The Communique

Issue date: 8/22/05 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Diedre Ryan This guy points to a dry erase board.

Kirkwood Community College, most of this year's incoming students were just starting high school. That makes me as much of an upperclassman as you're going to find around these parts. While attending Kirkwood I've managed to pick up quite a bit of knowledge. And, as my time here comes to a close, I'd like to pass on some of my knowledge to others.
First of all, kid days are over. This means nobody is around to make sure you wake up and get ready for school like your parents used to do. High school was fun while it lasted. Students could take a "sick day" once every other week and it probably wouldn't affect their grades.

Fast-forward a couple of "sick days" in college and you're going to find yourself behind in your course work. Through my experience, instructors aren't generally that understanding when you miss a class to go to the water park one last time with your buddies.

When choosing a major at Kirkwood, choose wisely. That degree in Old Testament History (yes, it's a real degree), though sounding good at the time, isn't likely to land you that dream job you've always wanted. One good rule is: Anytime you tell someone what your major is and they respond with "What the heck are you going to do with that?" it might be time to reconsider.

Become familiar with the campus and the surrounding area. Find out where all the important locations are, such as the Admissions Office, Financial Aid, Nurse, and Rec Center. Don't forget about off-campus locations either, such as the grocery store, hospital, the mall and of course, Taco Bell.

Surprisingly, the credit card companies will extend a line of credit to students (even if they don't have any income). If you want to get a credit card for emergencies - fine but use it only for emergencies. This is not your opportunity to replace your entire wardrobe with new clothes from The Buckle.

Try to get involved in some college activities. Besides being a great place to meet new people, there's almost always free food at student events. And since college students are in a constant state of being broke, free food can sometimes make all the difference. Kirkwood will be hosting its Club Day on Oct. 4. This is a chance for all of the various clubs and organizations to be on display (plus more free food).

Lastly, remember there is a time and place for everything...and this is it. The things you learn outside of the classroom are just as important as those learned inside. Find a bit of time to enjoy yourself while you're here.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools