This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Virginia Tech chapter.
How to surviveHow to survive your years at Virginia Tech…
…advice from a good, old senior.
Please note: Before you read this story, you must know I’m a cynical person. Even though I’m pretty certain you would of been able to tell when I’m being serious and when I’m being sarcastic, I just wanted to give you a forewarning…
Hi, my name is Annemarie Cole and I recently began my senior year as a Hokie. Looking back on these past three years I have learned a few things that I feel I must share with you all. Regardless if you are a freshman, sophomore, or even a junior, it’s never too late to hear advice from an older, more mature person. Now I know I’m no psychologist or therapist nor do I give people advice as a profession, so why should you listen to me you ask. For starters, I have a decent GPA so clearly I’m doing something right. I’m also involved in many organizations including: Her Campus (obviously), President of Homecoming Board, a member of Delta Gamma, student worker for the Virginia Tech athletics department, Greeks Giving Back student outreach committee, the Big Event, and Relay For Life. All of that on top of partying on the weekends, finding time for the gym, and having some free time and I somehow managed to reach my senior year in one piece. So no I’m no professional, but I’m starting to think if being a student was a profession, I would definitely succeed. That being said, as I start my senior year, I can’t help but find myself looking back on my college career and wondering if I should of done things differently. So I decided to compile some of the tips I find most important…read these and you are sure to reach your senior year very satisfied.
How to survive in your classes: Now let’s be honest, even though your classes are definitely not the first thing you’ll remember from college (they’re probably the last), it is the reason you’re here in the first place. Being a communication major, I was privileged enough to have the majority of my classes have an appropriate amount of students, unlike the 5,000 students in World Regions class, which yes, I took that too (who doesn’t take that class??). TIPS: so I know EVERYONE tells you to sit in the front of your class (trust me I’ve heard it about 500 times too), but my tips don’t have anything to do with where you sit. All in all just make sure you go to class and pay attention. Now for someone like me, aka ADD, I cannot take my laptop to class or I will maybe hear five words the professor says. If you’re like this, I encourage you to go old school and take notes with a pen and paper (shocking I know). Also, you have to read your textbooks. It’s honestly something I wish I had done more of. For some reason professors here think we’re responsible enough to read and learn some things on our own, crazy right?! Well if you read, and even take notes on what you read, your test scores will go up. Something I learned a little too late in my college career. Do these two things and you’re on the right
path to hanging your grades on the refrigerator at the end of each semester.
How to survive the overwhelming amount of extracurricular activities on campus: Here is a PSA to all of you– DO NOT GET OVER INVOLVED. Now I only say this because I used to marvel at the students who were members of pretty much every organization on campus, but I warn you only a few select people are able to join every organization and not want to slam their head into a wall at the end of the day. I thought I was one of those people, but sadly I’m not. I tried to do so many extracurricular activities to boost my resume that anxiety attacks became a weekly occurrence. TIPS: find something that interests you, and don’t fret if you need to test a few organizations out and see what you like and what you don’t like. There are SO many things to do on this campus that it can be a tad overwhelming. If you like sports, I suggest getting involved in intramurals. If you want a leadership opportunity, try getting involved in SGA, BSA, or become an officer of whatever organization you do decide to join. There are also a bunch of sororities and fraternities, including service fraternities. Speaking of service, there are also events like Relay For Life and the Big Event that you can get involved in as well. See I’ve only named a few and you’re already overwhelmed aren’t you? Take the time to research different organizations and find one that you will enjoy and completely dedicate yourself to. Regardless of the organization you end up joining, getting involved at Virginia Tech is very important, it’s part of our motto Ut Prosim, you know. It’s also a great way to meet new people, network, and impress future employers.
