Pieces of BGSU

You’ve heard of “tunnel vision,” right?  I think I am prone to tunnel vision when I’ve been driving too long.  I’ll pass a highway patrol officer while going just a little bit too fast or nearly miss my exit, and it will suddenly occur to me that I have been staring at the weird vanity plate on the car in front of me for 30 minutes and missing everything else in my surroundings.  Here is a term you haven’t heard of: “senior vision.”

As a student in high school, I had a narrow view of college that I assembled from college visits, stories from friends and advice from counselors and teachers.  I stole a few ideas about college life from television shows like “Gilmore Girls,” too.  I had senior vision.

I arrived at Bowling Green last August with all of my myths and misconceptions and realized quickly how wrong I had been.  Here three things I wish I had known before coming to college.  If you’re about to make the critical transition from high school to college, I hope you find these useful.  If you’re already here, you probably had a touch of senior vision in high school, too, so you can have a good laugh at yourself (and me).  Oh, if only I’d known…

You are responsible for you.  In high school, many of my teachers required students to keep updated assignment logs.  They were collected and checked for a grade.  A few also posted homework assignments online.  If I forgot to turn in an assignment, I was reminded.  If I missed a day, teachers would review what I had missed with me.  Some teachers even posted current grades on the wall and asked students to check and initial them.  When interim reports came out, parents had to sign them.  My teachers always made sure that I was on track and informed.  This all changed when I got to college.  In college, instructors will not force students to write down their assignments in their task managers or pick up the handouts they missed when they were sick — not because they don’t care, but because they expect students to behave like adults.  As a student, it is my responsibility to take notes, record assignments, check grades on a system called Blackboard and communicate with my instructors when I have a problem.  If I have to miss a class, it is my responsibility to get the notes.  If I am not sure what it is coming up in a class, I need to review the syllabus.  Succeeding in a college class requires a lot of self-motivation.

Time-management is a skill.  During my senior year, I took a fun college-prep class that was all about college survival skills.  Mainly, I took it because my favorite business teacher was offering it, but I also hoped to learn a thing or two about how to succeed in college.  I did not retain much from the class, apart from an efficient way to take notes.  My teacher discussed “time management skills” pretty regularly, but I never gave it much attention.  Time management wasn’t a big issue for me in high school.  I had plenty of time for Key Club, the Future Educators Association and a part-time job.  I did my homework during study hall.  Easy enough.  About three weeks into college, I realized that I should have paid better attention to Ms. Tebay’s advice.  Time management is critical in college.  It really is a skill — one that I still haven’t perfected, although I think I’ve gotten a little better at it.  College classes typically will not meet every day.  A class will meet two or three times per week, and each time, instructors will usually assign homework.  An average course load is about five classes or 15 credit hours, so I can expect plenty of homework — papers, reading, studying, math problems, projects — each night.  P.S., there are no “study halls” in college.  It’s up to me to set aside enough time in my week to get everything done.  Like most students, I balance work, campus organizations and a full course load, so if I didn’t manage my time carefully, it would be very easy to fall behind.

You can’t control everything.  I probably sound like I’m contradicting myself.  I’ve told you to take responsibility for your success and budget your time.  You absolutely should.  Here’s something that you should also keep in mind, however: some things in college are beyond your control.  In high school, I spent a lot of time fantasizing about and planning out all of the finer details of my life.  There is nothing wrong with planning, and in many areas of college, it really helps to develop a good plan.  You should be flexible; however, and understand that college can be unpredictable.  Before I got here, I browsed through the online schedule of classes and picked out the decidedly perfect schedule.  By the time I registered, none of those classes were still open.  I thought, wait a second … I never had this kind of trouble getting into the classes I wanted in high school.  What gives?  With thousands of other students competing for the residence hall you want or the perfect class schedule you devised, you will face occasional disappointments.  They are inescapable.  I feel confident promising you that you will still make good memories in a different residence hall, and despite his or her reputation on RateMyProfessors, the instructor you get will not be insufferable.  Take online ratings with a grain of salt, by the way, because the students who post bitter, insulting ratings are usually the ones who aren’t satisfied with their grades in the class (maybe they lacked self-responsibility and time management skills).  If you do not get the residence hall you requested, the job you applied for, the scholarship you applied for, or the nothing-before-noon class schedule you picked out, take a deep breath and trust that your college experience will still be awesome.

