‘It’s going to be OK’: College freshmen return to share advice, information at East

By Jen Cowart
Posted 12/9/15

The day before Thanksgiving is a chance for college students who’ve just returned home for what might be their very first extended school break to take a much needed rest, sleep …

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‘It’s going to be OK’: College freshmen return to share advice, information at East

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The day before Thanksgiving is a chance for college students who’ve just returned home for what might be their very first extended school break to take a much needed rest, sleep in, and have a lazy breakfast in front of the television.

However, for a group of Cranston High School East alumni each year, it’s much more than that. The day is instead a chance to return to their alma mater and pass along some wisdom about what to expect in the final months of senior year and then as new college freshmen.

This year, 45 students – one of the largest groups to date – were guests at the East Guidance Department’s Reverse College Day. They hailed from schools from all over New England and beyond, from two- and four-year colleges and Ivy League institutions.

The day is run in two back-to-back sessions, and guidance counselor Rick Gebhart was on hand to facilitate the event.

The students were prepared with a list of questions they could address, such as what they did and didn’t like, and what they wish they’d known about their college or the college application process. They could also stray from the list and pass along any insight they felt would be valuable.

“I really like my small classes at Stone Hill,” said Katherine Dove, a psychology/criminology major. “There are eight or 10 kids in them and the professors really care, they want you to do well and they want to get to know you.”

Dove spoke about time management and college social life.

“Due dates sneak up on you, and you have so much free time that you think it’s just free. Really you should be doing research or prepping for a paper during that free time, because you’re going to blink and the due date is tomorrow,” she said.

Dove also urged her younger counterparts to be engaged when they arrive in their college community.

“And as for what I wish I knew, I wish I knew not to be scared to make a lot of new friends,” she said. “It’s important to walk into people’s rooms and just introduce yourself. Put yourself out there.”

Fellow Stone Hill freshman and psychology/Spanish major Krystal Polanco wished there was a bit more diversity at her school, as had been the case at East. She also urged the high school students not to become stressed, but to take the process seriously.

“I wish I’d researched my college more ahead of time,” she said. “It’s not what I was expecting, so make sure you know everything there is to know about your college and what it is you want out of it.”

Henry MacLeod, a freshman at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, likes his small school of about 5,000 students.

“A small school allows you to really get to know the other students, including the upperclassmen,” he said.

MacLeod continued: “If I could give you any advice, I’d say get your study habits down by senior year. Start to study for things the week before, not the day before. Tests come up on you. Most importantly, no matter what, enjoy your senior year.”

Saksuth Suos attends Clark University, a small school of about 2,000 people, and is majoring in chemistry.

“If I had any advice for you, I’d say relax,” he said. “There’s a lot of stress. But, be responsible, too. In the back of your mind do not forget that there is a consequence to everything. You can party hard, but you need to study hard, too. You can choose to party on Sunday night, but you have to remember that the next day is Monday.”

Suos had another vital piece of wisdom: “Don’t do laundry on Sunday. Everyone does laundry on Sunday.”

Khari Mitchell attends Mitchell College in Connecticut as a physical therapy major.

“I enjoy it there, there is a really good support system. They offer tutoring and students with learning disabilities get their own advisor, helping you to choose the right path. The class size is small and you really get to know the professors,” Mitchell said.

Attending a school in the number one college town in America can have its positives and negatives, according to John Zambarano, a freshman at the University of Vermont studying Spanish and anthropology.

“If I had to pass along any advice to you, it would be to go and visit all of the schools,” he said. “I went not even thinking this school was a possibility and I fell in love with it that day. I was ready to sign a letter of intent during my tour.”

Zambarano also said making, and maintaining, personal connections is key.

“Keep in touch with your friends from home, but reach out to the people you know who are attending the school you’re going to go to,” he said. “If you’re going to go to school at the University of Vermont, reach out to any of us and we’ll be glad to help you out.”

Sara Olson is a freshman at Sacred Heart University majoring in physical therapy. Her advice had to do with the careful selection of roommates.

“Choose a good roommate,” she said. “You want one that you can live with, not the one who is the most fun to be around. Those people will be your friends.”

With Sacred Heart being two hours away, Olson also expressed a feeling of homesickness, and encouraged the seniors to know their comfort level before choosing a school too far from home.

“If I could give you any advice now, I’d say start being independent now. Ease into it while you’re still home. Learn how to shop for and cook your own food, do your own laundry and figure out transportation,” she said. “It will definitely make for an easier transition later on.”

Christina Arlia loves her campus at Wesleyan University and enjoys the people, resources, and food.

“Before you go, make sure you know yourself and what you are comfortable with,” she said. “Know what you can handle, but be sure to put yourself out there and try new things, too. Lots of people don’t know themselves well enough and don’t know how to take good care of themselves once they’re on their own, and they get depressed and upset.”

Briana Stewart, a meteorology major at Plymouth State University, has a love-hate relationship with her university’s location, similar to some of her peers.

“I love the location of our school. It’s beautiful, it’s a great, close-knit community. We had a student death recently, and the entire school showed up for a candlelight vigil to honor the person who passed away,” she said. “But I hate the location. I miss the walking distances of things in Cranston. I have some stats for you – the closest Dunkin’ Donuts is 10 minutes away by car. There is a Chipotle an hour away. Trips to Walmart are a big deal because there are no malls nearby, there’s no movie theater, there’s really nothing going on.”