How to survive being away from home: Take it from someone who cried pretty much every night during the first two months of their freshman year…yes I’m talking about myself unfortunately. If this sounds a little like you, or if you’re missing home without the tears it will get better, I PROMISE! My parents told me every night that pretty soon I would start to love it and as much as I HATE to admit it, they were right. I can’t imagine being anywhere else than Blacksburg, Virginia, something I never thought I would say. TIPS: keep in touch with your family (even grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) this will make it a lot easier to ask for money every now and then (hey, we’re broke college students) but most importantly it will honestly make their day, probably their week, to hear from you. One time I wrote my grandma a letter and she was so happy that I immediately became her favorite grandchild (SCORE). Also, try to make it home every so often. Your mom always loves having you home and a home cooked meal is probably just what you need to rejuvenate for your exams the following week. And finally, always thank your parents (or whoever may be funding your college career) because if not for them, you would not be at Virginia Tech having the time of your life.
How to survive your first three years so you won’t have any regrets when you become a senior: So to sum up, as I begin my senior year as a Hokie, I am proud of my college career (not to brag or anything). Do I wish I had made some different decisions along the way? Of course I do, but you should always keep in mind that nobody is perfect. You’re going to make some decisions you wish you could change but always remember that things happen for a reason so you should never have regrets. All in all I was able to maintain a good GPA (not to jinx myself before my final year), I’m involved with a bunch of different organizations and I love every single one, I have met some of the most amazing people that I’ll never forget, and although I once hated being away from home I now never want to leave Blacksburg. But the most important thing I can tell you after all of these tips is this…Enjoy every single second you have as a Hokie. Even if it is something like going to class or studying for a test, because your time here will go by faster than you could ever imagine. I know everyone says that, but I promise you it’s true. And once you get to your senior year, every time the clock turns 11:11 (or any other time you make a wish) you will find yourself wishing for time to slow down, but it doesn’t. You will look back on your college career as the best years of your life. In the end the most important things you can do are: be the best person you can be, take in every moment, have the time of your life, and always, always love being a Hokie.
I’m so nice that I compiled a list of websites to organizations I mentioned so you can look at them (feel free to thank me later):
– http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41402 (Relay For Life)
– https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/hzsksorg.P_DispStuOrgs (search student
organizations)
you can be a champion too. your years at Virginia Tech…
…advice from a good, old senior.
Please note: Before you read this story, you must know I’m a cynical person. Even
though I’m pretty certain you would of been able to tell when I’m being serious and when
I’m being sarcastic, I just wanted to give you a forewarning…
Hi, my name is Annemarie Cole and I recently began my senior year as a Hokie.
Looking back on these past three years I have learned a few things that I feel I must
share with you all. Regardless if you are a freshman, sophomore, or even a junior, it’s
never too late to hear advice from an older, more mature person. Now I know I’m no
psychologist or therapist nor do I give people advice as a profession, so why should you
listen to me you ask. For starters, I have a decent GPA so clearly I’m doing something
right. I’m also involved in many organizations including: Her Campus (obviously),
President of Homecoming Board, a member of Delta Gamma, student worker for the
Virginia Tech athletics department, Greeks Giving Back student outreach committee, the
Big Event, and Relay For Life. All of that on top of partying on the weekends, finding
time for the gym, and having some free time and I somehow managed to reach my
senior year in one piece. So no I’m no professional, but I’m starting to think if being a
student was a profession, I would definitely succeed. That being said, as I start my senior
year, I can’t help but find myself looking back on my college career and wondering if I
should of done things differently. So I decided to compile some of the tips I find most
important…read these and you are sure to reach your senior year very satisfied.
How to survive in your classes: Now let’s be honest, even though your classes are
definitely not the first thing you’ll remember from college (they’re probably the last), it is
the reason you’re here in the first place. Being a communication major, I was privileged
enough to have the majority of my classes have an appropriate amount of students, unlike
the 5,000 students in World Regions class, which yes, I took that too (who doesn’t take
that class??). TIPS: so I know EVERYONE tells you to sit in the front of your class
(trust me I’ve heard it about 500 times too), but my tips don’t have anything to do with
where you sit. All in all just make sure you go to class and pay attention. Now for
someone like me, aka ADD, I cannot take my laptop to class or I will maybe hear five
words the professor says. If you’re like this, I encourage you to go old school and take
notes with a pen and paper (shocking I know). Also, you have to read your textbooks.
