As a Student at Oklahoma State University

Firstly, congratulations on becoming a first year college student! Though an intimidating step, it is significant for both your personal and professional growth in your respective careers. My name is Chantay Waithe. I graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. My college career entailed many redirections and unfortunate events such as the loss of my dad weeks before my graduation. But, I persevered and completed my degree plan. Similarly, your journey may not be linear, however, having a positive outlook and surrounding yourself with like minded individuals can influence your overall experience as a college student.

In 2016, I migrated from Guyana, South America to the United States of America, leaving everything that I knew and everyone that I loved to start a new life with my late father and siblings. As a recent highschool graduate at that time, I was uncertain on my next steps, however, I was sold on the idea that “America is the land of opportunities”. I knew that I always wanted to be in the healthcare profession, so naturally, my next steps included studying for the SATs and ACTs to earn a spot at a university. Confused and at times defeated by the process due to differences in educational learning styles and lack of knowledge about the school systems in America. Eventually, my efforts earned me a spot at Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma became my new home.

The Importance of Finding Your Community!

When I first arrived in Stillwater, I was met with gray gloomy clouds and a cold winter breeze that encompassed the feelings of fear and uncertainty that engulfed my mind. Here I was beginning an academic journey in a state without any family or friends or any idea of what I wanted to do. Being that I was strong minded and believed that I could do anything, I set out to start my freshman year at OSU.

The first few weeks of college are overwhelming since you are finding your classes, meeting with your professors, getting to know your roommates and simply getting to know yourself outside of your household. You will not figure everything out in those first few weeks and may find yourself asking “Should I really do this?” This is normal and par for the course. Understanding your “why” or purpose for attending college and the overall dream of why you are there will help to center your thoughts. For me, as a Black student at a predominantly White institution meant that I needed to establish a community that respected and supported my individuality. Joining an organization assisted in creating a space that welcomed my uniqueness and contribution to the OSU community. It is paramount that you build your community early on as it helps you to navigate seamlessly during your time as a college student. Oklahoma State University provided a safe space that allowed me to share my experiences and excel in academic settings through its department of exemplary educators and scenic areas. Your environment plays a pivotal role in your success so, ensure that you are surrounding yourself with people that urge you to advance in every aspect of your life.

During the first year at OSU, I encountered an instructor that embodied the true essence of being an educator and creating a safe space for students to learn and grow. Ms. Nataly Cantero, my composition one instructor, gifted me the most valuable experience as a first year composition student and at large a student at OSU. Not only was she an instructor, she was a conduit of hope, friendship and community. I looked forward to her classes each week as it was a space that recognized creativity and individuality. Ms. Cantero’s composition class became a family and frequent social interactions became easier and less of a hassle.

When you are in a classroom setting with others that are equally as ambitious as you are, it can be intimidating. Many days I had thoughts of producing poorly written papers and felt out of place due to my distinct accent and cultural identity. But, Ms. Nataly created an environment that made me feel comfortable to explore the depths of my originality and capabilities. She provided constructive criticism, support and believed that each student is capable of soaring at their level. Unequivocally, her easy-going style of teaching, cheerful demeanor and awe-inspiring nature motivated each student to succeed in the course. Moreover, writing papers in composition one became a norm and second nature which allowed me to easily create writing pieces for other courses. Success does not happen overnight. It’s a journey that requires you to take the first step – trying! Not every professor will exemplify the attributes of Nataly, however, your most important job as a student is to be present and try your best.

The first year of college enables you to commence your self-discovery journey. Furthermore, taking the time to understand who you are as an individual is pertinent to establishing your community at college. Scholars define a community as a group of people who share similar interests, values, and goals. As such, having a community while earning your degree and anything for that matter is essential to your overall positive experience and academic success at college. Not only does it teach you to interact with like minded individuals, it allows you to adapt to changes, gain interpersonal skills, and garner support through social interactions.

