By Lamar Reevers
After graduating from high school, many students jumpstart to a new direction of who they want to be. Those who go to college can have a hard time stepping into higher education.
Grand Rapids Community College students explained how college is different. Sara Brock, 20, of Owosso, explained her first year of college was difficult because of the different pace. “It was definitely fast paced because both of my parents are counselors at a high school and my parents will help me pay for college if I go right after high school,” Brock said. Brock didn’t know how to deal with heavy loads of homework from each class in the first half of her first semester.
As a student at GRCC, many have experienced difficulty leaving the high school mindset in the past. The first semester taught a lot of college students to be prepared for upcoming deadlines, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Athiei Kuot, 19, of Forest Hills, said college preparation and grant applications were very hard to understand. “It was actually really hard, I think, ignoring everybody else’s warnings to start things early, but if there’s one thing I can emphasize much earlier than I had is FAFSA and scholarships,” Kuot said. “If I knew what position I had in the fall semester dealing with FAFSA and not knowing my schedule and support team. I would’ve done that way before during high school.” Kuot added, “Once you do get a firm grip of your support team, resources and your classes of what you need at this school experience.”
Once going to college, students have to learn how to take accountability, be responsible, and utilize time management to balance their schedules. Kuot said that students need to be proactive in college to manage their time wisely.
It’s difficult for some college students not to see their high school friends anymore. Aven Flippin, a 21, of Kentwood, explained how he realized that life starts after high school, when he saw the majority of his friends get their high school diplomas and go to different colleges or trade schools.
“I realize I still have the same type of thinking that I had in high school, which impacted me greatly tothe point that I failed classes and knowing that I have to retake them,” Flippin said.
He said he realized he has to control his actions with academic priorities, commitment and choosing friends wisely who love to see improvement.
One thing that college teaches students is to utulize provided resources. Some students improved after one semester by going to the tutoring labs and scheduling an appointment with their success coach, counselors and academic advisors, who gave students valuable lessons.
