Campus Call-in
words by Autumn Tsai & Clare You
photo from PEXELS
photo from PEXELS
- How to be Active
The biggest trouble I am having now is that I don’t feel I am actively learning every subject, which I think I should be. There are courses that I am very interested in and courses I am not that interested in. When assigned a group presentation that I am interested in, I feel energetic and even willing to be the leader, scheduling the preparation. I am active during group discussion and feel happy to get along with the classmates, even I didn’t know them well before.
However, when it comes to a group presentation that I am less interested in or even hate, I become the least productive member in the group. I feel sorry for other group members so I still try to be an active person. Yet, I just somehow cannot force myself to be as energetic as other people. I tell myself not to be a burden to the group, as everyone should do their best to get a higher score.
I have not figured out a solution to my passive attitude towards nasty group presentations. After all, when I graduate to work, it is a sure thing that I must do tasks I hate. I had better get used to it when I am still a student.
Hi,
I am glad to receive your letter. This is a dilemma, but trust me, you are a responsible person! Don’t worry! Everyone encounters this kind of problem in life. It is normal that everyone has something they like and something they don’t like. The suggestion I offer is dividing the presentations that you aren’t interested in into several days. That is, before the deadline, you could choose some days to finish the assignment and the time you spend on it depends on yourself. When you complete the part you are required to finish each day, you give yourself a reward, such as doing something that will make you feel relaxed. Hope this suggestion will help you. ☺
Best,
Editors from The Next Page
2. Campus Life Questions
I’m a freshman of English Department. I’m very satisfied with my campus life; not only with our school’s environment but also with the students and professors I have met. I actually don’t have any problems and questions when it comes to my campus life. However, as the proverb goes, “Time flies like an arrow,” and it will not be long before I become a sophomore. Recently, my parents always ask me whether I have an academic plan for my second year of college. Seriously, I don’t have any ideas yet, so I have several questions.
First, my parents want me to find a part-time job in my sophomore year. They think it is good for me to combine my study with my part-time job, so they suggest that I choose a job such as a cram school teacher or an English tutor. However, I have dreamed of being a waitress in a western restaurant for a long time. I want to experience it as my part-time job because I know it can never be my formal job after my graduation. Therefore, I want to know if a part-time job really has a big influence on my future job, or whether I can do whatever I want.
Next, my parents also ask me to take TESL course in my sophomore year. They say if I can get a teacher’s license beforehand, it can help me save a lot of time trying to find an appropriate job in the future. As I know, the TESL course in our school is quite hard. Thus, I want to know if you have any suggestions for preparation before taking the course.
Hi,
After reading your letter, I think I can offer you a suggestion about the first question. To me, doing something I like is more important, and I am sure no matter what kind of job you choose to do, you can learn something useful from it. Being a waitress in a western restaurant can also be a valuable experience in your resume for the future. For example, you can learn to how to be patient, how to solve the problems, and how to deal with customers’ complaints. All of these skills will be indispensable in your future job, so just do what you like! I hope all is well with you!
Best,
Editors from The Next Page
3. Doubting My Major
As an English major, our future career choices are diverse. However, this is also a weakness. English is more like a tool than a specialty. When you are only a English major, you will find that you will struggle a lot to find a job. Nowadays, many bosses think that English is a basic ability for their employees. Therefore, if we are only good at English, it means to them we are still unqualified.
It is almost in the middle of the second semester, and I am still doubting what my occupation may be in the future. All the courses so far don’t interest me, such as Introduction to Literature and Introduction to Linguistics. I am sure I would not be an expert in language or literature. Yet, at the same time, these two major courses sometimes made me feel suffocated with their assignments. I started to wonder why I chose English as my major. I have not learned anything that directly relates to an actual job. For now, I cannot think of anything I can compare with other majors, other than I can write a formal English letter.
I know that we will definitely learn some useful skills for our future, but are we will the least competitive competitors in others' eyes? Applying for a double major may be a solution. However, a double major has a really high standard, and I am only qualified to apply for those departments I am not interested in.
Hi,
To be honest, I also had the same doubts before. I think some professional writing courses in senior year will help you combine your English ability with other professional skills, such as News English, Business English, English-Chinese Translation, and of course Student Magazine Production. You may want to work as a journalist, translator, writer, editor, secretary, and so on in the future, and these courses will give you a better understanding of these fields. Furthermore, if the standards for double major are too high, a minor can also be a good solution. Good luck!
Best,
Editors from The Next Page
4. Campus Life Questions
The older we grow, the harder we find it to make friends. When we were young , making friends was easy. However, making friends in college seems to become a thing that involves personal interests, which means that people think a lot before choosing friends. This is my question about the campus life.
Don’t get me wrong; I still have made some college friends without involving any shared personal interests; I just notice that, I think a lot about what I can get before making friends with them. Frankly speaking, I don’t think it is right to have the thoughts of getting something from friends, but I just can’t keep myself from doing it. That’s why I think making friends in college is not as good as in elementary schools, junior high schools, or high schools.
Hi,
Thank you for your response.. Perhaps in elementary school, junior high school, or high school, we are more open to different kinds of people, because we are not so certain of our own interests and thoughts. In a way, knowing whom you want to make friends with is good, for you are beginning to understand who you want to be. Just remember that all human beings are connected; each field is related to another, and each person is an individual that has something special which you have to discover. This way, you might be able to open up to different people more comfortably.
Best,
Editors from The Next Page
5. Campus Life Questions
During these three years, I was exposed to English everyday; however, I don’t think my English has really improved. Except for finishing the schoolwork assigned by professors, I rarely learn English on my own. In addition, my physical and mental states are also sub optimal these three years. I stay up until 3a.m. almost everyday in order to finish the work. I don’t know why time goes so fast in college. However, when I stop for a while and look back, I feel like I’ve done nothing. I am just like a robot following the schedule and doing the work.
Hello,
Thank you for your response. I think everyone feels lost at one point or another. What am I doing? The things that I am doing match my dreams in life? How does what I do suggest who I am? Am I satisfied by those aspects that represent me? What else should I do? The answers will not come easily. You will face many obstacles and self-doubt no matter what choices you make, but living in the present meaningfully and consciously is literally the path towards knowing yourself and understanding what the life you want to live is. Cheers.
Best,
Editors from The Next Page
6. Campus Life Questions
In my opinion, there is one biggest problem in my college life. That is time management. I perceive the importance of time management especially after I entered the English Department. In our department, students have lots of essays, written and oral reports to complete. And as a transfer student, I feel it more important to manage time wisely because I have to attend both freshmen and sophomore courses. However, I often find that I can hardly finish my homework as I planned. And when I cannot achieve the goals I set, I have to take the time set for other plans to finish, and then that delays the time for other tasks, and so on. Moreover, despite the fact that I already have lots of work to do, there seems to be endless additional work to do unexpectedly, leaving me quite depressed. So, I really want to know: how do I achieve my goals by the times I set as?
Hello,
Thank you for your response. Time management problem is literally the English Department PHENOMENON – no worries, you are not alone in this inferno. Figuring out our working habits is something that we all have to learn in the department. Keeping a time-table may allow you to keep track of what you have spent your time on, and in advance allow you to understand your working habits. If you learn how much time you need on each subject and manage your time according to your actual working hours, gradually you should be able to get things done on time more easily.
Best,
Editors from The Next Page