During my first year of college, I was unaware of what organizations would be a best-fit for me. For that reason, I shied away from joining a sorority and campus-wide organizations which resulted in me becoming anti-social. However, I decided that I wanted to immerse myself into something new during my sophomore year. I became an active member of the Black Students Association which afforded me the opportunity to be a part of a community that empowered its members while promoting dual relationships between the Stillwater community and OSU. As an active member, I learned how to sustain social and professional relationships, and use my voice to effect positive change in a rigid system. Finding your community which comes in various forms such as friendships, organizations, sororities, romantic relationships, etc., allows you to create your home away from home and gives you some sense of normalcy to be successful in your courses. Ensure that you are seeking out persons that reflect the same values and morale as you. Be a part of a community that holds you accountable for your actions and propels you to aim for excellence.

Establishing Independence

A minute percentage of college students are fortunate to have their parent’s financial assistance throughout their college career. Contrarily, most college students lack financial stability and are jobless. As such, many students are forced to have several part-time jobs to cover tuition and upkeep daily expenses. I came from a middle income family and like thousands of students, I utilized student loans to bear the expense of college tuition. Additionally, I sought to establish financial independence to manage personal expenses. Ms. Cantero, who I often refer to as my “Destiny Helper” , recommended that I apply for the position of Writing Consultant at Oklahoma State Writing Center. She recognized my ability to write great papers and wanted to hone those skills. While this may be true, I struggled with imposter syndrome which scholars define as an anxiety inducing condition that causes one to have self doubt of one’s accomplishments and intellect. I thought that I was not good enough for the position or that I do not possess the necessary skills and expertise to be a writing consultant. But, with the guidance and encouragement from Ms. Cantero and other esteemed English instructors, I applied for the position.

After earning the position of Writing Consultant at the Writing Center, I made it my utmost duty to provide the best possible feedback and assistance to all students, faculty, etc. Being one of the few Black Writing Consultants at OSU, I mobilized the movement to provide a safe space for other Black students and the student population. This meant using my voice during internal meetings and regional conferences to improve the experiences of Black students in the writing and creative spaces.

Oftentimes, students visited the Writing Center with faces filled with panic, fear and sometimes, uncertainty about an assignment. I developed a system that assisted composition students to analyze the core idea of the assignment and ascertain the requirements. As a past composition student, I admired the deliberate efforts of my instructors and the system they created to simplify the requirements of an assignment. The safe space and comfortability created by those instructors, namely Mark DeFruscio and Kaila Lancaster, made it easier and less intimidating to receive constructive criticism on writing pieces. With those similar intentions, I aspired to make each client feel comfortable and safe to share their difficulties and uncertainties with assignments. Actualizing a safe space was necessary to meet the needs of my clients. Seeing the enthusiasm and relief on their faces after their consultation was enough to make my entire day and sometimes, week.

To have a conducive working environment, having positive leadership is key to a company’s overall success. The Writing Center at OSU accomplished this with the astute leadership of Dr. Anna Sicari. She embodied the qualities of an excellent director and overtime, became a valuable source of information for all employees. Dr. Sicari looked at each employee first as an individual, then as a writing consultant. She was instrumental in formulating ideas and concepts through research, meetings and conferences to ensure that each student received the assistance and support they needed to become confident in their writing abilities. Under Dr. Sicari’s leadership, I learned how to be an active listener and how to easily identify grammatical/structural issues within writing pieces. A famous proverb, “A fish rots from the head down” is a true depiction of what the OSU Writing Center followed. Because of great leadership, as employees, we met the needs of each client and maintained the success and functionality of the Writing Center at OSU.

I vowed to always put my best foot forward in any setting and as such, I worked assiduously to deliver excellent service to all my clients and be a team player. As a result of my hard work and dedication to quality assessment, I acquired invaluable experiences, networked with a wide range of clients from various cultural backgrounds and received an award for “Best Writing Consultant Fall 2021.” Life will deliver many redirections and phases that will mold you into an all-rounded individual. The secret to succeeding in life is remaining open-minded to all the possibilities and accepting changes as they come. I never thought that I would enjoy writing papers and to go as far as helping students to perfect their writing abilities.

