What I Wish I Would Have Known as a First-Year Student in AHS

The Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences (AHS) publishes a monthly blog written by students, alumni, and faculty sharing important topics and helpful resources related to the fields of agriculture, extension, and human science. In the August blog post, AHS staff member, Mary Kate Lanier provides guidance for first-year students entering a new environment.

In my role as an academic advisor, this is my most favorite time of year. I love the excitement of gearing up for a new school year. From the initial Zoom calls with new advisees after students confirm their enrollment, to gathering materials and finalizing syllabi, to answering questions at orientation, the excitement of our new students is infectious and I love assisting them as they start this brand new chapter in their lives.

However, this time of year also makes me reflect on my own experience as a first year student eight years ago. While I had that same excitement, there was an additional sense of anxious anticipation, and a little bit of fear as I started this brand new chapter. NC State was my dream school. To attend a land grant university so rich in tradition and pride was something I had looked forward to since I began to seriously look at colleges in high school. However, growing up in a rural county, with a population of just over 31,000, coming to NC State with a student population of over 38,000 was clearly overwhelming. While NC State was still my dream, I spent the first few weeks of my college experience very homesick.

I share my experience to normalize some of the things that you, as a new student, might be feeling and also to show you that it is possible to overcome those feelings of homesickness and to show you that it does get better. Even if you are lucky enough to not experience the homesickness I and many others have felt, I have compiled a list of five things I wish I would have known as a first year student in Agricultural and Human Sciences.

1. Everyone is having some of the same feelings.

Whether it be homesickness, worry about making it to the right classroom on time, uncertainty about sitting by yourself in the dining hall, or a desire to make friends, everyone is feeling some of the same feelings. While it may seem like some have it all figured out, I guarantee you that is not the case. Comparison is the thief of joy.

2. You can’t make friends in your room and it’s not weird to attend Wolfpack Welcome Week (WWW) events.

The events put on by the university and college exist for a reason and they exist to help you build your network. Make it a goal for yourself to attend as many WWW events as possible and challenge yourself to talk to someone new at these events. 

A couple of my favorite events are the CALS Connections Event and the Student Involvement Fair. At CALS Connections from 2 PM to 5 PM on August 20th, you will get the chance to interact with students, faculty, and staff from across the college representing their departments, clubs, and other high impact experiences. At the Student Involvement Fair on August 23rd from 3 PM to 5 PM, you will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from different clubs and organizations from across the University.

3. Your student experience is not just about academics and earning a degree.

Don’t hear me wrong, earning a degree and doing well academically is important, but it is not everything. Your student experience is about so much more. There is a reason I have an assignment in the first year orientation course I teach, AEE 103, to try out three clubs and organizations in your first semester. 

When I reflect on my time as an undergraduate student at NC State, I think about the experiences I had and the friends I made through my time in student organizations. Go to the sporting event. Attend the interest meeting. You may find your niche and your community that helps make your experience at NC State.

4. Never ever be afraid to ask for help.

If you find yourself struggling in a class, attend office hours and try out the Academic Success Center. These entities exist to help you. If you don’t know how to request a ticket for the football game, don’t be afraid to ask the person sitting next to you. Maybe you are not sure about your career path, CALS Career Services is happy to help you navigate this. Your academic advisor wants to help you meet your academic and personal goals *cough cough*. Please reach out to them. Perhaps you are dealing with some mental health challenges and need help navigating this, the NC State Counseling Center is ready and able to assist you navigate these challenges. 

5. You are a valuable, meaningful member of our AHS community.

As one of 38,000 students, it is very easy to feel like you are just a number. However, I can assure you that in our department, that is not the case. We want you to drop by our offices just to say hi. We want to know what is going on in your life and we want to support you in any way we possibly can. Know that now that you are a part of our department, you will always have someone in your corner to cheer you on.