My Trifecta of Support

So I have talked a lot about not isolating yourself and how asking for help is a sign of strength and maturity – not a weakness. In this post I want to talk about three of the most important sources of help in my life, and hopefully show their importance to you as well. For me, the three most important sources of help and support are my family, my advisor, and my professors. They are sources I can rely on and that I know will always be there for me.

So first, family. College is the first time that many people have been away from their families for an extended period of time. Whether they live from 2 hours to an entire ocean and continent away, the culture change is extreme. You have been placed in a living situation that is completely new to you, as well as a educational system that you have never been a part of before. Now some might gladly welcome this new freedom and independence, truthfully I believe everyone does embrace it to some degree, but we can not afford to forget those people with whom we have spent the first 18 years years of our lives.  Our family knows us better than anyone else and can help us through situations that we might not be comfortable talking about with anyone else. Now I know that not everyone has a good relationship with their families, but try and find even that one family member that you can connect to and have in your inner circle. Blood always runs thicker than anything else, and holds us together.

Secondly, your advisor. Upon entering UAlbany, you were given an advisor. You had no choice in the matter, you were told who to talk to and who would help you through the process that is college. Yet these amazing people are some of the best resources you have on this campus. They are selfless and care deeply about you and want to see you succeed and be happy and prosperous. Upon choosing a major you may be given a new advisor inside your major’s department, yet don’t lose the connection with your first advisor. Use both to help you succeed. You can come to them with any issues and they will either help you or show you who can. Be honest with them, they will not judge you, they are there to help and nurture you as you grow and get used to this new environment as well as the progression and steady intensity that is the college life. My biggest mistake I ever made with my advisors was not being truthful or not accepting their help and I regret not taking advantage of them. Don’t make the same mistake.

Last but definitely not least, your professors. They, like your advisors are there to help you. They are not just people who teach you during class time and then vanish, they want to help. Most of the professors who I have gone to see outside of class have expressed happiness that I came to see them, most of them saying they wished more students would take advantage of them and their resources for help. I used to just accept that I would never understand the course material before I started going to my professors, but once I did, a whole new understanding, and a new way to study and learn opened up to me. Use your professors. It may be hard at first to admit you need help, but once you have overcome that obstacle the rewards are incredible. It is time to change for the better. Accept what is, let go of what was, have faith in what will be.

As always, keep being awesome, and push your boundaries, that is what they are there for.

About the Author:

Lee M. 
Class of 2017 | Transfer 
Major: Communication and English 
Blog Theme: Struggling on the Pathway to Success 
- Thoughts of C Average Student

Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories –  their voices.