How to survive your freshman year. by Alexis

How to survive your freshman year. by Alexis - June 2014 Scholarship Essay

Books are used for entertainment, but mostly for educational purposes. If I was to write a book, it would be a book to inspire and inform incoming freshman on the “do's and don'ts” of their first year of college. I wish I knew of a book that could have taught me the most basic strategies that would have eased my troubles. The book would contain basic and secretive essentials to get through that experimental year and to be successful.

Teenagers entering college is a terrifying and joyous experience. This is most of their first time away from home, living in a new place and living on their own. Every child needs to learn on their own, no matter how much advice is given to them. Sometimes hearing advice from adults is overwhelming and unfortunately very boring and un-motivating. Teens need to hear from someone who has gone through the voyage that they are about to attempt. But this person they need to hear from needs to be around their age. It is more likely for them to successfully intake the advice from a fellow school mate. I would personally write this book on my experiences and my friends'.

My first semester went by smoothly. I took 17 credits! After I finished that semester I had only 1 C and the rest A’s and B’s. I wish there was a manual that said that it would be wise if first semester freshman would take no more than 15 credits. My father told me I was insane, but I took that as a challenge. I pursued and finished strongly. Second semester was not the same. My mother told me specifically not to take biology and chemistry at the same time. As usual, I ignored her and thought I was smarter than her and that I could get through anything. I continued on with my scheduled courses. My senior advisor told me that what I was doing could backfire and said that I was playing with my GPA. He sat me down and helped me fill out a course scheme. I am so grateful for him. Not all students will be lucky to have a senior advisor who has gone through the same struggles as you. That is why if I had to write a book, it would be able to help students like me.

The book would be a survival guide of some sort. It would include how to avoid the deadly café food and become a ramen noodle five-star chef. We all know that living on a budget is the number one rule of survival. Sometimes the café food is delicious or an atrocity. Another topic would be on how to decide studying over partying. For me my first year, I would party every weekend because I did not want to miss out on any fun. Unfortunately you have to make that drastic choice of staying in to get that A. Another issue of the first year is the opposite sex and dating. Most students lose their focus when they begin to date. Their needs to be advice to help them find the right person who will not only support them, but will understand that school comes first.

We all heard the saying, “I’m not paying for you to go to school to play”. I never thought I would understand this statement, but being a college student who just finished my first year, I know that college is way too expensive to play around and end up on academic probation. This book will enforce that motto and inspire students to do their best and make their parents proud. I am not saying that this book would completely end the sufferings and anxiety of first time college students, but it would ease their minds a bit and let them strive or success while making memories along the way.