By Elizabeth Scalzo
Editor-in-Chief
After a summer off, I would like to welcome you back to campus. Or, if you are a freshman, or a sophomore who never got a chance to move in last year, welcome to campus.
This summer was nice, but there is nothing like walking around campus, seeing your friends in passing and making memories.
The entire campus seems to be wearing rose colored glasses and you can feel the excitement and energy.
This isn’t the same FDU we left in the spring of 2020 right before midterms; students were exhausted and everyone was walking around like zombies.
As a senior who has seen campus in many stages, I would like to offer some advice for those of you who are here for the first time or those who are just looking to have a great semester.
Campus Survival Guide
- Go out to events
Now I know as someone who is new to campus, this may seem intimidating, but you’re never going to get to know people if you don’t put yourself out there. College is an exciting and stressful time. It is so much more fun when you can share all those feelings of stress and excitement with people around you.
I remember introducing one of my freshman-year friends to Taco Bell at midnight and I only met him because I went to an event. All of the fun college stories about late-night food runs and the time you dyed your friend’s hair in a dorm bathroom come from making those connections.
- Put yourself and your school work first
This may seem contradictory to the first tip, but we are students first. Make sure you allocate your time wisely to balance your social life and academics.
If you pick the right friends, chances are you’ll spend late nights in the library together, motivating each other to finish a paper or to study for midterms. Also, take care of your physical and mental health. There are resources on campus to help you such as the Student Counseling and Psychological Services (S-CAPS), and the Student Health Center. Never be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
- Use your meal plan wisely
This is for all of the residents reading this. I, too, was once a freshman with the basic meal plan that gives you unlimited swipes to the Student Union Building Cafeteria. Trust me when I tell you to use your flex dollars wisely because there will come a day where you just can’t eat pasta for the fifth time this week. You will get tired of it and that’s okay — the rotation of meals is similar each week and you will be glad to switch things up with a wrap or a rice bowl from Riverside Cafe every now and then.
- Take advantage of the fitness center
You have a free gym membership — use it to your advantage. Staying healthy is important to ensuring a successful semester. I can tell you from experience, going to the fitness center with one of my friends always made me more motivated and held me accountable. People always talk about the dreaded freshman 15, but that doesn’t have to be you. It’s also just good to keep your body moving after sitting in class all day.
- Take naps
Naps are like a superpower when you’re in college, especially if you have early classes and late club meetings or events. A good nap can make or break your day and impact the moods of those around you. Taking a break will help you to recharge and be ready to tackle everything else on your to-do list.
I hope these tips help you all start the semester off right!
The Equinox has lots in store for you all this semester. We are back and more ready now than ever to do what we do best, keep the campus informed and tell stories of our FDU.
If you are interested in joining us, our general meetings are on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Email us for more information.
Please follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Write to us at equinoxfdu@gmail.com.
The Equinox welcomes everyone back to campus after year-long virtual learning.
Art by Elizabeth Scalzo.
