As another semester comes to an end and admitted students stumble their way through our stomping grounds, we’ve asked the Hoot Editorial Board to give some words of advice to incoming freshman they which they knew to guide the incoming first year class of 2029:
Naomi—Sign up for stuff! There are lots of opportunities for first years to get involved with campus life. Whether it’s a club leadership position, a volunteer opportunity, research or anything else, try to say yes to the opportunities that come your way. You don’t need to stick with all of them, but try to embrace all that college life has to offer, and all the possibilities that are offered to Brandeis first years!
Lucas—Take walks. College life can be stressful, especially as a freshman. I remember vividly being in a forced triple in my first year, and even with two very pleasant roommates, there can be times when it all becomes too much. Not having a private room to retreat to can make you feel trapped. There are many ways to handle stress, but for this particular type? Take a walk. Seriously, it sounds trite, but it works. Brandeis has a very nice campus, and sometimes the best way to deal with things is to just slow down and take it all in.
Michael—The most important thing about college is to find your “zone”. That is, find the part of the community where you belong. It can be a club, a group of friends, whatever. Even in a school the size of Brandeis, there’s literally room for everyone. So don’t worry too much about trying to fit in or being pressured to do something. It may sound cringy, but just be yourself and you will find people who will accept you for who you are. Start with the people you meet in orientation–which is the perfect time to meet new people, as every social group from high school gets “reset”, and you can hang out with literally anyone you want, without any previous baggage—and find the people that make you feel comfortable, and just go from there! Conversely, if you feel overwhelmed, don’t force yourself to socialize every single day—that will only make you feel worse. I have a very low “social battery,” as it were, and there have been days where I don’t have the energy to socially interact with others. All you have to do is just have a self-care day—read books, watch Youtube, whatever—and the next day you’ll feel much better.
Ella—Try new things and talk to new people! People here are so nice and others will be in the same boat, hoping to make some new friends or at least have more friendly faces around campus. You don’t have to be an outgoing person … just a friendly one. With that, check out some campus clubs or events! Clubs might just be the #1 place where you will meet new people, some whom you may never have even met, especially people from other class years. Since you and others are at the same club event or meeting, you must have the same general interests which gives you something to start a conversation about! And if the vibes aren’t what you’re looking for … find a new one! CampusGroups will become your best friend.
Jenna—Know your resources! When I first came to campus I had no idea about all the little quality of life services on this campus. For example, if you are a person with chronic illness like myself who has difficulty getting around this hill stricken campus, ask someone in Student Accessibility Support (SAS) about the Accessibility Transport Service. While it is not perfect, you are able to write your name on a time sheet based on when you need to go to class and a car will come pick you up and take you there. Another small thing for those of you who are on strict diets or have a gluten intolerance or allergy you can request access to the gluten free pantry in Usdan. Once again, it’s not a perfect system and is not regularly restocked; however, at least at the beginning of the year, it is a nice way to get food you can eat and bring back to your dorm for later. Finally, do not sleep on AK’s pizza. I know this has gone in a bit of a food centered angle but I didn’t go to AK’s for my first two years at Brandeis and I regret it immensely. They have great gluten free pizza and one of the best milkshakes you can find in the area. It’s also a nice walk just outside of campus and you can even sit on their outdoor benches and enjoy the sunshine. There are many more little resources to discover so keep your eyes peeled and ask your seniors for their tips and tricks. Oh, one more thing before I go! Turn your frequently used websites into apps on your phone. I’m not sure if this is only an iPhone thing but for websites like Reusepass, the Dining Hall menu, Moodle and more, it’s so much easier to access regularly when it is a little app on your phone.
Calli—Welcome, young ones! We are thrilled to have you! Your four years in college go by faster than you can imagine. That said, do strive to make the very most of your time while you are here. You are going to be busy but that is not an excuse to sit in your dorm room alone. Instead, put yourself out there while being your authentic self! There are so many wonderful clubs and organizations at Brandeis that can without a doubt cater to your interests. By doing so, you’ll be able to easily expand your network and subsequently form study groups. That way, you can work towards your goals alongside people with similar interests! College is all about the experience; enjoy it as it is ever fleeting!
James—My best advice to the Class of 2029 is to try new things. I was at the involvement fair at the beginning of the semester two years ago. I randomly walked up to a table that belonged to The Hoot and was asked by one of the editors if I wanted to join. I had never been involved in any sort of journalism before, but I figured that I had a bunch of free time on my hands, so I decided to give it a try. Now, two years later, I’ve taken on a leadership position in the club and written more than 35 articles for The Hoot. My point is, step out of your comfort zone; you never know if you’ll find something that you’ll like.
Rachel—It’s hard to believe that we have already reached the class of 2029. Time does not feel real. However, no matter what year you are in, entering college can feel difficult. My advice to everyone coming into school is to explore everything that Brandeis has to offer and find your passion. This may feel like a given, but there is actually a lot to explore at Brandeis. For instance, of the two majors I currently have, I only took one class related to one of them in my freshman year. I looked at a couple other departments that I thought I liked and realized they weren’t for me, and that’s okay. The more time I spent at Brandeis, the more I realized what I actually liked, which is the beauty of the Brandeis curriculum. It gives you room to explore your interests, passions and future career goals. There may be something that you think you might like, and even though that interest may be at the back of your brain, you should still give it a shot. College is a time to explore every possible interest, so even though it may not feel like your passion now, it could be your passion one day. Is there a certain class that is catching your eye? Take it! Is there a club that you think could interest you? Join it! College is all about exploring and figuring out what you want to do, so don’t hesitate, just say yes to everything. It was exploring the different classes at Brandeis that made me realize that I want to be a journalist, so you could find your future job at Brandeis too. Sure, there may be some things that you don’t end up liking. Either way, you got to give it a shot, because you will regret it. So, to the Class of 2029, I wish you good luck and I hope you find your passion in life through the fabulous classes, clubs and opportunities that Brandeis has to offer.
Avery—Take this summer as a time to relax and gear up for the upcoming journey. Next year will truly be a journey. There may be times when you feel like you’re on top of the world, or that your world is ending. Freshman year is a tumultuous experience that goes quite a ways into shaping you into the person you’ll become. This sounds very “sage dramatic old mentor” of me, but I think you’ll find it to be true. There are several resources that are available to you before you move on campus, like the Health and Wellness modules. They are actually helpful! Read them! If there is a “Brandeis ’29” Discord or Facebook group or anything else, join it! It’s helpful to start college with some friends, and some goal for the end of the year, or the end of your time at college. That being said, definitely do not box yourself into one friend group, one sport, one club, one major. If you do that, it’ll be a lot harder for you to make use of the plentiful opportunities that will come to you in the following year. And whether or not you plan on it, you will end up in a group or activity that you never expected you’d be a part of. It’s just a matter of if you have open arms for that opportunity or not. And that choice, my dear soon-to-be-Brandeisian, is all yours.
