being fine because, spoiler alert, I transferred. But even if I had
stayed there, I still could have graduated. I ended up taking a psych seminar
as a senior. LAME. It’s meant for freshman. Take it when you’re supposed to if
you can help it.
Next week there will be more tips :)
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