Being resourceful

Leaving home and going to college is large change for everybody. Some people are able to adjust quickly, but others have difficulties with the transition. At UCSB there are programs in place to help people from all backgrounds. Many of these programs are located in the student resource building.

The student resource building is a structure for helping students who may be facing some form of discrimination or hardship due to specific, personal attributes that are out of their control. There are offices to help people who are GLBT, racial minorities, mentally disadvantaged, or from different countries.

Besides school programs there are also many tips and tricks for making a college experience more enjoyable and fulfilling. One of the most important factors besides getting an education is making connections with other people in college. Making friends can greatly add to the feelings of belonging and purpose while in college, and making plenty of acquaintances can be of great value for present and future endeavors, and it’s simple to do. Breaking bread, forming study groups, and being generally friendly in short encounters are great ways to get to know new people. No matter what the occasion is there’s always a way to make the best of it and come out with new connections and resources for the future.

Knowing what is available and capitalizing of opportunities is also vital to making the most of college. At the recent career fair I gathered information on what path to take to achieve my personal goals.  This included talking to staff from the biology and chemistry departments, the college of creative studies, and the study abroad program. I found that it would be advisable to apply for the college of creative studies for the fall semester because of the perks that accompany it (it takes approximately six weeks to get a response, so the sooner I apply the better). Also, I should spend my semester abroad sooner rather than later because it would be a lot easier to find more basic classes in foreign countries than it would be to find advanced science classes.