I have a class that really isn’t too bad. I’m doing OK with the subject but I really can’t get along with the teacher. I feel like I can’t get ahead because my instructor doesn’t listen to me. She expects a lot but doesn’t seem to be there for me when I need help. Is there anything I can do or should I just stick it out?

Sincerely,

Sullen Student

Dear Sullen,

Relationships are hard; I know you’re talking about a teacher and yes, I said relationships. They aren’t just between friends; they include professional interactions as well.

Now for the most part, instructors are personable individuals, people who strive to make connections with students and relate a message or concept about the subject they’re teaching.

However, sometimes that’s not always priority No. 1 for a stressed-out knowledge-giver.

Any relationship – personal or professional – is based on communication. Have you talked to your teacher about your rocky classroom exchanges? Maybe she’s trying to reach you in a way you’re just not grasping. It’s also possibly she may not even realize she’s causing you academic distress – or just flat-out making you uncomfortable.

So, tell your instructor how you feel and she may be receptive to your concerns.

However, if this doesn’t work (or you don’t feel you can speak with your instructor outside of class) you may want to try the route of “kindness as the best remedy.” Don’t give your instructor a reason to be negative toward you.

This works in most relationships both inside and outside academia.

If your teacher doesn’t have a reason to give you grief, she should lighten the pressure and you should have a much easier time.

Follow the chain of command if you want to talk about it further – first to the professor, then to the head of the department and finally to the dean of your program.

To me, though, it sort of sounds like it’s something you can take care of. Who knows, you might be giving her just as much attitude as she is giving you.

Till next time,

Sadie

My parents are pressuring me to get a job this year now that I’ve settled into my classes.  I told them it’s too early, but they think it’s a good idea. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Wary About Working

Dear Wary,

It’s never too early to start working. Some students start as early as freshman year. However, that doesn’t mean having a job on top of schoolwork is right for everyone.

Some classes require much more outside class work than others. Are you a medical major? You may be unable to hold a job with the amount of lab hours you have to put in after class. If you’re really concerned about a job conflicting with your academic life, talk to your parents about that. Parents are always happy to hear you’re focusing on your studies, and they’re more likely to be sympathetic to your reasons if they’re based on school.

If your parents are still adamant, then you’ve got a few options. If you’re worried a job would interfere with your social life, try checking in the Financial Aid office to see if all of the on-campus work-study positions have been taken. If you get a job working on campus, you’re likely to get flexible hours that can work around your activities.

If working on campus doesn’t sound like your bag, find a place close to your apartment and talk to people working there.

Take a breath and talk to your parents about your real time constraints.

You always have options.

Till next time,

Sadie

I am having a serious motivation problem. I make a list of things I need to do, but I get home from classes and have no motivation to work. I know the next day I’ll need to have my homework done, but because I’m not in class at that moment, I just can’t focus. What can I do?

Sincerely,

No Motivation

Dear No Mo,

This is something we all struggle with from time to time. If you’re a senior, that dreaded “senioritis” may be kicking in: that thought that you’ll be graduating soon and all you want to do is enjoy the last few months of college before you have to be a big kid.

If not, you might just be distracted by other things in your life that you don’t even realize you’re thinking about.

 Maybe you and a few friends just had a big fight or you recently broke up. Maybe you’re just hungry. I can give you a few quick remedies to try.

The first one – and my personal favorite – never study or do homework in your bed. Your bed is a place for sleeping, relaxing and anything opposite of homework.

If you start trying to work on school projects there, one of two things will inevitably happen: you’re either going to ruin the relaxing place that your bed should be, or you are going to fall asleep on your books.

Second – when you first come home, take a little time to relax before getting to work.

Listen to music, watch your favorite TV show, make some food or do whatever you enjoy before trying to concentrate. Sometimes the worst part of working is the anticipation that comes before it.

Lastly, remind yourself that you have all the tools necessary to get stuff done. You went to class – that was the hard part.

Don’t overthink; just ease into your work while blocking out any distractions that might get in your way (and yes, I mean Facebook).

Unplugging yourself from the social world for even just an hour can do wonders for your motivation.

Once you’re done, call your friends and hang out.

If you set goals and motivate yourself enough to get a little work done each day, you’ll have more time to have fun.

Till next time,

Sadie

I met this guy in a class I’m taking, and we’ve been talking a lot. It started by just talking about assignments, but now that a few weeks have gone by, we’ve started talking more and more about other things. I really want to talk to him outside of class, but I’m afraid he might just be talking to me to pass the time and doesn’t actually want to hang out outside that setting. Is there a way I can bring it up without being weird about it?

Sincerely,

Stuttering Student

Dear Stutter-er,

Meeting new people is one of the best parts of college – we meet new people every day and every semester here!

Now it sounds like you’ve started to build a solid base with this guy, and if he’s talking to you in the class – the girl in me says way to go, while the writer involved in a university publication says you’re paying attention just a little bit in your class. Anyway, that’s a solid base!

I won’t lie – if you’re getting the vibe from this studious colleague of yours that he’s just passing the time talking, there’s always a chance that could be the case. But that doesn’t mean you can’t casually try. Is there a party coming up that you’ve been invited to this weekend? There’s no harm in throwing out a simple invitation to a group get-together; a previously planned party held in a neutral setting is a fabulous icebreaker.

