Upon learning that I had been automatically enrolled in a “how to succeed at Longwood University” course, I felt a little less than excited. I scoffed at the mere idea that I, a student in the Honors College who had just graduated high school with a 4.03, needed to be taught arbitrary things like how to study, how to manage my time, and how to become involved in my campus community. Looking back, I could not have been more incorrect. As the semester progressed, I would find Jessi Znosko’s Longwood Seminar class to be an extremely beneficial resource.
My transition to life at Longwood was tumultuous, to say the least. After begging my parents to let me transfer to a community college every day for the first week, I truly did not believe that my situation would or could improve; however, Longwood Seminar played an important role in changing my opinion. At the beginning of each class, my peer mentor would ask each student to state the best and worst moments of their week. Though this likely seemed pointless for most of my peers, I benefited from the opportunity to hear that others were also feeling homesick, out of place, and just generally overwhelmed. I felt less alone in my struggles and began to feel more included within the Honors community.
Contrary to my initial beliefs, the topics covered throughout LSEM were extremely useful to me. I learned important information about registering for classes, studying abroad, and becoming involved in the Honors College. The class also helped me by placing me in a group of people that I knew and got along with, ensuring that I did not feel uncomfortable asking questions. This familiar setting allowed me to expand on my knowledge of Longwood without fear of being judged. My experience with Longwood Seminar proved to be overwhelmingly positive and I sincerely hope that all freshmen that follow me receive a similar form of assistance as they adjust to the demands of college life. Attached, you will find a reflection I turned in after spending a week participating in time management/monitoring activities. For me, this particular lesson proved to be one of the most valuable takeaways from Longwood Seminar.