Welcome to The Hill Class of 2016
Feeling a bit anxious or overwhelmed? Well, don’t worry. The Arkansas Traveler staff compiled content specifically to help freshmen and parents understand what to expect for the upcoming school year.
If you are an incoming freshman you might be wondering if orientation is an accurate representation of college life. Well, not really.
Granted, the UA is a large, continuously growing campus with more than 23,000 students. Yet, we promise you that organizations will not be throwing free shirts and candy bars in your face all year. You won’t be required to sit in an auditorium for endless hours listening to the droning voice of a speaker, pretending to understand the gibberish on the Powerpoint slides. You won’t have to, that is, unless you are an engineering major.
So, don’t be intimidated by orientation and make sure that you take advantage of the fact that a large number of organizations have made themselves available to you at this event. This is your time to discover what you want to do for the next four years. Don’t be afraid to join an organization, especially the Arkansas Traveler, the student-run, independent UA student newspaper.
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Now, if you are the parents of a soon-to-be UA freshman, you most likely have more practical concerns like, “What will happen if my child is sick?” or, “Where will my son or daughter eat every day?” and, “Will he or she remember to brush his or her teeth?”
This is a time for your child to gain independence and experience a world where his or her decisions do have repercussions. Whether that means catching a cold and stocking up on NyQuil, locating the campus Subway for dinner or the Walmart on Campus for groceries or the unfortunate experience of having bad breath, the decision is up to your college-age child.
Now, that of course does not mean abandon your child, but remember to give them room to gain their independence. Be there for him or her, but try your best not to hover over them, regardless of how difficult that might be.
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Heed this pertinent information, future UA students: remember to occasionally contact your parents and remind them that you love them. For you empty-nested parents, go out and spend time with nearby family and friends when you miss your student. But remember, it takes courage to move away from home. In the end, your child is making a better life and future for his or herself by attending the UA.
The Arkansas Traveler has been the independent student-run newspaper at the University of Arkansas for 107 years. The Traveler is a daily paper published Monday through Thursday and can be found in various locations throughout the campus as well as on the web at uatrav.com. The Traveler office is located in Kimpel Hall room 119.
