I currently work at the Freshmen Center at St. Johns University and have been for over a year now. Too often I feel the necessity to grab freshmen and smack them right across the face due to their lack of desire to get the best out of this institution. Mediocrity comes to my desk too often and I want to encourage freshies to get their shit straight because, college. I hope this helps you somehow and stops your mediocrity.

Welcome to College:

• STOP THINKING YOU WILL BE BABYSITTED. One of the major issues is that some of you think that the professor will remind you of when you have homework and when that homework is due. Most of your professors will not even care if you turn it in nor will they say anything about it, instead it will be reflected in your grade. "He never said anything about it" is what I hear everyday... did you check the syllabus? "Yes". Does it say it in there? "Yeah". Then he DID say it. It becomes frustrating to see how some freshmen lack the ability to do things themselves, no one is going to hold your hand anymore. Regardless, we are here to help and no question is stupid enough... believe me.

You are in college:

• THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE STOP THINKING YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. Surprisingly there is a worst type of freshmen than those who want to be told what to do and that is the type that "think" they know everything. These species of freshmen have come to college and decided that they need nothing to move along. You do. You need to meet with your advisors in order to move on. Again, you need to meet with your advisors to move on. Why? Two reasons: you don't know how to register for clases; if you did, you can't because they have your priority number. (Priority Numbers are assigned by an algorithm) It is better to be asking for help then someone who thinks they don't need help, those people scare me.

Squeeze the Orange:

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR INSTITUTION. Do not wait for opportunities to come to you look around and ask. Get involved in clubs that you like and talk to teachers that teach within your major. Advisors and counselors are not everything and to be honest they have to deal with many students everyday. Most advisors tell you only what you need, what you want is up to you to search for and obtain. I hate people who complain and don't do anything to try and fix whatever bothers them. Be a doer and not an annoying stubborn (privileged) child. Get up and find you passion even if it kills you.

You are not Entitled to anything:

• BE RESPECTFUL. Too often I see people take advantage of this university in the wrong way. From as little as writing on the bathroom walls or not cleaning up after yourself to scolding a faculty member or mistreating employees. I hate it when people think that they do not have to clean up after themselves, I don't care who you are. It is common courtesy. Start being mature in your ways, if you see something that should not be happening say something! You are causing a greater harm by remaining silent. If you want to see a change then create it by being the generation that made St. John's a unique University.

You are Entering a New Style of Life:

• DO NOT BE AFRAID. Too often I find myself talking to freshmen while I work and find them to be scared due to the change. I can assure you that being scared is wrong, the only thing it will lead to is the loss of networking. Especially in today's society, one has to take advantage of every and any opportunity to network. There is a need to step out of your confort zone. You are here to begin a new life style not maintain old habits. Be nice to everyone that surrounds you because at the end of the day you never know who the person next to you might be. Nobody wants to be the asshole because nobody likes an asshole. So take this opportunity to rid yourself of you and re-brand. By re-branding I don't mean to pretend to be something you are not, but rather be a better you from what you were. Fix your weaknesses and strengthen your talents. There is a place for everyone in this world, the problem is... not everyone is willing to find it.