Tarleton State students share the unwritten rules of college

BY KEELI CHRESTMAN 

Multimedia Journalist 

No one gives you a book on how to survive college. Your family can tell you to go to class, and your professors can tell you when assignments are due…but no one can tell you how to be a college student. 

Once you get through the first couple years, you start to learn the ins and outs and some of the unwritten rules, and knowing them can help make transitioning into your college life easier. 

College is more than just assignments and tests. There are many lessons that students will also learn outside of the classroom that can be learned through experience. 

According to four upperclassmen, the first step is finding ways to be active on campus, whether that’s joining a club, doing intramural sports or just going to different events hosted by the college. 

“This is the fastest way to connect with other students around you,” senior Angela Guadalupe  said. 

Being active on campus helps students find their group of people, which leads them to success in their first year. If a student is far from home, this is especially important because these friends will become their support system, maybe even a second family. 

Students don’t have to be involved in everything, but just talking to someone new is a big part of joining a community. It’s very important for students to step outside of their comfort zone when going to college. 

Another piece of advice is to be active in class. Junior Tristan Comer said, “If you’re active in class, this will help you make friends.” Torres even suggested, “Make friends with your professors.” This will help make class something you look forward to rather than not wanting to go.

“It is also important to go over mock tests that your professor gives you because nine times out of ten it will be on your actual test,” Torres said. 

The last piece of advice from these upperclassmen was to actually go to class. “Going to class gives you the opportunity to meet new people,” said junior Anthony Dicks. 

When students actually go to class, this gives them the opportunity to make new connections with people who are on the same path as them. This also helps you make friendships that will last a lifetime. 

Following the advice from these upperclassmen will lead students to be successful in college. While everyone’s path at Tarleton State University is different, that doesn’t mean that the lessons students learn often overlap.

Sometimes the most valuable lessons don’t come from a classroom. They come from people who have been through the fire, just like the next one.