IMAGINE YOURSELF ENTERING the campus walls of your dream school (or available option, no judgment here). You’re filled to the brim with excitement for what new horizons college life has in store for you, but then, in an instant… the anxiety kicks in, and you ask yourself: “What do I do now?”
The first week of the school year in San Beda University (SBU) is a good place to establish a freshman’s grounding and develop a personal system to get one through the next four years of their student experience. To help introduce our newly adopted Lions into the campus, The Bedan has come up with this list of simple things a new Bedan, such as yourself, can adopt to help you find your footing in your long stay at SBU.
Learn your way through the Lions’ Den
For most, making your way through campus is no easy walk in the park. With several buildings dispersed across six hectares, it’s important for freshmen to learn the ins and outs of the University to avoid that dreaded feeling of having to search for the next classroom once the semester formally starts. You wouldn’t want to be late for your first week of class now, do you?
Luckily, a tour of the campus will be done during Freshmen Welcoming Day (FWD) where you’ll explore the different offices and buildings on the campus. From St. Anselm’s Hall, where most classes will be held, to St. Bede’s where the Registrar’s and Accounting Offices can be found. You might even be able to spot the famous Red Wall, a must for photo-ops for any true Bedan.
Build new habits, break old ones
You know what they say, “in with the new and out with the old.” The breath of fresh air and freedom available to you in college is an opportunity for you to work on yourself and develop a personal system. Compared to the workload of yesteryear’s basic education system, University backlogs will pile up quickly.
Our advice here is to cook up a schedule of how you’ll be dividing your tasks throughout the semester—both academic and personal. While you’re at it, you can also piece together a study plan and budget your allowance to save up for the experiences waiting for you outside of campus life. College is also about making memories more than it is about pursuing academic excellence, so, in this case: plan, plan, plan!
Get to know your fellow Bedans
“No man is an island,” they say, and this is all the more true when you enter college. Human beings are social animals, and the need for connection is just as basic a right as any other. Building friendships or even just getting to know your fellow classmates can help ease your way through schoolwork, not just by being there to have someone who’s answers you can copy (hey, it’s your decision and not ours), but by also serving as a support system when the going gets tough. Honestly, it’s reassuring to have people who you can connect with beyond the superficial.
So, break the bounds of comfortability and don’t be afraid to talk to as many people as you can. At the end of the day, we’re all on the same boat here in SBU.
Stay curious for COR week
Do you have what it takes to go beyond just being a regular student? Do you want to be able to hone your skills and talents, build lasting friendships, and contribute some way back to the community? Do you want to be a regular student with five times the workload (No shame to “BS Org” students)? Well, look no further, for the College Organization Recruitment (COR) Week is something to set your gaze upon. Although not part of the first week of college, it is something you can look forward to and discover during your first few days at the University. It’s also a good conversation if you ask us.
There are many organizations available to college students, and an extensive discussion on what would suit you will be tackled as you continue reading this FWD Special Issue. One organization you may be interested in, if you’re looking for an outlet to sharpen your news writing skills and tackle the latest in-campus buzz is The Bedan, the official student publication of SBU’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Stay curious, and when the time is right, get organized!
Now, despite the chatter and words of advice, it’s important to remember that the first week of school isn’t a make-or-break moment. Reassuringly, college life is full of complexities on its own, and considering the personal situations of each student, it’s understandable that everyone learns and grows at their own pace and time. So, puff your chest with the pride of a Lion and conquer the first week in your comfortable stride; we hope these four tips can make your new and daring adventure memorable.