advice for freshman

Higher Education: A Freshman's Map to Humboldt State
So you have graduated from high school and are embarking on a journey of college life. You have chosen to come to study at Humboldt State University, or HSU for short. Before you begin this pursuit of knowledge and academic achievement there are some things you should know about the lay of the land as well as the dynamics of the community and campus life. There are the physical contours of the campus, and the county for that matter, as well as the social-political dynamics of the region. There are the habits of study you will want to embrace as well as the opportunities for leisure and recreation. In short you will want to take care to find that perfect balance of fun and seriousness while always keeping in mind your ultimate goals of accomplishment and purpose, even if those goals are only to find that tallest tree you keep hearing about but can never find.

The first thing to remember is that the campus is situated on a hillside. This is important for many reasons among which are investing in some good hiking shoes; allowing yourself ample time to get from one class to another; remembering to apply the parking brake; and wearing a helmet while thrashing on your skateboard from the back of Founders Hall to the financial aid office, where by the way you can perhaps get enough money to purchase the aforementioned helmet. The prevention of blunt force trauma to the frontal lobe is after all, an investment in your future education. After a semester of wandering back and forth between the top of the Behavioral Sciences building to see the amazing sunsets and the library to read all those research books, you'll have some amazing legs!

It is also important to understand the community in which you will be living. The local community is a mix of extreme minded individuals who have managed to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city life and the multi-generational locals who aren't necessarily pleased that so many people have discovered their little hide-a-way. Now when I talk about "extreme minded" I mean that they, or should I say we, have made come here not by chance but rather from an active pursuit of a place off the beaten path and surrounded by the natural world. This can make for some contentious encounters because many of those raised locally are, or rather were, loggers (thus the school mascot) and many of those who have come here to enjoy some of the last pristine old growth redwood forest in the world, often find themselves at odds about how this forest should be enjoyed. The important thing to keep in mind as a student is whether or not getting arrested the night before your final is actually the best course of action.

Now there is another element of campus life that you will be confronted with that may be exaggerated here in Humboldt county, that time of day referred to as 4:20 (no pun intended.) Now while all college freshmen no matter what university they are attending will be exposed to this time of day, there are few places where they will be exposed to it on a scale equal to what is seen here at HSU. The thing to remember as a freshman is that this time only comes about twice in a 24-hour period. In the A.M you should be sleeping and in the P.M. if you still have classes to attend you should consider abstaining from the local ritual that so often is heralded at this time of day.

Considering the larger community surrounding HSU it is important to be aware of Arcata and what it has to offer. There are of course the spare changers, or spangers as they are called locally, which can be found on every corner. While they may be a nuisance to some they are nowhere near as worrisome or aggressive as their big city counterparts. Now venturing out of Arcata there is an abundance of opportunity to explore the natural world. You can find a virtually endless amount of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, fishing, white water rafting, canoeing and wind surfing to name a few. You will find it important to engage in some of these activities in order to add some pleasure to your new endeavor. After all, what's the point of it all if you forget to enjoy yourself at least a little bit?

This personal enjoyment will be crucial in enduring the path you have chosen. You will need to find some type of balance between studying and doing all of your course requirements and finding time to relax and smell the roses as they say. For some this will be the hardest part of university life. There will be the raging parties at the beach when you should be studying, the noisy neighbors that keep you up at night and those roommates that just seem to be taking classes that have no homework (actually they just don't do it.) The key is to remember plan your time so that you get your work done and can still enjoy yourself. You may find that using the library can help you focus and get work done more quickly.

This speaks to the balance and being aware of what your goals are. Sometimes you may need to take a break from that term paper before you finish it, or maybe you'll need to leave that party early so you can read that last chapter of your book. Whatever it may be, you'll know what you need to do. The hardest part may be just doing it. The other important thing to remember about your goals is that they may change. You may start out majoring in biology and end up studying social work. Regardless, keep in mind that it's ok to change your goal and even if it takes a little longer, if it gets you to where you really want to be that's a good thing.

With this in mind try to get you general education course work done early and limit the number of classes specific to your major until you are more sure that is what you want to study. While it's never too late to change, it's much nicer if you don't have to take numerous courses that don't apply to your major. This is where advisors and counselors can be of great assistance. Know who they are and get to know them. They are here to help you! Another crucial thing to be aware of is that your professors want you to succeed. Talk to them. If you are unsure about something pertaining to the class, ask them. Make a point to get to know them and if you are having trouble or don't understand something, they can help you.

All in all, university life it HSU is nothing to fear. Like any adventure, there will be the unexpected and the expected alike. Rely on the knowledge of those who have gone before you as well as the fresh perspective and self-awareness you bring with. Know your surroundings and manage to maintain a healthy balance between work and play and keep the freshman blues away. Keep in mind that you are not the only freshman and make friends with others who are just starting out as well. Together you will find the joys and hardships of university life and can be support to one another.