Time Capsule

This message is not meant to serve as a warning or to intimidate you in the least. I’d like to impart on you the experiences I have had at this University in the past three months. First off, get all you’re crazy partying out of your system by the first month of school because after then, if you keep up with the irresponsible and careless behavior, school will be a very stressful part of your life. I’m going to give you a guide to your first semester as a freshman at the University and I hope you will take from this just one helpful bit of information if possible.

1. Get a life! If you sit back and allow everything to pass you by, when your school work drives you nuts and you are sitting by yourself in your dorm room, life is gonna suck. Even if you just find one thing to do outside of academia here, you’ll be very satisfied. My advice for when you move in is to attend as many reslife activities as possible and really get to know the people on your floor. These people will feel like family to your after several months here and you’ll have great memories of just hanging out in the halls or listening to music and watching movies in other dorm rooms. If you seclude yourself to your own dorm room, you’ll miss out on the great bonds that form between the residents of your hall. There are so many clubs and organizations to join here, that you’ll never run out of something to do. Every single day and night of the week there is an event occurring somewhere on campus. Whether it is religious, cultural, athletic, entertainment, community service, or artistic SOMETHING will be happening. I advise you to research on the UMD website if you are looking for a fun experience here.
   
   
   
2. Get some spirit! Maryland students were rated number one by the Princeton Review when it comes to our fans. Football games are a great way to start your Maryland pride. Take this advice: go to at least one football or basketball game here, I promise you won’t regret it. The atmosphere although at times a bit intimidating, is fun and you can’t help being enthusiastic and cheer on our fellow Terps. Sport events can be a great bonding experience for the students here, so take advantage of an opportunity to de-stress and have a good time with friends. (Hopefully we’ll get a win in, too!) If you are really looking to show some team spirit, come out to one of the soccer games. Our men’s team is currently rated number one in the nation and we are hoping for a title. Also, support is gladly accepted at the volleyball and field hockey games. Most students don’t know that the field hockey team won the ACC championship and is now the number one seed for the NCAA tournament. The volleyball team is 15 and 3 in the ACC looking at more competitive games on their way to the NCAA tournament as well. So come on out and wave those yellow rally towels around. GO TERPS!
   
   
   
3. Get some work done! Oh how inevitable; the college workload. At first you’ll be shocked to find out you don’t have “daily” homework due for your classes here. Most of you will assume that reading the books is optional and just a supplement to the lectures. Stop, drop, and read. The first midterms will come up sooner than you think and all those days you skipped reading will come and smack you in the face. If you get at least several hours of work done per week, you’ll be in a good position. You are going to have to learn how to study if you don’t know how to be successful at it already. “Learning to learn” is very important when it comes to your exams here. Don’t give up on your classes if when you get your first midterm grade back it’s not a good one. Keep at it, form study groups, work hard, and SEE YOUR TA! They can really be extremely helpful when it comes to assignments, papers, projects, and exams. Make use of the office hours of your professor and their TAs. Also, do not be intimidated by the size and number of libraries on this campus. I know, McKeldin, the mother of all libraries seems pretty intense but if you are stuck with a noisy hall/roommate, take advantage of the quiet time and space that the libraries offer.
   
   
   
4. Get a grip! Listen this is college, and even though you think you might be prepared to enter this adult world, you probably are kidding yourselves. There will be a lot of unscheduled free time in your day, which if you handle this freedom responsibly, can be used to your advantage. Also, you won’t be able to handle the stress if you don’t go and get some exercise every once in a while. The Campus Recreation Center is open almost all day (yes until 12 am) and it is massive. There are many opportunities for exercise whether it be solo running or bicycling, lifting, swimming, aerobic classes, racquetball, basketball, or boxing. Along with this routine of health and fitness, you are going to have to adjust your diet. The freshman fifteen is not a myth. The diner food can be pretty much a hazard to your health but if you are smart, you can learn ways to eat nutritiously and avoid the unnecessary spare tire around the middle. Every day there is a “lighter side” menu option with a full health-conscious meal, pair that with a large ice water or skim milk, and you’ve got a great leg up on the rest of the school population.
   
   
   
5. Get real. It’s important to not think that college is a vacation away from your parents; you have to be self-disciplined and impose personal rules on yourself. Your mom isn’t here to make sure you eat your vegetables, turn off the TV, do your homework, and get to bed on time. These responsibilities are now your own and you’ve got to man up. College offers great opportunities to develop as a person and a student. You make the experience here, whether good or bad. The more you put into your time at Maryland, the more you will receive from it. College is about much more than just earning a degree, it is about finding yourself, developing your character, choosing a direction in life, and establishing yourself as member of the world community. It’s about challenging yourself, growing, and making memories that you will always have to look back upon. I’ll leave you with this final note: make the best out of your days in school, have a cognizant sense of the present, and bring each day to a close with a satisfied feeling. There’s nothing in your life that will be similar to college again so try your best to make it a worthwhile experience, don’t waste any time. Now, all that’s left is...GET STARTED!!
   
   
   Thanks for reading, I wish you the best of luck in your college career!

   Emily Menzen