Welcome returning and new Hood students!
I know I’m excited to be back on campus for my senior year. It’s hard to believe my time at Hood is coming to a close, but many of you may be just beginning your chapter here at Hood. That means there is plenty of time to learn more about Hood and how you can make the best of your college experience. Of course, there will be fun things to do off campus, such as going downtown, but Hood’s campus also provides many opportunities.
The fall semester is an exciting time as it marks the start of a new (or your first) year at college. It also is a great time to start learning about all that Hood has to offer. As a student-athlete on the field hockey team, I already had a built-in support system and a group of friends to help me succeed at Hood. I understand not everyone has this opportunity, and that’s where clubs and volunteering can come into play. It wasn’t until I went to the club fair that I learned about all the clubs at Hood.
Before I knew it, I was involved in student government and our Student Athlete Advisory Committee. If you have an idea for a club that you may want to start, you can also do that! I helped start a chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Hood. These clubs have helped me make new friends while gaining meaningful experiences serving the Hood community and beyond at the same time. Now I am fortunate enough to be the president of all three of these clubs, and I’ve been able to connect with people all over campus.
If you’re not sure you’re quite ready to join a club yet, you can always attend the club’s events or meetings to see what it is like. You can also ask a friend, classmate, or roommate to go with you to make the endeavor less scary. Joining these clubs or volunteer activities will help you make connections, which can help you succeed in the long run. It also can help you make new friends.
Whatever you decide, just remember to make the best out of the four years you have in college. Sometimes there are going to be tough days where you aren’t going to want to do anything. Trust me, I’ve been there plenty of times. It’s OK to take those off days and watch Netflix all day. But it’s also important to go to your classes and learn all you can. We all know that college is not cheap, so make what you’re spending worth it.
I am excited to see how this semester goes. Remember to make the best of it, and never be afraid to reach out to peers, professors, and staff when you need help.
Be the first to comment