Here we go again, everybody! If you’re a returning student, welcome back! If you’re brand-new, welcome! This space is taken up by the weekly editorial, a collaborative piece worked on by the editorial board, composed of Editor-in-Chief Maria Mendez, Managing Editor Emma Mazurek, and Opinions Editor Reid Cooper. An editorial typically reflects a viewpoint shared by the editorial board, but not necessarily by the entire staff of The DePauw as a whole. We will typically use this space to comment on events and instances happening not only on campus, but in the world as a whole. If it affects you, you can expect us to write about it.
Enough with the small talk. First-years, this first week for you has probably been equal parts fun, exciting, and nerve-wracking. College is an interesting experience, and you will only get out of it what you put into it. That being said, we here at The DePauw like to think that we’ve had pretty expansive experiences here on campus, so we’d like to offer you some advice as you begin your first year here.
Don’t neglect your academics. With so much to do here on campus, it’s very easy to fall into a cycle of primarily attending and focusing on extracurriculars. Never forget that at the end of the day, your main goal here at DePauw is to graduate and get your degree. If you neglect your classes, especially during your first-year, you are going to have a harder time meeting requirements to graduate on time. This doesn’t mean you should be afraid of extracurriculars or Greek life, just know your limits and don’t overextend yourself.
That being said, make sure to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while. Audition for the musical, join the gaming club, take that 4 a.m. radio shift at WGRE, et cetera. Try not to spend every free moment you have in your dorm room, it’s a vital part of the liberal arts experience to try new things and broaden your perspectives.
Speaking about new experiences, make sure you step out of your comfort zone in terms of the people you surround yourself with. College should be a time where you meet and connect with different types of people. Not only will you miss out on meeting amazing people, but not expanding who you hang out with will lead you to only see one side of DePauw. Go and seek people who have had different experience than you because you will be able to gain a new perspective of DePauw and maybe even the world. College is a time to challenge your previous perceptions, which can be scary but it is also part of what makes college a unique opportunity.
And because college is always about balance, you need to make sure you take care of yourself too. Like most of life, there will be challenges that take a lot of energy out of you, so knowing how to replenish that energy and feel refreshed should become an important part of your routine. Maybe you feel best after a hot shower and a face mask or maybe you feel best after a night out with your friends. Maybe spending an hour watching your favorite comedy helps you, or listening to your favorite album. And try doing new things that might relax you. DePauw offers Yoga classes in addition to other fitness classes. You can download apps that walk you through meditation sessions or try your hand at drawing, painting, writing, or expressing yourself in some other way. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.