Brain Matters S11.E12: I Survived My Freshman Year, Now What?

[00:00:00] Speaker A: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show host or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emerg. [00:00:42] Speaker B: It's 6 o'clock time again for Brain Matters, the official radio show of the UA Counseling Center. We are broadcasting from the campus of the University of Alabama. Good evening. My name is Dr. B.J. guenther and I'm the host of the show along with my colleague and producer Katherine Howell, who's not here tonight, but she'll be back next week. In case you don't know, this show is about physical and mental health issues that affect college students and in particular UA students. So you can listen to us each Tuesday night at 6pm on 90.7 FM or you can listen online at WVUAFM UA edu. You can also download some different apps. I like the MyTuner radio app and just type in WVUAFM 90.7. You'll find our shows there. Also if you I think this is our fourth show for the spring semester. We don't do shows in the summer, we just do shows in the fall and the spring. And we've got a lot of shows already planned for this semester. But I'm always asking for help with topics and I was just speaking to our guest before the show. There's topics that we probably need to discuss every semester. To be honest, I think homesickness would be a good topic at least once a year to talk about stress management, test anxiety, those kind of things. So if, if there's something that we have not discussed in the 11 years that I've been I think it's 11 years that I've been doing this show. Go ahead and send those to me because we will talk about anything. Nothing really is off limits. And if you're interested in a topic that we haven't talked about, or maybe it's been a while that we have talked about it, just send those to me in an email@brain mattersradiobuafm ua edu and I'll consider using your show topic and I'll try to remember this is why I miss Kathryn, so she helps me remember to give out these emails so I'll Try during every break. I'll try to remember to give out this email again. Tonight's topic is an interesting topic. We've had topics before about freshmen being a freshman, you know, coming in new from high school, but this one is a little bit different. And I call it I Survived my freshman Year. Now what? Starting your college journey as a freshman can be both exciting and overwhelming. But it's a time of new beginnings, independence and personal growth to make the most of your freshman year and ensure a successful transition. We're talking tonight about how to navigate the challenges and thrive in this new chapter of your academic life. So tonight my guest is from First Year Experience. She's going to explain what that office does and what her role is. Her name is Christina Gooden. I hope I pronounced your name right. Christina, thank you for being on the show. [00:03:21] Speaker C: Yeah, thanks for having me. [00:03:23] Speaker B: Yeah. Talk a little bit about, well, tell the listeners first of all about yourself, your credentials, why you're interested in this topic, and what is first Year Experience on campus. [00:03:33] Speaker C: Absolutely. So like Dr. BJ said, my name is Christina Gooden. I'm a coordinator in what has formerly been First Year Experience. We have a new office name that I'm excited to debut with y'all called UA First. And so we're trying to spread the word on campus and we're really excited. It is an accompaniment of first year students with freshmen as well as first generation college student programming. So we're really excited about how those kind of overlap and also have their own spaces as well. But I've been working with freshman students for about the past five years through graduate school and professionally, all here at ua. I've worked in three different departments on campus and I also have my master's in higher education administration. But I went here also for undergrad and got my bachelor's in public relations. So, yes, it's been a lovely journey and I've been super fueled by this work because I was very involved with First Year Experience when I was an undergrad and I felt the impact of all the programming and staff support from the student side. So I've been excited to give back to that and make that. [00:04:38] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, I think, you know, everybody talks about their senior year, right. But I think for the first year as a freshman or even as a transfer student, you know, people forget sometimes about transfer students. And I feel like that first year is just, like I said in the introduction, it is just the most important to lay those foundations for your college life. And, you know, sometimes that's when we will See, I mentioned homesickness, but sometimes that's when we will see, see students for the first time. They'll come in as freshmen because they are just lost. A lot of times they just either they're maybe shy or have some social anxiety. And a lot of times I will direct them to your office because that's the greatest place to start. And I know you do a lot of publicity. I know they know about first year experience, but sometimes they won't go unless somebody like me says, hey, I know Christina over there. Go and tell her that BJ says hi. You know, they kind of want that connection, am I right? [00:05:37] Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely. All about those personal touches, I think. [00:05:41] Speaker B: Yeah. You know, and I did not realize you changed your name, the office changed the name, because we are. I say we live on the edge over here because we're right. Our office, our building actually, for those who are listening, we're on campus, but we're really off campus. We're on the edge. We're next to east edge apartments. So that's why I say we're living on the edge over here. And so a lot of times I can't keep up with what's going on, you know, like over in the middle of campus or even at the student center because we're so busy seeing students back to back here. So I'm glad to have. A lot of times I'll have guests on from all over the country, even all over the world. I've had people on and I really like to have as many as I can are willing from our university here to kind of. Because I know that's usually who's listening to our show. So it's so helpful. Talk about like surviving the freshman year, you know, it can be a whirlwind. There's a lot of planning that goes on to coming to college, whether it's here or anywhere else. And a lot of people think they know what it's going to be like when they come here. And I think they're really surprised a lot of times, you know, what are some keys to consider? Let's just start right out of the gate with some tips to consider. [00:06:58] Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely. I think something we see all the time that students, when we're, you know, doing focus groups or figuring out from the students that have come before the ones that we're trying to serve. What have you struggled with? What can we be helping with? The thing that we see the most, or one of the most is time management. So when I'm thinking about the planning piece to Time management and how to get ready for that