by “You could have had more fun with this assignment,” the bright red feedback beamed across my computer screen. There were no grammar or punctuation issues and the facts in the story were accurate. Unfortunately, my coverage of what was supposed to be a fun community event left much to be desired.
After three years of majoring in journalism, I’d received lots of feedback about my writing, but this commentary felt personal because, at the time, it could also be applied to my college experience.
Not long after receiving the paper, one of the few friends I’d made since transferring from TJC to a university told me about a play she had a lead role in that was set to take place on campus. The experience of attending the play was one of my most memorable in college. It was entertaining, but more importantly, it made me feel like I was a part of something bigger—a community of students willing to step outside their comfort zones, hang out and be mesmerized by acting that didn’t have to be worthy of a Tony Award to be meaningful.
In time, I took the feedback written on my paper as a reminder to not only realize when stories can be more playful, but to also explore different activities and organizations around campus. In doing so I met a few more people and heard world-class speakers deliver speeches I still remember.
It is true that it often takes focus and discipline to be successful in college, but the experience is so much more meaningful when you find ways to connect with your peers and explore and embrace your new environment.
My advice:
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t be afraid to ask a faculty or staff member who can help you. No one is perfect and needing clarification is both expected and necessary.
- Identify a few free events on the campus calendar or from flyers placed around the college that you may want to attend, virtually or in-person, and actually do it. One of the best things about being a college student in the access you have to high-quality events and programs that would be much costlier if you were not a student.
- The previous bullet point can also be applied to joining campus clubs and organizations. They provide you with the chance to have new experiences, meet new people and feel a strong connection to campus.
Thank you for reminding students to have fun and find their community! It is important for their health, happiness and college endurance.