I have had to learn plenty of other lessons the hard way since I’ve been in college (prime studying time, the usefulness of the Learning Commons tutoring center, why to adhere to parking policies at all times), but I won’t make you suffer through the complete list.  If your high school offers a class or workshop on preparing for college, consider taking it, and definitely discuss the transition to college with your teachers and school counselors.  They can be excellent resources, and they probably have some interesting stories to share from their own college days.  Good luck!

Whether you’re a current student or a junior or senior in high school, you’ve probably heard that Bowling Green State University is a good place to study education.  Maybe you heard through a friend of a friend or you’ve seen our statistics.

If you’re considering a major in education, you might be wondering what this rumor is all about and whether the College of Education and Human Development here really lives up to its reputation.  If you’re a student here and you’re considering a major in education — or, even better, if you’re considering a major in education and you’re wondering if BGSU might be the school for you — I have a little insight.

“You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting an education major,” my mom joked once about this university.  The joke’s a little morbid for those of us who are cat-lovers, but you get the idea.  We’re everywhere!  There’s a reason for that.  With around 5,000 students and a large, dedicated faculty, the College of Education and Human Development is a pretty popular destination at BGSU, and it currently boasts the most teacher education graduates of any college in Ohio.

The college has more than 50 programs to choose from, so if math education isn’t your thing (mine, neither), you certainly have other options. Of course, these are just statistics.  In your hectic, slightly frustrating college search, you’re probably looking for more than just numbers.  You might be wondering what an education student at BGSU experiences.  What are the professors like, and where do education students take most of their classes?  What will the university do to help you prepare for the job market?  I have a few of these answers, and I can recommend a couple, good resources if you would like to learn more.

I’m in my fourth semester as an education student.  I am a Mild to Moderate Intervention Specialist major.  When I got here, I knew I wanted to teach, but I had a feeling that I wanted to change my major.  I applied and was admitted to the AYA (Adolescence to Young Adult Education) program, which is an excellent degree program with several options for students interested in teaching the upper grades, but I had done my research, and another program interested me a little more.

Early in the semester, I asked my academic advisor if it would be possible to declare a major in special education.  Of course, it was.  A lot of students change their original majors, often as freshmen and sometimes even as sophomores or juniors.  Other students enter the university “undecided’ and wait to declare a major until they’ve had the chance to explore their options.  There is no harm in weighing your options.

If you would like to study education, but you haven’t decided on a major, try knocking out your BG Perspective courses during your first year.  You can also dabble in different education courses that will count toward a variety of programs like “Introduction to Education”( EDHD 2010).  “Introduction to Students with Exceptionalities” is another good one to take as a freshman.   These courses are required for most education majors here, and they offer great opportunities for undecided students to explore their options.

I have taken about 10 education classes now, which have ranged from small, thought-provoking honors classes to large, interactive technology classes.  Every class has been rewarding and unique.  Many have required field experiences, which have given me the chance to shadow teachers in several, different settings.  I have been a reading mentor in Lake Elementary, which is about 30 minutes north of here, and a class helper at the Wood Lane School, which is a short walk from the local Meijer.  I’ve even completed a field experience at a Bowling Green elementary school, which was conveniently close to campus and awesomely fun.

In my opinion, service-learning is one of the strongest components of education programs here.  Field experiences provide valuable opportunities for students to develop their knowledge of teaching and touch the lives of students in local schools.  I think field experiences also set the stage for teaching internships, or “student-teaching”, which come later.  All education majors who are seeking licensure will ultimately complete a teaching internship, usually during their final semester, which will include a full-time placement in a local school.

