My name is Hailey Jager. I am a 19 year old college student just finishing up freshman year at the University of Rhode Island. I am studying Geological Oceanography and Environmental Science. I am originally from Southern New Jersey just outside of Philadelphia. I love being outdoors, reading, sports, and good food! I hope to go to graduate school and then work for the NPS or the EPA.
Why I Started a Blog
I am starting this blog because I want a place I can share my thoughts and experiences with people and perhaps learn about some of theirs. I’ve always liked journaling and writing and I hope to be able to hone some of those skills on this blog.
What I’ll Be Blogging About
My blog posts will mainly be about things that I’m doing or my thoughts about certain topics. I will discuss what is going on with me and perhaps things that have led me to make certain decisions and take certain paths in my life.
What About You?
I am interested to hear what you think about topics that I talk about or perhaps hear what things you would be interested in hearing my thoughts on! You can use the contact me page to send me an email, or connect with me on social media.
I am excited to see where this blog takes me and the things I will experience and be able to write about. My goal is to have at least one blog post a week. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
As I am finishing up my freshman year of college, with less than a week left, I have received some texts from high school students I am friends with asking me questions about my college experience freshman year, and for advice as they look to go to college in the fall. These are some of the most common questions I’ve gotten.
How do I decide on a major?
If you are a senior in high school and have not yet picked a major, you are probably going in to college as undecided. Don’t let this worry you! The majority of students end up changing there majors at least once or, like me, changing their approach to their major. You have a wonderful opportunity as an undecided student to look around and try a variety of classes. Take a class in something that you’ve always been interested and see where it takes you. Try looking at careers in some classes that have interested you and think about whether you would like to do that. College is a time to uncover interests you didn’t know you had. For example I took an economics course I was dreading but it ended up being one of my favorite classes.
What if I go to a party school?
I get this one a lot because the university I attend has made the top ten party schools list consistently. Many people are worried that attending a party school means everyone expects you to party all the time. This is not true. I am not a big party goer at all, but I have many friends who do party and they do not care that I don’t go out with them. A party school does not mean that the academics are of a lower caliber. The only thing I would say is, it is easy to get drawn in and swept away by the party lifestyle, and forget why you are here: to get an education. It is okay to go out and party a few times a semester if that is your thing, but don’t let partying over take the importance of academics.
Should I join Greek life?
Greek life is a huge deal at many campus’s. It can open job doors and look great on resumes. But it also comes with a large stereotype that I’ve found is often warranted. Each schools Greek life is different. I am personally not in Greek life, but I have friends who are. Most of them love it. So really it’s entirely up to you, just know that you don’t need to be in Greek life to have fun in college.
How is dorm room living?
Dorm rooms often get a bad rep, sometimes deserved and sometimes not. I had a good experience my freshman year. My roommate and me got along well, and were able to work out any issues we had. This is obviously not always the case. Some quick advice I would give is, if you are a messy person you need to clean up your act before moving in with someone, no one likes the messy roommate. Also talk it out, don’t let your roommate walk over you and don’t walk over him/her. It’s important that you talk and work together since you will be spending lots of time together. If you are having any real problems talk to your RA, they will help you work it out or change rooms if necessary.
What if my dorm has guys and girls?
I’ve heard so many people stressing out about this, and before I came to college I was too. Trust me, this is not as big a deal as you think it is. All schools have numerous precautions put in place to ensure the protection of students. To enter my room at any time I must swipe a key card and put a pin in. You may feel awkward the first time you leave the shower and go in the hallway and there is a guy in a towel, but the majority of the guys feel just as awkward.
This is the dorm I live in at URI
How far from home should I go?
Many time your parents will have a say in this, so make sure you take into account their wishes before making any decisions. I go to school about 6 hours away from home. This means I only go home on breaks. At first I got pretty homesick. This was enhanced by the fact that many people on my campus go home on the weekends and there weren’t many people to hang out with. But I reached out and connected with other people who stayed over weekends and got involved with programs and clubs. My best advice for homesickness’s would be get involved. Find a distraction and do something fun. Make sure to call your parents though, they want to hear from you and it’s always nice to know whats going on at home.
This concludes my list of the most frequently asked questions I’ve gotten. I realize that everyone’s college experience is different, and if you are in college you might have different answers to some of these questions. If this is the case comment your thoughts below. I’d love to hear other opinions on these questions. If you are getting ready to go to college and have some different questions go ahead and comment those and I try my best to answer them.
Caffeinated Outdoor Nerd 