by Dalton Greene ’22
Dear Words readers,
I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me, but surprise! I’m back for another round of waxing poetic about my time at Macalester, and since I already played the role of Weepy Sentimental Senior last semester, this time I’m here to be the Wise Advice-Giving Senior. I’ve learned a thing or two in my day about navigating college, and now, for the first time ever, I am going to impart some of this knowledge, distilled into the three most essential tips I can give.
- Go to office hours.
I’ll repeat this one: Go. To. Office. Hours. Go with questions. Go with ideas to talk through. Go with nothing but a lame joke you read about an author your professor likes. Just go! This was something that took me some time to be comfortable with. I used to think I needed something lofty or important to say before I could justify taking up a professor’s time, but as it turns out, office hours exist just for that time to be taken up. It’s sort of the point. Professors want to meet you and get to know you, and these connections are so important. Especially within the English department, faculty are sincerely committed to helping students grow and succeed academically, professionally, and personally, so get to know them, and nourish those relationships.
- Never be afraid to ask for help.
It’s no secret that college can be hard. And although there are a lot of support systems in place, it can be overwhelming and/or intimidating to seek them out. Studies have shown that this is especially the case for first-generation students, students of color, and queer students, who are less likely to ask for help when they are struggling. Being your own biggest advocate will come in handy now and later on in life, so practice being bold with voicing your needs. Talk to your professor, meet with Disability Services, email Financial Aid, go anywhere and everywhere you think may be able to support you. If in doubt about where to go with a concern, ask someone who you should ask! You can always reach out to your academic advisor or resident assistant, or you can consult this Find Help page. My biggest lesson learned in this area is that there is help to be had, but no one can offer help if they don’t know you need it.
- Remember the importance of self-compassion.
More than anything else, I hope this one will stick. There is all too often a toxic grind culture on campus which glamorizes unsustainable and unhealthy practices in the name of “success.” To the extent that you are able, reject this. Remind yourself that you are a person who is worthy of joy and rest and fulfillment independent of any external markers of achievement. Be gentle with yourself, even and especially in the face of challenges. The rest will fall into place.
And with that, dear readers, I leave you to go forth and thrive.
With love,
Dalton