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UC student shares 4 tips for first-year students
Shannon Batliner, UC student from Chicago, explains how she made the most of her first year at Cincinnati
How to Make Your First Year Experience Great
At first, college can be scary. New places, new people, new experiences. And in my case, it was especially daunting to move 5.5 hours away from home to go to a school where I knew absolutely no one before stepping foot on campus. I was the first student from my high school to choose to attend the University of Cincinnati, and fortunately, I won’t be the last! Interest in the University of Cincinnati is growing quickly in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, all because people are finding out about this hidden gem of a school.
I couldn’t even imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t chosen to come to UC. Even after just one year, I have fallen in love with the city, the people, and the school. I’ve already made lifelong friends, had countless new experiences, and grown so much in so many different ways. My hope for everyone is that they can have as good as a first year as I had. And to help with that, I want to share 4 things that I did that made my year as good as it was.
I got involved right away
I was very involved in high school, and I knew that I wanted to continue that involvement in college. During my first semester, I joined a club sports team, volunteered as an elementary school tutor, and joined a professional organization within my major. Second semester, I got even more involved! I got a research job at Cincinnati Children’s hospital, became a campus tour guide, and joined a sorority for engineering majors! I was definitely busy but being involved helped me meet new people and learn how to manage my time effectively.
I tried to do something I was scared of every day
It’s a good thing to be uncomfortable, because that’s when you grow. Even if it’s something small like raising your hand in class or saying hi to somebody new. Following this philosophy allowed me to show up to tryouts for the ultimate frisbee team having never played before. And because I did that, I have found a sport and people that I adore. Late night practices and our car rides to tournaments are some of my most fond memories from the year, and I never would have gotten to make those memories without pushing myself to go to those tryouts.
I stayed in touch with my family and friends from home
Whether you’re moving across the country or less than an hour away for college, it’s still important to not forget where you came from. You won’t be able to keep being best friends with everyone, and it’s okay to make new friends at college, too, but I have no regrets about staying in touch with a small group of friends from home. As for your family, don’t be afraid to miss them, and to call them whenever. You’re not going to look uncool or lame for calling your mom-- you will never be too cool for your mom.
I didn’t take myself too seriously
Life is so much more fun if you stop caring about what other people think of you. Do more of what makes you happy, even if you look sort of crazy doing it. And make sure to enjoy yourself. After all, college is supposed to be fun.
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