big change from wherever you're coming from into this UA environment. I think it really starts with prioritizing what are, what are your priorities? What are your values and how can you meet those needs with this new journey that you're about to go on. So I think before you start your freshman year or before you start a new semester of school, I think really reevaluating what are my priorities, what am I trying to accomplish? And kind of setting out a loose schedule of how can I meet those needs? And then always know you can reassess when you need to. But I think that's a good starting place for a lot of students that they may or may not have done before and kind of approaching it from a priorities basis. And how can they meet the needs? [00:07:55] Speaker B: Yeah, I think, you know, I think a lot of students think they have good time management because in high school they did. But they don't account for everything else that's being thrown at them, you know, that they're warned about. But you don't know until you actually get on campus and start living your life. You've got to figure out finances. You've got, you know, some students may have to work to support themselves. You've got to think about the social aspect. You've got to think about self care, you know, balancing it all out. It's just a lot harder than. You just don't know what you're in for until you get into that environment. Till this. To this environment as a freshman. [00:08:37] Speaker C: So, yeah, and I think that also them knowing that everyone is thinking those things you just mentioned, like they're not alone, like everyone maybe. [00:08:44] Speaker B: Yes they are though. [00:08:46] Speaker C: They do. But really there's so many, like, supports in place because we know that there's going to be need help to be needed. So I think that's like a big thing to encourage people. Like, everyone is wondering the same things in different formats. So reach out. [00:09:00] Speaker B: But everybody is like trying to look like they know what they're doing and nobody really does, let's face it. You know, I was talking to a student today. He's an upperclassman, I'll say that. And I have mentioned this before on the show, that I feel like I am seeing more upperclassmen. Is that how you say that? Who are more homesick now. Then I'm even seeing freshmen, which sounds so weird, I know, because you expect that a little bit with freshmen. But it feels like maybe it's just this year. I don't know what it is. And I don't know what's changed other than freshman year is busy. It's busy. You're trying to like get used to your classes. You're taking a lot of classes, you're meeting a lot of new people. There's a. It's like the new wears off, I think. And then I think sometimes people get homesick because of that. Do you see that? [00:10:00] Speaker C: I think a little bit. And I think it's to your point, like a lot of the overwhelming newness has calmed down, especially in that maybe second year too, where they're in more of like they know what their routine could look like. And so I think there's space for some of those feelings to settle into. And they're not bad feelings to feel homesick. That means you have something to long after back home or wherever. But I remember prior to this position I worked in parent and family programs and so we did a lot of things to try and bridge the gap from homesickness to something like you have a home here at ua, but we're not forgetting about your other homes too. So there's programs in place on campus. So I would definitely encourage people to think and look out about what is like parent and family programs doing. Sometimes they do initiatives like notes from home or snacks from home and stuff like that. So I think it's normal feelings though, maybe from the newness wearing off. [00:10:50] Speaker B: What do you think are the best programs we have on this campus to help students adjust? [00:10:59] Speaker C: I think, of course I'm biased to what we do here. A lot of what we do is research based and student survey based. But we have like 10 different programs in our office that are hitting different kinds of student populations or different needs. We see the generic student population, but I think things like university programs outside of our office, such the bandwidth to do fantastic programming that is planned by students. So it's students planning things for other students. And it's really hitting home a lot of the time with things that I hear my students talking about. They will set up a bookstore, bookshop and you can come and shop for free books. [00:11:36] Speaker B: I know, I saw that last week. I could not believe it. And all the stuff they're doing for Valentine's slash Galentine's. It is amazing. I mean, when I first started working here, we did tons of outreaches to try to get our name out there and kind of break free from the stigma of the counseling center. So we were doing a lot of on campus stuff and it was just really hard to get students to engage. I'LL be honest with you. But now it's like everywhere. Any event you go to, there's gonna be a hand. There might be a handful, there might be hundreds. To be honest. It's cool. That is what's neat about the increased enrollment, too. [00:12:15] Speaker C: That's a good point. [00:12:17] Speaker B: You know, what about, you know, do you have students who just walk into your office cold? And not literally cold, but you know what I mean, that want to know how to meet people? [00:12:31] Speaker C: We do. We. We will take cold, cold call, cold walk, ins, whatever you called it. But we also have a program where people can make an appointment and it'd still be like, we don't know who they are. It's called Compass Talks. And so it's like they can meet with. They can read little bios about our staff in our office and pick who they want to meet with. And then they can come and talk to us about literally anything. But a big one is how to get involved. And so we usually almost every single person in our office has graduated from UA is a wonderful, rare fact. And so I think it's always fun. Different people have built their networks out in campus to be able to kind of talk with the student and see what their interests are. One thing we do in one of the programs that I run is we utilize the student Involvement involvement quiz, and they take it and figure out what strengths or interests they have that could align to one of the 700 plus clubs that we have here on campus. [00:13:23] Speaker B: I can't believe it's that many. [00:13:24] Speaker C: It's gotten up to 700 plus. BJ I know they are so creative. [00:13:28] Speaker B: And let me tell you, I love, I love what you just said. I love that the people in your office. And I know this is not true and sometimes it's not good. And I get that. But I like. Because, you know, the people in your office are UA people, graduates. Because you know the culture of this campus and every campus has a different culture. I know that. And so you can speak to maybe what worked for you since you're, you know, not as old as I am and things haven't changed drastically like they have since I graduated. But you can speak to that and give them examples. And I feel like that that gives you