dragonbook

13 CHAPTER II ADJUSTING TO NORTHERN STUDENT VIEWS When I was in the eighth grade, my dad said to me, “Art—I’ve got a word for you to learn, and it’s an important word for you to know. It’s ‘vicariously.’ Something vicarious is something you get, not from your own experience, but from the experience of others. Now I want you to know this word because it’s important to your education. It’s very important that you know how to learn vicariously. Because, while many things are best learned from experience, there are some things I had much rather you learned vicariously, from watching the experience of others.” It was great advice for all sorts of reasons, and I think it’s particularly good advice for students beginning their college years. Some of the best advice for adjusting to college comes from students who have just gone through that experience themselves. A number of years ago, I gave some of my freshman students the following assignment: Assume that your younger brother or sister (or a good friend) is going to be coming to Northern next year as a freshman. Write a letter describing the problems he/she might face and give some suggestions on how to deal with those problems. Include mention also of problems you haven’t been able to solve. The students provided some great insights, some of which might be of help to you. Here (in no particular order) is some of their wisdom: 1. Don’t stay in your room. Go out and talk to people you never thought you’d talk to. These people can turn out to be the people you’re closest to. 2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professors care for you. Laugh at all their jokes in return for their caring acts. 3. Don’t freak out the first week. Make friends right away. Go to all classes. Do that and Week Two will go great. Learn to love Northern and join activities. Get