Dear underclassmen: please learn from my mistakes. Below I have compiled a silly little list of some advice I wish someone would’ve given me as I began navigating life on the Hill.
Say yes to things! During your time at St. Olaf, you will have so many fantastic opportunities come your way. Whether that be a movie night with friends or a chance to conduct research with a professor, try not to let “no” be your default answer.
That being said, pace yourself. It is all too easy to take the saying “yes” a bit too far and join the ranks of overcommitted Oles who operate on two hours of sleep and can be seen eating their meals in class, at your club meeting, or as they run across the quad from one commitment to the next. I speak from experience: this is a recipe for burnout.
Want to do well on your exam or get an A on that paper? Go to office hours, attend the SI sessions, and — shameless plug from a Writing Desk Tutor — visit the Writing Desk. Like I said, learn from my mistakes. It’s much easier to try to do everything on your own, but trust me when I say that these resources are here for a reason.
Participate in a St. Olaf J-Term Study Away program. In January, campus is cold, empty, and, quite frankly, rather depressing. Take advantage of the opportunity to spend a month exploring somewhere new while still being surrounded by a community of Oles.
Eat meals at Carleton! Tired of Stav food but don’t want to spend money? For those of you who don’t know, our meal swipes also work in the two Carleton dining halls. I’ll let you be the judge of quality, but in terms of variety, they certainly have us beat. Both dining halls have fro-yo machines and if you go on a Saturday night, don’t miss the ice cream sundae bar!
Make of this advice what you will; these are just some considerations I would’ve appreciated as I was figuring out how the heck to be a college student at this little school.
