This past week we discussed some common developmental issues
that we may encounter while mentoring the incoming freshmen next year. I think
that this general list we discussed is fairly accurate because I know that I
myself had even went through some of these problems as a freshmen coming to
college. Some of the concerns that I personally would feel as though I could
answer decently well would be switching majors, not wanting to attend classes,
and social life issues because these are some of the most prevalent topics I
had gone through my freshmen year.
I came into Iowa State thinking I knew exactly what I wanted
to do and when I got here I had been completely shocked when I had started
classes and realized it was not what I wanted to do at all. I went through many
career aptitude tests, personality tests, and countless meetings with advisors
and mentors trying to figure out what I wanted to do and what I would be good
at doing. This entire journey I went through lead me to where I am today and I
think that without having to go through all of that I would not be as
knowledgeable and useful in this area as I am. Many freshmen also go through
the same concerns and I believe that I could be very helpful in this area. I am
very confident that I can guide our mentees through these experiences to get
them on the right path.
Even though I did eventually find out what I wanted to be
doing, along the way I had to take a new orientation class with every time I
had switched a major. These orientation classes get old the first time you take
them let alone taking 3 or 4 different ones. Also, with them only being 1
credit and most times are just pass/fail I had a really hard time attending
those classes. Eventually I worked through that and decided that I needed to
attend because that was the only way I could pass those classes. Even though
these classes were only one credit they still affected my GPA and I didn’t want
to have on my record that I had failed a simple class leading to the belief
that I didn’t even have the motivation to finish a simple class. This
background history of attendance and I gives me a good stance in having to help
other people with the same issues.
Also, I think that I
have a decent amount of experience with social issues that many incoming
freshmen encounter. I came to Iowa State with a boyfriend of 3 years and all I
wanted to do was spend time with him. After we broke up I broadened my horizons
and went out and tried to meet as many new people as I could. While doing this
I realized the importance of getting out and meeting people that you will
actually form a life long bond with because you have so much in common. I think
that I will be able to help anyone having problems with similar situations
because I went through a lot of changes in my first year.
Thinking back on my first year here at Iowa State I know I
did make a lot of mistakes but you can never learn from your mistakes if you
don’t make them in the first place. I would like to use my new knowledge to
help my mentees through the transition into college to give them the best
possible experience!
