Advice to optimize the undergrads
Jeremy Reed
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Features
As my college career is nearing an end, I've come to realize there are important lessons to be learned here at Eastern. Aside from what I have gained in the classroom, there are some equally important virtues I hold dear to my maroon heart and should share with the dear underclassmen.
First of all, don't wear your high school letter jacket on campus. I'm not trying to discredit the fact that you played twenty quarters of varsity football in high school or that you might have even been all-state in cross-country.
But, there are certain things you have to let go of and your letter jacket is one of them.
I'm not making fun of you for showing your pre-collegiate school-spirit, but trust me, somebody is. Sweatpants, hoodies and other high school wear are just fine, but the letter jacket is a little too much unless, of course, it's Halloween and your costume is "the guy who can't let go."
Second, roller backpacks aren't cool. Unless you're a non-traditional student (who for some reason pull it off nicely), you don't need one of these things.
There's nothing wrong with strapping that book bag around your shoulder and carrying your books like the good lord intended. Your books aren't that heavy and there's something else rolling away along with those books in your roller-backpack-your sense of style.
The jukebox in the upstairs Powell isn't your iPod. Don't create a playlist and make everyone listen to your choice of music the whole time they eat. Chances are, some people won't share your taste in music and may want to listen to something else or nothing at all-so, let them.
Don't be the excessive question asker/comment maker in class. If the instructor says something along the lines of, "OK, that's all I have for today unless anyone has any questions," for God sakes don't make any comments or ask questions. Ninety-nine percent of the class wants to leave, and you could crush their dreams. Catch your instructor on your way out or e-mail them later because your question could lead to a whole new discussion or spawn a whole slew of other questions, thus pissing off several of your peers.
First of all, don't wear your high school letter jacket on campus. I'm not trying to discredit the fact that you played twenty quarters of varsity football in high school or that you might have even been all-state in cross-country.
But, there are certain things you have to let go of and your letter jacket is one of them.
I'm not making fun of you for showing your pre-collegiate school-spirit, but trust me, somebody is. Sweatpants, hoodies and other high school wear are just fine, but the letter jacket is a little too much unless, of course, it's Halloween and your costume is "the guy who can't let go."
Second, roller backpacks aren't cool. Unless you're a non-traditional student (who for some reason pull it off nicely), you don't need one of these things.
There's nothing wrong with strapping that book bag around your shoulder and carrying your books like the good lord intended. Your books aren't that heavy and there's something else rolling away along with those books in your roller-backpack-your sense of style.
The jukebox in the upstairs Powell isn't your iPod. Don't create a playlist and make everyone listen to your choice of music the whole time they eat. Chances are, some people won't share your taste in music and may want to listen to something else or nothing at all-so, let them.
Don't be the excessive question asker/comment maker in class. If the instructor says something along the lines of, "OK, that's all I have for today unless anyone has any questions," for God sakes don't make any comments or ask questions. Ninety-nine percent of the class wants to leave, and you could crush their dreams. Catch your instructor on your way out or e-mail them later because your question could lead to a whole new discussion or spawn a whole slew of other questions, thus pissing off several of your peers.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Deb Peterson
posted 2/04/10 @ 10:15 AM EST
Hi Jeremy,
I'm the Guide to Continuing Education at About.com, part of The New York Times Company. I found your paragraph about non-trads with roller backpacks funny and blogged about you today. (Continued…)
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