The FIG experience

When I first heard about the FIG program at Mizzou, I was a little skeptical. I did not think that it would be as beneficial as the University said it would be. The thought of taking similar classes with people on the floor seemed to have its drawbacks. I thought that it might limit the types of classes that I take, or even the people that I meet. However, joining a FIG was one of the best decisions I made here at Mizzou.
The summer before my Freshman year, I was worried about my experience here at Mizzou. I was the only student from my graduating class to go to Mizzou, and I worried that the transition from Chicago to Columbia would be rough. Not to mention, I would not know a single person at the University. I arrived at Mizzou a week early to go through Sorority Rush Week. This was a great opportunity for me to make friends and join a sorority, and to find my niche in such a large university. While I did make some great friends throughout rush week and within my sorority, the friendships that I built within my FIG are more like a family.
Another great part of the FIG program is that it is very easy to form study groups. You will have a couple of classes with other members of you FIG, and so it is very easy to go over and exchange notes, and stay updated on assignments.
A word of advice that I can give with regards to roommates is that you have to keep lines of communication open, and also you have to be willing to make some compromises. It can be difficult to live with a complete stranger, however you cannot expect that your roommate will tolerate living habits that you or your close friends deem ‘acceptable’. It would be very beneficial to lay down some ground rules before problems erupt. Also, it is very important to get involved in school activities. Whether you prefer activities that require more responsibility such as writing for the Maneater, or just having fun in cheering sections such as Tigers Lair and Zou Crew, getting involved in an organization can greatly improve your experience at Mizzou.

First Semester

As odd as it sounds, I had been looking forward to college since 8th grade. My first semester at Mizzou was all that I expected it to be and more. One of the main suggestions I have for new freshmen is stay on top of your school work. I know it sounds cliché, and I'm sure you've heard it a million times before, but: college is vastly different from high school. No one is here to remind you about your test next week, or your project that's due. Plan things out. Time management skills are a necessity, especially when it comes to studying for 5 or 6 different classes.

Get involved. Joining a FIG was probably one of the best decisions I made when enrolling at Mizzou. It's a great opportunity to meet new people that have similar interests and goals in mind. It makes it less awkward during the first week, as well. Don't be afraid to leave your room and meet new people. 

Accept the fact that going to college means change. You're living on your own. Your parents have no idea what you're doing. You're responsible for your own actions, so act accordingly. And take responsibility. You're paying good $$ to come here, so try and take advantage of every opportunity available. 

Karma Is Very Cruel

This freshman year has pretty much gone the way that I envisioned it would go.  It has been delightfully pleasant and I really wouldn't change a thing about it.  I would like to take this opportunity to compare my year so far to the journey of the great American explorers Louis and Clark.  Much like the two famous and well-respected men I ventured into uncharted college territory and conquered unknown dangers, such as crossing the street to get to Baja Grill, or passing my first test.  Unlike Louis and Clark, however, I had no Sacajawea to guide me to the promised land, I had to do it on my own.  

The only blights on the year so far have been all of the technology problems that I seem to be having.  In the span of three months my ipod, phone, and xbox have broken.  There are a few other things that have gone awry, but they shall not be mentioned here, lest I have to rewrite this blog.  The things that have gone wrong are really based on luck from what I can tell, so I guess I really can't blame college all that much for them.  

If I were to give out some advice on how to get the most out of your college experience, I would first say you should ask someone else.  If you insist on my advice I would tell you to read your books because they help and to just chill out as much as possible.  That advice is about as vague as it gets, but its the best I can give as an unqualified source.  My experiences thus far in the dorms have been absolutely fantastic and really I could not ask for anything better.  We will see how next semester goes but for the most part, college is awesome and all things are good with the world.

FIG Rewind

When I first heard of the Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) at Mizzou, I was not interested in joining one. I thought I would be limiting myself in the classes I would take and the friends I would make during my first semester in college. I was wrong. Becoming involved in the Convergence FIG was the best decision I could have made as an incoming freshman.

