SLU Do’s and Don’t’s
Advice From a Senior
Hey Saints! Whether this is your first semester or last, welcome! St. Lawrence is a beautiful campus with so many opportunities. It can seem a little overwhelming, so I’ve put together some advice. I’ll try not to be too cliché or sound too much like your parents. There are plenty of things to do in the North Country, on campus or off. College only lasts four years and you should make the most of it, whatever that looks like!
Try new things! I know I said I wouldn’t sound like your parents, but there are some things they get right. College is probably one of the first times in your life that you are semi-independent. You don’t have a bedtime, you can eat whatever you want (as long as dana or the pub is open) and your schedule revolves around you. It may seem overwhelming at times, but I can guarantee finding new things you enjoy is very easy. For example, an easy way to find out what you like to do is by going to the club fair. You can talk to club members, get the vibe of the organization, and decide whether or not to sign up. If you’re hesitant, you should still sign up. The worst-case scenario is getting an email occasionally, and the best-case scenario is finding a group of friends in a subject you care about or something entirely new. Think of it this way: there’s really no downside to trying something new.
Be respectful! Don’t ignore the person swiping you in at Dana or look down at your phone when you walk past the dorm cleaners. Without them, this school would be in a state of chaos. Say hi! Ask them how their day has been going! Learn their name! They are people and they are the reason this school functions. They are some of the sweetest people. Being kind and respectful is so easy!
Set boundaries! Nobody knows you better than you. You know your body, mind and heart best. If it’s 2 a.m. and you’re cramming to get something in that’s due at 8, but you’re starting to hallucinate, it’s okay to email your professors and tell them you’re not going to be able to turn that assignment in. If you’re at party and someone is being weird and making you feel uncomfortable, don’t try to be the bigger person by not telling them to back off. You’re not in the wrong for prioritizing your own safety over someone else’s comfort. These boundaries also apply to friends. You’re not a bad person for not wanting to spend time with someone.
Reach out when you need help! Resources are here for a reason. Even if you’re not struggling, it’s good to meet with professors to go over classwork or assignments. The Student Accessibility Services office is also an amazing resource with amazing staff (Shoutout to Sharmela Garcia-Martin!) In terms of your health, it never hurts to familiarize yourself with the resources available in case your health, mental or physical, takes a turn for the worse.
Keep track of your health! If you’re not feeling well, either emotionally or physically, don’t push yourself. Things only get worse if you push yourself beyond your limits. Get enough sleep, drink enough water, and keep your body moving to the best of your ability! You don’t have to eat salad and go to the gym twice a day to stay healthy. Simple things like going for a walk and taking time for yourself or being outside can do wonders for your mental and physical health. As my mom always says, “go outside and get some damn sun on your face!”
Following that, get out of your room! Your room is meant for sleeping and resting. It is not your bedroom as well as your study space, dining room, and living room. If you treat it as such and never leave, how do you expect to do any of the previous things I’ve mentioned? If you’re rolling out of bed on Sunday right into your desk chair and not leaving your room to study with classmates, eat with friends or watch TV with people who live on your hall, you’re missing out on experiences that make college what it is.
Write for The Hill News! This is a given. If you’ve picked up this newspaper and read to this point, you clearly have an interest in student journalism. We don’t require any classes to be taken, or any level of experience and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Write an article or two! Our editorial board is more than happy to guide you through the process.
College is what you make it, so make it what you want! You’re only here for four years, and you want to look back and say you did all that you wanted to do and all that you could do. The sky is the limit at SLU. All you have to do is get out and do it.