Some of the other great components of education programs here are the trained faculty, project-based classes and diverse courses.  In my experience in my program, I’ve done some interesting projects.  For a class on literature for early childhood, for example, I designed a teaching unit on plant life for second graders.  In another class, I took the affirmative side in a debate on the use of standardized tests in special education.  This one was tough, but eye-opening, because I was assigned a position that really challenged my personal beliefs about standardized testing!  Other memorable projects have included designing an e-book for students with physical disabilities, leading a “staff meeting” in a classroom full of hypothetical teachers, among other great hands-on experiences.

I have learned a lot in three, short semesters, and I am pretty stoked for the next two years.  If you want to learn more about the education programs at Bowling Green State University, here are some suggestions:

- If you’re a high school student, schedule a classroom visit!  You can find a calendar of available classroom visits online, on our Admissions website.  This is a nice way to learn about what to expect in the College of Education and Human Development.

- If you’re a current student here, look up organizations for education students and drop in on a meeting.  Students in my major can participate in the Bowling Green Student Council for Exceptional Children, for example.  Other organizations are tailored to students interested in Early Childhood Education, math education, middle childhood education and so on.  Go to a few meetings and talk to students in the major you’re considering.  They’ll probably be excited to talk to you about their own experiences in their program.

- Make a call to the college office and set up an appointment to speak with an advisor.  I’ve done this several times.  I called them pretty regularly with questions during my college search, as a matter of fact, and the friendly staff members were always willing to help.

- Use the Internet!  Go on ratemyprofessors.com and spy on some of the professors who teach in the College of Education and Human Development.  I do this every semester, when it’s time to select classes.  Try researching particular professions, too.  Educate yourself on the ins and outs of careers in teaching.  Search something like “day in the life of a teacher.”  You’ll turn up endless results.
On a final note, I would encourage you to check out the College of Education and Human Development on the BGSU website!  You can find current, detailed checklists for each major, information about program requirements, and other useful tips and facts.  Good luck in your college search.

I was listening to holiday music on the drive home a few days ago when the classic Carpenters song “Home for the Holidays” came on the radio.

I had to laugh because A.) I was on my way home for the holidays and B.) It was 50-something and rainy outside.  Not typical weather for this time of year, but then when is Ohio weather ever predictable?

I had waited for this day for what had felt like forever.  I had tacked Post-it notes across my desk that read “7 days left,” “6 days left,” “5 days left” … finally, I had peeled the last one off and headed home.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably made it home safely, too.  How does it feel?  There is no place like home for the holidays — but after a long semester on my own, it feels a little strange.

Whether you’re rooming in a dorm or an apartment this year, the transition from school to home can be bittersweet.  This year, I’m living in my first apartment.  Living on my own has been quite a strange experience.  My apartment is a couple hours from home, so my parents never visit, which is nice —  until I need them.

Living on my own, I’ve learned how to handle dreaded chores and tough dilemmas.  I can now set up utilities, replace a broken toilet seat, bargain hunt and change a light bulb on a vaulted ceiling (don’t attempt this one).

As I was packing to go home, it occurred to me that it would be a pretty big change to live at home again for three weeks.  I was excited for all of the amenities of home like real food, real furniture and cable TV.  However, I was less than excited for nagging parents, Columbus traffic and a whole new set of chores and tasks, which unfortunately still included holiday shopping.

I’ve been home for a few days now, so I’ve had a taste of the good, the bad and the ugly.  I’m thoroughly enjoying my break, though, and I know it will be tough to leave in three weeks.

At home, I’m surrounded by cheerful holiday decorations, home-cooked food and loved ones.  I have all of the ingredients I need to make just about all of my favorite foods.  The location is pretty convenient, too.  I’m just minutes away from my boyfriend and his family and a short drive away from all of my favorite eateries — namely, Olive Garden, where I’ll go at least twice before I return to Bowling Green.

