Freshman year is hard. With so much change it’s easy to start thinking of “what if” questions. “What if I would had gone to that other school, would I be as stressed?” “What if the major I chose is too hard, should I just quit now?” “What if I only got into Vanderbilt as some sick and twisted social experiment, and I’m not actually qualified to be here?” It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of the reasons why you’re not “Vanderbilt Material” that it is easy to forget all of the reasons you are. So if you’re sick of hearing your parents assure you that you belong and you need another perspective here are five poems to remind you this is exactly where you need to be.
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My Favorite Dragon Related Objects in My Room
I hope you enjoy my obsession with dragons!
1.) Stapler
This is by far one of my favorite dragon related items in my room. My mother bought it for me, so if anyone needs anything stapled, I have you covered. (Also dingo the dino is holding the stabler in case you were wondering)
2.) Notebook
I love this notebook! Every page is blank because I am not sure what exactly I want to fill the pages with. I was thinking of maybe creating a scrapbook of this year.
3.) Wall Decor above Headboard
This is actually like top favorite parts of my room in general. My roommate even has a matching one with her name. Definitely the coolest thing I own.
4.) Dragon Sculpture
Fun fact this dragon is held together with nail glue- it did not survive move in day. Also, if anyone has any name ideas, I am all ears.
5.) Stuffed Animal
This stuffed animal was a gift from my roommate, so we would have matching ones. Mines name is Herbert Funyeon (left) and hers is name Hugo Fritos (right). (Yes, ofcourse we can tell them apart.)
6.) Blanket
I love the colors of this blanket, but it gets so cold in our room, so I use it as a “decoration” for my comforter that I actually use.
7.) Matching Sign
This sign matches my blanket! I thought it was so perfect, but I thought it would be MUCH bigger.
8.) Desk Organizer
I thrifted this from goodwill and then painted it SO don’t judge my painting skills. I think it matches my room pretty well.
9.) Dragon Incense Holder
ILL START OFF BY SAYING NO I DONT BURN INCENSE HERE, but I used to at home, and I figured it would be a nice piece of decor. My oil diffuser is next to it, and if you couldn’t tell, I freshly knocked it over right before this picture was taken.
10.) BONUS: Dragon Tatoo
I have a dragon tattoo, and it wraps around my bicep! It was actually my first tattoo, and it took around three very long hours. I am thinking about getting shading done, but I’m not sure yet. This specific dragon is also from my grandparents’ wallpaper in their bedroom!
CommonsCast – Episode 163
Elliott Cruz sits down with the Dean of the Commons, Melissa Gresalfi, to talk about finding one’s identity on a college campus – whether it is personal, cultural, or political.
Study Tips for Freshman
The semester is certainly picking up, and a lot of us freshmen are in the midst of our first college exams. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the workload and anxious about your upcoming exams – I know I have been! So, I compiled some helpful study tips that have been helping me and can hopefully help you.
Find Study Spots on Campus!
I’ve only been at Vanderbilt for a few weeks, but I’ve already found an abundance of great study spots. Something I love about Vanderbilt is how there is always somewhere to go and study. I don’t like studying in my dorm room, so I’m always looking for places on campus to get my work done. Here are a few of my favorite study spots:
These chairs behind the Commons Center are a great place to study, especially when the weather is nice! And I promise they are more comfortable than they may look.
The libraries on campus are obviously a great place to get your work done because you have to be quiet and everyone around you is also focused. Here are some pictures of three of the libraries on campus, Stevenson Library, Peabody Library, and Central Library.
There are so many great places outside to study, and the lawn chairs around Commons are a perfect way to enjoy the last few weeks of summer and get your work done!
Study With Friends!
Another great thing about being at Vanderbilt is that you are surrounded by people who also need to study and want to be successful in school. So, studying with friends is the perfect thing to do. You can be social while still getting your work done and you can hold each other accountable. For example, you and your friends could all put your phones in the middle of the table to make sure you don’t get distracted. Also, scheduling study times with friends will motivate you to actually go and study.
Stay Organized!
