Going to School and Knowing No One

By Meggie Wachowiak

Probably my biggest worry about going off to college was that I wouldn’t make any friends. Though a few people from my high school were also planning on going to Edgewood, I didn’t really know any of them very well, so this didn’t help to calm my nerves at all. I had had the same two best friends since elementary school and the same main friend group since middle school, so the prospect of going off to college and having to make new friends was terrifying to me. I remember being afraid that I wouldn’t even know how to make friends.

What I quickly, and thankfully, learned however, is that at a school like Edgewood, it is pretty hard not to make friends. All of the students and staff at Edgewood are so welcoming and friendly – you will meet new people almost everywhere you go on campus, starting day one. As an incoming freshman, you will have an orientation group that you participate in activities with during the four-day orientation before classes start. Many students end up becoming really close with their orientation group. As a junior, I still am really good friends with some of the people from my orientation group! There are also a lot of other orientation events you can participate in throughout those four days, which are great ways to meet other incoming freshmen outside of your orientation group.

Living in the residence halls on campus is also another great way to meet people. Many of the halls on campus have 50 to 60 residents living on a floor, so these are automatically 50 to 60 people that you will meet and be living with all year. My best friends at Edgewood were my neighbors or lived on my floor freshman year. Because Edgewood’s class sizes are so small, you often get to know other students in your classes as well. Many classes even require group assignments or projects, which is another way to meet new people. Also, getting an on-campus job or joining a student organization are other great ways to meet other students with similar interests to you. I have made some great friends through my job in the Admissions Office, as a Resident Assistant, and in both of the organizations I am involved with.

Overall, what I really wish someone would have told me is that I had nothing to worry about! Edgewood is well-known for its strong community feel, and it definitely holds true to that! You will quickly go from knowing no one, to having great, life-long friends that you met in your classes, in your residence hall, in a student organization, etc. Always remember, too, that you are not alone! Almost everyone goes off to school without knowing anyone!

Changing Majors

Patrice Morris

In high school I went through five different careers that I really wanted to do when I got to college. Once I came into Edgewood I decided on becoming an early education major. I loved working with kids and it seemed like a great way to give back to the community. The more I did my research, the more I realized that this might not be for me. I took a few education classes and decided that this wasn’t the road I wanted to take.

Once I hit this wall, I panicked. I had no idea where I wanted to go anymore and it was the end of my freshmen year. If this happens to you, and for many people it will, my advice is to take a deep breath. You will figure it out; all you may need is a little extra guidance. What I did at this point was go into career services. They were a life saver. They took my likes and dislikes into concern and showed me a lot of career paths that I never would have even thought of going into. They helped through some tests and their general knowledge on the work world to get me to my major right now of Psychology with emphasis on Human Services, which I will go into the hospital setting to use. They helped get me to the general major and the more I researched it, the more I realized the different fields I could concentrate in.

Career Services Staff: Ellen Bartkowiak, Shawn Johnson and Sara Hanson

I thought I might have been the only one out there struggling with changing my major. It seemed like in college you are defined by your major and if you are going about changing it, it is almost like an identity crisis. Don’t worry. In the US about 80% of college students change their major once. So it may feel like you are alone, but you aren’t many other people are in your shoes. When coming to college there are a lot more options that open up to you that you may have not even realized were there. Don’t worry, you will figure it out and at Edgewood we have a lot of FREE resources to help!

Picking Classes

By Erika Schauer

Picking courses at a college level is very similar to high school where you have required general education requirements and credits that are flexible.  Before choosing any classes, it is wise to set up a meeting with your academic advisor who will make sure that you are on track to earning your degree.  Majors, including nursing and education, have all the classes you need to take planned out for you, avoiding the confusion of courses applying to a major.  It is wise to take the required cornerstone classes in the beginning to get them out of the way because they can be prerequisites for classes within the major.  Consult with your advisor before making any huge decisions in class changes or even major changes.

When picking classes, do not set yourself up for failure by overwhelming yourself and causing potential stress with a heavy workload.  Try to maintain balance by taking different classes at the time of day that you work best.  You can space out your schedule allowing time for lunch, homework, or a break.  Both morning and night classes are available, so schedule according to your needs.  Ask around to see what professors are strong, so you will be engaged during the class. As your college career progresses, you will get a feel for what professors you work best with.  Academic advisors are always available for any questions you might have while choosing classes.

By: Nick Hefty

As a freshman, many people are worried about having random roommates.  I will admit that it was one of my concerns as well.  However, having random roommates can really be a great experience and you might end up becoming great friends in the process.  When you are assigned random roommates it is important to set boundaries right from the start.  Talking about things upfront is very important; be clear about what you’re willing to share, when you usually go to bed, and what your expectations of your new roommate are.