Sure, I’ve temporarily surrendered my independence.  I’ve sat through at least 10 episodes of my father’s favorite television shows, none of which have any appeal to my generation.  The roles of babysitter and errand-runner have been placed upon me.  Being home has been a little sad, too, because we recently lost our family Labrador.

If you’ve run into any hurdles of your own since you’ve been home — early curfews, bantering siblings, intrusive relatives or all of the above — just take a deep breath and consider the bright side.  Exams are over, the long semester is behind us and we might even see some snow.

It’s the Sunday before finals week: a bittersweet, slightly chaotic, crisp day.   You’re probably torn between relaxing and cramming, or maybe you’re taking a break from that 10-page paper that is due tomorrow.

If you’re anything like me, you’re a little overwhelmed by the end of the semester, but you’re ecstatic that it’s almost done.   Now, if we can just get through finals with our GPAs intact…hmm.

You’ve probably heard the same study tips and suggestions a thousand times already, so I decided to get creative and offer you a few new, unusual ones.  If you’re tired of the monotony of writing flashcards and reading quietly, I hope this quirky list reaches you:

Strategy No. 1:  An article circulated around Facebook recently about a prestigious law school that brought in puppies to entertain stressed law students.  OK, you’re RA probably won’t let you try this in your residence hall, but here’s a thought.  Get some friends together and car-pool to the Wood County Humane Society.  Volunteer to play with the dogs with a few hours!  My service fraternity made a few trips there in November and had a great, stress-busting time walking the dogs.  Just don’t take them with you when you leave.

Strategy No. 2:  Indulge in a bad habit.  I’m not suggesting that you do anything harmful or illegal, obviously, but this might be a good week to splurge on Starbucks, watch your favorite movies on Netflix or whip out the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.   Being a little indulgent might help you relax.  You’ve been very self-disciplined this semester.  You’ve gone to class, taken clear notes and studied.  Why not give your sense of self-discipline a break and treat yourself to that delectable, overpriced coffee?

Strategy No. 3:  Have a five-minute workout.  You’ve probably heard that short study breaks are good for you.  I would definitely agree.  However, don’t just take breaks to run to the vending machines or check your Facebook.  Try something a little different: five-minute workouts.  Break up long periods of studying with quick workouts.  You can work out right at your desk.  Do a few leg stretches, try some deep-breathing exercises or if you’ve been sitting still for too long, stand up and run in place or do toe-touches.  Exercise helps the flow of oxygen to your brain.  It won’t take long, and it’s a great way to reenergize and refocus.

Strategy No. 4:  Use songs as silly mnemonic devices.  If you’ve ever taken a psychology class, you probably remember that your brain stores information better when you use memory strategies like mnemonic devices.  It’s true.  Chunking is a good one, too.   Break up information into “chunks,” the way you do with phone numbers and email addresses or create an acronym.  Remember PEMDAS?  How about MVEMJSUNP, or ROYGBIV or FACE?  It’s easier for your brain to remember an acronym than a long list.  Just make sure you’ve studied a concept enough to remember what the letter in the acronym stand for.  And if worse comes to worse, develop a silly song or modify the lyrics of your favorite song, to help you study.   It sounds crazy, but it works.  Once you’ve reinvented your favorite hit song to help you remember the periodic table or important dates in history, you might never forget it.  Sing it around your friends for some laughs (and embarrassment).

Strategy No. 5:  This one isn’t terribly original, but team up with other students.   Form a study group with students in your class or other residents on your floor.  Studying with peers is awesomely effective when done right.  Find a time that works for everyone and meet somewhere interesting like a coffee shop in downtown BG that you’ve never tried before.  Studying doesn’t have to take place in the library (although Jerome is an excellent venue if you like to study somewhere peaceful and quiet).  If everyone in your study group is reviewing the same material, divide up the work.  Assign each person a chapter of the textbook.  Spend some time studying your assigned chapters really closely, and then exchange notes.  Study groups are great because your peers can hold you accountable.  Besides, meeting up in a relaxed, social environment like Grounds for Thought or the second floor of the Union sounds better than cramming in a cramped dorm room anyway.