credibility. [00:14:06] Speaker C: Yeah, that's a good point. And I think also one of our slogans we tell students because we don't know everything, but we are good reference points. So we know somebody who might know something, you know, So I think that's the thing that we sit with our students and say, you know, we might not technically know exactly what you're looking for, but I do know someone who probably does. And I think that's been the most powerful thing to be able, like you said earlier in the call, to say, hey, I know Christina who works in first. Hey, I know BJ that works in the counseling center. I know XYZ somewhere. [00:14:34] Speaker B: People are more apt to reach out. You're right. [00:14:36] Speaker C: And I can help them reach out and make an email and copy them on it just to bridge the gap. That's been the most successful turnouts for my students and those meetings where. How do I do? How do I get involved? [00:14:47] Speaker B: How involved are parents with your department, with your office? [00:14:51] Speaker C: Not in our. In our department. Not very. I would say the only one that we have a somewhat higher interaction with parents is with our Camp 1831 program. But I think it's because they are signing up during that end of high school. Like our. Our registration is open already for our two sessions in August for Camp 1831. And so sometimes parents will call with questions about that. But once I feel like we're past that camp point in August and class is all in full in session, we really don't have much parent interaction. And I think it speaks to the responsibility and, like, independence that our students are trying to take on or that we're trying to be a point to ask questions or our students. Sometimes students just listen better to students. [00:15:35] Speaker B: So it's so true. I mean, it is. There's power in peers. [00:15:38] Speaker C: There is. And so we try and empower having different student leader teams for all the initiatives that we have for them to listen to them maybe a little bit better than us sometimes. So. But not too much parent interaction past Camp 1831. [00:15:51] Speaker B: Let me tell you that. Camp 1831, I was talking to a student today who met his girlfriend. [00:15:59] Speaker C: Oh. [00:15:59] Speaker B: So I don't know if they, like, you know, because that's maybe the first place that they meet people, you know, and really become friends. It's like a really good foundational group, it sounds like to me. So that's kind of neat that you mentioned that. [00:16:13] Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely. We're excited about it every year. It's a big one of our big. [00:16:17] Speaker B: Yeah. Let's take our first break, and then when we come back, are you willing to take an email question? [00:16:22] Speaker C: Absolutely. [00:16:23] Speaker B: I haven't seen them yet, so I don't know if we've already talked about it, but I bet we haven't. So you're listening to brain matters on 90.7. The capstone will be right back. [00:16:43] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show host or guests in any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:17:23] Speaker B: Hey, you're back listening to brain matters on 90.7 the Capstone. I'm BJ Gunther. We're talking tonight about surviving freshman year and then the next steps after that. And my guest is Christina Gooden. She is. What is your official title at the first? Well, it was called First Year Experience. Now it's just called what? [00:17:41] Speaker C: UA first and I. UA First? Yes, ma'am. I'm a retention coordinator. [00:17:45] Speaker B: What does that mean? [00:17:47] Speaker C: It means that the programs that I particularly oversee have a focus with keeping students retained from their first year into their second or persist from the fall semester to the spring semester. [00:17:59] Speaker B: Is that improved? Has our retention overall improved? Because I feel like it has. Because I'm not talking. I just now thought about this. I'm not talking in the fall. I don't know if I had one student leave. And that is. I'm thinking that may be a first for me as long as I've been here. [00:18:17] Speaker C: Yeah, we set the bar pretty high for ourselves to be able to continue in, like, an upward trajectory. But I think the work that's being done across campus and through our director and executive director here in the Capstone center for students that we're a part of, we have seen, like, the hard data of, like, the percentage of persisting and retention has gone up for the. [00:18:37] Speaker B: University, which is as large as our enrollment is. And if you're listening and don't know, it's 40,000 approximately. For it to be such a large school, I always joke that we just live on a big, you know, it's like being on a big cruise ship because I feel like the students know that people care whether it's the counseling center, whether it's UA first, whether it's, you know, housing or custodial staff. I really do. I don't hear many students complain about feeling like they're just a number. And I have heard that from other universities when I've gone to conferences and such, you know. [00:19:15] Speaker C: Absolutely. I think when I'm Presenting it, whether it's bama bound or admitted tide days or whatever. I always try when I'm presenting to have a pause when I'm speaking about our program. Especially like about those compass talks I mentioned. And I tell them, I said Alabama can be a big place when you first think about it. I said, but something that we would like you to know walking away from today as you get ready to come to UA in the fall is that we want you to be more than just a number. And if there's nothing else you take from what you learn, you can say that you can come meet with me, Christina Gooden in my office and I can get to know you on a one on one basis and get you plugged in and I'm inviting you into that. So I think I see a change of attention and a facial expression when I say that to them. And I think it's so important. [00:19:59] Speaker B: I think it's real. You know, they feel it. A lot of times they will mention, you know, these students are being recruited so they are going to many other campuses and they will tell me the reasons that they come here. And it's because of offices like UA first. It really is, you know that that's just one example. But if you can get to them like their first semester here or before that really, I guess Bama bound like you're talking about, you really can make an impression and that sticks with them. I want to. Okay, I said I was going to get to an email question, so let's go ahead and do that before we run out of time. This is the first one. How can I feel more conf in my future career path? [00:20:47] Speaker C: I love that question. I think that with whatever major they are choosing or any student is choosing, I think it's so important to connect and expand your network to be able to figure out what is that next step for internships or future careers. And something that you can do is going to office hours of your professor or someone within your major to get to know them. Maybe do a 5 to 10 minute, just quick background check on what has their research been like. Like what is their specific