Dear Prospective Students,
This is my “letter” to you. As of today the class of 2015 graduates in 58 days (less than 2 months)! A large sum of my four years at Hope have been shaped by involvement within the campus community. Hope has so much to offer, but you have to seek many of these opportunities out. I want you to take advantage of what Hope has to offer; these opportunities will enhance your college experiences beyond what words can imagine. Trust me, these 4 years have flown by and I can still remember move-in day as if it were yesterday. Here are some opportunities you can take advantage of and tips that will make experience at Hope memorable.
1. MEET NEW PEOPLE!
This may be obvious, but it’s the first thing you need to do. Move-In Day is overwhelming, you’re stepping into what will be your home for the first year. Your first instinct is to stay in your room, but go meet people! Whether that’s in your residence hall, or just around campus. You can also meet new people at the Activities Fair, or through Orientation! You may feel uncomfortable, but it’s worth it. I have many friends who go to state universities and they stuck together. Not saying it’s a bad thing, but expanding that bubble will make or break your experience.
2. Introduce Yourself to your Professors!
This was advice I received from an upperclassman when I was going into college. The professors at Hope don’t profess for the sake of education. They care for your well-being as a student and want to be a resource. Take 5 minutes to introduce yourself before, or after some of your first classes! Heck, set up meeting times to discuss your Hope experience or academics. I meet with one of my professors weekly to discuss academics and my life. This ultimately led me to having an academic mentor, and those are so beneficial.
3. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE A MUST
Well, you should definitely give them a try! Student Activities Committee, or SAC is part of the student organizations category, and being a director of the largest student organization has been a blessing, really. My leadership skills continue to grow, and the team I work with is simply amazing! There so many more groups to get involved in too, which is so great! Some examples are Dance Marathon, Student Congress, and Student Ambassadors.
4. Greek Life
Greek Life is another great way to meet people and to get connected with Hope. The Greek organizations at Hope are unlike any other in that they are local. You will only find these sororities and fraternities at Hope! Within the organizations, you can network with current students and alumni. I have many friends involved in Greek Life, and they absolutely love it!
5. VOLUNTEER!
The Holland community is very spoiled in that it has a large supply of volunteers! Many Hope students volunteer in the Holland community. There are so many places you can volunteer within the community. Some are the Holland Health Clinic, CASA (Children’s After School Achievement), The Rock, Holland Hospital, Center for Women in Transition (CWIT), and so much more. Hope College also has the Volunteer Services office where they can network with you organizations you can volunteer for!
6. Campus Jobs
I previously posted a blog about having a job during college. If you decide to have a job, GREAT! This will definitely make your time at Hope worthwhile. Having a job not only gets you money, but it also networks you with various faculty and staff throughout campus and teaches you the importance of time management skills. Definitely worth it. This job, as a student blogger, is all of that and rewarding. I am able to help YOU ALL out!
And lastly…
7. RESOURCES, RESOURCES, RESOURCES
Oh my lanta. Hope has SO many resources for its students. These resources will help you with your Hope College experience. For example, use the career development center for tips on resumes, have mock job interviews, and get networked with businesses! Maybe you’ll even get your first “big kid” job through them! Another great one is the Academic Success Center! They will pair you up with a tutor (fo’ free) for help with any of your classes. I’ve had several tutors for several classes. It really makes a difference! There are so many more resources on campus, you just have to come here to find out!
I hope this was helpful for you all! Your time at Hope will change you (in the best way)! If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with me through Hope on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!