Advice from an experienced beak

I have been at FGCU since the fall of 2006. I am on what I like to call "the second coming of Christ plan." During my time here, I have racked up a few degrees, tak­en dozens of classes and have been super­vised by numerous professors. I have learned some tricks I'd like to pass on to incoming Eagles.

Naturally, my advice is not all in­clusive. You are go­ing to encounter your own little tips and have different experiences. I simply hope that I can provide some pointers and things to think about.

I'm going to let the cat out of the bag here — we are fortunate to have many outstanding, qualified and caring professors on our campus. But shh — it's a secret. Your professors (at least most of them) do not want you to fail. If you and a professor just do not click, it could be that you two are from totally different ends of the spectrum. Try to make your way through the course always giving your best effort and completing work that you stand behind.

However, if you feel that you are turning in good work and are performing well in a course and the professor is still being difficult, there could be a problem. Talk to your instructor after class or during his or her office hours. If the issue persists or if you feel uncomfortable, I urge you to speak with the department head or the dean. No one will ever know there is a problem unless someone sounds the alarm.

Like other institutions, FGCU does not have a spotless track record— we've had some problematic instructors. No one on campus has the right to treat you unfairly or discriminate against you because of your differences.

Think before you speak. Try to realize political, cultural and ethical differences. Rather than sounding off and being a jerk, shoving away ideas that do not fit into your comfort zone, be open minded. Part of the college experience is to become aware of new concepts and ideas. You need to go into situations with an open mind willing to learn. Take part in new things and be willing to understand the other side.

Also, as a courtesy to your peers, don't argue with the professor over a topic that is not important. Now, if your professor is claiming that Grant was a general for the South, then feel free to call them out. Otherwise, talk to the professor after class. It could spark an interesting conversation or lead to an academic relationship.

You don't really want to burn bridges with professors. After you complete your course with them— even after you graduate, if you have a good relationship with a professor you always have a mentor or adviser to come back to. You never know how beneficial this can be in the future.

Speaking of advisers, try to form a good relationship with yours. I can e-mail my adviser and have a question answered or a schedule issue resolved without stepping foot into the office. But this can be done because I have met with my adviser numerous times and she knows my goals and requirements.

Now that you are in college, time management skills are a must-have. Go through your syllabi and enter all important dates into a schedule book. If a professor decides to push back a due date, simply correct the entry. Its when a due date is threatened to be pushed up that things get shady. Take control of your education. Know the requirements of the class and uphold them, but also require the professor to stick to them.

My final piece of advice is to be aware of services and organizations on campus. It's great to get involved in a club or organization if you have the time. There are numerous honor societies to get involved in as well. Do some checking and see what fits you. You can perform a search at studentservices.fgcu.edu.

We have a friendly, knowledgeable library staff that can help you find books or reference pieces to complete that paper. First Year Advising helps new students make the transition into the college lifestyle. What I feel to be one of the most beneficial services on campus, Counseling and Psychological Services, CAPS, offers free counseling, meditation classes, career counseling and more. If you are having a rough semester or just need help getting over a bump in life, counselors are available for free — there's no reason to not take advantage of the service.

Those are just a few services FGCU offers.

With each semester you will learn more tricks of where to hang out, study and make friends. Always be aware of what is going on around you, and take advantage of any and all opportunities— you never know where they may lead!