Here is what they have to say…

I. College life can become a whirlwind. Take time regularly to step back from it all, review the choices you are making with your life. Are they really you and are you satisfied with the reputation you are creating as a result of your choices. If not, obviously revise your choices, if so, jump back in the whirlwind and enjoy the adventure…

II. I think students should try to meet with their advisors at least 3 times during the semester -- apart from the times when signing drop/add slips occurs. This would be to discuss what courses to take, for insight on the college experience, and to help the student sort out career directions. Faculty can connect students to potential work-study internships and post-college employment.

III. Don't be shy about talking to your professors outside of class. Most of us on the faculty chose to come to SJFC because we enjoy the interaction with students that a small college can provide.

IV. My advice to college students is to >study their lights out.’ Now this may sound a little heavy, but I truly believe students should use the time they have in college to learn, absorb, question, re-question and wring everything they can out of their teachers, texts and fellow students. It is THEIR TIME to ask every possible question, enrich themselves with knowledge, and take the time and effort to learn everything they can. They will use all knowledge learned in their lifetime.

V. It is up the professors to support, encourage, teach and nurture every student towards the above goal. I would also encourage students to learn how they learn best and to use these learning techniques to pursue the best possible education that can truly be received at SJFC.

VI. Do the right thing. There will be many times in college that you will be faced with hard decisions. As you struggle with these issues, remember this: The soul is the only part of us that endures. All else is on loan: our bodies, our possessions, all our earthly concerns. But the soul, that part of us that houses our integrity and our pure and generous spirit, is everlasting. Protect it with great care. In the end it is all that you have. Integrity is not always easy, and "the right thing" does not always clearly present itself. But it is MORAL COURAGE that will provide you with the strength and direction and meaning in life that we all seek.

VII. Look for the good. Look for the good in everyone that you meet, in everything that you do, and in all of the different circumstances that present themselves to you. There will be times in your life when this will be a struggle, and I am not advocating a naive and untested sunniness. I am saying that at every point in your life there will be bad and there will be good. You can choose to focus on the bad or choose to focus on the good. The choice is completely in your hands. If there were just one piece of advice that I could give you, it would be this: Choose to focus on the good. You will be healthier. You will be happier. You will live longer. You will love more. You will laugh more. Choose to see the good.

VIII. Respect yourself. The things you do with your life and the choices that you make along the way are very, very important. You are an essential part of this universe. Respect yourself enough to recognize and hold sacred those things that make you different from everyone else in this world -- the things that make you happy, for instance, are not the same as those things that might make someone else happy. Take the time to find out what makes you happy, rather than assuming that the things that make others happy will also do so for you. Following the crowd rarely leads to true and lasting happiness.

IX. Take your dreams and aspirations very seriously. Never let anyone make you feel unimportant or incapable. Consider the advice of good and true friends, but never, never let anyone else make the important choices for you -- they are yours alone. Respect yourself enough to do the hard work required to find the answers that are right for you. There will always be those in this world who are chasing after possessions, or popularity, or power, or whatever it is that they mistakenly believe will make them happy. Happiness doesn't exist out there-- it comes from within. Respect yourself. Take the time to get to know who you are, and the answers will be there.

X. Take it EASY in the first semester. Sign up, show up and lean in!

XI. Always remember who you are, and strive to make your parents proud in ALL that you do. This may sound like a corny "Hallmark" line, but give it a try and have fun.

 XII. Mark deadlines in your date book or on a calendar. The best technique is to pretend that the deadline is two days earlier than it actually is, to force you to get to work on a project.. I do this for my own deadlines, because I'm a world champion procrastinator!

XIII. On your future and the choices you should make: the good news is that you are not choosing for the rest of your life. Few decisions cannot be changed. In reality, the choices and decisions you make this year set the course for the direction of your life. Just as there are many routes you could take to get to Marketplace Mall, so, too, are there many routes to your life work. The important thing is to determine your destination. On your trip to Marketplace, you may choose to stop at Perkins and Lechmere's. Likewise, in your life work you might decide to make a few stops, too as long as you stay focused on your destination.

