Faith Meets Life: Friends, study and all the help you'll need - hopefully!

Welcome to Fanshawe, or maybe, welcome back! If this is the beginning of your first semester in college, I hope it's a great experience and that the discoveries you make in the classroom and about yourself will serve you well.

If you just graduated from high school, you will find things a little different. No one will be trying to get you to your classes on time. You will have to manage your schedule and assignments much more on your own.

If you have some other life experiences behind you, the college might seem like a restrictive environment, one that's a little beneath you. And that can be a challenge too.

If you are like most people, you will want to have some great friends on campus. Former high school friends may be here with you, but if so, your chances of being in the same classes are pretty low. So, you may be open to new friends.

In short, starting this year at Fanshawe might feel a little overwhelming, especially if you are moving into residence or are from outside Canada. From the students that I've met over the years, I have learned that there are some things you can do to help make your time in college a good one.

First, see if you take some time to appreciate what the college is all about and what it has to offer. Take a walk around the campus and check the college website and bulletin boards for information on everything from parking to Disability Services and the First Nations Centre.

Maybe you have always been thinking about a particular career. Here, you have opportunity to see what other career paths may work for you. Take some time to look at the list of courses and programs and talk to a counselor at the Student Success Centre if you have ideas or questions.

Second, try to build friendships with people who will help you have a positive learning experience. Some people spend a lot of energy complaining about instructors and courses. Others will always be looking for the next opportunity to drink, get high, or party. You are likely going to be better off finding friends who appreciate their experience at the college and who can entertain themselves in ways that don't leave them exhausted with an over-supply of fried brain cells and an under-supply of passing grades.

Last, when you get a chance, stop in at the chaplain's office. You are likely to find that the people on deck there are caring people who can listen to you about different situations you may find yourself in. Issues of compatibility with certain courses or teachers, relationship dilemmas, stresses related to being in a new country if you are a recent immigrant, residency and housing problems, or simply the need for a listening ear and friendship — these are areas the chaplains' office can help with.

Staff at the chaplains' office will have a take on life that definitely includes God, prayer, faith, and the search for justice and compassion. They will take extra time to be a positive and friendly support to you and connect you with other students who may share your interests. I hope you'll stop in!

Michael Veenema was a Fanshawe chaplain for nine years. Since 2004 he has been living in Nova Scotia, where a couple former students looked him up this week. He has great memories of the chaplains, students and staff of the college and continues to write for the Interrobang.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.