My name is Taryn Hopper from Nederland, TX and I am a first-generation junior here at Tarleton State University. Let us first start this off by taking a second to pat yourself on the back! Getting accepted and making the decision to attend college is a big deal and so you should give yourself some credit. This journey that you are embarking on will be a crazy ride but will be so rewarding in the end. Here is some advice from me:
When creating your class schedule……
Don’t overload yourself! When creating your first college schedule, allow yourself to have a transitional period, college classes work very differently than your high school classes did. After your first semester, you will learn what worked for you and what didn’t, which will give you an idea of how you want your next semester’s schedule to flow. When deciding how many hours you want to take, stick with a number that you think will be manageable. Some people can handle 16 or 17 hours, and some can only handle about 14 or 15 and that is completely okay! This is a personal journey so take it at your own pace!
Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss…you will land among the stars
Set goals and strive for them every day! Whether you goals are big or small, you are making progress if you are working towards it. I heard someone say one time that you aren’t going to be able to change completely 100% in one day so just put in 1% effort every day. So that eventually all your 1% days will add up and you will be at the desired 100%. That has stuck with me so heavily.
“Doing just that 1% some days can feel like a struggle and a lot of work but in the end, it is going to pay off.”
Take advantage of the resources on campus!
As students, we are given so many great resources on campus at our fingertips to use that often can be overlooked. First, we have our SI’s, which is just supplemental instruction. This is a student that has already taken your class and succeeded, who will sit in your class alongside you and your classmates and take notes. Then they will offer weekly sessions for the class to attend to go over and reiterate what the professor had previously taught. The SI’s also provide test prep sessions before all tests and the final exam. Typically the SI sessions are for the whole class,but if you would rather have more personal one-on-one help, Tarleton has free tutoring! This is a scheduled one-hour session that consists of only one to three students and the tutor. Tarleton also offers a math and accounting clinic. You can bring notes to go over, old tests that you may not have understood, or homework that you may need a little extra explaining and/or help working through problems. Lastly, we have our writing center that is in place to help you create an essay for any of your classes. They will provide revisions and read over the paper to make sure it is ready to be turned in!
Check out Tarleton’s student resources here:
Take a break when you need it!
Our lives can get so hectic and busy that sometimes we just need a break. A day where we don’t have to worry about anything but ourselves and what we want to do for a day. Don’t be afraid to prioritize yourself and take a mental health day. Taking a day to yourself to just lay in bed all day or getting a facial, whatever it is that you do to relax, can exponentially let your body rest. This also can give your body a reset and will help you get back to working hard again the next day.
Get out of your comfort zone.
We only get to live this life once so take advantage of every second of your day! College is meant for you to go out, have fun, expand your horizons but also study hard and excel in your classes. So, go out and make connections and friendships that will last a lifetime. Whether that is through joining a fraternity/sorority, spirit group, playing a recreational sport, or just an on-campus organization. Different organizations around campus have events to try to get more students involved and promote their organization. For example, when returning from Duck Camp there is a specific time set aside where there will be numerous organizations that you will be able to talk to. Even getting an on-campus job is getting involved because you will be meeting so many new people and finding people that have the same interests as you. Making friends that have similar interests, in the same organization as you are, or are even in the same classes as you can be so beneficial and supportive. It’s always good to have a good group of friends to have that support system and people to be around. Eventually those friends will turn into family and one day you will be able to look back and recall on those “college days.”
Here at Tarleton State University, our first-generation students make up about 54% of our student body and are nationally recognized for the support we show to our first-generation students. So, know that you are not alone in this journey! There are people here that want to help and see you succeed so don’t be afraid to reach out!
Looking to get involved as a first-generation student? Visit here.
More information on the TRIO Program, visit here.
Ready to take a closer look at Tarleton? Visit here!