Being students at Vanderbilt, there is so much to keep track of. We have assignments in multiple classes, upcoming exams, and club meetings. So, it is essential to find a way to stay organized. I like to keep it simple and make a To Do List for each day on a GoogleDoc. Maybe you like to write things down and want to get a physical planner. Some people just add all their due dates and meetings to GoogleCalendar. I’ve also seen some well-designed GoogleSheets where people keep track of all their assignments. If you haven’t already, take the time to find the ways that you can stay organized in the midst of our busy schedules!
Thanks for reading and I hope this gave you some useful tips and the motivation to be productive! I know we all have the ability to succeed here at Vanderbilt; it’s just about taking advantage of the campus, finding what works for you, and staying organized!
The Ultimate Guide to Game Day Fashion
Do you need inspo for the next gameday? Here’s what Vandy students are wearing to games!
MCL News Minute – September 4 2024
Chloe takes you through some of the upcoming events this week leading into Parents Weekend.
Tips for Navigating Change During Your First Weeks at Vanderbilt
My fellow members of the Vanderbilt Class of 2028, we have officially made it through our first couple weeks of college. I know for me and probably many of you, college so far has been a rollercoaster of emotions: exciting, overwhelming, busy, stressful, fun, and pretty much every other feeling you can imagine.
Starting freshman year is a massive life transition, and the biggest one I’ve ever experienced. It takes time to adjust to a new environment, new people, and a whole new life. As we all go through this time of change in our lives, I wanted to share with you three tips/things to keep in mind that may help you and have certainly been helping me.
#1 – Remember the Importance of Change!
Change is hard for anyone, and starting at Vanderbilt is a big change. Many of us have moved far away from our family, friends, and home and all of us are in a totally new environment. Our life as we knew it has completely changed, and this can be extremely overwhelming.
You may be feeling homesick, missing your high school friends, or even just feeling nostalgic for your childhood. Moving to a new place, making new friends, and being at a school as ambitious as Vanderbilt is a lot of work and extremely overwhelming. But the truth is, leaving behind the familiar and experiencing a time of change is necessary in becoming the people we are meant to be and living the lives we are meant to live.
Here are a couple of quotes I love that highlight the necessity of change:
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
- C.S. Lewis
“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.”
- Abraham Maslow
#2 – Stay Grounded in Yourself and What You Love!
In the chaos of our first weeks at Vanderbilt, it’s easy to feel like you’re an entirely new person living a whole new life (because you basically are!). But, something that’s been really helping me is staying grounded in who I am and doing the things that make me feel like myself.
This may include doing your favorite hobbies, calling your family, or just taking some extra alone time. All of these things can help make you feel at home in a new environment and grounded in yourself. You may even find ways to do these activities with other people here and in student clubs!
For me, I’ve been trying to carve out time in my day to play guitar, which is something I did everyday back home. I’ve also really enjoyed walking around campus listening to my favorite songs – it’s a great way to destress and have some peaceful alone time.
Whether you love to draw, workout, read, or FaceTime your siblings, make sure you give yourself time for those activities in the midst of our crazy schedules! I promise it will help with adjusting to life at Vanderbilt.
#3 – It Takes Time!
I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times, but it’s important to remember that it takes time to feel at home in a new environment, build strong relationships, adjust to college academics and extracurriculars, and get into a new routine.
It may seem like everyone else is totally thriving here and having the best time ever, but don’t feel behind if you’re still adjusting. Things aren’t going to feel perfect all the time, and that’s ok! I’ve been constantly reminding myself to take things day by day and remember that we are all experiencing college for the first time and it’s ok to not have everything figured out yet.
I hope you can keep these things in mind as you continue to adjust to life at Vanderbilt and move through this time of transition. Making it through the first weeks is something to be proud of and I hope we can all have an incredible rest of the year!
CommonsCast – Episode 161 – August 27, 2024
Jacob Silverman sits down with the Dean of the Commons Melissa Gresalfi to talk about the transition into becoming a first-year student at Vanderbilt and some of the tougher challenges that might be associated with that change.
News Minute – August 21, 2024
Aryan brings you information on some of the interesting events going on this week on campus for first-year students.
CommonsCast – Episode 160 – August 21, 2024
The first CommonsCast of the 2024-25 school year features an interview with the Dean of the Commons Melissa Gresalfi as well as a look at upcoming events for the first week of the school year!