From vision boards to career aid, UTRGV staff has advice for students, such as criminal justice freshman Joshua Diaz, on how to manage their college experience this spring semester.
“My expectation is to pass with flying colors, you know, like, get everything together how it’s supposed to be,” Diaz said. “… It’s not like high school and it’s gonna hit you a little bit.”
Vision Board
Persephonie Martinez, program manager at the Vackar Office of Involvement and Center for Engagement, said she advises for new and returning students to create a vision board.
Martinez believes creating a vision board would be helpful for students to set all the goals and things they want to focus on during college. She also said she recommends students to stay mindful about what profession they are trying to get into.
“Think about that job that you want after you graduate and see what opportunities are available here at the college that you could do, that you could be a part of, to help you get to that end goal,” Martinez said.
Health & Well-being
Glenn Gray, director of UTRGV Health Services, said he recommends students to get enough sleep, seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Some things that would help facilitate having a good rest is to be active during the day and disconnect from all technology for at least an hour before going to bed, Gray said.
“Sitting at the desk all day long is not gonna help you much,” he said. “Just have a plan that’s comfortable for you and also make it what you enjoy doing.”
Students have access to counseling and clinic services on campus, such as behavioral health, rehabilitation counseling and substance abuse programs, according to the health director
“You need to be responsible for your own health,” Gray said. “Your mom is not here anymore, so you gotta do it and there are resources all over the place. You just need to ask and tell people you need something.”
Planning ahead
Martinez advises students to meet with career advisers at some point in the semester. She added a career adviser could help students create a career path to help meet an end goal.
“If you’re a new student, go to a career adviser,” she said. “If you’ve been here a year, go to the career adviser. If you’re about to graduate in two months, go to the career adviser. … We all here at UTRGV and RCV CoBE want our students to graduate hired.”
Martinez said she recommends students to use a planner, agenda or the Notion, Trello and Microsoft calendar applications to improve time management.
“Time management is about planning,” she said. “It’s just about making sure that you know what to do, when the deadlines are and how to complete them.”
Martinez advises students to not be shy and ask for help when needed.
