#weeklywednesdaywisdom: The First-Year Experience

How many of you are counting down the days until you move into Coe? I haven't counted, but I know it's coming up too quickly.

As you start to pack up your room and get ready to head off to campus, you might be wondering what happens after Orientation. I mean, you know classes start, but what else will you be up to?

Let me tell you.

You'll be getting letters (or have already received) letters from your College Adjustment Peer (CAP). They are your go-to buds once you're on campus. You can ask them just about anything and they'll make sure your transition to Coe is nice and smooth.

They will also probably coordinate some of the activities you have to complete during your first year. We call your first year the First-Year Experience. There are five components to this experience:

1. Summer common reading
2. Orientation activities
3. First-Year Seminar Class
4. Campus Engagement 
5. Service Learning 

You've hopefully completed the "baboon book," and of course you'll participate in all the fun Orientation activities (I promise, they are fun), and you've recently gotten your FYS placements. That just leaves campus engagement and service learning.

• Campus engagements are simply that: events on campus. You'll attend plays, musical concerts, a SAC event, or something else campus decides to host. It's a great way to get you out in the Coe community, see what other Kohawks are doing, and just give yourself a nice way to enjoy a night on campus. Campus engagements also include attending an issue dinner, a dinner with other first-years on a topic that is important in the Cedar Rapids community. A speaker might come in to give you some facts or you might have a discussion with someone from campus. The topics vary year to year and are always interesting.
• Service learning is strongly recommended for first-years but not required. We ask that you try to complete around 20 hours of service back to Cedar Rapids. There are lots of way to do service. Sometimes Coe brings projects to campus and sometimes you get to go out into the city and do your service there. For example, I went down a few blocks to the local elementary school and read books to first-graders. It was adorable and I loved it. We have a fantastic service learning office (in Upper Gage) and they can help you find the perfect place to volunteer at. 

Well, I hope this continues to fire you up about coming to campus. I can't wait for you guys to move in and liven up campus a bit! Enjoy these last few weeks!

#firstyearexperience

#timetocometocampus

#orientationswag