Hokay, so, let’s say you’ve either already graduated or you’re about to graduate high school; and for your next act you plan to go BACK to school (a` la Billy Madison style), except this time it won’t berequired by the state. Fair enough. And in your ignorant youth you may think you’ve got most of it figured out (I thought I did). You’re probably tired of rules and regulations, and protocols and procedures (I was). You’re probably tired of everyone telling you what you “should” do when you get to college, and maybe you’re just SO fed up that you won’t even hear it one more time. BUT… If you want to have the best experience at UCF, here are some things that will definitely make your stay more pleasant.
Take astronomy (AST 2002), with Cooney.
This will not be for everyone. This astronomy course involves mathematics, so math-haters beware, and proceed at your own risk. I absolutely loved this course, and so has everyone I know that’s taken it. But you have to take it with professor James Cooney. This guy is the coolest, and he understands that the subject material can be challenging, so he keeps it fun. I enjoyed my philosophical experience in astronomy exponentially more than when I actually took Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 2010) Sweet irony, right? We may not be alone in the universe.
Patience is a virtue, so practice it.
This is easier said than done, WAY easier said than done. But it needs to be done nonetheless. You will implode if you’re not patient with the administration offices (like financial aid) at UCF. When it’s taking two full weeks to register your change-of-major, or it’s taking ten full business days to get your refund, just remember that UCF is juggling 60,000 students, and they are getting better. So be patient with the financial aid office, be patient with the registrar, and be patient in general – if you do your paperwork on time, there’s no rush.
TRADITION! – Homecoming &Spirit Splash.
“What the heck is a Spirit Splash,” you’re asking? Homecoming sounds familiar; we had that in high school. But Spirit Splash? That’s new. Spirit Splash (try saying it ten times fast) is a UCF tradition, that’s probably an understatement – it may be UCF’s biggest tradition. Anyway, it’s a homecoming tradition where students can swim in the UCF Reflection Pond (a beautiful centerpiece of campus next to the library, Google Image that bad boy). It’s the one time of year anyone is allowed in the pond, even if it’s just to dip your feet. It’s fun; it was nevermy cup of tea because it gets crowded, but I know it’s a fun time. Try it one year.
Cool stuff on campus – take advantage.
The amount of money that UCF collects in “fees” and other administrative charges is very difficult to quantify (I’m sure the exact figure could be obtained) but I’m willing to bet it’s a lot of cake. That money is used in several various ways. Fortunately, a lot of that money gets drilled right back into thecampus. If you’re not taking advantage of these things right at your fingertips, then you’re missing out. A few examples include Memory Mall (a massive clearing on campus for tailgating), the Arboretum (a cool nature walk and garden), and market Wednesdays, which is tougher to explain but it’s like an outdoor marketplace, on Wednesdays.
Stay healthy and busy, at the same time.
I’ve mentioned UCF’s state-of-the-art fitness center in previous articles, so it’s no secret that it is a titan of a gym. Seriously, it’s wild. But there’s a lot more on campus to help you stay fit and keep you off the couch. Examples include on-campus basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. There is also a sizeable lake on campus, Lake Claire, where you can picnic and go kayaking.
Joshua Pellisis a 2013 UCF Graduate with a B.S. in Political Science.