A to Z for Students
Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating! Today we have part 2 of the A to Z of the WFU experience. Today we’ll feature the A-Z advice for students. Hope you enjoy.
A – authorize your family as a third party payer in DEAC so you never miss a tuition bill. While it is your choice to do this or not, I have seen students miss a bill and be unable to register, then watch all the classes they want disappear. Better safe than sorry.
B – be specific about what you need. If you are venting to your family about an issue, make sure to tell them “I am asking you to listen. I am not asking you to fix things.” If you are in a romantic relationship, be sure to tell your partner what you want/need, and what are showstoppers for you in a relationship.
C – check your WFU email daily and respond promptly to messages from faculty or administrators.
D – do not turn to social media for affirmation when something bad happens. If you have a bad interaction with someone or a problem and you are feeling bad, don’t try to push that feeling away by fishing for a ‘like’ or a supportive comment from your friends online. Sit with those unpleasant emotions a bit. It will help you later because you can look back on that time you were mad/sad/etc. and you dealt with those emotions.
E – engage with people who are not just like you. Get to know people from different backgrounds, political perspectives, races, faiths, etc. You will have a richer Wake Forest experience if you aren’t in a bubble with people who are just like you.
F – find an adult on campus to have in your corner. Could be a faculty member, an academic adviser, an administrator, a graduate hall director. We all need someone we can talk to – whether we are needing a recommendation for a local service (like a dentist) or if we have questions we are not ready to ask our loved ones about.
G – get comfortable with the idea that you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to do your best. Good is often good enough, whereas striving for perfection can make you crazy, stress you out, etc.
H – help each other. If you see a friend in trouble, step in and assist. If someone is having a bad day, offer a kind ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.
I – invest in your emotional wellbeing. If you are feeling anxious or depressed, or if you are not sleeping well or struggling with stomach issues or headaches, be sure to attend to those issues. Start with the University Counseling Center or the Student Health Service.
J – join clubs and organizations. No matter whether you are a first-year student or a senior, joining things is how you find your place on campus, meet new and interesting people, etc.
K – keep things in perspective. One bad test or paper will not ruin your GPA or your life. One fight with a friend doesn’t mean your social life is ruined.
L – learn to say No. Sometimes you need to study instead of go out. Or your friends want to do X and you don’t. The sooner you learn to say No without feeling guilty, the easier the rest of your adult life might be.
M – manage your time wisely. You have only so many waking hours. Make sure your academic work gets done well (and first), and then you can get involved in other things. Procrastination and overcommitment in activities are rarely helpful.
N – never forget to thank the people on campus who make your day-to-day better: the folks in the Pit, the custodial staff who work in your building, the barista who knows how you like your coffee, the friend who always waits for you to go to dinner together, etc.
O – offer an apology when one is called for – and mean it.
P – put in the work that is needed for your classes. If you manage your time, and study effectively, and don’t let work build up, you are likely to do well. If you try to cut corners, you might not.
Q – question things you don’t understand. If a faculty member makes a point you don’t get, raise your hand, or ask that question in office hours.
R – read everything. Your syllabus. Your housing contract. The email sent about COVID. You will be held accountable for knowing the contents of anything sent to you. “It was too long” or “I didn’t read it” are not acceptable answers.
S – step outdoors for 20 minutes every day and take a walk. A stroll outdoors does the body and the mind good.
T – talk to people when you have a problem. Struggling in a class? Go to your professor in office hours, or use one of our many academic or personal support offices.
U – use every WFU resource you can: lectures, tutoring, arts events, the OPCD, faculty office hours, etc. The more bites you take of the full WFU smorgasbord, the richer your experience will be.
V – verify things via official channels, not something your friend said. Example: if you aren’t sure how to get your PIN to register, don’t ask your roommate or friend (who might have the right info, but may also be misinformed and get it wrong); instead, go to a primary source: the Registrar’s website, calling their office, etc.
W – wrestle with your conscience. Spend some time thinking about ethics, and character, and what is worth fighting for, and what seems just (or unjust). Then make choices that align with your values.
X – XOXO: tell your parents/family members/loved ones that you love them. They miss you while you are away at school. Those tiny gestures of love really matter.
Y – yell Go Deacs! loud and proud at athletic events
Z – zero in on what matters to you. Focus on the things that bring you the most joy, and give those things your full attention and energy.
