A UNH Student's Advice for College
Are you looking for advice for your first year of college? Or if you're already a college student, what advice would you give to a first-time college student? Welcome to our 5 Things I Would Tell My First-Year Self blog series, where current students reflect on their early days at UNH and share advice they wish they'd had when starting out.
Today, Marisa Bianchi '26, a geography and sustainability dual major, shares five pieces of advice she wishes she knew before going into her first year of college.
All the things I heard before going to college, such as “keep an open mind” or “leave your comfort zone and try new things” seem cliché (and easier said than done), but they’re not wrong. Sometimes, you will learn the hard way why these things are important. Here are five things I would tell my first-year self, as a current college student who should have listened in the first place!
The Fairchild Hall Council and residents at our end-of-year Fairchild Formal my freshman year.
1. It's okay to be undeclared ... and to change your major more than once!
I came to UNH undeclared and I took Discovery Courses and electives in hopes of deciding on a career path, but life isn’t always that linear. As I experienced life outside of the classroom, my beliefs and experiences began to shape the way I viewed the world and that put quite the wrench in my plan to find the perfect major and stick with that career for the rest of my life. I ended up testing out five different majors through intro classes before I landed on geography. With five semesters of miscellaneous classes under my belt, I ended up with the sustainability dual major almost fully completed, as well. I recommend giving yourself the grace to take on the rocky road of deciding on a major. You will learn a lot about yourself in the process!
Juggling club with my future roommate in 2022.
2. Having a 'sure, why not?' attitude may go a long way.
Surprisingly, you’re hearing this from someone that usually has no qualms about sitting in the corner of her dorm room 24/7, gazing out her favorite window. With that being said, I want to tell you that very few of my favorite UNH experiences were planned. For example, in my first semester I joined a student org through the Memorial Union Building (MUB) and made a friend there. I ended up joining two new clubs with her and now she’s my roommate!
Also, in my first semester, I joined a program through my residence hall and the UNH Sustainability Institute called Sustainability Advocates, thinking it may be nerve-wracking, but a good experience to start off my resumé. I had no idea this one introductory program would land me three jobs over the course of my three years here! I started a sustainability internship, where I worked with UNH Dining one year and ran the Sustainability Advocates program the next. I was also introduced to my favorite program ever, Trash 2 Treasure, which reduces unnecessary landfill waste by recycling or reselling dorm furniture and items. Some of my favorite memories at UNH come from the community and cause behind the Trash 2 Treasure program. Long story short, saying “sure...why not?” helped me experience life from the other side of my dorm window!
Student Alumni Association’s annual spring campus cleanup!
3. Find a mentor or let them find you.
Coming into UNH, I heard the advice to find a mentor in your field to help you through college and career life. Searching for a mentor can be a bit of a daunting task as a new college student. I found my mentor by letting my passions and interests guide me as I looked for ways to get involved. Once I joined the Sustainability Institute through the Sustainability Advocates program, I met my mentor. She started as my supervisor in my programs, but by being genuine and open to learning about sustainability, I developed a relationship with her that led to more than just sustainability help, but also career talks and life advice. Be open to asking questions and accepting help from those who may have been in your shoes before.
My Lead UNH group in January 2024! This was one of my favorite UNH experiences by a long shot.
4. Learn to identify the things holding you back.
Everything I’ve said so far is much easier said than done – trust me, I understand that. You may just need to learn these lessons through your own experience, which is how I ended up finally learning them. What I will say is that if you find yourself struggling to do the things you know you want to try, reflect and figure out what is holding you back. Whether it's anxiety and nerves, poor time management or finances, try to identify what's holding you back early on and turn to resources to help overcome those challenges. It is important to have balance in your life and to invest in yourself!
The residents that came to my very first sustainability social through the Sustainability Advocates program my freshman year.
5. Practice healthy habits now to prepare you for after college.
For many, college is your first time living on your own. Take this time to practice independence and self-regulation. Living on campus is a good way to ease into living independently and to learn to manage your home life, social life and work life simultaneously. Take the time to reflect on what habits you want to have as a college graduate, whether that is exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, saving and budgeting or setting aside an hour each day to de-stress. Now is the time to explore the habits you want to stick to and to learn what works for you and what doesn’t. This should make your post-UNH transition a bit easier, and you’ll thank yourself later!
related posts:
5 Pieces of Advice for Your First Year of College
Everyone around you is going through the same transition, and sometimes it’s hard to remember that. I wish I remembered more and introduced myself first so nobody had to feel nervous or awkward around each other. read more about julia
