Photo by Brandt Misik
If you’re anything like I was, NSO has been a lot different than you expected. Thoughts of confusion, alarm and excitement have been spiraling around in your head for the last week since you stepped foot onto Pepperdine’s campus. You arrived nervous as can be on Tuesday, absolutely horrified when you were forced to take your ID photo the moment you got to Rho, and beyond overwhelmed when the screaming mass of orange-and-blue-clad upperclassmen started banging on your car windows.
Now here you are — moved into your selected dorm, struggling to understand the acronyms that everyone seems to be using, and braving the Caf where you know a total of maybe 1 out of 20 people. You’re being pressured to go abroad and rush and join clubs and get involved and do absolutely everything that you could possibly ever do, because it’s Pepperdine, and stretching oneself thin for fear of not being stretched enough is the motto many students live by.
It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but just take a deep breath and remember that there is not one person here who has not been where you are now. Odds are that most of the upperclassmen you see that seem to have their life together probably don’t have everything as perfectly planned out as you think.
In order to get through these first few weeks, here are a few tips on how to be the most successful freshman there ever was.
1. Do NOT get a tray in the Caf. You don’t need one and will stand out as new.
2. Say hi to everyone, even if you met them once or if you don’t know them at all.
3. If in doubt, just RUSH. Even if you don’t end up joining a fraternity or sorority, you meet so many people during Recruitment.
4. Put yourself out there when it comes to what you’re interested in, whether that’s a class, club or mid-week concert.
5. Take a little time out of the day to relax and ensure your own peace of mind and guarantee optimal happiness.
6. Go to Convocation and find Club Convocations to get involved with and join. Absolutely do not wait until the end of the semester to try and get all 14 credits.
7. Explore Malibu. Find your favorite beaches and the best places to get sushi, burgers or Thai. If you’re looking for somewhere amazing, try Bui for sushi, Cholada for Thai, or Ollie’s Duck & Dive for a burger. Just keep exploring — there’s a lot to offer in this little town.
8. Go to the farmers market on Sundays. It’s fun, cute and best of all has a lot of cheap but yummy food for lunch.
9. Just be yourself. The right people and experiences will surround you.
Everything is going to work out. There is a plan for and a place for everyone here at Pepperdine. This school is what it is because it allows for opportunity and for the creation of each person’s own path.
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Follow Shannon Hansen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shannnonhansen
@shannnonhansen
