To The Class Of 2016: Advice For The First Year of College

By Steve Bonanno

& Sarah Scinto

 Newtown High School’s Class of 2012 will take on a new title this fall: The Class of 2016 — at colleges and universities around the country.

Moving on from high school to college can seem like a huge transition, and it is easy to be nervous as that first semester approaches. But NHS grads have done it all before, and they have a wealth of advice for newcomers.

Andrew LaMarche, a rising junior at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, said he was very proactive in doing things his first year.

“Don’t be shy about getting involved,” said Andrew. “It’s a way of feeling comfortable while you’re at school.”

Andrew is a resident assistant and assured incoming freshmen that their “RA,” or equivalent position, is not someone to fear.

“More often than not we are a resource,” said Andrew. “Ninety percent of my job is talking to residents and helping them with questions.”

Jamie Whelan, a rising sophomore at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, said students should make an effort to stay healthy.

“You should avoid the dinning hall and try to prepare your own meals,” said Jamie. “That’s where the ‘freshmen 15’ comes from. You should take advantage of all the other facilities the school has to offer though, such as the gym.”

Katy Bloxsom, a rising junior at University of Vermont, Burlington, said, “It’s important to manage your time well. Also you should try to push your limits and make lots of friends.”

Sam Cochrane, a rising junior at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., also said that it is important for freshmen to get involved.

 “Join as many clubs as you can and be open to try new things because you never know what you’re going to like and who you’re going to meet,” said Sam. “Also, you should be really open and understanding of others.”

Advise

In addition, as our final story during our time at The Bee this summer, we felt we could each give our own advice.

From Sarah: I’m looking my final year at King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Penn., in the face, and I can honestly say I do not want to leave. I hope you are excited to get started with your college adventure.

You’ve already been told the main piece of advice I can give: Get involved! You really do get what you put into your college experience, so don’t be afraid to take a risk and open yourself up to new interests and experiences. You might discover a passion you never knew you had. I certainly did the minute I walked into my campus radio station.

Fair warning: You will have an identity crisis, even if it is a small one. You may want to change your major, or maybe you’ll realize the career you had in mind is not truly for you. Welcome this. College is a chance to figure out who you are, and you can only do that by getting a little lost along the way.

From Steve: I attended Endicott College, Beverly, Mass., for my freshman year, and before the first semester was over I had already made the hasty decision to transfer to Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston. After spending my first semester of my sophomore year at MassArt, I realized I had made a mistake. I transferred back to Endicott for the rest of my sophomore year.

Transferring is a stressful process to go through once, let alone twice. My advice is to give your school at least a year before you have made up your mind on it. While some people take to their school right away, others take time to adapt and find their place. Do not jump the gun like I did. Sometimes you just need to wait for a place to grow on you.

 We wish you the best of luck in your first year, wherever it may bring you.