area study within whatever major you're in. But I also think something we can offer to freshmen to help with that question you pose is we have a program that's called out to lunch where it's a great excuse. I like to tell students to make a connection with a professor outside the classroom. They can go to any on campus dining location and pay for their professor's meal up front with their action Card, have a connection with them, ask them questions about. About exactly what you asked me. Bj. They could ask them the same thing and then they can fill out a reimbursement form on the UA first website and then Bama Dining will pay them back for the professor's meal. So professors are jumping at the bit to get food and make connections. But students have told us so many success stories about how that has led to opportunities. Recommendation letters. [00:22:05] Speaker B: This is the first I've heard. This is so cool. [00:22:07] Speaker C: I mean you could even be taken. It could be for staff or faculty. It's an out to lunch program. We have a go to list where people have said I would love, I don't have to. I even have the connection to the student. Have them cold, cold email me and take me out to lunch if that's where the student doesn't know where to start. That's a great reference point too. [00:22:23] Speaker B: That is wonderful. You know, before any of my shows I always say this. Every week I try to do some research, read some articles. And you're right, that was one of the top tips, was like, you know, get to know, make a connection with your professors. But that is one of the biggest things that is so hard for some students is I don't know if they're like intimidated or scared or just, I don't know, don't think it's really important. [00:22:55] Speaker C: Right. We try, we try and have the program, as I always like to say, like let us be your excuse to email them, link the website. We embed it as like a soft requirement to a lot of our programs to help further push students to make that jump. [00:23:09] Speaker B: Yeah, because it would be totally creepy just to go up to your, you know, physics professor and say, hey, do you want to go get a bite to eat? Yeah, you know, creepy, creepy. One of the articles I read gave some tips, you know, and the person who wrote it was a sophomore. So she had already gone through her freshman year and she's going back and talking about like what worked for her. And here's some of the tips and let me know. I mean, I know you'll agree with this. Probably. Of course. Sleep, Sleep. We've. I talk about sleep all the time on this show because it is so important and it's always. Well, maybe not always, but most likely we'll get a student in here quicker than test anxiety, quicker than relationship issues. If their sleep is messed up, they'll come here because it's hard to get your sleep back into a good pattern. So that was one. But Join lots of clubs. You know, I have people who have mixed opinions on joining so many clubs because you don't want to get bogged down with so many responsibilities. But I also have students complain about joining clubs and they only meet like once a month or once a week and they really want to meet more in a group. [00:24:22] Speaker C: Yeah, we always give the generic piece of advice to try three different clubs or organizations in your and have one of them be like major specific, which can deepen your passion for your major or quickly show you, oh, this is not what I want to do. [00:24:35] Speaker B: That's right. [00:24:36] Speaker C: So that's usually what we tell them and it's usually a pretty good number to balance what you're talking about. But it's also okay to like add and drop clubs as you go throughout your college journey too. [00:24:45] Speaker B: Yeah, they're just going to have to kind of experiment with that a little bit and don't be afraid. The one suggestion that is my favorite because this involves me as a therapist and I hear it a lot when there are breakups or drama is have more than one friend group because you and I both know most students only have that one friend group and if something happens, it's devastating. [00:25:14] Speaker C: Yeah, it definitely can be. I guess that can add to the importance of joining different clubs. You can have different support systems around campus for you. Absolutely. [00:25:22] Speaker B: Definitely. Definitely. What about, what are. What do you see as some of the mistakes that incoming freshmen make? [00:25:30] Speaker C: I think sometimes it can be the nerves or the hesitancy to stay in your own comfort zone that you're used to from high school. I think there is a lot of opportunity at UA with how, how big our school is with the like we talked about 700 plus clubs and all the different colleges and majors. I think trying to push yourself out of that comfort zone can be so beneficial from even your first year on campus to try new things. And then I also think going to class, skipping class we see is something our students fall so easily into, but it has such a large impact on the catching up feeling of overwhelmed and not knowing how to with however many classes you have on your plate, where to start when you've, you know, skipped class for however many days or weeks, it can be easy to see and. [00:26:20] Speaker B: Just like you said, making connections. And also I've had students miss classes and then they're embarrassed to go back because they're so convinced it's going to be noticed. You know, I mean it's like big classes sometimes. I don't understand. Okay, sidebar. This is a whole Nother show. But. But I don't understand why all professors don't take attendance because that kind of reinforces, you know, that students will be required to be in class. But I guess on some level, maybe they're trying to instill independence. [00:26:57] Speaker C: Possibly, I think specifically for those more generic freshmen classes when we are trying to still get them to transition into what UA is. I think I agree with your. Your sentiment of I wish there was a heavier emphasis within the class structure of Covington class being mandatory in a. [00:27:13] Speaker B: Sense, you know, unless it's a really hard subject. You know, I have had students tell me, and they're conscientious students, but they're just like, they're kind of picking and choosing what they need, what classes they need to steadily attend. It's so weird to me because I can't imagine when I was in college, missing class. Oh, my gosh, no. [00:27:35] Speaker C: Wouldn't have been for my personality type, I'll say that. [00:27:39] Speaker B: I mean, you can miss one class and miss a lot of material. That's so true. Some classes. You know, what about. Let's take another break. It's time for our second break. Because Katherine's not here. I'm having to keep up with this on my own. That's why I miss her so much. And when we come back, we've got a few more email questions, so we'll pick up on those. And then I've got more questions for you just in general. So we'll be right back. You. You're listening to brain matters on 90.7 the Capstone. [00:28:14] Speaker C: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. [00:28:16] Speaker