If you drop a few hints to him and he seems interested in carrying your daytime conversations over into night and weekend time, then you may have opened a door to a friendship outside the classroom. If you can exchange numbers, that’s even better – a few friendly text messages in the afternoon can lead to something even more.

However, I will put out this disclaimer: if you do extend several outside-class invitations to talk, grab a bite or go out and he doesn’t bite, don’t push it. If you start asking why he doesn’t want to see you – or worse, start whining to your friends that he’s not hanging out with you – word travels back and will always bite you.

So take it easy; don’t try too hard, and the worst you can come out of this with is the same intriguing in-class conversationalist you’ve had from the beginning of the year.

Till next time,

Sadie

I’m a freshman and I’m finally starting to get my bearings around Erie. Now that I’ve settled into classes, I have some extra time on nights and weekends, and I’m still not really sure what to do other than hang out in my dorm room.  I know there is stuff to do; I just haven’t found it yet. What can I do around campus that doesn’t consist of studying and watching TV?

Sincerely,

Bored to Death

Dear Bored,

There are lots of great things you can do around the city. But it’s true—sometimes activities can be difficult to find if you’re not familiar with the area.

First, if you check out the Gannon University online portal, you can see what events are going on around campus. But it sounds like you’re itching to get around and see what Erie has to offer beyond the school. 

Living close to the lake gives you lots of opportunities to get some fresh air outside your dorm or apartment. Gannon is located on Sixth Street, which means we’re only six short blocks away from the Bayfront. Take a walk down (with someone else, of course, if you’re walking in the dark) and see the statues and Bicentennial Tower – it’s especially beautiful when lit up at night or for Christmas.

If you’re hungry for some off-campus food, there are tons of restaurants up and down State Street you can check out – many of which accept GU Gold.

You’ll find a full list of places you can use your ID card to pay with on the portal.

For example, you can head past Perry Square to places like Molly Brannigan’s.

On the way there or back, you can hang out in Perry Square by the fountain or gazebo. Most nights on the weekends you can hear live bands playing at restaurants or outside in the area.

Whatever part of the campus you live in, there are always things to find – check out the Erie Times-News for more on great events coming up and grab a group of your new friends and have a wonderful night out.

Till next time,

Sadie

I just started my sophomore year, and I’m not sure I like my major anymore. Is it too late to change? How do I do that and make such a huge decision?

Sincerely,

Major Confusion

Dear Confusion,

Absolutely not! It’s never too late to switch majors; that’s what college is all about, right? You are preparing yourself for a career in something you are passionate about, not something you tried and can’t stand. 

Whatever the case may be, it’s just a matter of speaking with your adviser.

Tell him or her your concerns and see if you can work something out to switch majors as quickly as possible without losing time on getting any of the credits you need to graduate.

Most classes are offered in both the spring and fall semesters, but it’s true that some are on a rotation. In these situations, you may have to wait a semester or two to get into the proper level course, but don’t let that discourage you. Just because that Shakespeare course doesn’t roll around until next spring doesn’t mean you can’t take it when it finally arrives.

Whatever your decision, get moving as quickly as possible to make sure you’re 100 percent happy with your chosen path. Everyone at Gannon is here to help you reach your goal, and they’re just as aware as you are that goals can change.

So my advice to you: sit down and make a list of pros and cons of your current major against one you’d like to switch to.

Talk to a few students and teachers in the latter program and see if it’s something you’d like to fit into. Then, swing by the Career Development and Employment Services office in the Palumbo Academic Center to talk to the pros about developing an action plan.

This is an important decision not to be taken lightly, but the main thing to remember is that it isn’t too late to jump on the right track.

Till next time,

-Sadie

I just transferred to Gannon from another school, and I’m having a hard time getting used to the area here. There seems to be a lot of freshman events to get acquainted with other freshmen here on campus, but I’m not sure what I can do to get a better jump on meeting people if I’m not a first-year student. Help?

Sincerely,
First-Year-Sophomore

Dear Sophomore,

First of all, welcome to Gannon! Second, I know it may seem like most welcome events are geared toward freshmen, but don’t fret, there are still ways to get involved and make new friends even if you’re not fresh out of high school. It can actually be pretty nice starting with the base of a year in college somewhere else. You have experiences no one else has and you’re bringing a new view to the table.

That being said, check the Gannon portal online for updates on upcoming events (things like fraternities or sororities having welcoming barbecues or tie-dye parties or auditions for upcoming productions at the Schuster Theatre). There are tons of places to meet people here at Gannon, and you can find most of them right there on the my.gannon portal.

The next best way to meet people here doesn’t involve doing any sort of research at all – just hang around on campus! Many first-year students make the mistake of sitting in their apartments or dorms all afternoon because they’re nervous about making new friends. Trust me, the first step may be difficult but it’s absolutely worth it. I remember my first weeks of school, all I wanted to do was sit in my room in Wehrle hall and talk on the phone with my boyfriend. But I took the first step out the door and walked over to Friendship Green with my laptop and sat outside to work on some assignments. I ended up meeting one of my best friends there who I’m still BFFs with today!

So while there may be many events geared toward freshmen, that doesn’t mean you can’t put yourself out there on your own, meet new people and have a fantastic time!

Good luck and have a great year!

Till next time,

Sadie