What would you tell your first-year self? Advice from the URochester community!

As college students, we’re constantly thinking about what’s next. The next assignment, the next semester, the next internship, or even what we’re going to do after graduation. Sometimes, we’re so focused on where we’re going that we forget to appreciate how far we’ve already come.

Now, as a junior at URochester, I’ve started to realize just how much can change in a few years. I think about the person I was when I first arrived on campus, what I was afraid of, what I was excited about, and all the things I thought I had to figure out.

And I wonder how differently I might have approached those first few months if I knew what I know now.

But I also wanted to hear from people whose experiences were different from mine.

So, I reached out to students, professors, and staff across the URochester community and asked them:

” What advice would you give your first-year selves? “

What I received was more than just advice. Each response offered a glimpse into someone’s college experience, the choices they made, the things they learned, and the lessons that stayed with them.

How do you make the most of college?

Miki Chiu | Class of 2028, Business Entrepreneurship/Marketing Major, Chinese Minor

“If I could give my first-year self one piece of advice, it would be that there’s no right way to experience college. Everyone has different interests, goals, and ideas of what makes their time here meaningful. But one thing I’m slowly learning is that making the most of college doesn’t mean doing everything.

I’ve always been someone who likes to plan things ahead of time. I’m naturally shy, and stepping outside my comfort zone has never been easy for me. When I first came to URochester, I wanted to try things I normally wouldn’t, even if they made me nervous. Looking back, some of my favorite memories came from those moments when I decided to take a chance.

And I’m glad I did. Somewhere along the way I discovered interests I never expected to have, met people I might never have spoken to, and found parts of myself I didn’t even know were there. As I reflected on in my previous blog, Ever-Evolving Interests at URochester, I’ve learned that it’s okay for my interests to change and that not everything I enjoy has to become part of my future career. Sometimes, it’s enough to explore something simply because it makes me happy.

But there’s another side to being involved that I don’t think we talk about enough.

When you’re surrounded by so many opportunities, it’s easy to feel like you have to take all of them. Join another club, apply for another position, attend another event. I’ve found myself saying yes to so many things because I’m afraid of missing out. Yet somewhere between all those commitments, I sometimes forget to enjoy what’s already in front of me.

And the truth is, I’m still working on that. I still overcommit, overthink, and occasionally wonder how I’m going to fit everything into one day. I’m learning that there’s a difference between making memories and being too busy to enjoy them. Sometimes, slowing down and appreciating where you are can be just as meaningful as trying something new.

If there’s anything I hope other students can take away from my experience, it’s that your college years don’t have to look like anyone else’s. Follow your curiosity, try things that interest you, and give yourself permission to change directions. Most importantly, make room for the things that genuinely make you happy.

Because at the end of the day, I don’t want to look back at college and only remember everything I did. I want to remember how it all made me feel.“

I’m currently a junior at URochester, majoring in Business with a focus on Entrepreneurship or Marketing and minoring in Chinese. I’ve been involved in several organizations on campus, previously serving as Publicity Chair for D’Lion and currently serving as Publicity Chair for Alpha Phi Omega (APO), where I’ve also served as Historian and Pledge Educator. I’m also a member of Chi Omega and a vocalist with No Jackets Required (NJR). Outside of student organizations, I work as an Admissions Blogger, a Chinese Language Tutor at the Language Center, and a Teaching Assistant for CHIN 101.

Meet the people around you

Professor Drew Marsherall | Clinical Associate Professor, Simon Business School

“If I could go back and give my first-year college self one piece of advice, I would say meet as many people as you can. College is a unique season in life when you are consistently surrounded by your peers. Take advantage of that. I remember when I got to my first job after school, I was the youngest person in my department by at least ten years. My coworkers were very pleasant, but we didn’t have a lot in common outside of work. URochester is this amazing community where you get to meet talented people from all around the world. Instead of looking at your phone before class, introduce yourself to the people around you. Don’t pass up going to the social events because those opportunities won’t be the same after school.”

I’m currently taking Professor Marsherall’s BUS 201: Impactful Presentations course, which has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone in ways I didn’t expect.

I remember him sharing a quote in class about how even the best presenters are the best liars because they say they’re not nervous. I’ve always assumed that people who speak confidently simply don’t experience the same nerves I do. As someone who’s naturally shy and gets anxious speaking in front of others, it made me realize that confidence isn’t always about how comfortable you feel, but how you choose to carry yourself despite those feelings.