It’s nature that the students depend on, according to Stewart.

“There’s a beautiful river, we go kayaking, hiking, and have bonfires,” she said. “We find other things to do.”

Stewart also spoke about the financial aspect of college.

“Talk to your parents about finances. Know what you can and can’t afford so that you don’t fall in love with a school you can’t go to. I fell in love with Penn State, but I couldn’t afford to got here,” she said. “Apply for scholarships, and lots of them. I applied for 20 scholarships and got one. My living expenses are a lot. I knew the cost of college, but I underestimated the cost of my living expenses. My money that I saved up last summer from working full time is all gone. It’s been spent on pizza and laundry, and it frustrates me that I spend $5 to dry my laundry, and I put it in for 90 minutes and it’s still not dry, but that’s where my money is going.”

Emely Granados, a medical biology/pre-physician assistant student at the University of New England, misses her mom’s home cooking, but loves her school in Maine.

“It’s beautiful, and the location is my favorite part,” she said. “We have a beach right on campus, the fall foliage is beautiful there. It’s a small school with about 4,000 students, and the average class size is about 20 students, with a large class only having about 40 students.”

Granados’ advice to students addressed the stress of their senior year and the uncertainty that comes with leaving home.

“It’s going to be OK,” she said. “It definitely is. I didn’t want to leave home, but you get to know yourself and the person you are, and it’s great. It’s going to be fine.”

Granados said she wished she’d applied for, and received, more scholarships.

“It’s very expensive,” she said. “If you can apply for scholarships, do it. It’s worth it.”

Price was a recurring theme for many of the students, including Fiona Hession, who is attending Bard College and studying human rights.

“Price is important, but if you can’t afford a school, apply anyway because you want to see what they’ll give you,” she said. “This is a $60,000-a-year school, but with all of the financial aid, it was enough that I can go.”

Eleven of the student speakers were attending the University of Rhode Island, with a wide variety of majors. 

Jacob Rojek a biomedical engineering and French major, was hoping to fulfill a dream of studying in France during his third year of school. He credits himself with being a hard worker and sees the benefits of that now that he’s in college.

“I like it. I’m self-motivated and I study hard,” he said. “You need to know that you have to study, and you need to know when to study. If you skip a class, 99 percent of the time it’s for another class.”

Several of the URI students praised the Talent Development program, a six-week summer program ahead of freshman year that offers students guidance and an impressive grant for each year of school on top of other financial aid.

“URI is not as bad as everyone says it is,” said Julianna Roberti, an undeclared major at the school. “Staying in Rhode Island isn’t bad either. URI is the perfect distance from home, too. I like the independence and taking care of myself. I don’t like the hills or the food. If I could give you advice, I’d say know your major ahead of time and apply for as many scholarships as you can. I wish I’d applied for more.”

For those who were enrolled in the Community College of Rhode Island, their advice to the students was focused on their own perception of their education and the cost of college.

“If you take it as a joke, it is a joke,” Danielle Cooke said. “It’s all what you make of it. CCRI has great professors, and the longest class is only 2-1/2 hours. Others are only 50 minutes long or an hour and fifteen minutes a few times a week.”

All of the CCRI students liked the food, but cautioned against liking it too much, too often.

“The ‘Freshman 15’ is real,” Cooke said. “I haven’t eaten a meal at home since I can’t remember when. I can’t remember the last time I had vegetables. I get so caught up in work, in school and hanging with friends.”

Cooke offered valuable advice to the students.

“Don’t stress and don’t think you’re settling or going the easy way out if you attend CCRI,” she said. “It’s a great transition school, and I’ll be going to the University of South Carolina in the fall. I’ve got my application all ready to go with all of my credits transferring. I’m saving $28,000 a year. I did apply to four other schools, and got in last year, but I couldn’t afford to go to any of them, so I went to CCRI instead. It’s a good stepping stone and nothing to be ashamed of.”

Grant Scott found CCRI to be his answer for school this fall as well, but for very different reasons.

“I really slacked off in high school, I only came a couple times a week, and I’d sign in at 11,” he said. “I was in summer school, I’d failed high school, I wasn’t even sure I was going to go to college, and I had to really straighten up and continue my education. Since I didn’t come to high school until 11, that’s when I scheduled my classes this year. I was a wrestler in high school, always cutting my foods, so I love the food at CCRI. I’ll eat just about anything.”

Scott’s advice was based on all his experience from high school to today.

“Don’t slack,” he said.

Tarajya Ramos had some very heartfelt advice and experiences to share with the seniors, and noted ahead of time that she was varying from the scripted questions a little bit.

A student at the University of Connecticut studying exercise science, Ramos described her academic career in high school.

“I was in the high school honors clique. I took hard classes, and I had 20 credits going into college. The lowest grade I ever got in high school was a 75,” she said. “Now, I’m taking less than 12. I’m getting my butt kicked. It’s really, really hard for me to stay and I’ve considered leaving. I’ve talked to my professors and I just now finally passed my first exam with a 76. It’s really, really hard. It’s hard.”

Despite those words, Ramos had good advice.

“I thought it was going to be fine, but it’s been harder than I thought. But, even if you feel as defeated as I do, even if you feel that nothing is going your way, stick with it. Push yourself,” she said. “I do love it and I’m getting the hang of it.”

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