By Chase Godfrey Staff Writer
Your freshman year we have all been there and done that once, in high school, middle school, and now college. But now you are on your own, throughout high school and grades below your hands were held with every decision you made. Up until now, you are in college where you get to make your decision, it can be scary, but you are not alone.
There are hundreds of students in your shoes right now who have the same questions and concerns as you. Like Brooke Lessmann for example, who graduated from St. Francis Borgia High School last May to then transferred here to East Central College, where she now plays Volleyball, with an undecided major. She came in not knowing what to expect or how it was going to go, but she did not let that stop her. I had the opportunity to talk to her about her experience of college and being a first-year student here, she brought to light her beautiful perspective on her experience.
When talking to Brooke, she kept bringing up all the positives about starting out at East Central. Like for example, I asked her how she felt about having online classes. And how she adapted to it and if she recommends it for other students, Brooke expressed to me “I prefer in person classes, I feel like I am able to learn the information being taught better. Along with being able to have that face to face with professor’s makes it easier to understand the information when you feel more comfortable around them, since you would see them on a day-to-day basis rather than online classes.” Brooke did a splendid job of breaking down the compare and contrast between the two topics, she goes on to express how being in person and on campus is a very refreshing feeling. Seeing everyone, and her teammates, classmates, on campus makes the environment much more welcoming.
Now we have Aleah hunter, Aleah graduated from Sullivan high school last May, to then transfer here to East Central to major in Business. I had the opportunity to talk to Aleah about her experience here at East Central too. And to my surprise she felt the same way as Brooke, Aleah indulged to me “College has made me more maturer and look at school in a different light, going four days a week has sharpened my sense and skills for school. And has given me a new and improved mindset to schooling.” She further stated to me that she has more time management time, even though it is difficult to juggle social life, school and work, college gave her the tools to tackle it one task at a time.
Both Brooke and Aleah were very admitted about how adjusting to classes was made easier because of the people here at East Central. Aleah communicated to me “I love meeting new people and seeing where they form, and to see other people who are interested in the same topics, classes, and majors that I like. The diversity that is offered here, lets me talk and get to know all sorts of new classmates and friends.” Similar to Brooke who also addressed me “Coming from a small private school everyone knew everyone, so making friends there was natural. But coming to East Central gave me a fresh start on all of that, which I really like. Everyone on campus is very friendly, it was very hard to not make friends and easy to get along with everyone. Especially if you are in sports since, a lot of time you will see them on campus.” They both made it noticeably clear to me that the people here were very friendly and open to both girls, which made getting acclimated an easier process.
Aleah and Brooke also brought to light how we have such a wide range of diversity here at East Central. And how nice and unique it is that we can all come together from all over the world, for a common purpose and goal and meet new challenges and situation along the way together. Aleah illustrated to me “It was definitely a cultural shock, coming from high school where a lot of student body were white. It was very neat to come here and see how wide of a range of diversity and people were here, it was fascinating for sure I loved meeting and having classes with people from all over multiple different countries.” Aleah goes in depth about how it was absorbing to meet new people and see that everyone has their own stories and lives ahead of them
As for Brooke, she felt the same way about meeting and becoming friends with people that she became close with, within her time here. “It is a very eye-opening experience for sure, I love hearing perspective and everybody caring about each other’s wellbeing and future together. It reminds me of the Olympics, how everyone from all over the global can come together for a common goal and work as one to reach their desired future.” Brooke passionately mentions how everyone here is working towards their own goal and dream, and that everyone at East Central is supportive of each other time and time again for the sake of the betterment of one another.
I asked both the girls if they had any recommendations for other incoming first-year students, or recommendations that you wish you knew or had for the beginning of this semester. They first mentioned the first three weeks of school. They recommended that students take that time to get adjusted with the new school routine, whether that is checking Canvas and understanding how it runs. Or walking around campus to get familiar with it and finding out how is the best way to keep track of your work. Aleah recommended to me “What worked best for me was sticky notes, I have them everywhere in my folders and all over my computer screen.” Both Brooke and her both recommended getting a planner too, so you can mark down future dates for exams, lab tests.
They both heavily inputted their thoughts and recommendations about FASFA, breaks and emails. For the FASFA, both ladies recommended to become more self-advocated and speak up and ask Financial Aid for help, questions, and concerns. Brooke signified “The FASFA is hard and confusing but reaching out and learning it will help you become an independent person once you do it. You will feel a weight off your shoulders while building stepping stones for your own adulthood.” which she goes more into how it will only go up, and you will only learn more to help you further your mindset skills and capabilities.
Brooke and Aleah actually had different recommendations for breaks, for one Aleah exhibited “having the classes break up into breaks really helps, getting your assignments and schoolwork. The breaks remined her of Flight Time.” As it was called at her high school, Sullivan Highschool, they took an hour out of their day when all the students could use it for whatever they needed to do, eat, work, study. As for Brooke she prefers going back-to-back with only a ten-minute break they get in between classes she proclaimed, “I prefer going back-to-back its very efficient, the ten-minute break is enough time for me to recoup and talk to my friends before going into class.” Even though both their opinions on breaks were different, they both agreed that it all really depends on the person and what they feel more comfortable with and works better with their time management.
As for emails, Aleah expressed to me how important it is to check your emails. And to check them at least once a day before you go to school because, in Aleah case “I try to check my emails at least every day, sometimes I forget but I try too in general because. Professors will email you for rescheduling class, test or canceling and cancelations, because it happens more than often than you think.” Once I told Aleah that I was bad about checking my email when I first started here. And that one day I drove up to school and checked my email to see that both of my classes were canceled and that I drove up to campus for nothing. She laughed and agreed with me, that it can happen to anyone for any class and that is why it is so Important to check them.
After sitting down and talking to these two lovely ladies, about their first-year experience here at East Central. It was delightful to hear such positive remarks about their time here so far and how college is helping them grow as students and individuals. Learning how classes, whether they are online or in person, affect learning capability. Along with how impactful East Centrals diversity in student body affect them, to how now that they are in college they both are finding what works best for each of themselves. So, a last message for any incoming first year student, is to get out of their comfort zone, try new habits, talk to the person sitting next to you and go to campus events and games. So, make the most of it and remember, it is your freshman year again.
ECC Cornerstone 