Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Aug. 24, 2001, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 Opinion August 24, 2001 Sister offers advice to freshmen i.h« ts»n risw«nf;?ty !¥?* Taresa LaRock, Editor in Chief Jennifer Guarino, Managing Editor Elizabeth Sudduth, News Editor Josh Davis^ Opinions €ditor Jason Chick, A & E Editor Katie Bonebrake, Focus Editor Justin Mazzola, Sports Editor Jessica Vitak, Chief Copy Editor Lauren Vih's, Business Manager 7012 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 Newsroom: 278-7247 Fax: 278-7246 E-mail: pendulum@elon.edu The Pendulum is published each Thurs day of the academic year. The adver tising and editorial copy deadline is 5 p.m. the Monday before publication. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be typed, double-spaced,signed and include and telephone number for verification. Sub missions are also accepted as Word documents on disk or by e-mail. The Pendulum reserves the right to edit obscene or potentially libelous material. Lengthy letters or columns may have to be trimmed to fit. All submissions become the property of The Pendulum and will not be returned. Senior parent reflects on per sonal experience from past Dear Freshman Parent- I don’t know how to pinpoint what you are feeling at this mo ment. It may be excitement, ex haustion, relief, frustration, sad ness and even emptiness. Whatever you are feeling it is okay. Leaving your child for the first time is a hard step. Look ing back three years ago, I felt about every feeling possible, worried she would need us, hesi tation to leave, yet excitement for the experience she was about to embark upon. The first semester was uneasy. adjusting to college life, difficult classes and trying roommates. Without the support of Elon fac ulty and Elon 101 she would have never made it. We are extremely grateful to Elon in helping to guide our daughter and helping to mold her to the person she has become. Parents, even though you feel your world is changing, enjoy each moment throughout this time in your and your child’s life. The time your student will spend at Elon will fly by. Senior Parent Elon alumnus tells freshmen to take advantage of every opportunity and enjoy every minute of their experience So this is it, the beginning of your freshman year of college. Believe me, I know how you feel. Its a mixture of excitement, nervousness, you’re worried, and ready for mom and dad to leave, but deep down you want them to stay for just one more day. It doesn’t seem too long since I was experiencing those emo tions. Its really hard for me to believe that it was four years ago. This past semester I graduated and looking back on my four years at Elon here are some things I wish I had known when I first started. Enjoy the freedom of your freshman year, there is nothing like it, but when that starts to fade don’t stress. All it means is that you’ve finally found something great to do with your time. I know that you have heard over and over the line about get ting to know your professors. It’s true. They want to know you, so take time to know them. By the time you graduate you’ll have made more cookies and eaten more dinners at their homes that you ever would have imagined. While we’re on the subject of class, I need to tell you just one thing. Develop your study habits early. Once they’re formed, good or bad, they’re hard to break. Take life one day at a time. Don’t stress if you have a paper Jennifer Guarino Managing Editor My sister is a freshman in col lege now. For the first time in her life, she is somewhere her big sis ter hasn’t been. No one will slip and call her by my name, or tell her how much we look alike. And while I know she is excited about this op portunity to begin a life out of her sister’s shadow, I know I can’t pro tect her anymore. But I can give her a few pieces of advice to aid her in her first year away from home. Get to know your neighbors. While you probably won’t ask to borrow a cup of flour, these people can make or break dorm living. Keep your door open while you’re hanging out in the room. Once your RA has yelled at you for making too much noise in the hall, you’ll have bonded for life. Find out what you are good at and do it. Don’t limit yourself to what you’ve done before and don’t join every club just because you did in high school. Try something new. Find people who share your pas sions. Their friendships will chal lenge you to become better. and two tests in one week. Fin ish one before you move onto the next. You’ll get it done. Leave your door open. How else are you going to meet the people that live on your hall or in your suite?? In a few years those people that walk into your door frame that first week will be some of your best friends. Send mail. No I don’t mean e- mail, although that’s nice too. I’m talking real mail. The kind that will soon get you all excited to check your campus box. It doesn’t have to have a stamp on it to make someone smile, so that person down the hall that you met because you left your door open—send them something, he/ Don’t be afraid to admit you’re homesick. Go home occasionally. At first you’ll go home to visit friends, but as time progresses, you’ll start spending more time with Mom and Dad. Suddenly they’ll seem more like friends than the people who grounded you. High school was great, but it’s over. You’ll lose touch with most of the people you thought would al ways be around. A precious few will write and call. Write and call them back. Visit them at their schools. You’ll be amazed how they have adapted to their new environment and wonder if you’ve done the same. You’ll know you have. Stop by your professor’s office out of the blue. Ask them questions and get to know them. You’ll find great mentors and friends this way. At the risk of sounding like our parents, you’re at school to get an education. Go to class and study. Balance school and fun, so your grades will hang on the refrigera tor during Christmas break. I wish for you a kind upperclass man, the one who notices that you were crying and then offers to lis she will be forever grateful. Take advantage of Elon. There’s so much to experience. How could you let it go to waste? Remember to dial 8 when call ing off campus. Wear shower shoes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, you are in the south and people are friendly here. Above all else enjoy every minute of your 4, 5, 6 years at Blon. They go by faster than you could ever imagine. Cherish ev ery minute of it. College really is what you make it. Make it great. -C. S. Class of 2001 ten. Seek out the people who re ally listen, who really care about you. Hold on to them. I pray you’ll have a good room mate, one who you will grow to love and that tiny box they call a dorm room. I hope she teaches you how to share and that you have many late night conversations. I hope she makes you laugh and gives you a hug after a rough day. If you’re lucky, she’ll leave you notes when you come home late after studying in the library. Listen to everything happening around you. Soak up friends sto ries and experiences. But don’t pay attention when people say, “This is the best time of your life.” I hope you have many happy years and opportunities to live life to the full est. Don’t try to do it all in four years. Discover what is important to you. Put your time and energy into doing the things you value and bal ance life wisely. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, remember I’m just a phone call away and always wear flip-flops in the shower. Dear Gahhy- I have never been away from home before. I am 19 years old and have never even been to summer camp. I am very nervous about leaving home for college and lost in where to turn or what to do. Please help! Thanks- e.c. If your intersted in submit ting a question, please write Dear Gabby sHQB 7012 or e-mail her at Penduium@elon.edu Watch next week for the answer to this question. Opinions: Do you have one? If interested in voicing or writing an opinion, please contact The Pendulum at x7247 or Pendulum@elon.edu
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Aug. 24, 2001, edition 1
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