So, it's almost August, which means an army of little incoming freshmen hearts are beating wildly, frantically, as they inch towards the end of the nest and beginning of the rest of their lives ( anddddd there's my flair for the dramatic ) . . .
At this point ( can it have been TWO years ago?), I still had no idea I was coming to PHC, but I was definitely freaking out on a large scale, hoping someone, anyone, would shepherd me into the imposing arms of higher education with a little bit of advice, a few good ideas, and maybe just a leeeetle bit of experience to help out with the pitter-patter-what-am-I-going-to-DO! of my heart.
Here's my idea. Basically, I think it'd be pretty nice if we all ( by this, I generally mean PHC people, but hey, if you non-PHC people want to chime in, super! ) took a second to jot down a few ideas, suggestions, helpful hints, etc., for the benefit of the new guys. Anything, including class schedule suggestions, tips for balancing the admittedly freaking heavy workload, making the dorm rooms your own, buying books on discount, getting involved in student life, living in a state of sanity for as long as possible, etc... is fair game. Heck, I could probably still use a few ideas on those topics! : )
If you'll post your thoughts in the comments, I'll compile them and update this post ( and post a few ideas of my own ) as they come in.
See ya in a few weeks.
-Jennifer
. . .
Ok, so after a night of wisdom brewing ( *cough* ), here are a few of my thoughts:
First, for all of the ladies: The dress code? Is not all that bad. Pick a few basic colors that you can mix and match, buy a few pairs of slacks and skirts in those colors, and then have more creative fun with your shirts... they're easier to alternate cheaply than other pieces. Don't buy a ton of cute patterned skirts that only go with one shirt. Don't worry too much about the strictness - really, if you just don't wear anything way too tight, too low, or too short ( shirt or skirtwise ), you'll be fine. Skirts are in style this season, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a few decent, basic styles. It's pretty intuitive. Oh, and a nice, warm, tailored coat ( or 9, in my case - my downfall ) is essential... and covers a multitude of wrongs for 8 a.m classes. ; )
Really, really try not to get into a romantic relationship freshman year. Yes, I know, you've finally found that one special person who makes your heart filllll weeth the sound of muuuuuuusic, and there were birds all around and you'd never heard them singing, and you're experiencing palpitations at the rate of 200 baby rattles per second, but seriously, you go to the same school... if they are THE ONE, then you'll probably end up going out at some point. However, if they AREN'T the one, and you go together all freshman year and then break up, you're going to end up wondering where you were when the sign up list for friends was passed out. PHC is not your VERY LAST CHANCE to find that special someone.
On the other hand, if you DO get into a romantic relationship, don't lie to me and tell me you're spiritual accountability partners. Whatever, googly eyes.
Student Life is not perfect. Student life is also not evil.
Don't be any of
these people. [ Apologies for the formatting issues ]
Be very, very nice to Avril. Not only is she actually really cool, but she will probably save you at some point.
Don't fence yourself in. Yes, I know, there are quite a few "groups" at PHC that you might feel you must choose between... but seriously, you're missing out if you only hang out with one group of people. Make an effort to branch out... get to know people outside of your immediate comfort zone. There was a big freshman clique my first year, and we all ended up pulling about 50 chairs around one table just so we wouldn't be separated for ONE MEALTIME, doing absolutely everything together, having an actual NAME for ourselves. Needless to say, the upperclassmen mocked us. Don't make us return the favor.
Please don't come in already campaigning for Student Body President. If nothing else, it will annoy me.
If you DO come in campaigning, at least come up with a catchy slogan.
Bring stuff to decorate your dorm room walls ( preferably not medieval armor ). I swear to you, sterility is just not the ideal working environment.
Get a fish! They're great. And then try to keep him alive, or else NO ONE WILL EVER LET YOU LIVE HIS DEATH DOWN, AND YOU WILL CRY AT NIGHT FOR YEARS...
*cough*
Don't make it a point to take a ton of upperclassmen classes when you come in 'cause you have something to prove. Sometimes the wait really adds to the learning process For example, I really, really recommend taking Freedoms and Philosophy at the same time sophomore year... you'll be more academically mature, and the topics / texts studied overlap and mesh well.
Along those lines, take Biology freshman year, while you have time to study. It's gotten harder over the past few years, and it'll be more difficult to balance when you have other, non-freshman classes.
Don't stay in your room all the time. It'll depress you. Seriously, Freshman year is an important time. You're building the relationships you'll hopefully carry with you for your entire collegiate experience. That really is way more important than over-studying for your Johnson quiz ( If they still have those? ).
Then again, don't do as I did, and go out like, every night freshman year. : ) Studying IS important, and while your classes may seem easy at first, they're gonna get harder, and a strong foundation of good work habits will come in handy.
Get involved in something ( or in my case, far too many things ). I don't care if it's Eden Troupe, Soccer, Basketball, Student Gov't, Philosophy Club, ATS Society... just something. It's a great way to get to know people, it looks good on your resume, and will keep you sane when you're fighting to keep your head above water.
We don't care about your SAT score. Begin to realize that no one's ever going to ask about it ever again outside of the application process.