The classes I took with fellow FIG members satisfied some of my general education requirements. FIG also allowed me to co-enroll in classes with students in my FIG for second semester. Having class with people I live with took away the fear of not knowing anyone. It made the transition to college life smoother, especially in the first couple of weeks of school.

I would recommend to future Convergence figlets that they make a sincere effort to get to know the people in their Freshman Interest Group and get involved in extracurricular activities. Whether you hold a part-time job on campus, work for The Maneater or are simply in Tiger’s Liar, becoming involved makes the week go by a little faster and introduces you to new people in the process.

Freshman Year

College is a huge change for a teenager to make.  It is the first time living on my own and being on my schedule only.  I get to pick what time my classes are and I have a whole lot more freedom to do what I want.  The first couple weeks were a little weird for me.  I didn't know what to do with myself.  I didn't have anyone to tell me what to do or that I need to clean up or get my homework done.  I didn't even have to go to class, but for some reason I couldn't let myself not go.  I feel that I started out on the right foot; the only day I missed classes was when I wasn't feeling well.  I feel that you can learn a lot from just going to class.  Most of my teachers gave a good idea of what to study for on the exam during classes and reviews, but if someone wasn't there, then he just missed out.

When I really started to enjoy my first semester was when I started playing rugby.  I really wish I would have joined the team earlier in the season because I only got to have two practices and one game.  I had so much fun and everyone was so welcoming and helpful when I had no idea what was going on.  I think of it like a sorority, with the whole "sisterhood" kind of idea, but without the crazy cost to join.  Someone always gave me a ride to practice and took me with them to get something to eat afterward.  They made me feel more at home.

If I had any suggestions for a newcomer, there are two that pop into my head immediately.  Stay on top of your schoolwork because once you get behind, catching-up is a never ending uphill battle.  School really isn't that bad, just get out of bed and go to class.  The other is to get involved.  College wouldn't be college without the exciting, new social experience.  Whatever your interests are, you can find people who have the same.  Get out, make friends, and have fun!

First Semester Suggestions

As many people would say, college truly is much better than being back at home. The freedom, fun, and all around experience of a college career is something not to be missed. While the experience is great, there a few things freshman must do to keep your self in check to stay successful in the academic realm of things. 

First of all, I am not suggesting you become a hermit and dedicate your life to studying. There comes a limit though on how to manage your time. If you expect to go out and party monday through thursday, the odds of you succeeding are slim to none. Especially if you are a pre-j or even a Journalism student trying to get into or stay in the J-School. You can still go out, but just wait for a Friday or Saturday night. Even Thursday if you are that desperate to go out. You just have to keep reminding yourself that school comes first.

The other important thing is having a passion and motivation for what you choose to with you career. If you expect to get though the pre-j segment of college and not care about what your future is, your care for school will diminish as well. Make sure you choose the right major before you get too far. Also, get involved with what you enjoy to do. No matter what it is, there is some way to expand on just having it as your major. Not only will you find these enjoyable, but also rewarding to you resume in the future.

In all the first semester of college has been one of the best experiences of my life. Not only has it been fun, but also helped me get my shit together in a much better way. Time management is no longer an issue when it comes to finding time to do homework. In turn with that, grades have gone up, and I am now more confidant in my academics. MU has everything here so far, great friends, great fun, and great academics.

First semester of freshman year presents many new circumstances and situations.  Adjusting to college life can be hard, because college is so different from high school- it's like nothing I've ever experienced before.  It can be hard balancing the social aspect of college with the work aspect, but it's important to find this balance.  It's important to keep up with the work load in the beginning of the year to help set the pace for your time management, and it also helps you adjust to college.  College is supposed to be the best four years of your life.  You grow and change a lot, and you're constantly learning both in and out of the classroom.  It's important to stay focused on school and classwork, but to also have fun.  Finding a balance between your school life and social life is important, and it will help you ease into the college life.  My first semester was amazing, and I wouldn't change a thing about it.