First-Year Unleashed: A Guide to the College Adventure
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 284
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Entering college is an exhilarating yet daunting experience for first-time students. The transition from high school to college brings with it a myriad of challenges and uncertainties. To aid in this crucial transition, many institutions offer first-year experience (FYE) courses or programs designed specifically to support and guide new students through their initial year of college.
This textbook is designed specifically with you in mind, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to college life. Whether you’re coming from across the country or across town, stepping onto campus for the first time, or returning after a break, know that you are part of a vibrant community dedicated to your success.
First-Year Unleashed is more than just a book; it’s a roadmap for navigating your college experience with confidence, curiosity, and courage. Through a combination of engaging lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll explore topics ranging from academic strategies to personal development, from campus resources to community engagement.
But perhaps most importantly, you’ll have the chance to connect with fellow students, faculty mentors, and staff members who are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re seeking guidance on choosing a major, finding a study group, or simply adjusting to life away from home, know that you’re never alone in this journey.
I hope that you approach each day with an open mind and a willingness to embrace new experiences. College is a time of growth, discovery, self-exploration, and fun, and this book is just the beginning of your adventure.
Chapter 1: Embarking on a New Journey: Navigating the Unknown
Chapter 2: Balancing Act: Juggling Classes, Work, and Social Life
Chapter 3: Navigating the Academic Landscape: Research and Writing
Chapter 4: Adaptive Learning Strategies: Tailoring Your Approach to Modern Education and Presentation
Chapter 5: Social Sphere: Building Connections in the 21st Century
Chapter 6: Wellness Wisdom: Mental and Physical Health in College
Chapter 7: Resilience and Coping Strategies: Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Chapter 8: Beyond the Books: Exploring Extracurriculars and Hobbies
Chapter 9: Cultural Collage: Embracing Diversity on Campus
Chapter 10: Stranger in Own land: Understanding the 'Return to Home' Experience
Chapter 11: Financial Fluency: Budgeting and Beyond for College Students
Chapter 12: Career Countdown: Planning for the Future from Day One
Patrick Turner brings a wealth of research and operational knowledge to the discussion of first-year seminars and the student college experience. His extensive background working at two large 4-year research institutions and a 2-year community college which provided him the insight into the best strategies and approaches to providing a quality and equitable education to all students. He has 25 years working in higher education, specializing in the areas of academic affairs, student support services, faculty development, and student retention. Dr. Turner has worked at such institutions as Georgia State University, the University of Montana-Helena College, and New Mexico State University (NMSU). Patrick serves as the Associate Provost of Student Academic Success and Project Coordinator for the Men of Color Initiative, where he designs and assesses student success initiatives, such as first-year seminars, summer bridge programs, and academic intervention efforts. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member for the Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (FYE-SIT), the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success (JPSS) at Florida State University, and the President of the National Organization of Student Success-Southwest chapter (NOSS). The motivation and inspiration behind Patrick Turner’s work stem from growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood with an underfunded under-resourced K–12 educational system. As a result, during the first year of college, he struggled academically, was required to enroll in remedial or developmental courses, and found it difficult to find the necessary support systems to determine a clear pathway to success. The hope is that all students, no matter their background, don’t just survive college, but are given the support to thrive and become the best version of themselves.
A fun fact about Patrick is that he is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, but lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a classically trained dancer with over 25 years of professional dance experience in ballet, modern, hip-hop, and jazz. Patrick has danced with companies such as Ballethnic Dance Company in Atlanta, Ga, Soweto African Street Beat, and Atlanta Festival Ballet Company and performed famous pieces like Alice in Wonderland, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Symphony in C, and Beauty and the Beast. During the 1996 Olympics, he had the opportunity to perform for the committee of international diplomats from around the world. Artistry and creative expression inform his approach to research, teaching, student development, leadership, curricular development, and instruction."
Entering college is an exhilarating yet daunting experience for first-time students. The transition from high school to college brings with it a myriad of challenges and uncertainties. To aid in this crucial transition, many institutions offer first-year experience (FYE) courses or programs designed specifically to support and guide new students through their initial year of college.
This textbook is designed specifically with you in mind, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to college life. Whether you’re coming from across the country or across town, stepping onto campus for the first time, or returning after a break, know that you are part of a vibrant community dedicated to your success.
First-Year Unleashed is more than just a book; it’s a roadmap for navigating your college experience with confidence, curiosity, and courage. Through a combination of engaging lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll explore topics ranging from academic strategies to personal development, from campus resources to community engagement.
But perhaps most importantly, you’ll have the chance to connect with fellow students, faculty mentors, and staff members who are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re seeking guidance on choosing a major, finding a study group, or simply adjusting to life away from home, know that you’re never alone in this journey.
I hope that you approach each day with an open mind and a willingness to embrace new experiences. College is a time of growth, discovery, self-exploration, and fun, and this book is just the beginning of your adventure.
Chapter 1: Embarking on a New Journey: Navigating the Unknown
Chapter 2: Balancing Act: Juggling Classes, Work, and Social Life
Chapter 3: Navigating the Academic Landscape: Research and Writing
Chapter 4: Adaptive Learning Strategies: Tailoring Your Approach to Modern Education and Presentation
Chapter 5: Social Sphere: Building Connections in the 21st Century
Chapter 6: Wellness Wisdom: Mental and Physical Health in College
Chapter 7: Resilience and Coping Strategies: Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Chapter 8: Beyond the Books: Exploring Extracurriculars and Hobbies
Chapter 9: Cultural Collage: Embracing Diversity on Campus
Chapter 10: Stranger in Own land: Understanding the 'Return to Home' Experience
Chapter 11: Financial Fluency: Budgeting and Beyond for College Students
Chapter 12: Career Countdown: Planning for the Future from Day One
Patrick Turner brings a wealth of research and operational knowledge to the discussion of first-year seminars and the student college experience. His extensive background working at two large 4-year research institutions and a 2-year community college which provided him the insight into the best strategies and approaches to providing a quality and equitable education to all students. He has 25 years working in higher education, specializing in the areas of academic affairs, student support services, faculty development, and student retention. Dr. Turner has worked at such institutions as Georgia State University, the University of Montana-Helena College, and New Mexico State University (NMSU). Patrick serves as the Associate Provost of Student Academic Success and Project Coordinator for the Men of Color Initiative, where he designs and assesses student success initiatives, such as first-year seminars, summer bridge programs, and academic intervention efforts. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member for the Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (FYE-SIT), the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success (JPSS) at Florida State University, and the President of the National Organization of Student Success-Southwest chapter (NOSS). The motivation and inspiration behind Patrick Turner’s work stem from growing up in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood with an underfunded under-resourced K–12 educational system. As a result, during the first year of college, he struggled academically, was required to enroll in remedial or developmental courses, and found it difficult to find the necessary support systems to determine a clear pathway to success. The hope is that all students, no matter their background, don’t just survive college, but are given the support to thrive and become the best version of themselves.
A fun fact about Patrick is that he is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, but lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a classically trained dancer with over 25 years of professional dance experience in ballet, modern, hip-hop, and jazz. Patrick has danced with companies such as Ballethnic Dance Company in Atlanta, Ga, Soweto African Street Beat, and Atlanta Festival Ballet Company and performed famous pieces like Alice in Wonderland, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Symphony in C, and Beauty and the Beast. During the 1996 Olympics, he had the opportunity to perform for the committee of international diplomats from around the world. Artistry and creative expression inform his approach to research, teaching, student development, leadership, curricular development, and instruction."