We don't care about your past life as a debate SUPERSTAR.
We don't care about your Student Government aspirations. And on that note, Student Government is good and all, but you're going to be disappointed if you take it over-seriously.
Please don't shamelessly hit on upperclassmen girls. However, if you're a cute underclassmen girl, please hit on Kirk Anderson. Excessively.
Get to know your professors. We have the opportunity to actually have personal relationships with them, which is something that very few other colleges can offer. Eat lunch with them, think of questions you have for them, find out what pop culture stuff they enjoy. There's no reason for you to just be that guy who sits in the third row.
Invest in good computer speakers. Way better than buying a stereo.
Don't become a mere academic. They're living empty lives all over the world. You have truth, you have a relationship with God, and that is what sets you apart from the intellectual beast. If you neglect that relationship, you've lost your foundation. If you have no time for your spiritual life and yet you find time to study, you're doing something wrong.
READ THE FREAKING MATERIAL. Lots of PHC classes are taught in the Socratic method, at least most of the time. Class discussion can be awesome, or it can be the silent killer of many a morning. You're a freshman. You have time to read the text and come up with questions. Do it. And don't try to participate in class if you haven't read. The prof will know, most of the students will know, and both will judge you.
Also, don't ever, ever, ever seriously posit any material you read on Sparknotes.com as your own thought. In any situation. I don't care if you were asleep in the corner desk drooling on
The Metamorphosis until you were rudely awakened by a welly, welly hawd question. Suck it up. Several of the professors have read the Sparknotes on various texts, and they will KNOW. ALWAYS. FEEL THE TERROR.
Be nice to your roommates. That's a make or break relationship you really cannot afford to screw up. It's possible to get along with ( notice I didn't necessarily say "like") anyone.
Lots of upperclassmen keep their books every year, and sometimes they'll let you borrow them. Way cheaper than buying everything.
Try to go to bed early. Try to go to bed early. Continue trying to go to bed early.
PHC is not the last frontier for young evangelicals. Don't be a snob and think we're better than everyone else. Yes, we're blessed to be getting an incredible education, it's an awesome opportunity, and we can learn a lot while we're here. However, other people are learning a lot elsewhere. You are not your education. You are not your knowledge of Alexis de Tocqueville. You are not your score on that last Smith exam. Enjoy all of this while it lasts, 'cause The Real World ( not the TV show, I hope ) will eventually follow, and your strength will not lie in what you know, but how you use it.
.... and that's all I've got for now. Read everyone else's thoughts in the comments. There are some great ( and really funny ) suggestions.
Comments (33)
Wash your clothes at some point. That's probably directed more towards the gentlemen. And don't let a girl wash your clothes. It's a romantic ploy. Before long, the bleachy blossoms of romance will bud (if they haven't already)...and you're pretty much screwed.
~JDM
PS: Oh yeah, almost forgot...go to your exams.
As far as getting involved in Student Life, I think a simple encouragement to GET INVOLVED would be good! :)
Student life events can be FUN if people actually show up and give a little support. It's not dorky to go to a student life event...there, I said it. ;)
See ya soon, Jen!
Super bien!
I was actually planning to write a freshman survival blog. Oh, and you must come to the freshman swing dance that Andrew and a few of us sophmores are planning.
-M
four things
1: ditto to clarice (except specifically go to soccer/basketball games/edentroupe)
2: go to one concert a month- for your own sanity- and the instilling of proper perspective.
3: fall head over heels in love with... your roommate (makes life soo much easier)
4: keep your mouth shut on campus affairs until you've been there at least two months
One very important thing: do not allow yourself to become absorbed in the PHC subculture to the exclusion of real American culture. Do not learn PHC humor at the exclusion of everyday humor. You must realize that PHC, while in many ways a Good Thing, is not all there is or even The Ultimate.
Also: Do not feel compelled to change your theology while in school. Your parents and home church probably gave you a good foundation; do not dispense with that lightly. In all probability, your core beliefs are still very applicable to adult life, with perhaps a bit of tweaking of details.
and to counterbalance the negatives:
Make friends, reach out, do new things, have fun, take note of every pleasant and good thing that comes your way, and let no one convince you that God is anything less than the absolutely good and wise and loving Friend that you have come to know Him as.
1. Avoid most people of the opposite gender; and just avoid most people in general. Admittedly, there's little (interpret as "no") temptation to do otherwise here.
2. Find a few elite comrades among whom you can discuss all things deep.
3. Remember that you probably won't get to (or have to) deal with most of these people ever again after escaping--erm, graduating--from PHC.
4. And, most importantly, scholarly education is secondary to spiritual exploration. Period. It's worth getting a few B's to improve the state of your soul.
actually turn in your Latin homework - your GPA will thank you.
I feel like I should offer something useful here, but then it occurs to me that while in college, I was the anti-college student. Lived off campus, came to class, left and lived my life off campus again. I can probably count on one hand the number of college activities I attended and still have fingers leftover.
But from experiences with others who lived a more normal college existence, I offer the following:
Find a local church where you can feel home away from home. Get involved there, and any families who want to "adopt" stray college kids...cleave happily to them. It is nice to be able to sit around a real dinner table with a real family and eat real food. Since you'll be living there for the greater part of the year, the more it can feel like your home, the better.
