If only you went to an amazing, accomplished university that had all the academic and professional advancement resources you could ever need. Well, today just so happens to be your lucky day!
Think back to the years before you received your college acceptance letter. Before you compiled your applications, before you even took your SATs or ACTs, you were most likely told that you’ll find a route to success through your college career. Parents and teachers consistently raved about how your life would change after stepping onto campus. Opportunities for networking, professional experience-building, and easily formed lasting relationships seemed abundant. There’s a good chance you were like me and thought that at Temple University, the world would be your ultra-accessible oyster.
After showing up on campus, I realized I would rather hide in a clamshell than try to locate my own path to success. It appears overnight, success suddenly transforms from an ideation teachers filled your head with to an actual subjective goal that you need to figure out how to achieve on your own terms. Suddenly, you’re thrown out of the nest, and despite the world looking like a solid blue window of opportunity from a lofty branch- now you’re on the ground, still trying to figure out how to move your wings.
Learning how to fly can seem intimidating- especially when all the other chicks already seem to have stuff figured out. It’s tempting to compare your progress to the girl in your entry-level class who already has a paid-internship freshman year. It’s even more tempting to dedicate all your focus into classes and ignore all those clubs and extracurriculars your guidance counselor suggested. However, it will soon become apparent that there’s more to college than just accomplishing the bare minimum. Reaching your most ambitious goals may seem daunting. The first step to accomplishing your dreams, though, is to take the first step. Whether you’re an upper-class student or a freshman just starting to test the waters, this guide will break down the best tips to guarantee success within and outside of the classroom.
1. Walk in the door, smile, and say hello.
Some of the best advice that I have personally received was to simply walk into a room, smile, and say hello. Temple’s campus is big, complex, and oftentimes confusing for those getting accustomed to finding their classes- even for those of us who have been attending for several years already. It can seem endlessly anxiety-inducing to imagine introducing yourself to a professor or joining a new club where you don’t know anybody.
Dwelling on how difficult something will be, however, won’t make it easier- you’ll just eventually scare yourself away from testing the waters. Remember, you belong here. Your professors and faculty members want to help, and your peers want to make friends, so reach out and put your fears in the rearview. The hardest part of getting involved in college is simply getting started. Imagine if that start only had to be a smile and a greeting (and maybe a firm handshake), how easy does that sound? Don’t think about what comes after hello, just say it, and keep talking. Ask questions, be curious, and always say hello.
2. Attend workshops
Temple has hundreds of events held each semester, and many of those happen to be career-building workshops. Oh, you don’t know how to write a resume? They have a workshop to show you! You haven’t applied for scholarships or grants before and aren’t quite sure where to start? Attend a workshop! These programs connect you with the most experienced faculty members that are more than willing to help you achieve your goals. The longer you sit and wait for this information to fall into your lap, the longer you’re hurting your future self. So, allow yourself the opportunity to thank your college self in a few years. I’m sure that whether you learn about cover letters or LinkedIn, something from that workshop will stick and benefit you far into your professional career.
Don’t know where to find these workshops? Check out Temple’s extensive events calendar! On February 8th, the College of Liberal Arts will be hosting a grant writing workshop with the Office of the Vice President of Research at 4:00pm. If you can’t make that event, Business Services will be hosting a financial wellness workshop at 4:00pm on March 8th. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of these free opportunities to learn essential life skills.
3. Connect with somebody in your field
Everybody’s version of success looks different. In college, you’ll meet a wide variety of people, all with unique passions and goals. Due to this, the path you take towards getting that internship or getting a great grade in your class could look different than how a biology major reaches their personal definition of success. Oftentimes, what makes a professional career seem so untouchable is just having a lack of an example- somebody who has accomplished the same goals you’ve set for yourself. So, find a professor, advisor, faculty member, anybody that you could see yourself in. Putting your future into perspective becomes a whole lot easier when you have somebody to give you guidance from an experienced point of view.
You might be wondering, “how am I supposed to form a connection with a faculty member? What if they aren’t interested in what I have to say?” Chances are, they care an immense amount about what you have to say and will empathize with whatever personal challenges you are facing. Remember, even your most knowledgeable professor was sitting in a college classroom, wondering how to get where they are now. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to make professional acquaintances! When it time comes to put together references later in your college career, I’m sure you’ll be thankful you took a leap of faith.
From the vantage point of a high school senior, the benefits of attending college seem ripe for the taking. Yet, when you enter campus and have to navigate your new environment for yourself, all that ripe fruit can seem unbearably high in the trees. Don’t be discouraged by your unknowingness, most people have been in your place, but give yourself the tools to keep learning a little bit more every day.