XIV. How do you know what you want your life to be? There are many ways. Here are a few suggestions.

XV. I recollect that some rather famous saint had a saying that went something like, "work as if it all depends on you and THEN pray as if it all depends on God." If we all succeeded in doing that and "treated one another as we wished we were treated," the world would be a better place.

XVI. One of the most useful things I learned about being a college student, I didn’t learn until I was already well along. It was, "go to all your classes." The person who told me this pointed out that this was a basic minimum for learning the material and getting a good grade. It had never occurred to me before, since in high school I aced all my classed whether I turned up on a regular basis or not. But I really NEEDED this advice in college, where I was NOT able to ace my classes without some basic discipline. So, the moral is, if you want to be SURE to ace your classes, the bare minimum is, always go to class…

XVII. Something that I learned much later than "always go to class" is that if something isn't working, change something. If you aren't happy with your academic achievements, identify something that you can change that will help you to gain more mastery of the material. If you aren't doing the reading and are unhappy with your grades, do the reading. If you are doing the reading and aren't happy with your grades, do the reading and take notes. If you aren't happy yet, ask your professors for help taking more effective notes. If you're going to all your classes, doing all the reading, and taking notes as your professor recommended and STILL aren't happy with the grades you're getting, work with others who are having more success in a study group.

XVIII. Use your professors as resources. You pay a premium tuition to attend this college because professors here consider teaching to be an important part of their work. If you treat professors like scary authority figures and try to avoid them and keep them from noticing you as much as possible, you are cheating yourself badly of the best resource this college has to offer. Try starting by visiting each of your professors during their office hours and asking for one pointer about a way to approach the course that will help you to master the material. (Do NOT ask how to get an A -- professors for some reason are extremely warm and interested in helping students who want to learn the material, but are often cold and bristly with students who focus on grades rather than learning).

 XIX. In order to learn as effectively as possible, and to have the best possible college experience, it genuinely is helpful to focus on learning rather than grades. As an undergraduate I aced many classes from which I could have learned a lot more. At the time I thought I was beating the system. Today I know I cheated myself. Actually investing yourself in what you are doing, rather than focusing on an abstract goal, is a great secret to life. Whether you focus on being present to another person rather than getting that person to be your friend (or to have sex with you); whether you focus on learning the skills and contents of a course well, rather than getting a certain grade; or whether you focus on understanding and acting with insight in a particular work situation rather than trying to get a raise or a promotion; your life will be much, much richer and more satisfying if you focus on the means and let the ends take care of themselves.

 XX. Develop a hobby or an extra-curricular passion. Studying is what you're here for, work may well be necessary, and partying is a great escape valve when you're doing a lot of the other two, but try to find one thing that helps you to have fun and relax with others that is NOT related to studying, work or partying. You may not believe this, but if all you do is study, work, and party, you are liable to become depressed and to feel empty, which can then lead you to study, work or party harder in a self-perpetuating feedback loop. Partying does not build the kinds of relationship that feed your spirit. Neither, for that matter, does studying together or working together, necessarily. Rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, making music together or going to hear an amazing blues musician in Toronto together does build the kinds of relationships that feed one's spirit. In the name of creating these kinds of more nurturing, sustaining relationships, I urge you to participate in some of the college's extra-curricular activities. See a Shakespeare play at Stratford with the English department, sing with the Gospel choir, or get involved with the college's volunteer programs. You'll be much happier if you don't wait for four or five years to "get a life," but instead build one now so that you already have it waiting for you when you graduate. 

XXI. Consciously choose when and if you want to be sexual. Talk to your friends about it. Let sexuality be something special. Build up your capacity to have a good relationship by focusing on friendships -- these are the bedrock of good sexual relationships. I have observed that people who don't know how to make or be friends usually have very chaotic sex lives. At first, that can look attractive and thrilling, and cover up a lot of loneliness and confusion, but when you really look at what being out of control sexually is like, I guarantee you that it is something you do not want for yourself. Practice safer sex, no matter what. 

