Kirksville grows a garden
Shannon Walter
Issue date: 8/22/09 Section: TruLife
"The first couple of weeks you do get to be really social," Krylowicz said. "Then it kind of stops, and you have to keep up with all your reading and all your assignments. And part of this is making sure you realize that the social part exists for Truman weekend."
Truman students still can and should socialize, but they have to learn to balance their social lives with schoolwork in order to be successful, he said.
Krylowicz said he wants freshmen to meet people outside the residence hall during Truman Week. Almost everyone is afraid of meeting new people, but closing yourself off to the experience will only hinder you, he said.
"It's really anxious to go into a room of people you don't know all that well and try to get to know people and make friends," he said. "Don't listen to that anxiety. You need to go through that anxiety and say, 'Yeah I am scared, but everybody else in this room is scared too. And I'm just going to go in here and start connecting with somebody.'"
Research shows new students will initially become friends with their residence hall neighbors, although most will also branch out eventually to their classmates or club members, Krylowicz said.
"What it requires to be friends is not quality time, but oftentimes it's quantity time," he said. "And what residence halls offer is quantity time."
Students who are having difficulties adjusting to college life should first seek out their student advisers for advice, he said. If that doesn't work, and you've honestly tried to get involved and you are seriously feeling hindered or depressed, come to the University Counseling Services and make a free appointment, he said.
Don't make the common mistake of constantly calling home your best friend from home, or your significant other instead of trying to connect with the people who comprise your new home, Krylowicz said.
"You have to see Truman and Kirksville as your home and to be at home you have to be willing to be here," he said.
Truman students still can and should socialize, but they have to learn to balance their social lives with schoolwork in order to be successful, he said.
Krylowicz said he wants freshmen to meet people outside the residence hall during Truman Week. Almost everyone is afraid of meeting new people, but closing yourself off to the experience will only hinder you, he said.
"It's really anxious to go into a room of people you don't know all that well and try to get to know people and make friends," he said. "Don't listen to that anxiety. You need to go through that anxiety and say, 'Yeah I am scared, but everybody else in this room is scared too. And I'm just going to go in here and start connecting with somebody.'"
Research shows new students will initially become friends with their residence hall neighbors, although most will also branch out eventually to their classmates or club members, Krylowicz said.
"What it requires to be friends is not quality time, but oftentimes it's quantity time," he said. "And what residence halls offer is quantity time."
Students who are having difficulties adjusting to college life should first seek out their student advisers for advice, he said. If that doesn't work, and you've honestly tried to get involved and you are seriously feeling hindered or depressed, come to the University Counseling Services and make a free appointment, he said.
Don't make the common mistake of constantly calling home your best friend from home, or your significant other instead of trying to connect with the people who comprise your new home, Krylowicz said.
"You have to see Truman and Kirksville as your home and to be at home you have to be willing to be here," he said.
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