Advice for first year college students
By Sandra Smith
November 28, 2023
Image Credit: Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash
Going away to college is a major transition. A mixture of emotions can lead students to feel overwhelmed by this new lifestyle. Many students at the University of Maryland learned ways to overcome these feelings during their freshman year.
Skylar Mirus, a sophomore majoring in psychology, learned a lot about making new friends during her freshman year.
“You don’t have to be best friends with the people you met the first week of college,” Mirus said. “It’s okay to make new friends and move on from ones that were not your best match.”
If you are struggling with finding a friend group, join a club, Mirus said. There are so many clubs offered at UMD; everyone is bound to find one they enjoy.
UMD offers over 800 clubs, which students can easily find using TerpLink. There are academic, creative, cultural, service, and many other general interest clubs.
Going to sports games is also a great way to socialize with other students. UMD offers free student tickets for many sports including football, basketball, and soccer.
“Take advantage of the fact that UMD gives out free tickets to all sporting events. Make sure to get the tickets, it’s a great way to spend time with friends,” said Mirus.
Emily Flamm, an English professor who teaches freshman classes at UMD, sees many new college students pressuring themselves to excel.
“Some people really do thrive under pressure, but I think most of us start to crack before long,” Flamm said. “Pressure may not be totally avoidable, but there are ways to counteract it. I recommend finding a physical or creative outlet that’s non-competitive and easy to sustain, something restorative and just for you.”
For Flamm, that is writing, drawing or cooking. Finding a hobby is one of the ways to keep stress at a manageable level.
Freshman year is difficult – finding a balance between work and social life is something many students struggle with.
Jacob Stevens, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, found ways to counteract the stress of completing his work.
“One takeaway I had from freshman year is to find somebody to do work with. In each class, try to find one person to help you study, do the homework with or even split the work up,” Stevens said. “It makes everything more manageable.”
Flamm emphasized that the outside world – specifically social media – should not dictate what an individual describes as a “good day.”
“A good day can be anything – it can be a day you chose your mental health over your social life, a day you made an incredible playlist, a day you reached out to someone in need,” Flamm said. “Set small achievable goals in lieu of trying to please everyone and fix everything.”
Everything can seem like a challenge during freshman year. Finding balance is difficult, but surrounding yourself with people who have similar goals, finding a hobby and focusing on your mental health are all ways to help take control of your life.
Skylar Mirus, a sophomore majoring in psychology, learned a lot about making new friends during her freshman year.
“You don’t have to be best friends with the people you met the first week of college,” Mirus said. “It’s okay to make new friends and move on from ones that were not your best match.”
If you are struggling with finding a friend group, join a club, Mirus said. There are so many clubs offered at UMD; everyone is bound to find one they enjoy.
UMD offers over 800 clubs, which students can easily find using TerpLink. There are academic, creative, cultural, service, and many other general interest clubs.
Going to sports games is also a great way to socialize with other students. UMD offers free student tickets for many sports including football, basketball, and soccer.
“Take advantage of the fact that UMD gives out free tickets to all sporting events. Make sure to get the tickets, it’s a great way to spend time with friends,” said Mirus.
Emily Flamm, an English professor who teaches freshman classes at UMD, sees many new college students pressuring themselves to excel.
“Some people really do thrive under pressure, but I think most of us start to crack before long,” Flamm said. “Pressure may not be totally avoidable, but there are ways to counteract it. I recommend finding a physical or creative outlet that’s non-competitive and easy to sustain, something restorative and just for you.”
For Flamm, that is writing, drawing or cooking. Finding a hobby is one of the ways to keep stress at a manageable level.
Freshman year is difficult – finding a balance between work and social life is something many students struggle with.
Jacob Stevens, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, found ways to counteract the stress of completing his work.
“One takeaway I had from freshman year is to find somebody to do work with. In each class, try to find one person to help you study, do the homework with or even split the work up,” Stevens said. “It makes everything more manageable.”
Flamm emphasized that the outside world – specifically social media – should not dictate what an individual describes as a “good day.”
“A good day can be anything – it can be a day you chose your mental health over your social life, a day you made an incredible playlist, a day you reached out to someone in need,” Flamm said. “Set small achievable goals in lieu of trying to please everyone and fix everything.”
Everything can seem like a challenge during freshman year. Finding balance is difficult, but surrounding yourself with people who have similar goals, finding a hobby and focusing on your mental health are all ways to help take control of your life.