{"id":9743,"date":"2017-04-19T12:22:24","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T19:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/wilkinson\/2017\/04\/19\/letter-to-a-freshman\/"},"modified":"2017-04-19T12:22:24","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T19:22:24","slug":"letter-to-a-freshman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/2017\/04\/19\/letter-to-a-freshman\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to a Freshman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>Shoshana Feld-Sobol<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Strategic and Corporate Communication (&#8217;17)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So much has changed since entering my first year of college, it\u2019s hard to remember what was going through my mind freshman year. When we enter college most of us are coming from our sheltered adolescent lives. We went to school, went to after school activities and came home to our families in the evening. When you go to college everything about your life changes. The idea of college conjures up a plethora of thoughts on what college is \u201csupposed to be\u201d filled with societal expectations of what the experience is, what it should be, and what it means to simply be a college student.<\/p>\n<p>I have loved my time in college; but as a second semester senior looking back, there are definitely a few things I wish I knew\u2026 or at least knew earlier. Here are a list of my top five \u201cwhat I wish I knew as a freshman\u201d points of advice.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Seek Opportunity<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/talking-cancer.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9745\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-9745 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/talking-cancer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/talking-cancer.jpg 357w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/talking-cancer-215x300.jpg 215w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/a>There were so many times my freshman year that I didn\u2019t feel like I was learning all that I wanted. I was in my required classes and that was great, but I felt like there was so much untapped potential learning that I wasn\u2019t taking advantage of. It wasn\u2019t until after my sophomore year that I really began seeking places to grow and ways to expand my horizon. I reached out to different faculty in my major and learned that I could do independent study or research for my professors. In my junior year I started working with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/our-faculty\/lisa-sparks\">Dr. Lisa Sparks<\/a> helping her update her book, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Talking-Cancer-Lisa-Sparks\/dp\/849359489X\">Talking Cancer<\/a>. <\/em>I learned so much working with Dr. Sparks. I was introduced to the various ways the medical field approaches the topic of cancer and cancer care. In addition to the research on Dr. Spark&#8217;s book, I helped with other projects dealing with health and food matters.\u00a0The way I approach health and food now is completely changed after I did that research. I am now a vegan because of it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join Clubs<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/up-the-ladder.jpeg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9746\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-9746\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/up-the-ladder.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"295\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/up-the-ladder.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/up-the-ladder-300x129.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><\/a>Join clubs with the intention of rising to leadership positions. This one is twofold; join clubs you love, simply because you love them, even if they don\u2019t have a strong executive board, but also aim to find clubs that you see an upward trajectory for yourself. For example, my best friend started out as a coordinator for a student events club for a department she wasn\u2019t too passionate about. The following year she rose up to director of a department she really liked and learned so much. Now, as a senior, she is the executive director of the entire club, the highest role. She loves what she does and has gained invaluable leadership skills; plus, she fully knows the ins and outs of starting off at the bottom and working her way to the top.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get a Job<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/jobs.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9747\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9747 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/jobs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"323\" height=\"156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/jobs.jpg 323w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/jobs-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px\" \/><\/a>Get a job on campus. Having a job on campus has proven to be so helpful for me, even if I hated it. My first job on campus was in the fundraising department where I was a student caller. Not only did I make above minimum wage for this job (score) but I was also introduced to the concept of sales (which I\u2019ve been told time and time again is a great skill to have in your professional toolbox). Even though I hated cold calling people, asking them for money, this job made me so much more comfortable talking to strangers, sticking to my agenda and going out of my comfort zone. Plus, it doesn\u2019t look bad on a resume.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Explore Different Majors<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen I first started college, I was convinced that I wanted to major in International <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/major.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9748\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-9748\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/major.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"275\" height=\"183\" \/><\/a>Relations. I told my parents I was never going to change my major and that I knew this is what I wanted to do. Well, guess what? I changed my major. Surprised? Don\u2019t be. College is the time to explore, it is the time to take all of your interests and dive into them. Unless you plan on going to graduate school there may never be a time in your life where you will have the opportunity to learn about so many different subjects. Chapman has a huge and diverse array of majors, minors, and clusters to choose from; dabble in as many as you can. You never know the impact one class might have on you or the connections you may make from one teacher. I have a friend who started Chapman as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/sociology\/\">Sociology <\/a>Major then took a nutrition class for her science general graduation requirement and ended up adding a minor in nutrition. She\u2019s even mentioned becoming a nutritionist post graduation. A lot can change in four years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Take a January Class<\/strong><br \/>\nEnroll in an inter term class that is outside of your major or a travel course if you can (<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/2017\/03\/14\/my-interterm-travel-course-experience\/\">see my travel article for more on this<\/a>). This piece of advice is related to the one above but I <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/start-up.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9749\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9749 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/start-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/start-up.jpg 698w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/wilkinson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2017\/04\/start-up-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/a>cannot stress it enough. I\u2019m a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/communication\/academic-programs\/strategic-corporate-communication.aspx\">Strategic and Corporate Communication<\/a> Major. I wanted to add on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/business\/\">Business Minor<\/a> but realized I wouldn\u2019t have enough time before I graduated to complete it. I went through the list of clusters that were similar to business and found<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/academics\/general-education\/multidisciplinary-clusters\/social-cultural-studies.aspx\"> Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership<\/a>. I thought \u201chey, entrepreneurship is a facet of business, I\u2019ll add that!\u201d In an effort to complete my cluster quickly, I signed up for an inter term travel course called, Road Maps to Silicon Valley, which I solely took because it fulfilled my cluster requirement and was close to my home of San Francisco. This, on a whim decision, was another choice I made over the past four years that changed my life. I got an in depth look at the world of Silicon Valley which will practically be &#8220;my backyard&#8221; when I move back to San Francisco in May. I learned a colossal amount about venture capital, entrepreneurship, the power of a strong business team and so much more. After this class I decided I wanted to work at a startup which is where I\u2019m interning now; something I never would have pursued if I didn\u2019t take that inter term class.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In conclusion, college is an incredible time filled with bountiful opportunities, endless social events, great resources, an amazing network of students, who will become friends, and so much more. There are so many ways you can take advantage of all that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/\">Chapman University<\/a> has to offer and it\u2019s just so important to trust the process. Go out of your comfort zone, meet new people, go to your professors office hours, find a mentor\u2026 do everything you can to fully immerse yourself in the college environment and always keep in mind that when it comes down to it, everything will fall into place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What I Wish I Knew Back Then<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":16757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"custom_author_name":"Shoshana Feld-Sobol","chapman_pin_hero_slider":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2356,2357,127,2358,2359,2360],"class_list":["post-9743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-explore-different-majors","tag-inter-term-classes","tag-internships","tag-january-class","tag-jobs","tag-seek-opportunity"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - 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