Oh yeah. And beware the "Freshman 15." Does PHC have this phenomenon? This is another college thing I missed out on. (THANK GOD) I opted instead to wait till my Junior year and participate with the "So-My-Boyfriend-is-a-Drug-Addict 25."
1.) Don't talk to me about your classes or your professors. It's boring and all freshmen do it for the first semester.
2.) Romantic relationships: don't bother unless you're a pretty girl and it's with me.
3.) A legacy is left in relationships and not with a high GPA. The odds are surprisingly high that you will die before you become a senator so in the mean time you might as well make some friends and influence people, just in case.
4.) NOT EVERYTHING THAT THE OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE DOES IS RIGHT OR GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! They're human and they mess up. When they do don't bother buring down the school, there are at least some reasonable people who are willing to listen to decent talk. Try that first. (See me for stories and examples. There are plenty.)
5.) Don't wear capes, or goofy hats, or carry fake guns, or carry swords, or pretend to be a hobbit, or talk with a foreign accent, or talk to reporters. Your dignity will thank you later.
-Kirk A.
2) Cover your walls with posters of superhero's, they remind you that life isn't about the grades, but about defeating evil (with super-strength, flying, and telekinetic powers, but, while I realize many of you do not possess these, the principle still matters.)
3) Get a plant or a fish. It's something to assert your power and existence over and is more refreshing than crying over Dr. Smith's C-.
4) Don't kill the plant or fish. This is specifically directed at the compiler of PHC advice...
5) It's gonna take a while to find the balance between relationships and grades - about a semester. Don't get too wrapped up in the idealistic life-is-in-relationships thing...though it's true, the grades do matter, so keep your eyes open.
6) Don' take 17 hours your first semester. Trust me. Don't.
I speak for those of us who aren't going to college when I say this is highly etertaining. Thank you for making bordom obsolete.
One more thing (and probably more as I think about it):
Don't come to Grace Community Church just because about 100 people coerce you, telling you "how cool it is."...go to a church where you can sincerely serve and be served and fed by the Lord. And don't get too hung up on the persistence of Grace Community Church attendees attitude that "you HAVE to try our church. It's the best church ever." They mean well....really. :)
and I have this really bad feeling that I'm going to be a failure because I violate Kirk's rule number 5. But I can't change that and I have a feeling that there's probably another rule about how it's really retarded to determine your status as a failure or not a failure based on someone else's random xanga rules.
:is actually not freaking out too much:
But I am uh, taking freedoms this year. Please don't shoot me. It's because of distance learning.
also, while camo is dear to many a homeschooler heart, if you MUST wear it, please wear matching patterns.
run on the W&OD as much as possible - it is beneficial to body and soul and you will miss it when you're gone.
1 ) Don't be an activist. There are few things in life worth getting worked up about, and you have four years ( not to mention the um, REST OF YOUR LIFE ) to find a cause. Most of us will not be very interested in your opinion about campus affairs until you've been here a good deal longer.
2 ) People will talk about you no matter what you do. Not everyone will like you, no matter what you do. Don't be too shocked or hurt by the fact, and try not to contribute to the talk about others. We all just have to cut each other some slack.
3 ) Relationships? Out of the question freshman year ( or really, any year ) if you have very much sense at all. PHC life is difficult and stretching enough without the added distraction / burden of a relationship. Also, avoiding making a fool of yourself is tough enough while single. Just. Say. No.
4 ) Learn to dress well. A lot of us were homeschoolers with second-or-lower-rate fashion sense, too, but it's not difficult to acquire. The state of the body has more impact on the soul than you'd imagine.
P.S. And despite my ex-roomie's fine words above, you would do yourself a disservice to emulate my studying habits. You'll be a good deal safer with Daniel Hebda.
The Church is essential. And I don't mean holding down a pew/chair/beanbag on Sunday morning, like I did for a lot of my time at PHC. I mean actually getting involved, and doing something to serve the congregation. Actually joining a church can be an option.
Make time to pray.
And people are important. All that stuff everyone here keeps saying about making friends, it's not all about the grades, yada yada? That.
And the original post contains much good advice which you should follow. I'm actually giving it eProps.
*Spake the PHC Graduate* [no, that gives me no additional moral authority, I just wanted to say it]
P.S. At some point life will be difficult and you won't like it very much. Suffering can be good for the soul. You'll appreciate it. Later.
"Don't become a mere academic. They're living empty lives all over the world. You have truth, you have a relationship with God, and that is what sets you apart from the intellectual beast. If you neglect that relationship, you've lost your foundation. If have no time for your spiritual life and yet you find time to study, you're doing something wrong."
Thanks for that one. I assume it would apply at other colleges as well.
you were *this* close to getting unoriginality points. I saw it coming in the last paragraph.. "....you're the all singing all-dancing crap of the world" but you stopped just short.
we all knew where you were going with it, Jen. implied plagiarism is nearly as bad.
Never, never, NEVER snort lines of Emergen-C with a dollar bill at 10pm.