Purdue is challenging but fun

I'm not going to patronize you. This place is hard.

You guys aren't in high school anymore. This is the big league. It might seem funny to you but I hope someone has told you that college isn't the easiest place to go to. It's hard and you are going to have to work at it.

Don't believe me?

When I was in my first math class, MA 161, the instructor sat us down and told us to look at the people next to us. He then said "Out of the two people you looked at, one will fail this course and one will fail out of school."

I bet he was right.

You will find yourself frustrated with some of the classes you take this semester. Don't worry. Everyone feels the same way. A fraternity brother of mine summed it up quite nicely.

"Your freshman year, you take classes that suck. Sophomore year has one cool class and the rest suck. Junior year is pretty cool. Senior year is classes that you always dreamed of taking, but then you have to graduate."

Trust me, the school years fly by. It seems like just yesterday that I graduated from high school. In a little bit, it will seem like that to you too. Go back to a movie theater in your hometown over winter break. Just look at the people and it will scare you.

But perhaps if I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would join a student organization a lot sooner than what I did. I took my freshman year easy, with only 13 credits in the first semester. Unfortunately, I did not get involved with any activities until my sophomore year. That is where I met all of my friends. It wasn't the dorms or classes, but it was the student organizations. I joined the Exponent. I pledged a fraternity. That is where I made all of my friends. That's also where you will meet all of yours as well. If you can't find one, call me up and come join us. We would love to have you.

So that would be my main tip for college. Get involved. Friends are really important in a stressful environment like this and you will learn to rely on them. They will rely on you.

My other tips? Study your ass off. Parents love it when you bring home good grades your freshman year. I know because I didn't.

Don’t worry about it if you fail a test or even a class. I failed a class, but I retook it and received a B. Now my parents are happy. At least I hope and think they are.

If you need to switch your major, don't worry. Nearly everyone does. I have had friends C.O.D.O. (look at our Purdue speak graphic on page 21B for the definition) and I switched my major within my school.

Network. If you haven't learned this in a business class or anything yet, network means to make contacts. You will need it to find jobs but it is also helpful here in school.

By joining an organization and becoming a leader, you will meet many different people around this campus. And the campus will begin to shrink. I amaze myself with the amount of people I have met and know on this campus. A Big Ten university seems like I am back in high school sometimes.

But perhaps the most important thing I can offer with this column is that life is short. There are a lot of things that I wish I could go back and do. Don't get discouraged. Work hard and you will be treated with memories that will last a lifetime. You will realize it when you stand up for graduation. It was the same in high school. It's only that the experiences are a lot more fun.

So when the opportunity comes for you to go to Cancun for spring break. Do it. Go on that canoe trip down in southern Indiana that weekend. Make sure that you get football tickets for the season. When Grand Prix rolls around, go to the race. When someone asks you to go to Chicago for the day. Jump at it.

College can be the most fun time of your life, just be sure that you can make it. Whatever you put into it you get out of it. Working hard means that you can play hard too.