by Mason Gentry
As we gear up for the Fall 2019 semester, there are a few things to keep in mind. For many Parkland students, college is a new chapter in life, and a completely alien one at that! It is easy to worry and stress about this journey that has just begun. To help with that, there are many resources for students to take advantage of including counseling services, the Center for Academic Success (CAS) in room D120, FYE 101 and more. Use the following information to kick your year off right!
Angela Jancola is one of many great counselors Parkland offers, who’s advice and help is free of charge. In a personal interview with her, she proposed that the greatest tool for success is attendance: “…students sometimes don’t attend because they feel bad if they haven’t finished an assignment, well then, you’ve hit yourself twice, right? The number one factor of being successful is that you’re here.” Even if you think you understand the material enough to skip a day, you’ll often find that the small details missed can be the difference between one letter grade and another. Attending classes ensures a fair chance to learn everything that is offered.
Another thing to ensure a great first semester is to maintain good grades from the start. The beginning of the semester is usually the easiest for most classes, so take advantage of it! Melissa Mitchum, a writer for the University of Central Florida Today, explained that “If the material becomes more difficult later on, you’ll have some room to breathe.” It is, therefore, very important to seize any opportunity to get ahead of your classes. Do not hesitate to take up bonus work or to prove your will to succeed. Your instructors will notice your extra hard work and be happy to accommodate for your small mistakes or errors.
Staying ahead of your classes is much easier than you might think if you utilize the resources provided. For example, Jancola suggested that “one of the best tools is actually fostering a rapport with your instructors. Right? Because they know what they want and they also know the resources, so you’ve got to open up that communication.” Course instructors are likely the most valuable sources of information for both the class and potential career exploration. Just talk to them—instructors are there to help! If talking to the instructor is not enough, or their time flexibility is not suited for you, then also visit the Center for Academic Success in D120. CAS is another great resource for external assistance in almost any class you may struggle with. There, you can get the assistance from tutors in various subjects, faculty and peers making your classes that much easier.
“if your program permits you the opportunity, you should take a course that challenges your beliefs or perspective.”
Once you get into the rhythm of college, you’ll notice that you have more free time. Not to say that you have room to be unproductive, but seriously take the time to explore all facets of this new experience! Mitchum advised that, “if your program permits you the opportunity, you should take a course that challenges your beliefs or perspective.” One of the foundational purposes of college is to excite new ideas or meanings to your life and taking a class that challenges your beliefs will do just that. A great way to do this exploring is to take a First Year Experience class (FYE101). According to Jancola, FYE “…is a really great course for [exploring different majors] because they do career exploration in there.” In the college experience, personal growth is just as important as learning. Get enthusiastic about learning and have yourself an extra successful year!
