Over these past four years, there have been a lot of lessons learned about both life and academics. Mistakes were made, but it helped me grow as a person and helped me get to where I am today. For those who might be having trouble in college, here are some tips I would give based on what I found helpful during college.

One of the main things that makes college enjoyable is the group of people you surround yourself with. Coming into college, it can be intimidating to try and meet new people who are complete strangers to you, but that is the beauty of it. Everyone is starting off on the same page and they are all confused about what to expect going forward. I would recommend going to orientation and “Welcome Week” events because it provides a common ground of experiencing these events together. I met some of my best friends during the first week of school from either orientation or the welcome week events such as the movie night on the field.

I would also recommend going to any of the numerous sporting events that happen on campus. Even if sports might not be your thing, it is a way to hang out with your friends and enjoy the nice weather. You might even end up finding a new love for a sport that you might not have otherwise. Some of my friends and I’s greatest college memories were going to soccer games.

Lastly, take advantage of the opportunities that Iona provides for you. Being a school so close to New York City, the Center of Student Engagement offers numerous activities off campus that can provide some great experiences. From a more local point of view, experiencing what New Rochelle offers is another great way to get to know what your home for the next four years is like.

All of these events might sound corny or boring, but they really do provide you with a massive group of people that you can connect with, and you might even end up meeting some of your future best friends or simply just provide some great memories you can think back on. Take it from someone who is graduating in a few weeks, college really does fly by, and I wish I had done so much more with what I had available to me during my time at Iona.