Megan Solensky | Staff Writer
I’m sitting at Eastern with the days dwindling down on my time here, and I watch as tour guides walk incoming freshmen through the campus. My friends and I sit here and laugh as we joke about what it was like when we were graduating highschool seniors and preparing for college life in the fall. Thinking back to how I felt as a freshman made me realize everyone on that tour I saw probably feels the same way. Because of this, I write my advice to you, the class of 2026:
It's Okay To Fail.
College is a time to learn and grow as a person. By failing one class, you will not be completely thrown off track and your GPA will be fine. Just keep in mind that you are going to struggle, and be prepared for it. Hopefully this struggle will teach you some life lessons you can carry with you through the rest of your collegiate career and beyond.
Live.
Don’t get too wrapped up in what everyone else is doing. With social media, we are inclined to compare ourselves to other people way more than what is healthy. This is your college experience, and if you spend the next 4 years trying to outdo or compare yourself to your peers you will not be happy. I challenge you to make decisions that are in your best interest. Live out your college experience how YOU see fit, not everyone else.
Participate.
When giving advice, I know the first thing people probably tell you is to “get involved”. Yes, that is great advice and I stand by it, but I would go a step further and recommend getting involved with intent. Many people get frustrated after a few weeks when they can’t make friends or meet people when they’ve joined a bunch of clubs and gone to events. “What did you do there?” I always ask. Just being present isn’t going to win you anything. Introduce yourself, engage with students, interact with the activities, and be vocal. I understand this is easier said than done, but if you apply yourself and really try, you will grow and become your true self. When I first got to Eastern, I only joined clubs in hopes to advance my career. Yes, I absolutely loved them, but once I joined the Pool Club and became President, I grew into a more well-rounded person. I also met my closest friends that I will carry with me after Eastern.
Learn.
As silly as it sounds, this is super important. Realize where you are. This is the only time in your life that you will be surrounded by so my professionals in your chosen field that are here to help you. Take the time to soak in any knowledge they can give you. Ask
questions, chat outside of class, or anything else you can think of to draw from their experiences.
As I get ready to go on to a job in my field and leave campus, I hope that you will enjoy Eastern as much as I did. You are currently an adult now, but you have way less responsibilities so enjoy it. Have fun and enjoy!