A: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling, and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:28:54] Speaker B: Hey, you're back listening to brain matters on 90.7 the Capstone. I'm Dr. B.J. guenther. We're talking tonight about surviving your freshman year in college. And then what do you do after that? And what are the next steps overall with, like, you know, not just academics, but socially and, you know, building that resume, too. That's a big topic that you start. I know they're thinking about it in the freshman year, but then it's gets worse, you know, the older you get, the more upper class you get. And my guest is Christina Gooden. And Christina is in the office. It's called UA First. And UA first helps students who are freshmen or what is the other qualification? [00:29:39] Speaker C: First generation college student. [00:29:41] Speaker B: First generation. So you're pretty busy all the time, I bet. You know, like, do you keep up with these? Like, if students come in, I'm sure you get their contact information. And do you follow up? [00:29:54] Speaker C: Yeah, we do. We, we follow up through. We have different email lists that different staff members curate different kinds of content for through platforms. We have more intentional outreach emails. If we have those one on one interactions with students, if they come in off the hallway or if they have scheduled a meeting with us, we follow up like very personally and ask how things were going from the meeting that we had with spreadsheets we take notes with and that kind of thing. So constantly trying to follow up with students, make them feel like we see them and care about them. [00:30:26] Speaker B: Yeah. And they have somebody to talk to if they, you know, get stumped about how to get involved. And that's, that's the next. Basically it's a general question. We've kind of touched on this. Another email question. Best advice for a student who did not feel connected or form close friendships during their freshman year. So that's a little bit different. If they didn't make those connections. It's never too late. You know, even though your office is called UA first, it's never too late to engage with somebody in your office. [00:30:56] Speaker C: I think that's. I would 100% agree. I think what I hear a lot of the time is even for students who felt like they did make connections, they more often than not change friend groups in that second year. I think they are just sometimes in survival mode or trying out so many different groups that freshman year. But I see so often friends get solidified or made for the first time in that sophomore year, once you feel like you have a grip on what's going on with your new life here in college. So I know that within our office as well as lots of offices on campus, even beyond that first year, there's leadership opportunities to get involved in that you don't always necessarily have to have participated in during your freshman year. So there's different points of the year when we're looking for students to help other students maybe feel differently than how they felt their freshman year. [00:31:46] Speaker B: What are some of those groups? Like, what are they called? [00:31:48] Speaker C: Yeah, I know that some of the, the programs That I run. I run a program for out of state freshman students. So, okay, if you didn't do it, it's called New View. I will take out of state students that are upperclassmen to help be mentors for that next group of students. We have with the camp 1831 that we talked earlier in the show, we have our A team that we train and runs Camp 1831 programming from a student perspective that we're looking at for people to help us with that as well as I have an ignite UA program that's really more about academic preparedness in the spring semester after everyone's kind of given it their own go in the fall. And I look for any sort of upperclassmen leaders to help me run that program in the springtime. [00:32:30] Speaker B: Do you have, do you have a lot of people who are interested in those? And I mean, is there, is there plenty of space is what I'm asking. [00:32:38] Speaker C: I would say that there, there is always. We're always wanting more applicants to consider to make the best team possible. I don't think we're hit at capacity at any of our leadership teams that people should be turned away from trying to make. [00:32:51] Speaker B: Yeah, don't be discouraged. There's plenty of room for you. Usually 700 groups, organizations. Also there's a whole nother. That's a whole nother show. To be honest. We mentioned Camp 1831 and I failed to mention 1831 is when our university, the University of Alabama was founded. If you're listening and don't know, because we do, this will be on Apple podcast after we finish recording the show. And so there might be people who don't really. But Camp 1831 is what it is. [00:33:21] Speaker C: A three day, two night, ultimate first year experience where students come before they start classes to get to know the campus, learn some of our traditions, get connected with even the faculty staff within their college before they start class and get to know their peers and each other as well as get some mentors already in their side and on their corner from those leaders I mentioned that are part of the A team. [00:33:42] Speaker B: So it's different from like a orientation, you know, like Bama bound. It sounds more in depth. [00:33:50] Speaker C: It is. I would say it has more time because Bama Bound, there's so much. There's some social elements to it, but you do have such a heavy focus of trying to get your classes and the academic thing settled for the fall. And ours is more about making sure, you know, like kind of. We talked about there are people here that care about you. We want UA to feel like a home. We want you to know what UA is beyond what you already know about it from our history, where we have come from, where we are. So there's some more like fun educational pieces and connection points. [00:34:18] Speaker B: It does sound like camp. [00:34:20] Speaker C: It is. It's very funny. It really does. [00:34:22] Speaker B: It's a perfect name. Okay, so how like you've gone through your freshman year, let's say at this, you know, I said I probably should have had this in the fall, but actually I did it. I made it on purpose this time of year because we're finishing up that person's. That student's freshman year coming up. How do you know if a student is adjusting to college life? Life? [00:34:44] Speaker C: Yeah. I think that is a good question. I think there's lots of factors and it can vary from person to person. But some generic things that I thought about was when people start feeling comfortable in their routine, it's going to change from year to year with classes and new like maturity developments as you go through life. But I think also feeling like you have developed different support systems like we talked about earlier. Like you feel like there are people or you have a. May want to try and develop those support systems if you're still lacking in a couple areas. But and then I think also having had a year, if you're kind of going into that year two mentality, you have kind of started to figure out how to manage stress. Whether that looks like