Good luck on your finals and have a great, safe holiday break!

Congratulations.  You’ve survived your first month of fall semester.  It’s been an awesome month, filled with events like Campus Fest and Family Weekend.  

As the semester progresses, you might find that you have a lot of homework: chapters to read, projects to complete and maybe even a few midterms looming.  It’s crunch time!  Your to-do list might seem a little overwhelming right now, but don’t freak out.  If you budget your time well, you can stay on task and still maintain your social life, too. 

 Time management is so important in college and staying on track in your classes now will really help you throughout the rest of the semester.  Do you know how to manage your time effectively?  I’ve compiled a list of some classic mistakes and poor study habits I’ve seen from other students (and a couple that I’m guilty of myself) and thrown in some tips on how to avoid them! 
 

No. 1 The Caffeine-Induced All-Nighter:  You might’ve tried this one out in high school.  Some students will wait until the last minute possible to study for an important exam or write a big paper.  Whatever their reason —work, other classes, other pressing issues — this rarely ever works out well.  Yes, with enough Red Bull, you can probably pull off a paper 12 hours before it’s due.  Will it be ‘A’ quality?  Probably not.  I’ve pulled all-nighters.  Last semester, during exam week, the final in my one of my honors classes was a paper on everything we had learned that semester.  A little intimidating, right?  Something we should’ve started early and worked on for several days, right?  A group of us waited until the afternoon before to begin writing it and met up in our common space, the “LOFT,” with our laptops.  We didn’t leave until sometime early the next morning.  Honestly, all-nighters sound good in theory, but if you’re pulling them every Sunday night, you should adjust your study habits.  Oh and here’s a little fact to keep in mind.  This was emphasized in my Educational Psychology class: your brain retains information better when you study it in chunks.  If you have a midterm coming up next week, try studying one chapter a day.  Your GPA will thank you.

No. 2 The Partied-All-Weekend-and-Got-Nothing-Done Scenario:  College is about decisions.  Make smart ones!   If you party all night Thursday, miss all of your classes Friday, then completely blow your weekend and show up late to class Monday with your homework half done, sporting a hangover, you can say goodbye to your good grades.  You can try explaining your predicament to your instructors, but they probably won’t be sympathetic.  Don’t fall into this trap.  There are a lot of safer, smarter ways to socialize and de-stress in college.  Join an organization or get a study group together every Saturday and order Cookie Jar.  Try this strategy: set up a reward system.  Get your friends from your residence hall together and hog the study lounge.  Turn off the TV, put your cell phones away and study for a good hour or two.  When you’re all done studying, break out the snacks and a good DVD.  Find a good balance between getting your work done and having fun. 

No. 3 The Overscheduled and Underprepared:  I see this one a lot.  Students overestimate their abilities to manage time.  They try to balance 18 credit hours, work, Greek life and sports teams; however, despite their best efforts, there just isn’t enough time in the day.  Trust me, I understand this one.  It’s so tempting to join every organization that looks fun or pick up hours at work and make a little extra spending money.  This semester, I’m juggling five classes, working an on-campus job, pledging a co-ed service fraternity and completing a 60-hour field experience.  I’ve decided to drop a couple of my favorite extracurricular activities to keep my sanity.  If you feel overwhelmed, try this tip: make a pie chart and plot out the different ways you spend your time.  This sounds dorky, but it’s pretty insightful.  Be honest with yourself.  Of course, there are 30 different organizations that look good to you, and it might seem like a great semester to jump into Greek life or play on a club team.  Just remember that you have to have time to sleep, too.  If the rest of your life is getting in the way of your classes, make some adjustments before you find yourself falling behind!

