Sophomoric Advice

By Kyle Lawson

To all incoming First Years let me just say welcome. No longer high school students you are about to become engaged in the experience that is college. Over the next year, many of you will experience problems with roommates, insane demanding classes, seemingly crazy teachers, and the scariest thing of all college food. Rather than going out and attempting to learn everything by yourselves, allow me to give you this one piece of advice. Know someone with a car, or at the very least someone who knows someone. While plenty of places are within walking distance of campus: Weis (food), Radio Shack (computer stuff), 7-Eleven (snacks and toothpaste), Tommy Gilbert’s Hobby Shop (art supplies). Other stores like Wal-Mart (cheap essential), Giant (more food), and the Outlets (clothes), require time to get to and the highways are dangerous to walk along. Though it is a great way to keep off the freshman fifteen.

If you are lucky enough to be friends with someone who has a car here’s some advice. First, always ask the driver if they are going somewhere in the near future, and then only ask if they will stop somewhere nearby. If the driver is going to Weis you are not going to Wal-Mart. Second, the front seat is automatically reserved for the girlfriend/boyfriend unless otherwise stated, the same goes for music. Third, make sure you are allowed to come otherwise it could get awkward. Finally, always say thank you and offer gas money. The more polite you are the more likely it is you will be asked if you would like to come.

If you know someone who knows someone ask them to pick you something up, and always give them enough cash to cover what it is you are buying. If you think something costs three dollars, give them five. Always remember to ask them to tell you when they are going, and no more then twice a week. It gets really old really fast.

If you have a car, here is something for you. Unpack everything into your room before going back to Stone Lot. Carrying two cases of water halfway across campus is not that much fun. Secondly, before attempting to take a car full of people anywhere, make sure you know where you are going, and don’t try any shortcuts unless you are positive it will take you where you need to be. Gettysburg may not be middle of nowhere rural, but it has plenty of back roads. Finally, you have the power, if someone disrespects you just say no, and leave them here.

To all First Years, again, welcome to Gettysburg College. These are the best years of your lives. Why waste them trying to learn what the upperclassmen already know. To all returning students welcome back, and have a great semester.