I had a magnificent undergraduate college experience and I
wish nothing less for my former students, friends and children. But it
doesn’t happen automatically. As my elder child and so many of my former
students and friends go off to college, I want one more chance to play teacher
and provide my college friends with good tools that will make
their university experience more productive, safe, and fun.
Health: I know
that sleep isn’t the top priority for college kids, but it is the best medicine.
Here
is an article from the Chicago Tribune on how to keep healthy in college.
Remember that health includes mental as well as physical
health. Having someone to talk to is great medicine! Of course, staying fit is part of that. It is all too easy to just eat,
sleep, party, and study at college. Get involved in an intramural sport, go to
the workout center, or do something that makes you sweat a little. You don’t
want those extra pounds!
Finding Answers: There
are two blogs that I recommend to all college students: Lifehacker.com and Hackcollege.com. Reading these two sites
will save you time, money, and aggravation. Here is a sampling of some recent
posting that might interest you:
From Hack College:
From Lifehacker:
If you don’t use RSS feeds to follow websites like these,
now is a good time to start. Go to Google and sign up for Reader (it is under the
“more” tab at the top of the page) and then hit the little “RSS” button and
select “Add to Google.” Here
is a great video explaining how reader works and how to use it.
Digital Security:
I would like to urge my college
friends to be digitally safe. Recently, a Wired magazine staff member had his
digital life completely stolen: his Facebook and Goggle accounts were hacked
and his iPhone and computer were wiped!
Here
is an article on how to avoid his fate. You must turn on two-factor
authentication in Facebook and Google. Look at the article I just mentioned if
you don’t know what I am talking about – Lifehacker
has a good one on this issue, too!
Back up your data! There are easy and automatic ways to back
up your computer. Do you want to risk losing all your music, pictures, or
work?. There
are simple and inexpensive (even free) ways to ensure that, even if you lose
your computer, you don’t lose what’s on it. Finally,
install some form of antivirus program. Again, there are plenty of free options!
Relationships: It
is all about the people! Get to know your classmates. Look around the dorm:
whom do you want in your life in five or ten years. Actively make sure that
happens. Introduce yourself to your professors and teachers. Be much more than
the kid in the third row! Who will you ask for a recommendation for grad
school, a job, or a grant? Do you have go-to staff members? Cultivate those
people. Send them a little gift at holiday time. Make sure they know you well
enough to greet you by name on the quad! Stay in touch after the class has
ended.
Parents: Sometimes,
dealing with your parents at home can be challenging. We will have to learn to
adjust to your new college life, too. Here
is an article you can pass on to your parents that puts things in perspective
for them – and it even (nicely) tells them to back off and let you run the show.
Of course there are many more things I could include, but
like the boxes and suitcases that go to college, I don’t want to over pack.
Good luck, good skill, and make great choices! I will miss you and I am
thinking of you.
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