You’ve probably had a chance to look over your syllabi by now, and it has become painfully clear that most of your professors have attendance policies.  One or two might not, but don’t celebrate yet/

Even those rare, lenient professors who leave it up to students to choose whether to attend class will use class time to prepare for exams – and college is expensive.  Why pay to retake a class?  Most commonly, professors will allow two or three absences.  Here’s a piece of advice that I picked up as a freshman: don’t use them all up.  You’re going to want a rainy day fund.

 Save your get-out-of-jail-free cards for true emergencies.  They happen.  You’re in Bowling Green now.  You could be seriously injured by the wind.  No one wants to plan for emergencies, but save up those free days just in case.  If your sociology instructor allows you three absences and you run out and skip your entire third week, what happens eight weeks later, when you’re legitimately ill?  By the way, dorm life is a little germy, so definitely plan to be sick once and awhile. 

True statement: A lot of people don’t wash their hands when they use the communal bathrooms in the dorms.  Whatever virus your neighbor catches is going to spread its way around the floor and then hit the rest of the building. 

In November, one of the RAs on my floor left a message on the board in the bathroom to warn us about a stomach flu that was going around. I was careful about what I touched, but it reached me anyway. I woke up around 5 a couple days later and got sick over just about everything on my half of the room.  Yeah, that’s a great picture, right?  My poor roommate tackled the room with a disinfectant as our sweet custodian, Jane, helped me run damage control.

I’m sure we can all remember what it’s like to have the stomach flu, so I’ll spare you those details.  I learned a useful lesson that day, though.  My father drove up from Columbus and brought me home, and I didn’t make it back to campus until the following Monday. 

I missed two full days of school, which would’ve been manageable if this were high school. College is another story.  Every class is important.  You’ll be amazed at how much material a professor can cover in 50 minutes.  I was horrified!  Fortunately, I hadn’t exhausted my absences in any of my classes.  My grades didn’t suffer, I got the notes from other students, and everything turned out fine. 

You probably won’t face any true, life-threatening emergencies this semester, but colds, flus, and random stomach viruses are more common than you’d think.  Trust me: you will be grateful that you saved up those sick days.

College can be time-consuming, and it certainly isn’t cheap!  These are two complaints I think most of us can agree on.  After all, consider the facts.  Third-thirds of students borrow loans to pay for college.  In 2010, the average graduating senior owed around $24,000.

If that doesn’t shock you, consider this common study hour formula. According to experts, you should be studying two hours per credit hour for every easy class, three hours per credit hour for every average class and four hours per credit for every difficult class.  Keep in mind that there are only 168 hours in a week and you need to spend at least 49 of them sleeping. 

So what are the keys to saving money and saving time?  What are the magic solutions to paying tuition, balancing busy schedules and tackling those tough classes, while still finding time for your favorite activities?  While we wait for someone to come up with the 40-hour day, I can share a few tips.

• As a college student, money weighs pretty heavily on my mind.  I’ve discovered a few neat ways to save, though.  Look for scholarships. Do your research!  Ask around and check campus updates.  I applied to a plethora of grants and scholarships last year.  I probably didn’t qualify for about half of them, but it doesn’t hurt to try.  In the end, I was chosen for two. 
• Once you’ve applied for scholarships, start scouring WorkNet or checking the Help Wanted ads in The BG News.  Part-time jobs can be a great way to earn money, as long as they don’t interfere with your schoolwork.  Applying for jobs can be intimidating, but they’re out there, so do not give up. 
• Here’s another handy tip: Watch your spending when you go off campus to eat.  There’s nothing wrong with weekend trips to Polleyes or Cookie Jar, but ordering food for delivery every night from Oasis will probably add up. Meanwhile, your meal plan will go to waste!  Spend carefully. 
• Here is another one: take advantage of free things!  Free things are everywhere on campus: free admission to games, free access to the rec center and field house, and free activities like movies or skating from time to time, courtesy of organizations like UAO.  A local church even hosts free pancakes once a month.  These are great ways to save money and have fun. 
• Here’s one final tip on saving: always know where your key, PED and ID card are.  It costs money to replace them.