talking to people on the phone, exercising, whether it's coming. [00:35:27] Speaker B: To the counseling center. [00:35:28] Speaker C: Coming to the counseling center. So I think figuring out there's some a lifelong journey to figure out how to manage stress. But I think think with college there's indicators that. Okay, I'm getting some of the hang of this. I think. [00:35:41] Speaker B: Yeah, I think you usually know if things aren't working out, you know, for you, hopefully. And maybe sometimes people, sometimes your friends or even professors will show concern. [00:35:55] Speaker C: Right. [00:35:55] Speaker B: And question you, you know, what about. Go ahead. [00:35:59] Speaker C: I think also wanted one thing I wanted to make sure I mentioned was that there is a. I think not realizing that you haven't adjusted yet. Show some maturity and self assessment too, which is promise for the future. So I think if you are attuned enough to know, I don't know if I'm adjusting just quite the way I should expect myself to. I think that is something to be said to know yourself that well for whatever that next step to help yourself. [00:36:23] Speaker B: Comes up in the therapy world, we call that insight. [00:36:25] Speaker C: Yes, we have insight. [00:36:27] Speaker B: Insight. This this email question, I cannot believe I did not think of this. This is an excellent question. What are the biggest changes from living on campus as a freshman to apartment living as a so more that is huge. [00:36:41] Speaker C: I think there's a whole new independence that comes in a learning curve that comes from moving off campus. Most our students that second year, I think transportation and getting to class from not walking from their residence hall. Yes, building, building. And that's part of time management is figuring out, okay, my, does my apartment have a bus shuttle? What time does that run off of? What kind of parking lot do I need to buy for when do I need to eat breakfast to be able to. [00:37:08] Speaker B: I talk a lot about that, you know, from students here and how much time they have wasted or how much time it takes them to get even from my office to their next class, you know. [00:37:17] Speaker C: Right. I think also figuring out how bills work. A lot of the times you have to work with most of the time other people and other roommates, whether they're the same from the year before or new ones. How does that work with being financially responsible in a different way that you didn't have to truly be for the majority of our students that first year with it going on your student bill. So I think that brings a whole new level of independence as well with. [00:37:41] Speaker B: Off campus housing and washer and dryer, you know, having your own washer and dryer. That's the one thing that I was like, I'm in heaven. This is wonderful. Okay, the next email question. What do students feel like they need to be better supported after their freshman year? Does that make sense? Yeah. [00:38:00] Speaker C: Better supported after their freshman year. I think maybe some students get stuck in like, what's next? And like I've figured all this out and so now what do I do? And they feel like they should be further along. Like there's a lot of comfort in the thought of, oh, I'm just a freshman. I'm figuring it out, I'm a freshman. But once you graduate from that, I think there can be some identity reassessment of like, am I doing what I need to be doing? Am I in. Am I in the right major? So I think just, just going to like we said earlier, like major specific clubs to reassess and reconfirm. Like this is a major I'm comfortable in, I think expanding your network in any way possible, whether that's going to talks on campus to learn about different things happening, listening to brain matters with all the different topics that they host or going to up events. I Think just putting yourself out there, continuing to do that just brings so many new opportunities that people can get kind of stagnant and if they are comfortable in their routine and just don't want to try something. [00:39:05] Speaker B: I think advising is a very important aspect. And you know, there are. I'm not going to lie, there are some schools that are better at advising than others on our campus because I hear about it a lot. Some are more focused, I guess, on cohort, a type of cohort, you know, and then some are more focused on more independent thinking or, you know, flexibility, I guess you would say. But I think that is really important your freshman and your sophomore year because you're trying to, like you mentioned before, nail down that major. [00:39:37] Speaker C: I agree. That can be so important. [00:39:40] Speaker B: This, this is a question for you specifically because it's about retention. We might have. We. I think we already talked about this, but not specifically. What is the retention rate from freshman to sophomore year for students? [00:39:54] Speaker C: I could pull up the exact number, but I know it is in like the high 80s percentiles. I think we are biting at 90%. [00:40:05] Speaker B: Is that competitive with. Other universities are at our size? [00:40:08] Speaker C: Yes, comparable universities. I would say that we, we have. We're pretty proud of where we are and we are doing everything we can to stay or excel beyond. But it is already at such a great rate with, like you said earlier, how many students we're servicing. To be at that number is a really wonderful place to be. So we celebrate it. But don't let us lack in our work to continue to hit those. [00:40:30] Speaker B: Don't take it for granted. [00:40:31] Speaker C: That's right. [00:40:32] Speaker B: Don't get. Don't get complacent, as Nick Saban would say. [00:40:36] Speaker C: That's right. [00:40:37] Speaker B: What about. Do you. If. Tell me if I'm wrong. If someone is going to withdraw, it's going to be at the end of their freshman year. Is that more likely? [00:40:50] Speaker C: It is more. We do see a different rate between the summer or, excuse me, the spring to fall between freshman and sophomore than we do from fall to spring. I think it has a lot to do with. There's a lot more time to sit and think over that time. [00:41:07] Speaker B: Yes. [00:41:07] Speaker C: So there's a lot of factors as well. I think we. We don't always know what that those factors are, but I think time is a big one. [00:41:15] Speaker B: Yeah, I do too. I agree. Do you have any more added suggestions other than what we've talked about? Can you think of anything else that would help a student when they come back from the summer to readjust? I Mean, not just with homesickness, because I think that can happen. I've seen it happen even this year, readjusting from the winter break, because our winter break is about a month long. And if somebody. If a student is already a little bit. Bit struggling a little bit with adjustment and then they go home for that winter break, they've had a little bit of trouble. Sometimes I'll make an appointment. Right. For when they get back so that we can, you know, talk about it. And so I can imagine it might be the same from freshman to sophomore year readjusting, because they've been possibly home, you know, the whole summer. [00:42:07] Speaker C: I think. I think some things that came to my mind as you were even talking is having someone to continue to talk about it with. So whether it be like, someone like me in our office or you, or even just a mentor they've made along the way, just continuing to know that it's okay to feel homesick past your freshman year. It's totally normal. I. I mean, I'm 28 years old and I still get homesick. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, and I don't get to see my parents as often as I'd like to. So it's one of those things that's such a. An honor to have someone to be homesick over. But it doesn't make the feelings any easier. [00:42:38] Speaker B: I'm glad you said that, because when students come in here, sometimes they're embarrassed. Embarrassed to say that they're homesick. You know, and I'll reword it adjusting. Because some people don't like the word homesick or whatever, but I always tell them, if you're homesick, you must come from a good place. [00:42:52] Speaker C: That's right. [00:42:53] Speaker B: Because you miss it that much, you know? [00:42:54] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:42:55] Speaker B: And they miss their dogs and cats and their pets. [00:42:58] Speaker C: I had just done a survey with my students, and they said that missing their dog was the biggest challenge that they felt at this point of the year. And that's real. That's real. [00:43:06] Speaker B: It's real. And that's why I've had a show before on the. I call it Rent a Pet, but they have a name for it. You know what I'm talking about? Through the. Yes. The metro. Yes. And I can't remember what it is, but that, you know, students can go and basically rent a pet, which I couldn't do. I would never take it back, ever. I get attached to goldfish, so, you know, I can't. I can't do that. But that is an option for those students who are missing that companionship. [00:43:36] Speaker C: You know, I think that is such a good point. I think also for things that my students have told me has helped them with the same thing with homesickness or readjustment is having a countdown of when's the next time they're going to go home. And they actively are looking forward to that as well as making time set aside for things like facetime with the people that they are missing to be able to feel reconnected. Some of the time comes from forgetting to. For to plan that and have set aside time that works for both parties to be able to FaceTime and see that person's face and reaction can make all the. [00:44:11] Speaker B: Yeah, it's, it's. And we have so many students who are from so far away they don't get. They're not going to be able to go home. Let's say they start in August and they're not going to be able to go home until Thanksgiving. August to November sounds like an eternity when you're homesick. August to September sounds like an eternity when you're homesick. You know, I feel like there. I don't know, I feel like having a, you know, during your freshman year, if you've made friends, if you've got a connection that way, that definitely helps when you come back because. And you're a little bit excited to see the friend and then you have somebody to do stuff with. So that helps big time right there. So it's really important to establish a friendship with somebody. [00:44:53] Speaker C: Yeah, I think so. I think with the program I run for specifically out of state freshman students, I've heard them connecting with one another over these sentiments. But they are sometimes from the same part of the country. And so even them missing home, the fact that they've been able to connect with someone from their part of the country. Country has helped bridge that gap a little bit. Which has been one of like the greatest outcomes of that program that we've been able to have. Yeah. [00:45:17] Speaker B: And did it. Did it used to be called something else? [00:45:21] Speaker C: I think it's been it. It started in 2017 and I think new view since 2017. [00:45:26] Speaker B: Okay. [00:45:27] Speaker C: Because realized the data needed somebody. [00:45:29] Speaker B: I mentioned this today to somebody from New Jersey and I mentioned this and I was trying to explain exactly what you just explained. So I'm glad to know the name and specifically where send her because this is what she needs. [00:45:44] Speaker C: Absolutely. It was something even I'm from Atlanta, which is not super far compared to other students I've met. But I didn't have. They didn't have this program in 2014 when it's a freshman. And I'm so. I've seen the. The beauty that's come out of the space students have been able to find one another with. [00:46:00] Speaker B: It's so neat. It's so neat. I love it. What about. Okay, let's. I've skipped the third break. Sorry, Katherine. I miss you so much. Let's take our last break. When we come back, we'll talk about some resources and kind of wrap up the show. So you're listening to brain matters on 90.7 the Capstone. [00:46:27] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:47:08] Speaker B: Hey, you're back listening to brain matters on 90.7, the capstone. I'm BJ Gunther. We're talking tonight about surviving your first year, your freshman year and then what happens next. And my guest is Christina Gooden and she is retention coordinator for UA first, which your office is actually located, is it in the student center? [00:47:28] Speaker C: It is now in Russell hall, third floor. [00:47:31] Speaker B: That takes me back. My first office was second floor of Russell. And can you believe the student health center was on the first floor. And the nursing school. We shared the nursing school on the second floor. Can you believe it? [00:47:44] Speaker C: I know. Very different these days. [00:47:46] Speaker B: I'm aging myself. Is it too early to consider internships for the summer? Is freshman year too early to do. Do that? [00:47:53] Speaker C: I don't think so. I think that when I was thinking about this question, it's not. If you don't want to consider internships just yet, it is okay. And I think there is time for it. But I think you only have three summers within college. So if you feel ready to dive into an opportunity like that, it is not too early at all. I think utilizing networks that you or your people back home already have to try something new or try something you know you'll be good at. Can be great. Or there's lots of people, like I mentioned earlier with our out to lunch program, talking to a professor, see if they have any advice that could really widen your. Yeah. Your perspective of what could be something you do in the future with your career path. [00:48:37] Speaker B: Yeah, I don't think I've ever. I can't remember ever having a freshman that did an internship right off the bat. They'll go home and have jobs there that like maybe their parents or somebody their parents know will connect them with. But I don't know if it would be categorized necessarily as what I would call an internship. You know, it's kind of. It feels kind of early, doesn't it? [00:48:57] Speaker C: It can be. I think that students come to us at different head spaces and I have seen some gung ho, heavy hitter students, usually the ones that are already applying for