It’s honestly something I wish I had done more of. For some reason professors here think
we’re responsible enough to read and learn some things on our own, crazy right?! Well if
you read, and even take notes on what you read, your test scores will go up. Something I
learned a little too late in my college career. Do these two things and you’re on the right
path to hanging your grades on the refrigerator at the end of each semester
How to survive the overwhelming amount of extracurricular activities on campus: Here
is a PSA to all of you– DO NOT GET OVER INVOLVED. Now I only say this because
I used to marvel at the students who were members of pretty much every organization
on campus, but I warn you only a few select people are able to join every organization
and not want to slam their head into a wall at the end of the day. I thought I was one of
those people, but sadly I’m not. I tried to do so many extracurricular activities to boost
my resume that anxiety attacks became a weekly occurrence. TIPS: find something that
interests you, and don’t fret if you need to test a few organizations out and see what you
like and what you don’t like. There are SO many things to do on this campus that it can
be a tad overwhelming. If you like sports, I suggest getting involved in intramurals.
If you want a leadership opportunity, try getting involved in SGA, BSA, or become
an officer of whatever organization you do decide to join. There are also a bunch of
sororities and fraternities, including service fraternities. Speaking of service, there are
also events like Relay For Life and the Big Event that you can get involved in as well.
See I’ve only named a few and you’re already overwhelmed aren’t you? Take the time
to research different organizations and find one that you will enjoy and completely
dedicate yourself to. Regardless of the organization you end up joining, getting involved
at Virginia Tech is very important, it’s part of our motto Ut Prosim, you know. It’s also a
great way to meet new people, network, and impress future employers.
How to survive being away from home: Take it from someone who cried pretty much
every night during the first two months of their freshman year…yes I’m talking about
myself unfortunately. If this sounds a little like you, or if you’re missing home without
the tears it will get better, I PROMISE! My parents told me every night that pretty soon I
would start to love it and as much as I HATE to admit it, they were right. I can’t imagine
being anywhere else than Blacksburg, Virginia, something I never thought I would
say. TIPS: keep in touch with your family (even grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) this
will make it a lot easier to ask for money every now and then (hey, we’re broke college
students) but most importantly it will honestly make their day, probably their week,
to hear from you. One time I wrote my grandma a letter and she was so happy that I
immediately became her favorite grandchild (SCORE). Also, try to make it home every
so often. Your mom always loves having you home and a home cooked meal is probably
just what you need to rejuvenate for your exams the following week. And finally, always
thank your parents (or whoever may be funding your college career) because if not for
them, you would not be at Virginia Tech having the time of your life.
How to survive your first three years so you won’t have any regrets when you become
a senior: So to sum up, as I begin my senior year as a Hokie, I am proud of my college
career (not to brag or anything). Do I wish I had made some different decisions along
the way? Of course I do, but you should always keep in mind that nobody is perfect.
You’re going to make some decisions you wish you could change but always remember
that things happen for a reason so you should never have regrets. All in all I was able
to maintain a good GPA (not to jinx myself before my final year), I’m involved with
a bunch of different organizations and I love every single one, I have met some of the
most amazing people that I’ll never forget, and although I once hated being away from
home I now never want to leave Blacksburg. But the most important thing I can tell you
after all of these tips is this…Enjoy every single second you have as a Hokie. Even if
it is something like going to class or studying for a test, because your time here will go
by faster than you could ever imagine. I know everyone says that, but I promise you
it’s true. And once you get to your senior year, every time the clock turns 11:11 (or any
other time you make a wish) you will find yourself wishing for time to slow down, but
it doesn’t. You will look back on your college career as the best years of your life. In
the end the most important things you can do are: be the best person you can be, take in
every moment, have the time of your life, and always, always love being a Hokie.
I’m so nice that I compiled a list of websites to organizations I mentioned so you can
look at them (feel free to thank me later):
– http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41402 (Relay For Life)
– https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/hzsksorg.P_DispStuOrgs (search student
organizations)
Not to brag, but my team won intramurals for soccer. Make sure you get involved and
you can be a champion too.