Manuella Mota/Contributing Writer
For many students, the past week has been nothing special – a mere back-to-school experience. Same packed campus, same frustration while trying to find a parking spot, same club fairs typical of a week of welcome. But from a freshman perspective, nothing is quite “the same.”
First, there was the stress of moving in – if you’re commuting, you’ve saved yourself from that one – Wal-Mart runs, unpacking, getting familiar with your roommates and residence hall.
Then the first day of school– waking up earlier than needed and getting lost on the way to class. Too many buildings, too many classrooms, too many people. To add the cherry on top of the ice cream, you might have gotten stuck in the pouring rain while trying to go to class.
Making sure you have all the required textbooks, you probably headed to the bookstore and had the delightful experience of staying at least 30 minutes in line. Hopefully a visit to the Financial Aid Office wasn’t necessary, unless you had another 20 minutes to spare.
Most freshmen are not familiar with the challenging didactic approach of higher level courses, having to get used to the fast-paced lectures, demanding professors and loads of reading and/or homework.
What about those jam-packed lecture classes where 450 kids share a classroom and many end up sitting on the floor?
The typical college experience of a “Fresh-meat.” Despite all the negative aspects, college is an engaging experience, especially for freshmen.
Along with the several opportunities given by the University to succeed in your academic career, there are also countless organizations and clubs to get involved with that enrich the college experience and introduce you to a whole new community on campus.
The Career Services Office, The Center for Academic Success, The Council for Student Organizations, over thirty fraternities and sororities and much more. If one chooses to solely go to class and not get involved in campus life at all, it is not due to lack of opportunities to do so.
Through the lens of a freshman, FIU offers more than just academics and campus involvement. The campuses are vivid and full of diversity, making justice to the international essence of the institution. A truly multicultural community where everyone has the probability of meeting at least one person from every continent in the world, where roughly every language is spoken and where cultural differences are not different, but rather normal.
For new students it surely is a shock. A shock that should be seen with enchantment, though. Being able to engage in a community where the reality of a heterogeneous world is brought to life is a privilege that should not be taken for granted.
“Be Worlds Ahead” comes first from coexisting in a place where so many cultures are thrown at you and choosing to grow and expand your global perspective, no matter what your career is.
After all, you’re stuck in this world whether you’re a doctor, an architect or an entrepreneur.
opinion@fiusm.com
I like the maturity how Manuella has faced her dèbut at FIU: “For new students it surely is a shock. A shock that should be seen with enchantment, though. Being able to engage in a community where the reality of a heterogeneous world is brought to life is a privilege that should not be taken for granted.”
Actually, taking things for granted is the best way for failure. Be able to keep up all efforts made by parents, relatives and so on is the only highway for success.