As the start of the academic year dawns, OCU is once again filling with excited newcomers, new transfers and returning students. All of that excitement is almost always accompanied by nerves. One thing that’s great about OCU is the welcoming community.
If incoming students ever feel lost, confused or just need help, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask the first person they see on their way to class.
Even though seniors may feel like experts going into their final year, even they may be a little nervous. Seniors, this is your last year—your final first semester of undergrad. This is the time to make the most of your college career. The goals you set three years ago as a freshman are either coming to fruition or they have changed. Whatever the case may be, senior year is the time to make things happen. This is your year.
Sophomores and juniors, these years don’t necessarily make or break you, like everyone would have you believe. It’s easy to fall into a “slump.” The best way to combat stagnation is simply to be aware of it. If you feel that you are falling into a slump, try reaching out to fellow students. This campus is filled with friendly people to help take your mind off pressing academics, deadlines, rehearsals, or practices.
OCU is a complicated place. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in your first weeks. Auditions, syllabuses, homework, and new schedules are hard for everyone.
New students should remember, when you start to feel homesick and get overwhelmed, to ask for help. Take a break and go hang out at Alvin’s Market with some friends. Don’t hang out there too much, though, because those points go fast. Once they’re gone, you’ll have to reach out to family members, begging them to refill Stars Cash or Alvin’s points.
OCU is filled with talented students. Many of them enjoy singing in the halls or on the way to class, and they might even serenade the entirety of the caf with their lovely voices. This is part of the fun that comes with attending a small, performing arts-focused college. Many people spend their time singing, acting or practicing, but this doesn’t mean you should feel worse about yourself because of it. Rather you can see the skills and talents of others as an inspiration for your own and a reminder that OCU is a place where those talents are welcome.
On-campus living as a freshman also can sometimes feel overwhelming. Walker Hall and Banning Hall may seem like tight spaces, or at least they will once you visit an upperclassman’s room in Methodist Hall or Cokesbury Court Apartments. Remember that your home is what you make it. Try getting your roommates to spruce the place up with you. Posters, lights, framed pictures, and plants are all ways to make your living space feel more like home.
The start of the academic year brings a mix of emotions. Now is the time to set goals, to start bringing them to life or to accomplish them. Make sure to soak up every minute of fun, because this year will end before you know it.
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