Humber students along with faculty are sharing tips for anyone entering their first year postsecondary experience.
Humber News interviewed three students along with a faculty member at the college’s North Campus on what resources and tools can help first year students be successful in their studies.
Kadaija Blackwood, who is in her final year of studies, and is currently enrolled in the Massage Therapy program at Humber College North, had some pretty insight on ways people can achieve their goals in their first year.
“I would say attend every class. You might think missing one day won’t affect your studies, but in all reality it really does. Also don’t save your assignments for the last day because it will make you get frustrated,” she said.
In her first year, Blackwood said she wasn’t taking it seriously and because of the distractions, she ended up failing a class and had to do it over again in her second year.
“I was partying every night with my friends and was too tired to wake up the following morning to go to school. Put school first, folks,” she said.
Broadcast Television and Videography student Jordan Fitzgerald’s tip was to make sure you have a team.
“I would say build relationship with your classmates, create a group chat, and so forth. It really helps to have a support system just in case you miss a day, you have your team to fill you in,” he said.
Fitzgerald also agreed that missing work, or waiting to the last minute to finish your assignment, can be a huge negative for success because the workload will become overwhelming.
“Don’t expect no work because it’s a ton of ton of work and it piles up on you quickly,” he said.
“I would say do it early.”
Brandon Bedward, who is in his first year of Electrical Engineering, said it’s time to get to work.
“Never lose track of the work you’re giving, because once you lose track you don’t know when or how you will catch up due to the amount of workload that the professors give you,” he said.
“It’s not like high school where the teachers would give you extended dates. It’s straight business when it comes to the workload,” he said.
Terra Ciolfe, a full time professor whose teaching in the Journalism program includes Research and Investigative Journalism, took a different route for first year students.
“My advice to first year students would be to really be intentional and thoughtful about learning what allows you to decompress right, and practicing that in the off time,” she said.