Hello all! I went MIA on here for a while, but I wanted to check in. I am here at ASU. I’m a third of my way in the year, but I’ll tell you, it’s already been a long one. I’ve had a bit of a bumpy road, just with the workload. I am struggling in my Chem and Bio classes. I failed both of my first exams. I am doing okay with the homework, labs, and recitations, but I’m afraid that the exams and finals will impact me the most. I tried to go to tutoring, but I don’t believe it was the right building/floor out, so I’m still trying to arrange that. There was also online tutoring, but one day I logged on and no one was available, so they told me to come back in the evening that day. But I had lab, so I had to make the choice of going to lab or get help. I did go to tutoring for my Human Event class, and my first paper is due tomorrow. I’m meeting with my Professor soon to get help with the paper for last minute stuff. My NGSC stuff is going okay. The assignments are not too tedious and I like the class. I have met a lot of people, but no friendships have really solidified. I eat alone, study alone, walk to class alone, literally I could leave right now and I’m pretty sure no one would notice. :-S Day by day I’ve been getting a little better, I let sleep fall to the bottom of my list, and it did not work out well. I had a bad migraine for days on end, and when I did sleep, I had nightmares because of how stressed I have been. I don’t know what to do.
As for money, my mom said she still hasn’t heard back bout loan payments. I used my AmeriCorps grant to pay for the remainder of my meal plan. Once that goes through, I will be good for this semester. I applied for a job because only now that I have moved out and do things on my own is when I need things the most and things break, haha. It’ll just help with the small incidentals.
It is phenomenal that you are seeking out help–the complete change in habits, practices, friends, lifestyle in the transition to college can be overwhelming as you settle into your first year. Good work prioritizing your tutoring in Chem and Bio, and reach out to the professor or TA and make sure that you understand clearly how book / class material and study methods are helpful. In Barrett, there are some counselors there as well you might want to talk with, just to make sure you can verbalize your experience and seeking the right help network to help you get your plan in place. Keep talking to others about these, and you will be amazed how much people want to help and want you to succeed.
As for friends and social life, finding your tribe can be overwhelming, particularly in the first semester. Finding some study partners in your classes / dorm, and joining some clubs or activities you enjoy–it’s sometimes like the cereal aisle choosing among the hundreds of things to do–but it gives you a context and common interests. It will all happen naturally as well as you start getting accustomed to a new life as a college student–and it looks like you are least be patient with yourself, so that’s the best news of all.
Hang in there. Keep sharing with others in the ways you have. You’ll be shining and flying in no time! Don’t forget to share those small or large victories with us as well!
Glad you are checking in. First of all I am glad that you located the Human Event writing tutor and are working on finishing up your first paper. As for the Bio and Chem, figuring out the tutoring center can be crucial so that you can work with them leading up to your next exams. You can log into the tutoring center and make an appointment for a time that is convenient for you – then look on the interactive map for the location. Set out early for the appointment and if you get lost ask people in the area for directions.
Also, it would be a great idea for you to go to your professors for these classes during their office hours and ask them to go over your exams and to help you strategize for the future. You will need to earn a GPA of 3.0 to keep your Next Generation Scholarship so this is definitely a priority.
Also, I recommend that you check out the First Year Success Center. All freshmen are given success coach to help guide them along. All you need to do is make an appointment to meet your coach and to begin working with them. The center is located at UCENT 171 (I believe that you are at the Downtown campus right?) The service is free (well it is included in the fees that you have already paid).
As for a job, if there is any way you can hold off on that until you have solidified your GPA I would recommend delaying working for now. Hopefully your dining hall card has sufficient meals for the week and you can live off of that for awhile. I know you are very busy, but if you can squeeze it in, it would also be a good idea to try to join at least one club. The meetings would normally be about twice a month – so manageable. This would be a good way to start to meet new people.
One more thing – the counseling center (first appointment is free) would be a good place to go to work on ways to help cut down on stress. Should you want to continue to go back they will work with your budget. Basically ASU has all kinds of programs to help ensure the success of their freshman so you might as well use them all to your advantage. Keep on plugging along and good luck. You can do this!
I failed both of my first exams. I am doing okay with the homework, labs, and recitations, but I’m afraid that the exams and finals will impact me the most. I tried to go to tutoring, but I don’t believe it was the right building/floor out, so I’m still trying to arrange that. There was also online tutoring, but one day I logged on and no one was available, so they told me to come back in the evening that day. But I had lab, so I had to make the choice of going to lab or get help. I did go to tutoring for my Human Event class, and my first paper is due tomorrow. I’m meeting with my Professor soon to get help with the paper for last minute stuff. My NGSC stuff is going okay. The assignments are not too tedious and I like the class. I have met a lot of people, but no friendships have really solidified. I eat alone, study alone, walk to class alone, literally I could leave right now and I’m pretty sure no one would notice. :-S Day by day I’ve been getting a little better, I let sleep fall to the bottom of my list, and it did not work out well. I had a bad migraine for days on end, and when I did sleep, I had nightmares because of how stressed I have been. I don’t know what to do.