Another big lesson to take away is that there’s nothing wrong with asking a professor for help or seeking out a tutor. Our Student Academic Success Center (SASC) is a great resource for tutoring and is highly accessible to all students. They hold group tutoring occasionally for classes like Chemistry and Biology, which can help students ease into it. Professors have office hours for a reason! You are empowered to get the extra help you need and are encouraged to do so. Your professors want to see their students succeed and would be happy to help you get a better understanding of the concepts you are learning. Raising your hand and asking questions in class can be anxious, but you’re probably not the only one with a question. Asking your professor to clarify something could help both you and your classmates. If meeting with a professor is daunting at first, you can always ask a roommate, classmate, or peer for some help. They would be more than likely to help, and it could potentially help both of you.
Collaborating with someone who’s in a similar situation as you, a fellow first-year student can help you feel more comfortable with voicing what you’re struggling with as they’re probably thinking the same thing. It’s easy to feel as though everyone but you isn’t struggling. Voicing your struggles to either a peer or professor will help you see that you aren’t alone. Everyone has struggles and needs help, no matter how “smart” they are. College classes are not the same as high school classes, it’s expected to need some assistance and that’s perfectly okay.