And his advice about meeting people connects to that lesson. Starting a conversation with someone new can feel just as intimidating as standing in front of an audience. But if we always wait until we feel completely confident, we might miss out on the connections that could make our college experience special.

Maybe confidence isn’t something we need before taking the first step. Maybe it’s something we discover because we took it.

Be open to possibilities

Professor Elena Nescio | Clinical Associate Professor, Simon Business School

“If I could go back in time and offer my first-year self one piece of advice, it would be to be open to possibilities and have the courage to pursue them. Be curious. Ask questions. Talk to people whose experiences and perspectives are different from your own. Don’t be afraid to knock on doors, explore unfamiliar paths, or pursue opportunities that might initially seem out of reach. You don’t need to have everything figured out, and you certainly don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. Sometimes, the most interesting – and exciting! – opportunities are the ones you never even knew existed.

I figured much of this out … eventually … but it took time, experience, and very likely some missed opportunities along the way. Had I embraced that mindset in my first year, I can only imagine where it might have led me!

More than anything, I would tell myself that the sting of hearing “no” fades, but the lingering question of “what if?” can stay with you. So, take the chance. Start the conversation. Raise your hand. Put yourself out there. You never know which seemingly small moment might open a door that changes the trajectory of your life.”

Professor Nescio teaches undergraduate and graduate marketing courses at Simon Business School. She also serves as the Marketing Track advisor for undergraduate students and the Faculty Director of the MS in Management program.

I’m currently taking Professor Nescio’s MKT 203: Principles of Marketing course, and as someone interested in marketing and entrepreneurship, I’ve really enjoyed learning from her.

One part of Professor Nescio’s response that really stood out to me was the idea of living with the question of “what if?”

I think it’s something many of us can relate to. Sometimes, we spend so much time thinking about everything that could go wrong that we forget to consider what could go right.

I’ve always been someone who likes to plan ahead, and I sometimes find myself questioning whether I’m qualified enough or experienced enough before even giving something a try. But looking back at some of the opportunities I’ve taken at URochester, I realize that I wouldn’t have experienced half of them if I had waited until I felt completely ready.

And perhaps the opportunities we regret most aren’t always the ones that didn’t work out, but the ones we never gave ourselves the chance to pursue.

Find a balance between routine and spontaneity

Eddie Pan | Sophomore, Biochemistry and Psychology Major, Pre-Medical Track

“If I could go back and tell my first year self a piece of advice, it would be to establish a good routine early on and be open to new opportunities along the way! At URochester, you have a strong sense of independence. I would encourage myself to have created good time management habits, balance classes, exams, extracurriculars, and personal time early on.

Additionally I would remind myself to stay open to new opportunities while sticking to that routine. During the second semester of freshman year, I spontaneously decided to pursue a summer study abroad opportunity through the Center for Education Abroad. Through their help, I was able to study at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, something that I would now do a million times now. It reminded me how rewarding it can be to step out of your comfort zone.

My advice for incoming students is to build a strong foundation but also leave room for the unexpected. Always stay organized but be willing to take on new experiences which could become some of your best memories in college!”

Outside of coursework, he works as a research assistant at the URochester Medical Center and is involved in community service through Alpha Phi Omega (APO), where he currently serves as Pledge Educator.

I actually got to know Eddie through APO, where he’s my Little! I served as Pledge Educator last fall, and now he’s taken on that same position, which makes it especially meaningful to see how much he’s grown.

What stood out to me about his advice is that having a plan and being spontaneous don’t necessarily have to be opposites. I’ve always been someone who likes knowing what to expect, but Eddie’s experience studying abroad in Singapore reminds me that sometimes, the most memorable experiences are the ones we couldn’t have planned for.

And seeing him take on a role I once held reminds me that college isn’t just about the experiences we have ourselves. It’s also about watching the people around us grow, finding their own paths, and becoming people we might not have imagined meeting when we first arrived.

Believe in yourself, even when you feel unprepared

Alice Chersoni | Academic Advisor, Simon Undergraduate Program

There will inevitably be a time before a big test when you feel unprepared and question everything. Go take that test anyway. You are more capable than you think!

Alice is an academic advisor for the Simon Undergraduate program at URochester. She helps students plan their academic paths, choose classes, connect with campus resources, and stay on track toward graduation.

