First off, I would like to say Congratulations on being accepted and making the decision to enroll at ECU! It is such an exciting time of year with orientation starting soon, and before you know it August will be here and classes will begin. A little over four years ago I began my college career. There are things that I wish that I knew then, that I know now and with that said I want to share with you 10 things that you must remember as a freshman. Remember knowledge is power!

1. High School is Over

-As hard as it is, you have to remember that there is a BIG difference between high school and college. Whatever reputation you had in high school, whether it was a good one or a bad one, is now irrelevant. This is your time to start all over...remember you are paying to be here.

2-Keep a planner & Invest in an Alarm Clock

-In high school we started at 7:20 everyday, but when I started college 8 am classes seemed impossible to get up for! Also write down everything! With so much going on, it's best to have all your activities/classwork written down with due dates included.

3-Don't schedule 8 A.M Classes

-Reference #2

4-Go To Class

-Remember you are PAYING to be here, no one will force you to go to class and most professors have strict attendance policies so use your absences wisely!

5-Help is Available!

-If you see that you are having issues in any of your classes don't wait until the last minute to ask for help. Your professors have office hours, we have a Pirate Tutoring Center and a writing center to help you with your papers and essays!

6-Utilize Campus Resources

-ECU has an abundance of resources for students! Student Health, Mendenhall Student Center, Campus Transit, and the student recreation center are just a few! Utilize them! There is always something to do on or around campus.

7-Stay Active!

-Besides having a state of the art two-story recreation center, ECU also offers intramural and club sports as well as adventure trips! New to the gym and need some extra help? The rec has personal trainers as well as nutritionists and health educators that are more than willing to help you!

8-Get to Know Your Roommate BEFORE You Move In!

-Communicate as often as you can with your roommate before move in day. That way you can get a feel for each other and also figure out who needs to bring what as far as the room goes. The first few weeks living with someone you don't know can be difficult, however sometimes your roommate can become your best friend!

9-Find Balance

-When you get to college there will be a lo of temptations, especially for those who have never lived away from home. You must find that balance between partying and studying. I know you're probably thinking in your head "oh it can't be that hard, it's just like the movies"...NO! it's not like the movies! very few people can go out every night and make straight A's and that's me being completely honest. I'm not saying don't go out and have a good time but you have to balance out the two. Don't let partying be the reason that you don't make it past the first semester.

10-Have Fun!

-Make the most of your time in college! College is a time of discovery, finding out who you are and how you want to change the world. Utilize the resources that ECU has to offer and most importantly find out what it really means to be an ECU Pirate :-)

Welcome to Pirate Nation!!

-KS