给大一新鲜人的七条忠告

去年响应学生处的号召，做了一年的大一新生的“猛托 (mentor)”。这是一个服务项目，不算工作量的。每个“猛托”的任务是指导看顾10名新生，具体来说是在办公室与他们面对面交谈三次 ：开学初期学生刚进校时与他们唠唠家常，认清人脸；期中考试之后，参照他们的成绩单与他们谈谈那些地方须努力，那几门功课考得好，鼓励他们再接再厉；期末大考之前，再来一番鼓励鼓励，并再次告知如果需要的话，哪些资源可以利用。如写作中心，数学lab，等等。 其他时间通过“脸书/Facebook”或电邮与之保持联系，关注他们的情绪和行为，有什么问题帮其解决。但一般来说我既不是他们的选课顾问，也不一定是他们的授课老师 （不过，那十个孩子中有一个在第二学期来修了我的课，功课倒不是太好，得了一个丙等成绩；也许到底是一年级新生，课吗，是三字号的课，其实应该稍等一二年再修才好），“猛托”的角色内涵近似于当他们的“拉拉队”，是为他们鼓舞士气的。据这个项目的组织者说，大学一年级是孩子们的适应期，需要有更多更广的社会支持系统。实施了“猛托”制度的大学，往往比没有此类制度的学校的学生流失率（转学或缀学）要少得多，学生总的来说，会更加快乐一些。学年结束之前，学生处办了一个颁奖午餐，给每一个“猛托”一顿“免费午餐”和一张奖状，感谢和表彰大家的服务。（自然大家都吃的高高兴兴，谁说天底下没有免费午餐？）学生处的麦克来信问，明年再做一次怎样？我答，好吧。下面把去年与“猛提 (mentee)”谈话时给的建议总结一下，以便下次可以参考使用。

1.       Read syllabus of each course, know the name of the professor, know the office hours of the professor, and mark all the due dates of your assignments on your planner/calendar;  then keep up with the dates, don’t get behind!

2.       Use the office hours; visit your professors whenever you have a question; the office hours are meant for students to use, so use them! (oftentimes the one-on-one interaction in your professor’s office during office hour is more efficient and more effective than in the classroom where there are so many people);

3.       Make friends of your classmates, form study group; build a “buddy-system” (so whenever you need help with the class, get help from them);

4.       Get along with your roommates (they spend time with you day in and day out, a good relationship with them is important, it’s a way to make your day more pleasant and less stressful);

5.       Sleep well (7-8 hours per night, at least 6 hours), eat well (must have breakfast), and exercise regularly;

6.       Keep contact with family via various means such as email, phone, and text-messaging, or visit                                                                                  
7. Wait till the 2nd semester after adjustment is made to join those Greek clubs if possible.