|
Dear First Year Student,
Welcome to Texas A&M University and to some of the most memorable times of
your life.
You may be overwhelmed right now but Aggieland is great and you will find
your place!
During the first few weeks of college, you will experience many unfamiliar
challenges like meeting different types of people and establishing a life
away from your hometown. It is good to remember that the friends you make
now could influence you in the decisions you make for the rest of your time
in Aggieland. Are you going to make friends that encourage you to do well
academically yet still know how to have fun? Are you going to pick friends
that go out drinking several times a week and miss class often? These types
of decisions may be very stressful and it is an important time for you to
learn how to balance your life. If you are able to develop these skills
early in your college career, you will be much better off academically and
socially.
One of the most important decisions you will make during your first year is
regarding how responsible you will be concerning drugs and alcohol. Although
it may seem as though many Aggies drink irresponsibly or use illegal drugs,
this is simply untrue- most Aggies repeatedly make responsible decisions!
We encourage you to make choices that reflect who you are as an individual.
There are many ways to do this, including joining student groups,
volunteering for a local organization, or just hanging out with your friends
in your residence hall. Each year 25 percent of college students report
academic consequences due to their drinking including missing class, falling
behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
First-year students are not immune to these problems. First-year students
are one of our office’s most important audiences because students, who learn
to make responsible choices in the beginning of their college career, will
be more able to handle the pressures that will face them throughout their
time in Aggieland.
The Choice is Up To You.
|
