How to Survive the University of Nevada Reno

Greetings and salutations for all new recruits jointing the University of Nevada Reno this coming fall semester of 2010. Before one ventures out in the dangerous world of college life there are a few things that one should be aware of before setting foot onto the campus.

The first thing you should not about UNR is to always, always, and forever more, BE YOURSELF! I cannot stress that hard enough! Do not put on a mask every day before you head out the door. All that lying and deceiving will eventually bite you in the ass later on and you will severely regret it. Act like yourself, dress like you want to (as long as it meets regulations mind you) and do whatever you want (without hurting others or property). Eventually you will make friends with the same interests and who will accept you for who you are, cliché I know but its true!

Second, stay organized! Don’t allow things around you to become a huge mess! Keep track of your syllabi, handouts, etc. Keep all papers that were returned to you. Teachers are humans too and like all humans make mistakes, so if there is an assignment that was graded wrong, or your teacher says they did not receive it, then you could show them that they did and they graded it. Organize your computer files into a “UNR folder” and sort it with individual folders inside that have each of your classes and categorize each year with a new folder to keep track of your entire academic history. If there are some assignment or projects that cannot be made on the computer, i.e. paintings and the like, then take their photos and categorize them, keeping track of which came first and which is the newest entry. Also, keep an organized calendar to remind yourself of the important dates, i.e. midterms, projects due, and finals.

Third, find comfortable areas. Focusing for some is tough, but it helps when one is in a comfortable area. This does not necessarily mean the library, or student union, your comfort zone may very well be under a tree in the quad, or even in your own room. Wherever it is always do your work where you are most comfortable. It also helps when you do your work at the same time every day. People find it easier to complete their work if they start on it around the same time every day, so make sure you have a schedule.

Fourth, get started early! For projects, essays, and the like, the earlier you get started the more success you are going to have in the end result! Even if you just take thirty minutes out of the day, writing one page a day, you’ll be done in a faster time and with a better overall quality than if you complete the project the night before.

Fifth, do not be afraid of your professors! Most of them are there to help you whenever you find trouble, so do not be afraid to ask them for help. Chances are they will not bite and you might learn you know more than you thought on the subject. It is never a sign of weakness to ask for help, but a showing of strength from the knowledge of accepting one’s own weaknesses.

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes, he who does not ask a question is a fool for life,” Confucius said.

Show strength in yourself and your work will surely follow suit. Walk with your head held high and your feet firmly on the ground. Be confident and proud of yourself, you have made it to college, a feat who’s number is growing smaller and smaller each year. You made the decision to learn, the decision to be educated. To prepare for the world that awaits you when you finish. You are here to make something of yourself; all anyone can ask is that you try your best! Now get out there, step on that campus, and never look back!

–Max Simone