Council Corner
NSHSS Student Council members are college students who offer advice to high school students and are invited to participate in members events. Serving on the Council can provide a great leadership opportunity. NSHSS members who are graduating from high school in 2008 are eligible to apply for the Student Council next year. Applications will be posted in the Spring of 2008. Meet the 2007-08 Student Council Members.
The Freedom to do Anything: Be Sure to Use it Wisely
Elizabeth Syrkin
Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Recipient / NSHSS Student Council
University of Virginia
There are more than a few things that you find out about yourself as a freshman in college, and there are more than a few things you find out about others. For instance, it is all on you! Coming from a highly structured high school bubble where the adults around you more than pave your way for success, you might find college to be a struggle simply because no one is holding your hand. What does this mean for high school students oh-so-close to the “finish line” that is college? Simply put, you must realize now that you will be responsible for taking the initiative in order for things to happen in your college life. You will decide to attend class, you will decide to do the reading for said class, you will do the research necessary in order to take the right class for the future you have in mind for yourself. You will seek out the help you need in order to figure out what you want to do in the future if you do not already know.
As a highly academically driven person, I have never had the problem of not being motivated enough to get up at the now seemingly incredibly early hour of eight in the morning in order to walk 15 minutes to my Russian class. That part is easy. The habit of doing the work, and doing it in a timely fashion also came easily because of well-developed habits from high school. The difficult part was to take the initiative and do something with myself outside of academics. Make no mistake, classes and work for those classes, if you’re doing that part of life correctly, should take up a large portion of your time no matter what school you attend. But this leaves a student, as you grow accustomed to certain routines, with more and more time for “leisurely activities.” This is where the initiative comes in. Do not stay within the safe confines of your room. See your school. See what amazing opportunities it has to offer you.
No one will force you to explore, so do it on your own. Find a club that you are truly passionate about. Do not worry about doing activities that seem “fruitful” just to fluff up your resume. Being in a student council if you have no interest in politics and that type of leadership will only make you miserable in the long run. If you enjoy karate, do that. If you like to act, join the drama club. If your interest lies in hiking, join an outdoors club. Do not tie yourself down to expectations. I love to dance, so that is what I choose to do.
Explore. If you find yourself bored one day, put on your gym clothes, but don’t go to the gym. Jog through your campus. I find that exploring the University of Virginia while simply jogging has helped me see just what a beautiful place this is. It is also easy to tie yourself down to the university bubble, so try to explore surrounding areas outside of your campus as well.
Nevertheless, do not put off for later the steps you need to start taking in order to succeed in your future. Every university offers career services. Even as a first year student, you can start looking at what steps you can take to obtain an exciting internship or externship. See what you can do with your planned major and make plans accordingly. Start practicing your job interview skills. It is never too early for those things, and trust me, a whole college year truly does fly right on by.
Remember--No one will be holding your hand, so take chances but never forget that this might be your last chance to explore certain things you might not get to explore in the future. This is the time for fun summer jobs, long nightly discussions with roommates, and a chance to explore anything and everything you have ever been curious about in academics or in life itself.