Ashley Austin Page editorAs children, our parents taught us how to walk. We took our first footsteps in the world under their watchful eye.
They watched us walk into our first day of school, across the stage at high school graduation and finally out into the real world as college and life as we now know it begins. Starting off on the right foot at KC is the key to having a successful year.
There are several important steps in the process of beginning a new year of college classes. Being prepared for class may mean doing a little bit of pre-planning. Go to the bookstore and find out what books are required for the classes you are enrolled in.
The staff in the bookstore can help you locate the exact books you need for your courses. Textbooks are often used by instructors as a guide for the course as a whole, so buying the book ahead of time may help you understand what you will be expected to know throughout the semester.
Take notes the very first day of class. Normally instructors may not have a particular lesson to teach on the first day of class, but the information that they do give can be one of the keys to making a good grade. Instructors often include grading policies, dates of important exams and a list of materials needed for that course in their syllabus.
Get to know your instructors. Take the initiative to introduce yourself to your instructors the very first day of class. Tell them about yourself and that you are looking forward to working with them this semester. At some point in their course you may need to go to them for help or advice. They will be more apt to help you if they actually know who you are.
Step up and make this semester great. Be prepared, pay attention and make a good first impression. Starting off on the right foot at KC helps you start off on the right foot in the real world.
Ashley Austin is a sophomore communication major from Pasadena. She is writing a weekly column providing advice on how to have a successful college career.