So you’ve got your spending under reasonable control now, but what about time?  Your parents, professors, and RAs have probably all talked with you about time management by now. 

Some of the best advice I got as a freshman came from my RA, who suggested using a day planner.  I would suggest the same. When you have appointments to attend, calls to make, chapters to read, essays to write, projects to plan and work at 3, it really helps to put your life on paper.  I love my planner.  It has a homework section, an appointment section and a section for “the rest of your life.” 

Of course, even when you’re organized, you might still find yourself pressed for time.  Try this trick: Wake up 30 minutes before you really have to every day and before you even get ready for classes, sit down at your computer and do some homework.  I’ve found that doing homework first thing in the A.M. is a lot more effective than doing homework at midnight when I’m too tired to remember anything I learned in class. 

If you’re still feeling overbooked, gain control by cutting out an hour of television a night or taking a leave of absence from Facebook.  Last winter, around finals, I made my roommate change my Facebook password.  Neither of us kept a TV in the room either.  Save pastimes like Xbox and Jersey Shore for the weekends and you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually do. 

If you’ve tried everything, though, and you’re still helplessly overwhelmed, talk to your academic advisor.  Your advisor can help you decide if you should drop a class — and if you must drop a class, sooner is better.  Don’t wait until the drop date has passed and never wait until you’re failing a class.   
 

I hope these facts and tips can offer you a little relief.  Inevitably, you’re going to pull a few all-nighters and find yourself eating Ramen noodles at some point in your four years here.  You’re not alone.  Stay on top of your schedule, never forego sleep right before an exam and monitor your spending.  Saving is easier than you think

The second week of fall semester is in full swing.  Whether you’re new to Bowling Green or you’re a returning student, you’re probably still trying to shake yourself out of “summer mode.”  I know I am.  It is such a shock to my system to wake up at 7 a.m. for 8:30 classes after months of sleeping indulgently (there isn’t enough coffee in the world).   

As you kick off the new week, you might find yourself a little stressed.  Maybe you forgot how to get to East Hall, or you were late to class and then forgot your BG1 card, locked your keys inside your dorm room, bought the wrong math textbook (for $80 more than it was really worth) and fell asleep in GSW.  I feel for you.  We’ll just call it the “week two blues.”
I was new to Bowling Green last year, so if you’re new to this crazy thing called college, I can offer you a few reassuring words.  First, everyone is homesick, even if they vehemently deny it.  On move-in day last year, as my parents helped me get situated in Harshman, my roommate broke down and starting crying.  I exchanged concerned looks with my parents.  I was pretty happy to finally be on my own, and they didn’t seem too sad to get rid of me!  Later the same weekend, as I was trying to navigate campus, I spontaneously broke down crying, too.  I was stressed, homesick, and helplessly lost, walking in bewildered circles around the Union.  If you’re homesick, look to your left and your right.  Everyone else is, too. 

This week might be challenging for several reasons.  First, your classes are starting to speed up.  You’re cracking open your textbooks.  Your professors are assigning homework.  Fortunately, it’s easier to stay on top of your classes than you think.  Invest in a day planner and check your Blackboard and student e-mail regularly and you’ll survive. 

Second, ask for directions if you find yourself hopelessly lost (and thereby late to all of your classes); don’t be embarrassed.  You can pick up a map in the Union, too.  Whatever problems you run into this week, try to remember two things: you’re not the first person to lose your ________ (key, syllabus, ID card, mind), and you don’t have to look too far to find help.  RAs, hall directors, professors, other staff, and upperclassmen can all be quick, knowledgeable resources.  Trust me I can’t count how many times I came to my RA for advice.  I asked a construction worker for directions once, too (they’re everywhere … why not?)
I’ll leave you with one last bit of good news.   This upcoming weekend is a three-day weekend.  We don’t get too many of these, so take advantage of it.  Sleep in, do homework, call your parents.  Good luck in your classes this week, Falcons!