I actually got to know Alice through my Chinese conversation hours, which she attended. What started as a connection outside the classroom eventually led me to schedule advising meetings with her, and I’m grateful to have someone I can turn to for guidance.

I think her advice is something almost every college student needs to hear at least once. It’s easy to let one exam or assignment make us question our abilities, especially when we’ve worked hard and still feel uncertain. But sometimes, we get so caught up in what we think we can’t do that we forget to recognize what we’re already capable of.

And maybe that’s something we all need to remind ourselves a little more often: give yourself the same confidence that others see in you.

Pay attention to the opportunities around you

Annalise Harter | Senior, East Asian Studies Major; Chinese and BCS Minors

“As a Humanities major, there are a lot of unexpected opportunities at URochester that a lot of other students won’t know about. Pay attention to bulletin flyers, announcements from your professors, or news about programs. You never know what might happen and being in a smaller major means that your professors are very eager to help you find opportunities as well!”

Annalise is also a student office assistant in the Registrar’s Office and has an internship in the English Department.

She is one of my closest friends at URochester and I actually met Annalise on the very first day of my freshman year in Chinese class. It’s funny to think about how one class introduced me to someone who would still be such a big part of my college experience years later.

What I found interesting about her advice is how easy it can be to overlook what’s right in front of us. We often hear about the importance of seeking out opportunities, but sometimes we don’t realize how many resources and people are already available to help us.

Looking back, I think meeting Annalise is a reminder of how much can come from something as ordinary as showing up to class on the first day, without knowing who you’ll meet or where those connections might lead.

It’s okay to change your mind

Kelly Wilkin | Marketing Specialist, University Marketing & Communications

“If I could go back and tell my first-year self one piece of advice, I’d tell myself that it’s okay to change your mind. I went into college knowing I wanted to study to become an optometrist. I’d always been interested in the field and took an optics class my senior year of high school. As I moved through my first semester of college I was immersed in bio, chem, and labs every week. I liked the topics, but I missed being creative. I’ve always had a passion for art, writing, and creating in any capacity. I was scared I was stuck on a path I’d chosen at 17, but as a college advisor told me, it’s okay to not have it figured out just yet. Next semester I took a wild mix of classes across the sciences and the humanities. A travel writing class ignited my passion for writing and eventually brought me to a degree in communications and journalism. I graduated from St. John Fisher College (now St. John Fisher University) in May of 2017.”

Today, Kelly works on the enrollment marketing team at URochester, where she helps recruit future students through the University’s website, social media, admissions blog, and other marketing efforts.

Kelly also became my supervisor for my role as an Admissions Blogger after I wrote my first blog on being a D’Lion, which you can read here: What being a D’Lion at URochester actually means! 

At the time, I never imagined that sharing something I enjoyed doing on campus would eventually lead to an opportunity to write for URochester.

What I loved about Kelly’s response was how different her original career plans were from where she eventually ended up.

I think we’re often expected to know what we want to do with our lives at such a young age. We choose majors, imagine careers, and start making plans for a future we haven’t even experienced yet.

But I think there’s something meaningful about exploring a path, even if we eventually decide it’s not for us. Those experiences aren’t necessarily wasted. They can teach us just as much about ourselves as the ones we choose to continue pursuing.

And in a way, my experience reminds me of her advice. I didn’t start writing about being a D’Lion because I expected it to lead to a job. I simply wanted to share something that mattered to me.

Sometimes, we don’t realize where an interest might take us until we give ourselves the chance to explore it.

The advice we didn’t know we needed

When I first started working on this blog, I expected everyone to have completely different answers. After all, we’re all at different stages of our lives, with different experiences, goals, and definitions of success.

But what surprised me wasn’t how different their advice was. It was how much of it I could relate to, even though I haven’t experienced everything they have.

I think that’s what makes hearing other people’s perspectives so meaningful. We don’t always have to experience something ourselves to learn from it. Sometimes, someone else’s story can help us recognize something about ourselves.

And while we can’t actually go back and give our younger selves advice, we can still take those lessons with us moving forward.

I started this blog wondering what I would tell my first-year self. But after hearing from everyone, I realized that maybe some of this advice isn’t just meant for who we used to be. It’s also meant for who we are right now.

So whether you’re about to begin your first year at URochester, preparing to graduate, or somewhere in between, I hope something in these responses stays with you.

Because one day, you might find yourself looking back at your own college experience and asking the very same question:

What would you tell your first-year self?