Stetson University

In which ways do you feel you are learning and growing?

I feel I am growing academically, professionally, and socially. Academically, there are so many classes that I am interested in, and due to my major in Philosophy there is so much room for me to explore classes I am interested in. For example, I rediscovered my love for art and started painting again after 2 years because of my FSEM (Freshman Seminar). There are also clubs like Honor System Council that help you learn what is right and wrong to do as a student, and help you teach others how to uphold academic integrity. Professionally, I have grown so much as a first-generation college student. I had no one to help teach me about getting headshots, filling out FAFSA, etc. There are clubs that help first-generation college students, clubs and events that provide free headshots and teach you about LinkedIn. My favorite is the Career Success Center which provides free certifications (Word, Excel, Adobe, etc.) every semester, helps you with your resume, provides resources for internships, and more. Socially, I have changed so much in the last 2 years. When I first got here, I was a very quiet person. Living on a small campus forces you to talk to people and there are so many events on-campus that allowed me to meet my closest friends at college. Every day I am learning and growing at Stetson.

What tips can you share with prospective students?

My first tip is to fill out financial aid early. This includes FAFSA, outside scholarships (very few high school students apply), and scholarships for the school (such as joining the Bonner program). Stetson is expensive, and if you don't have enough aid, college is going to be very difficult to apply for.
Second, pace yourself. A lot of first-years experience burn-out because they're not used to the pace and course load of college. This leads to procrastination and poor grades. My well-being as a person always comes before school, and school always comes before partying or clubs. Set your priorities straight early and you'll pace yourself a lot better.
Last, find some way to feel connected to home. It is completely normal to feel homesick. Bring home cooked meals. Call family or friends. Meet new people here so that you don't feel so lonely. There's also a bunch of different cultural organizations to join, especially if you are an international student.
Transitioning to college from high school is hard, but there are ways to make it easier.

In what clubs or organiziations have you participated and how have they impacted your overall experience?

There are so many clubs on-campus for people to join and is one of my favorite aspects of Stetson. I am part of a bunch of pre-law organizations, like Moot Court, Model UN, Model Senate, and LLSA (Latinx Law Student Association). All of these clubs are so great for prepping a career in law, especially Mock Trial and Moot Court which win awards every year for their skills. There are also a bunch of artsy clubs to join like Hatter HeArts, Crochet Club, Baking Club, Gardening Club, Hatter Network, and more. I am a member of Club Aikido, and there are so many club and intramural sports to join for community. There's even a new club I joined called Stetson Audubon where they go bird-watching around campus. This list doesn't even scratch the surface of all the clubs they have available for people with different types of interests, and if there's a club you want that doesn't exist, it is very easy to start a new club. When I first joined Stetson, I didn't know anyone as an out-of-state student. Clubs are the only reason I was able to become so social on-campus, otherwise I'm quiet in my classes and dorm. If you feel lonely or inactive at college, clubs and sports are the best way to get out there.