Dear Dee: Slip Sliding Away

Dear Slip Sliding Away,

First, congratulations on selecting Fairfield University.  It is important to remember that Fairfield would not have accepted you if they did not believe you could be successful.  Also know that acclimating yourself to college life involves lots of adjustment and changes from living at home and attending high school.  College is challenging.  It is said that colleges take about two years of classes and condenses them into one year.  The accelerated speed requires some adjustments to how you do the required work.  Additionally, professors at Fairfield treat you like an adult and expect you to be 100 percent responsible for your classes.  Having said that though, the professors also are very willing to meet with you to discuss your issues.  There are also tutors who can help you stay on track.  Also, the Dean of Freshman’s office is a great place to go and talk through the issues you are feeling.

There are a few other things that I feel are worth mentioning.  Think about how many credits you are carrying. If you are trying to pack in too many credits into your first semester, it might be wise to back it down to just 12 or 15 credits.  You have until October 22 to drop a class without any penalty.  It may be better to take fewer classes and build your confidence while adapting to college life than to try and cram in too many classes and feel overwhelmed.  While the purpose of college is to study and further your education, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a social life and have fun.  Your education includes interacting with new and diverse members of Fairfield and to grow as a person, not just a student.  That fact that you are here tells me that you can be successful at Fairfield.  Just remember that there are many resources that you can tap into if you feel the need.  Keep your head up and enjoy the best years of your life.

Disclaimer: This column is for entertainment only. The author is a student, not a licensed therapist, and this column is not intended to take the place of professional advice. The views expressed are the author’s and are not necessarily shared by The Mirror or its staff.