amp, which is our accelerated master's program, get a bachelor's and a master's at the same time. By the time they graduate, if they go on this plan. Those kind of students I see doing internships after their freshman year. But I would say the vast majority do not. I think that they still have goals and they have something to keep them productive over the summer. Helps them ease back into that sophomore year. But I would say the vast majority don't. But I would say it's not too early. If you do want to consider that is something you can look into. For sure they won't away from consideration because of that. [00:49:41] Speaker B: Yeah. What about students? I do have a few freshmen who have had such a blast for their first year that they're really sad to leave for the summer. Like it's a separation anxiety type situation. And what would you say to those students? You know, what would you. How would you encourage them? I mean, you know, it's only three months. [00:50:05] Speaker C: It is. It's only three months. And I'm so glad that they found the home at UA to make them feel like there's something to be missed. I think it would be similar advice that I usually give to students who feel a little homesick because they're feeling homesick for their different home now from where they have culture had. Oh, it's so funny you said that. [00:50:24] Speaker B: I had somebody mention that last week. She said, what did she. She's graduating and she said this and she's from California. And she said, this is my home now. This is my home now. I don't know where I'm gonna belong. You know, it was sad. [00:50:39] Speaker C: That gives me chills. [00:50:40] Speaker B: I know. [00:50:41] Speaker C: Because that's our goal with everything you and I and everyone else on this university does. We hope that they find their home here at UA while we we have them to get them ready for the next step. But I would Say similar things like make time and have a plan to connect with the friends that you are going to miss the most. Like have a group chat if you don't already. Or say like, you know, we're gonna send pictures from our week every week and kind of catch up with each other in that way. Or if you have the means, you can plan to see your friends depending on how far apart you live. I remember that was something. And it's such a special memory. Coming from Atlanta to going to Dallas, Texas the summer after my freshman year to visit friends. It felt magical to be able to do that. So any, any of those connection pieces and just a countdown until you can see each other again can be special. [00:51:29] Speaker B: That's cool. I know we've talked about tons of resources. Do you have any more, like, any more apps, any more books, even websites, anything you can think of that would be a good resource for an incoming freshman year? [00:51:44] Speaker C: I. That is a good question. I think something that it's never too early to start is your LinkedIn or I know at UA we use our Handshake is a specific app the career center uses. And I think just utilizing those to start building that platform that can be utilized to build your network throughout your time at UA can be so wonderful. The earlier you start it, the better. I also think think something I tell students is utilize tutoring before you think you need tutoring. So tutoring is within our center that UA first is a part of the Capstone center for Student Success in Russell Hall. Tutoring is housed on the second floor. And I always tell students, just go before you feel like you're drowning because then you're set up for success. Your confidence is higher. You build a community with peers that are studying the same things as you for accountability or just community. But go to tutorial before you think you need tutoring. [00:52:40] Speaker B: That's a good idea. It's very hard to get students sometimes to go to tutoring. It's like too late in the semester a lot by the time they come here, you know, it's like, april, I hear you. Have you ever read any good books that you'd recommend a freshman? [00:52:58] Speaker C: Oh, I'm trying to think back to. I've read a lot of like theory and History of Higher Ed lately. I always read the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is more for staff, but I think it could be applicable to different students, possibly with what's going on. But there's a lot of like kind of what you read earlier from the sophomore point of view. I'm blanking on what the name of it is, but there's platforms out there with students writing their perspective of that's cool. Their experiences. [00:53:26] Speaker B: Yeah, I think that's cool. [00:53:27] Speaker C: I think seeking those out is. Is really fun and cool and. [00:53:31] Speaker B: And they can relate. It's relatable. [00:53:33] Speaker C: Relate. That's right. [00:53:34] Speaker B: Hey, thank you so much, Christina, for being on the show. It goes by so fast, you know, it really does. And there' lot to talk about. I mean, we could literally take every year, sophomore, junior, senior. There's different aspects and different, you know, steps and different, I guess, you know, milestones that are met every year. But the freshman year is probably the most important to set that foundation. So I appreciate you being on the show. Thank you so much. [00:54:03] Speaker C: Yeah, thanks so much for having me. It was a great time. [00:54:06] Speaker B: Don't forget, our shows are recorded podcasted on Apple Podcasts, audioboom.com, voices UA edu. Just type in Brain Matters and you'll find some of our past shows. Don't forget there's a link to Voices UA Edu on the Counseling Center's website, and that's at Counseling UA Edu. I like to thank a few people who have made the show possible. Our executive director here at the counseling center, Dr. Greg Vanderwaal. My producer who will be back next week, Katherine Howell. She's a colleague. Also, my other colleagues here at the Counseling Center Counseling Center, Kathryn Ratchford. She edits our shows for wvua and she does a great job. And of course, my guest tonight, Christina Guden. And don't forget, next week is our show. We're gonna have an interesting guest next week. It's called how to Lead and Make a Positive Impact. And my guest is a veteran who is the director of wellness for Zach Brown's Camp Southern Ground. And. And he was a keynote speaker for a conference that I went to back in November. And he made such an impression on me, I had to contact him to see if he'd be a guest on the show. So he's going to be on the show next week. So don't forget, join us, same time, same place. Thanks again for listening. You've been listening to Brain Matters. Good night. [00:55:31] Speaker A: This show was not intended as a substitute for professional counseling. Further, the views, opinions and conclusions expressed by the show hosts or their guests are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Alabama, its officers or trustees. Any views, opinions, or conclusions shared on the show do not create a relationship between the host or any guest and any listener. And such a relationship should never be inferred. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, please contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.