Michael Woodworth
Equinox Staff
Coming to college and leaving one’s parents for the first major time in one’s life can be very daunting. Even more so when the student does not know anyone and is completely out of his or her comfort zone.
The freshmen at Keene State College, however, expressed that they don’t seem to have that problem and have been having the time of their lives for the last two weeks.
“Everyone is just so nice to each other,” Andy Knapp, a freshman who has yet to decide on a major, said. He went on to say he wants to study social science during his time here.
“Keene is like my second home,” Mike Ringuette, an athletic training major, said.
While summer was slowing down for most students, the freshmen had the campus all to themselves during orientation. Orientation is where incoming students get to experience the campus for the first time and learn everything they need to know for their next four years.
“It was helpful, I met a lot of people,” Mary Jednak, a special education major, said.
But, when the campus got into full swing, it became daunting for the new students having to share the oasis.
“It was a lot busier, especially during the changing of classes,” commented Scott Cole, a journalism major.
As well as the campus being in full swing, the new students are saying that the atmosphere is nice.
From the trees and animal life on campus to the scenic mountains on the horizon, there hasn’t been a bad thing said about the campus we call home.
“It’s beautiful. I like that it’s got space for activities,” Alex Brooks, an architecture major, said.
“I’m from Long Island, so we don’t get the mountainous scene,” Cole commented.
One of the biggest and hardest things about going to college is the transition and adjustment one has to go through in order to survive this strange new world.
“It is different and overwhelming,” Sam Montolio, a management major, said.
“Here it’s a lot more different because I can choose not to do assignments, but then I don’t learn anything,” Brooks said.
“It’s always the anticipation more than the reality,” Alan Morrice, father of Fiona Morrice, commented.
Elaine Mancini agreed and added, “Technology is completely different these days; Skype and Facebook has made a huge difference.”
With the invention of social networks, students and parents have an easier time communicating one another, no matter how far away they can be from each other.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the freshmen residence halls’ residence directors and the parents have just as much transition to go through as the students.
Residence directors need to prepare and guide the students in their first year while the parents have to live without their children at home, which is sometimes a new feeling to them. The residence directors have their work cut out for them as well, making sure the freshmen have a good first year and guiding them in the right direction.
“I like freshmen because I like helping with the transition,” Carle Residence Director Jen Napiorski said. The director graduated from Kent State in Ohio, and this is her first year at her post. She added that she thinks the transition and guidance are going well.
“There are a lot of programs and events to get them familiar with the institution,” she said.
Programs that are put on for the freshmen consist of name games, movie nights, and talks with various faculty and staff members on campus.
With about three weeks under their belts, the freshmen now have to look towards the future and the rest of their college careers. It’s just a matter of time before a new batch of freshmen comes in, and they get to experience what these students just did.
Michael Woodworth can be contacted at
mwoodworth@keene-equinox.com