First in the Family: Your College Years

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Later, Jackie got a work-study job in the same office—Now, she is the one to help other students.

» I’m a student ambassador there, so I have a caseload of students to keep track of. I contact them twice a week, about different things—deadlines, help with financial aid, how are they doing in class, do they need a tutor

M Y W E E K LY C L A S S S C H E D U L E As you choose your courses, write the times they meet into this schedule. This will help you avoid time conflicts and organize your day into classes, study time, work, and other activities. (You can copy the blank form and keep using it throughout your time at college.)

or a counselor? – J A C K I E

Term At Oklahoma State, Karen checked out of her student apartment when she left campus for the summer term. Returning early with her young son from their time away, she had trouble getting back into their place. She turned for help to the college adviser for Native American students.

Time period

Year Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

» He made some phone calls to the housing office, and sure enough, I got in the next day. Later, I had another friend who thought his gas and electric was going to get cut off, and the same adviser found out there was money available to help. – K A R E N

Debra knocked on door after door at her college in Denver to get the answers she needed.

» How you’re going to pay for college, how you’re going to support yourself, how you are going to pick your classes, how you are going to register, the books—ask someone to explain it to you. And if you don’t understand what they tell you, ask someone else. If you don’t know why your award letter has something written on it, don’t just say, “It will come to me later.” Go find out. – D E B R A

In some cases, she had to do a little research to know the right question to ask, before she found someone for help.

» Sometimes looking on the Internet can help you figure out the questions to go ask someone in person. Take the initiative. Then you are in charge of your own future. – D E B R A

Once they got control over the basics of time and money, students like Debra could better handle the next challenge—doing well in their academics. In the next chapter, they will tell how they took the initiative in that area, too.

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F I R S T I N T H E FA M I LY

F I R S T I N T H E FA M I LY

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