Try to find common interests with your roommate such as TV shows, sports, music, or hobbies.  Use these commonalities to get to know your roommate during the first few weeks of living together by asking them to do one of your common interests together, if possible.  It is important to remember that as roommates you don’t necessarily need to be best friends, so allowing both your roommate and yourself some time apart is crucial to living together.

College Life: Fact of Fiction

By: Patrice Morris

Myth 1: College is so much harder than high school.

Truth: College is going to take a lot of work. But there is a reason you got into college and it’s because you can do it! There are a ton of resources here at Edgewood that really help all of our students adapt to the college lifestyle of studying. We have peer tutors, a writing center, and a math lab that are all available to students in order for them to succeed here. You just need to keep in mind that you are here to learn and get a degree. You will do just fine as long as you are putting in the effort that is necessary.

Myth 2: The freshman 15

Truth: When you are at school it can be really easy to get caught up in all the food that you have around you. At Edgewood we have $1300 meal plans for each semester. In order to not gain this weight you need to watch what you eat and watch how much you eat of it. It’s okay to splurge and get fries every now and then, but when you are getting them for lunch or dinner every day you will gain the extra weight. Now that you don’t have meals put on the table every night it is up to you to make the smart decision on healthy eating. If you do this, you won’t gain the dreaded freshmen 15.

Myth 3: Your roommate will be either your best friend or enemy.

Truth: In the beginning of the semester it is really nice to have a roommate. It gives you a chance to meet someone on campus, have someone to have lunch with, and gives you that comfort you may need when you first get here. After a while you may find out that this person isn’t going to be your best friend on campus, but this doesn’t mean that you are going to hate each other either. You may not have a similar group of friends or just see each other before you go to sleep and wake up in the morning. Don’t worry, go in with an open mind and it will be fine, roommates do not build your life at school.

Myth 4: With classes and new friends, I won’t be able to handle extra-curriculars.

Truth: Get involved!! If there was one tip I would give to first year students it would be to join some organizations. The truth is your first year here is going to be the year that you have the most time and in a lot of cases the lightest homework load. This is a great time for you to find what clubs or sports you like and what you don’t like.  So as you go through school you can have an extra-curricular or two that you really enjoy going to. Not to mention this is a great way to meet new people, otherwise you are stuck to the people you see in class and in your dorms.

History of the Mounds

By Meggie Wachowiak

Though many of the mounds in the Madison area have been destroyed by farming, road construction, or housing developments, Edgewood College is home to fourteen very unique and historical mounds.  These mounds date back to the Woodland Indians that once inhabited the area that is now the Edgewood College campus.  It is believed that the mounds specifically date back to the Ho-Chunk tribe. The Dominican Sisters chose to preserve these effigy, conical, and linear mounds for wealth of history and education that can be provided by them.  Though some of the surviving mounds have some partial damage, most have remained fairly intact.

Currently, on Edgewood’s campus there are two linear mounds, nine conical mounds, and three effigy mounds.  The three effigy mounds are a bird, a bear, and a panther or water-spirit.  These three mounds represent the “three natural realms – air (bird), earth (bear), and water (water-spirit or panther) that provide the resources on which humans depend.”  The bird effigy mound is of an eagle, and it is because of this mound that our mascot is the eagle.  The bird’s body is 80 feet, and its wingspan was originally 260 feet – some of its wingspan was destroyed by road construction.  The bear mound was first documented by students of Charles Brown, a renowned archeologist, in 1920.  The panther mound contains conch shells originating from Florida, which suggests that the inhabitants of the area were travelers.  Mounds like the panther or water-spirit were often made to point towards sacred springs or waterways.

To this day, the mounds provide very historical and educational value to students, staff, and visitors of Edgewood College.  The study of these unique mounds can provide students with insight to the culture of the Woodland Indians who once inhabited our campus.

Information from:  http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p584

What I wanted to be when I grow up.

By Erika Schauer

Growing up, teachers and adults always asked the popular question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers always included “firefighter,” “doctor,” and “vet.” Although most of my classmates were certain they would be in the NFL or NBA, I was positive I wanted to be a teacher. The follow up question was always “why,” and it took me awhile to understand why it was my calling. Helping people and see them grow and succeed is something that I would love to do every day. Teachers have a huge impact and shape children, and I want to be the person who becomes a positive influence in their life.

I wanted to be sure that I was going into something that I enjoyed, so I volunteered in a 6^th grade classroom at the local middle school my senior year of high school. The guidance department at my high school was not in favor of my choice to do this, but it was one of the best decisions I made. Being in the classroom felt like home and I loved working and assisting the teacher and students. This was the time that I became 100% sure this was the career path I would like to pursuit.

My parents were always supportive in whatever career choice I would choose, and they thought education would be a great fit for me. My extended family and family friends would often tell me that “I would not make any money” being a teacher. I am a true believer in doing something that you enjoy rather than being paid more for something that is not enjoyable. I cannot express how excited I am to be in the classroom and impact the educational development of children.