New Year, Fresh Start

By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia

Everyone over the age of 22 seems to reminisce about their college days (or at least the cast of Avenue Q does...), but what makes the experience so memorable? What should you do to make sure you make the most out of the next few years?

It's that time of year again. Time for the overly clichéd, stereotypical comments that college students have grown to expect. "Wow, the summer just flew by." "Are you ready to go back to school?" "I can't believe you're in college already" (or, as the years progress – "What? You haven't graduated yet?"). But as we approach the new year, the fresh start, I thought it would be best to focus on the tangible adventure that is college, rather than the rhetoric.

Once you get past the end of high school, where all anyone cares about is the name of the college you've chosen, you start to think about what the next few years are actually going to look like. You start to wonder about your academic and personal life and how they will differ from what you've experienced thus far.

At the risk of bombarding you with advice, which I'm sure you've been fielding from all directions already, I thought it would be nice to put together this Back to School issue of KOACH-on-CAMPUS. Veteran students have offered their words of wisdom and actual experiences to help guide you through your first year of college. David Schwartz, of Washington University, explains how rewarding it can be to meet new people. Matt Kleiman, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains how he's connected with Judaism since entering college, and Rich Moline, KOACH's Director, helps us build a spiritual to-do list.

I'd also like to officially welcome KOC's new assistant editor, Alisha Deluty, of JTS/Columbia. This year's calendar of publication themes, features, and deadlines will be posted shortly. Feel free to browse and e-mail either one of us if you are interested in writing.

[Posted 08/14/07]