XXII. Pay attention to what others do and how it works for them -- sometimes by noticing what works or doesn't work for someone else, you can save yourself some heartache. And share what you learn with others --every mistake represents a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow -- if you find anything in this list of ideas at all useful, now or in the future, then many of my own youthful mistakes will not have been in vain.

XXIII. One thing I have learned after 20+ years of teaching is about 6 weeks into the semester, students wake up, maybe an epiphany is more like it, and have anxiety attacks. They begin to realize that they need to get organized if they are going to finish the course with a B or better. It seems to be a crisis point and doesn't matter how far along in college students a are. By 6 weeks, they have some idea of a faculty member's grading or assignment expectations and have to get geared up to meet those expectations. My advice is to recognize that this is a turning point and not to panic but to recognize that they have to take stock of their assets and liabilities in their approaches to studying in order to do well…  For some students, the loneliness of being away from home or loved ones is difficult and that too hits around 6 weeks. For students who live far enough away that they cannot go home until Christmas Break, I advise that they take advantage of any opportunities to visit with faculty families or have dinner with faculty (if such events are offered this year). The Fisher service projects may also be a way for students to be connected to the world beyond campus and that may serve as a bridge during recess periods when "the locals" go home.

XXIV. [Girolamo Cardano, 16th century physician; submitted , of course, by a faculty member] "If there is anything good at all in life with which we can adorn this comedy's stage, I have not been cheated of such gifts . Rest, peace, quiet, comfort, self-restraint, orderliness, change, fun, entertainment, pleasant company, coziness, sleep, food and drink, riding, rowing, walking, obtaining the latest news, meditation, contemplation, good education, piety, marriage, merry feasts, a good and well-ordered memory, cleanliness, water, fire, listening to music, beholding the beauty surrounding us, pleasant conversation, tales and stories, liberty, continence, little birds, puppies, cats, the consolation of death and the thought of the eternal flux of time as it flows past happiness and misfortune . There is always the hope for some unexpected good turn of fortune; there is the practice of an art one is skilled in; there are the manifold changes of life, there is the whole wide world!"

XXV. The basic purpose of the college experience is ... to learn! Faculty are experienced learners ... they are resources, guides, and do not "spoon feed". Students are responsible for their own education and will be assisted by faculty members. Motivation is as important for success as intelligence. Excuses, "con games", and manipulations are thoroughly transparent! The amount of energy, motivation, interest, and sincerity that students invest in learning has a multiplier effect in outcome. Learning itself leads to good grades and employment. Take course syllabi literally ... reading assignments, etc. must be done on time..

XXVI. College exists for three purposes: (1) to provide its students and faculty the high privilege and honor tostudy and to learn about the great patrimony of knowledge and wisdom that has been passed down to us, and (2) to learn how to be independent thinkers and creators of knowledge, and (3) to learn how to be responsible moral and social persons.

The first one is not to be taken lightly because the basis of ourcommonweal is to be found there and students and faculty have an obligation to respect that and nurture it. The second one is the otherside of the first, because students and faculty have the chance to shape and create knowledge. It is the human capacity for reasoning which separates us most sharply from other forms of life and makes it possible for us to cleave intimately to God. The third is important because social growth improves the bond between people. The consequence of this is that students and faculty have a serious obligation to offer each member of the community the chance to grow, and that means respect and love. 

These are not based on feelings , but rather on a conscious decision to live up to these purposes. A great college consists of the two most important resources, the professors and the students. They succeed because they make a conscious decision to work. Teachers teach selflessly and students learn earnestly. [The last three statements are a paraphrase from a South African school administrator, whose school is noted for itssuccess.] A college fails if students are not committed to learning and professorsare not committed to teaching. 

So, dear student - do you want to be a part of the success?

 >>> Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.. Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.>>>