Hey guys, whats up? My name is Michael Parrish and I am a Jr. Instrumental Music Education major here at the University of Central Arkansas.
I have called two places here on campus my home, Short/Denney STARS Residential College and Hughes Leadership Residential College. Back in my day S/D was not STARS, but it was just what we call TSD “The Short Denney.” Since I moved over to the merry ole land of Hughes it has been adopted by the college of Fine Arts and Communication. Now I am a Learning Assistant in Hughes Hall and an avid member of HLI “Hughes Leadership Institute.” Hughes Residential College is the res. college that builds leaders.
For me residential colleges have played a very important role in my life here at UCA.
Though I have not really had the traditional route through the res. college life. I walked into UCA with 23 hours, which meant I did not have many classes to take in the res. college that I lived in. For me I got to adventure out into the big world faster than my friends. We did not realize this at the time, but it was a very big advantage for myself and my friends. Because I knew where everything was on campus now, including what areas of study were in what building (this was really helpful when everyone started switching from pre-med to other majors).
While I did not have a lot of my classes in Short/Denney I did get the same experience as everyone else. I was able to reach out and get help from “mentors” at the time. Now these students are called Advocates. For me I was around one the mentors a lot because he was in my friend group that I made. We all lucked out that we had him, because we did not wonder around like the lost little freshmen that we were.
When came to classes there is a lot of help available. Unfortunately being the hot shot that I was I did not use it, I said “I don’t need help, I never had to study in high school, I’ll be able to study for this test the night before,” and the ever popular “I’ll do better on the next test.” I would make my first C and have to drop a class my first semester of college.
This was the eye opener of my life.
As it got later in the fall semester the more I started to use the resources that were offered by my professors and the place that I lived. I would some how pull the almost F that I had in Sociology up to a C for semester, because I started going to my professor’s office before the test and review where I had went wrong on the last test. I sought out the mistakes that I had made on previous testes and corrected them for future test. I would ask my professor advice on how to study the material and he gave me advice on how to keep which theorist straight with what theory.
From here I was not in a writing class, but when I had to write papers my grammar sucked, so it was bringing my grades down. So I started asking mentors to read over my papers and I even adventured over to the Writing Center to have my papers looked over as well.
Once I started to use the resources that were given to me, for free I might add, I started to succeed. I enjoyed college and I wanted to stay here so I pulled up my pants and settled in for the long hall. I set the firm belief in my head that I was here for an education and then a social life, I would realize later that you have to have an equal amount or you do not actually get what you come to college for. If you are not developing ties with people there is nothing tiring you to UCA. While if you put all of your ties into your studies, all work and no play made jack a dull boy.
Finally all this to say, 1. you need to study, 2. make friends(they will help in ways you can’t even imagine right now), and 3. always accept help no matter what shape or form.
For now I want to leave you with. The friends that you make in college will be your friends for life, your “biffil’ (best friend for life) will probably be your maid of honor or your best man. The first major you first pick probably will change, but some people like myself stick it out, you will realize that yes, you have to study more than you did in high school. This studying may not happen in you 1000 or 2000 level classes but it will for your 3000 and 4000 level classes. Learn to talk to your professors like you did in high school teachers, don’t let them intimidate you, they want to see you succeed just as much and everyone else. Most importantly don’t drink your college years away, but also have some fun on the way.
Stay plugged in for my next post.
MP
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