Whatever you do, don’t forget to: 

Prioritize your sleep. It benefits so many different areas of your life beyond just focus or academics — it benefits your friendships and your ability to engage, and it prepares you for whatever you’re wanting to do. 

The perfect place for studying or solitude: 

Metcalf Research Building. There’s a good combo of spaces there. You can have a little official workspace in one of the rooms with whiteboards and chairs, or if you’re wanting to lounge, they have these really good couches you can lay down on and relax. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found: 

Emergency hardship funding. If you’re on financial aid and there comes a time when you’re not able to afford certain items — for instance, if you don’t have a winter coat when the season changes or you’re having trouble affording groceries — you can apply for funds to help. It’s something that’s so important to know about, especially if you don’t have the means to cover unexpected expenses or financial hurdles. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

I like to use the analogy that you need to figure out what in your life is “glass” and what is “plastic.” Plastic are the things you can drop, and glass are the things you really need to hold onto. We need to be able to sit down with ourselves or people within our circle and figure out what truly matters — what’s truly glass — in life. 

The meal on campus worth seeking out: 

I’m definitely going to have to go with Andrews’ weekend breakfast bowls. 

The perfect place for studying or solitude: 

I think it’s underrated to get to class 30 minutes before it begins and have an empty classroom all to yourself. Oh, and the lounges in the corner of the SciLi basement. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found: 

Take advantage of group tutoring at the Sheridan Center, even if you don’t think you need it. There are free reproductive health supplies at the Health and Wellness center. 

Some of my best resources, especially on the pre-professional side, have been my upperclassmen peers. I swear, 99% of upperclassmen you’d talk to would be overjoyed to help you and very honored if you ask them for advice over coffee or a meal, especially if you swipe for them in the Ratty. They have experience, they’ve taken those classes, they’ve worked with that professor and they have so much to offer you. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

Almost everyone will experience burnout at some point, and it’s going to hit you when you least expect it. It’s so important to create a support system for yourself before you ever actually need it. That means thinking wisely about who you’re surrounding yourself with and finding the people that you can really lean on. Those relationships will carry you through. 

The meal on campus worth seeking out: 

Ivy Room popcorn chicken bowls.

The secret to making friends: 

No fear freshman year! Just go up and say hi. You have nothing to lose. You might not see that person ever again, but at the same time, you might meet someone who you’ll click with. There are three people I met my freshman year — I just went out of my way to talk to them, no clubs or shared concentrations or classes or anything — who are still my friends today. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found: 

Safewalk. They’re awesome, and there’s no reason to feel ashamed to call them. It’s just a nice service that keeps you safe on the way home. If you’re coming back at 2 a.m., it’s good to be safe rather than sorry. 

On the academic side, it’s worth applying for an Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award. They’re really helpful in terms of advancing your experience, and I’ve found that the professors truly want to help you and see you grow in your career. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

Whenever you walk into a new building, find the bathroom. Have four or five spots on campus that you know have a good bathroom you like, then you won’t get stuck having to use a random one. 

The meal on campus worth seeking out: 

Salmon teriyaki bowl. Or maybe Jo’s grilled cheese. Wait, no — Andrews’ weekend breakfast bowls. 

The secret to making friends: 

I love a mutual friend moment. I really like pulling in different people and saying “Oh, I’m just hanging out with this person, but you should come hang too.” It’s a good way to foster new friend dynamics. Your friends will become friends, and then you’ll meet their friends, and it’s just awesome. Also, study abroad. I met a lot of people from Brown that I didn’t know before. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found: 

If you’re on financial aid, check out the Book/Course Material Support Program. Brown will cover the expenses for anything the class requires in the syllabus. You just need to complete a tutorial to remain eligible. Also, take advantage of everything they offer at the Health and Wellness center. It’s 24 hours, and they’ll help you with anything. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student:

I used to think of my career as an end goal, like I needed to do everything possible to end up in one certain position. But in talking to professionals, I have learned that the exploration is the career — they’ve been so many different places and worked in so many different fields, and that’s their career. And that was so good for me to learn. It really changed the way I saw college, and I started thinking of it less as a collection of achievements and more as a way to find my interests, hang out with my friends and balance my time. 

One of the most enjoyable parts of Brown for me is the self-discovery of it all. It’s so rewarding, and I would encourage people to juice out all of their experiences and learn from them. That’s what makes life so special. 

Best spot to nap during finals week: 

The SciLi has these really nice, big comfy circle couches. 

Whatever you do, don’t forget:

That you’re a human first. We need to eat and sleep.

Resources you’ll be glad you found:  

I run a lot of orientation programs, so my job is to connect people with resources. Brown has so many, with so many different areas of focus. There are affinity centers, like the U-FLi Center, the LGBTQ Center at Stonewall House, Brown-RISD Hillel … The wonderful thing about these places is that they’re not just great areas to study or be in community, but they host so many events and you can really connect with others. 

Brown also has a lot of mentoring programs, and mentors can help with pretty much everything resource-related. I’d say that if you can pinpoint a center or program that resonates with you, it will open up a lot of doors. It’s like a floodgate of opportunities. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

At the end of the day, we’re all at Brown to make a life for ourselves, and that includes finding time to make joy. 

The meal on campus worth seeking out:

Smoothies from the Ivy Room.

The secret to making friends: 

Everyone who is starting here is also very much looking for friends. If you come in with an open mind and you’re willing to say the first word, even if it’s just “Hi,” you’ll be able to make friends really fast. I think the first year is actually the easiest year to make friends. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found:  

If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety — which I think a lot of students do, but don’t immediately realize — definitely meet with a therapist. They will help you throughout your years at Brown. 

Also, ask around to see if anyone is part of the “Free Stuff” group chat and can add you. People will post when they’re moving out and have an extra desk, or if there are leftovers from a catered event. They’ll tell you where to go, and you can just go pick it up for free. Food tastes better when it’s free. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

First-year students at Brown are so motivated and want to pile so many things onto their plate at once. I think there’s a fear that they might fall behind at some point or they are not doing enough. But four years is quite a lot of time, even though it moves by quickly. If you slow down and think about what you’re doing, I think you’ll find that four years is plenty of time to accomplish what you need to. It’s just a matter of finding the right pace and balance. 

The meal on campus worth seeking out: 

Andrews’ burrito bowls. 

Resources you’ll be glad you found: 

Accommodations. It’s something I didn’t have in high school, and I was so grateful for accommodations as I was transitioning into Brown. I had a difficult time finding my way, and I ultimately ended up meeting with Student Accessibility Services (SAS), and they really helped me navigate everything. It can be overwhelming to come to Brown and have this overload of resources, and SAS was so helpful. 

What I wish someone had told me as a first-year student: 

I learned that the best way to navigate the space is to dive headfirst into it, and I wish I wasn’t as hesitant. Putting yourself out there to get to know your professors, classmates, dormmates, etc., can go a long way in helping you feel like you’re connected and belong. 

I spent a ton of time and energy getting into Brown, but when I arrived I grappled with impostor syndrome. I hope students just starting at Brown know that they belong in this incredible community, and there are so many people on campus who see you and care about you.