First and foremost, welcome to Huskie Nation!!
You are so lucky to have the experience of being a Huskie and I really hope you take full advantage of your time at NIU. My name is Bernadette Chatman, a recent graduate of the College of Education at Northern. I majored in General Education (studied Special Education as well) and minored in Nonprofit and NGO studies, as well as Dance! I was super involved on campus. I joined multiple organizations i.e. E.B.O.N.Y Women, Golden Apple Scholars, Lambda Sigma, Envy Dance Team, Penguin Players, Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC), Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, Northern Lights Ambassador (NLA), Student Director of the NIU Foundation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I was on the executive board for majority of my orgs. and served as President of my sorority for well over a year. Now that I look back on it, man I really was a little busy bee, but I ALWAYS made time for my classes that resulted to me graduating Cum Laude. Don’t’ get it twisted, I still had a social life, went out to the parties and bars too. I share my short story to say this, COLLEGE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT! What I love the most about Northern is that there are PLENTY of opportunities available; you just have to grab the bull by its horns and take advantage of it. You can create your own student organization if you see fit, you can lead hundreds or thousands of students in a march, you can create a service project, you can create your own Non-profit organization, you can plan and throw the livest party known to man at NIU, you can literally be the President over all student body!!! This is your life, your college experience, YOUR EDUCATION. Ask yourself, what is it that you want to accomplish and DO IT! You will fall, and you will have to make hard decisions that may be life changing, but as long as you keep the though of your crossing that stage to receive your diploma in hand, you will conquer all of what may lie in front of you! I wish you the best of best luck! Enjoy your freshmen year, TURN UP, start off strong, study hard, make life long memories, and remember it’s all up to you! Sincerely with Huskie Love, Bernadette Chatman, NIU Alumni
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Being a Freshman in college can be hard. It's a big change from high school, with a lot more responsibility whether you realize it or not. How you choose to handle your new responsibility can affect your entire college career. There are three major pieces of advice to follow:
1. Go to class. Seriously, GO TO CLASS. Even if you're tired, even if you're hungover, even if you just don't feel like it. You've already paid for the classes, don't waste it! Some professors may not give points for attendance, but that's literally the easiest way to learn the material. Half of the work is already done if you just show up. 2. Get involved. It is easier to make friends if you find a club or organization that matches your interests. Extra-curriculars are different in college than in high school. Think of it as an opportunity, instead of another obligation to your education. Clubs and orgs are supposed to be fun! 3. Take care of yourself. College is a place of self-discovery and lessons (both good and bad). Stay true to who you are, and strive to learn more about yourself. Don't be afraid to take self-care days and just love on yourself. Nobody will ever love you like YOU love you. College is supposed to be a journey. Make the best of yours because it's way more fun than high school, but it flies by twice as fast. Staci M. NIU Alumni Letter to my freshman self, I'm going to start this with the most important and most difficult thing: keep pushing. Keep going. There is nothing, not a damn thing, that is more important than your future. Here's another important thing. Your parents and friends are counting on you, but you can't do this just for them. You will lose yourself in the motion of it all if you do. As an immigrant, you've been told your whole life of your parents' sacrifice. Of them abandoning all they had to give you something better. You've watched them toil...and you've watched them suceed. That was all for this. This is when you're supposed to pay them back by reflecting success in excess. But it isn't always that easy. And sometimes it doesn't work out the way you want it to, but that doesn't mean it won't work out.
Another thing: take care of yourself. You're going to be forced to deal with your mental health and the strain others place on you. You're not crazy. Just a little depressed and anxious. As corny as it sounds, you aren't alone. Talk to your friends. They're struggling and scared too. Their families haven't discussed it either. You will breathe a sigh of relief when your best friend explains their panic attack to you and you'll understand what you've been having all these nights. You will learn to take care of yourself so things don't pile up and break you. No way around it, no short cuts. You deserve and need peace. Be careful with your heart. You have a HUGE one. Seriously, you go out of your way for everyone. And that's not a bad thing. In fact, it's one of the best things about you...but it draws the worst people. They will have no problem taking advantage of that kindness and drain you of everything. Take steps back to replenish yourself and see who reflects back your love. Not everyone thinks like you do, and in all honesty most won't ever care as much as you do. You will get cold when you first learn this. You will block people off with frigid bricks and tearful glares. Just don't forget the friends that do love you. Spend time with them, a healing energy will thaw your heart. You'll still try to act tough after, but you're a fierce lil softie. That's not just okay. That's great. You will have your heart broken. The first time will make you sick to your stomach, a wicked illness that fills you with bile and a self loathing. Your friends will love you through it. That's the thawing I spoke of. It'll be good for you in the end, I promise. You will learn that boys can get you to fall in love, but it takes a man to follow through. The second time will hurt just as bad, but you won't show it as much. You will learn that you are too good for a man and that inconsistencies are the most painful way to half ass drop someone. You will not allow yourself to be anyone's convenience. You learn that you love to love, that when a man makes you laugh your heart grows a little warmer, and that your affection transpires your desires. You still have some things to learn. This last one hasn't broken it yet, but you've learned enough lessons to know that he's about to be another. And that's okay. You've gotten better at accepting that some things are out of control and that you can't make someone feel the same way you do. Just walk away when you feel that familiar tightness. You will suceed! I promise, you will surprise every little thing you thought you could do. You'll ace classes and papers you struggled in. You'll go on stage and hear applause for your name. You'll be part of movements. You'll stand for things that matter and save friends who do too. At times, you'll fail. You'll even fail a class. That's okay. Actually, that's great (not the class part but that's okay too). Fail and learn. It's necessary. Accept it and keep pushing. These next few years will be difficult...but they will solidify you as an individual. You'll start to figure out who you are. You've got good friends and family to help, don't forget that. You are beginning to embark on a journey in a new chapter of your life. Every story has elements, such as characters, setting, plot, and conflict. The most significant thing is you are the scribe of your story. Yes, there will be external factors that may require an interlude, but I am here to provide you with tools to assist you. Perseverance. Patience. Faith. Remember to stay ready so you don't have to get ready. Having standards and holding people to those standards is completely acceptable. You will without a doubt encounter experiences that will challenge you as a woman, however never regret letting go of something or someone whose value of you does not measure up to your sense of self-worth. God got you! Always have and always will! Quasha S. Graves Of all the things that make up the college experience it’s important to know that it’s not always going to be easy. This is the beginning of something that can go many ways. You can continue to work hard like it’s the first time or you can take a win and go along as the cocky person you think you are. But, don’t do that. I know it wasn’t the challenge you expected but don’t take it for granted. There’s so much that you want to accomplish and your academics can help you get further than you think. Academics isn’t everything but they can help you be anything. There are going to be so many times when you’ll break down but just know that your tears and frustration can’t color your entire experience. When it gets hard don’t be discouraged. There is always something better once you get through the hard times, set goals for yourself and keep going. No matter what others may say about you-- just stay on track. Being social is great but make sure you have your things together before trying to be friends with everyone. And lastly, don’t forget that you are great. You have made it through so much already and college isn’t going to hurt you, just break you down so much that you must grow as a person or else you’re wasting your money. I know you’ll learn something from this but make sure you turn in your work so your instructors know it too. All in all, continue being yourself and don’t forget to smile, cry, and laugh, because all that and more is the make-up life. Sincerely, Gerri R. NIU Senior |
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