Prior to becoming a writing consultant, I experienced scores of rejection letters from other business entities. Rejection is tough to accept when you are in the process of elevating your life, however, it builds character and makes you resilient. When your goal is to be self-sufficient and financially stable, you will persevere until you have achieved the things you have set out to accomplish. So, though I found my niche after several rejection letters, I did not let those experiences hinder me. You may not get the first job you applied to, so giving yourself grace and being mindful of negative self-talk will be crucial to your journey as a college student. When you are enduring those low moments, your community can step in to redirect your energy towards the things that will help you grow.

After Graduation

I entered OSU with a clear idea of what I wanted to do after I graduated. These plans included studying for the MCAT and eventually, starting medical school. However, like stated earlier, life is not a linear journey and similarly, my life was turned upside down when my dad passed away unexpectedly two months prior to graduation. Shocked, heartbroken, numb, and confused at this tragic loss, I became uncertain about future plans as I did not know where to begin or how to continue life without my biggest cheerleader, my dad. Thoughts of not completing the final semester consumed my mind. However, the support, love and encouragement from my community gave me the power and strength to fulfill a life dream and close this chapter of my life.

After graduation, I received an offer to teach First Year Composition at Oklahoma State University. I felt ill-equipped and thought that it was too big of a task to accomplish. But, looking at my journey from being a student first, then working as a writing consultant, and now, given the opportunity to teach students, I accepted the position and set out to be as influential as my previous instructors. It was a full circle moment of the student becoming the teacher and being a part of the same English department that encouraged and shaped me into the person I am today. It was a moment of me returning to the beginning and to where it all started.

Becoming an instructor meant that I needed to establish a safe community for all students to feel welcomed and celebrated. It required me to meet my students where they are at and work as a team to improve their skills as learning is not a sequential journey. During my time as an instructor, I met students from various backgrounds with huge dreams. Teaching and providing personalized constructive feedback showed me how important students value intentional criticism. As a student, I knew the importance of having individual meetings with the professor and how it improved your creative piece. Undoubtedly, including this aspect into the curriculum allowed my students to realize the many ways they can produce a well-written essay. Moreover, it granted me the opportunity to connect with each student and better understand their writing needs.

It’s an immense undertaking being a teacher. You are responsible for shaping behaviors and improving their skillset. Additionally, you become a safe haven for students to share their ins and outs with the course and life. For me, it’s a huge honor when students feel comfortable to share their discomfort with life issues, or seek guidance about a situation. The goal is always to meet my students where they are at and help them to get to the level they want to be. My classroom embodied the true meaning of comradery and community. We were a family where both parties learned from each other and felt celebrated and appreciated for their efforts. I loved teaching as it provided me the opportunity to grow as a person.

As first year students, you will feel terrified of the unknown which is typical. But, establishing your purpose can help you to begin your academic career. As someone that took a while to truly figure out their purpose, rest assured that identifying your purpose may not happen overnight, but in due time and at the right time, you will know it. Some questions you should ask yourself during your journey are “What do I want to accomplish in 4 years?”, and “How can I achieve that?” Keep in mind that your journey will not go as planned, but as long as you are determined and willing to do the work, you can achieve anything you set your mind to do. It is imperative to have both a social and academic life. Both are needed to keep you balanced and focused throughout college. You need a community that will hold your hands through steep moments but also celebrate your wins. A community of friends will help you to widen your horizon and improve your social interaction skills. Have a little fun. Go to the concert or party or whatever social event fits your personality. College will bring its fair share of disappointments, failing grades, lack of understanding in certain courses, loss of friendships, and self doubt, however, having a persistent mindset will keep you grounded throughout your journey.

You are not alone on your journey. There are several organizations on campus that are available for first year students to provide guidance, assistance and support in every circumstance such as finances, time management, mental health and academia. Make use of these organizations as there are many students just like you who are a part of these organizations trying to navigate their way throughout college. Use your resources to the best of your abilities to improve your time as a college student. Attending college is not a singular experience, it’s a collective effort amongst yourself, your family members, friends and professors. As a team, you are working together to achieve a common goal – improving one’s educational life. As such, know that you are never alone and that there are people available that you can count on. Even if you come from a broken family, low income household, and as a first generation student, you can create your family away from home that will be beneficial to your overall performance in your courses and attitude as a student.

The race is not for the swift, but to those who keep on running. You are not in competition with anyone but yourself. Always appreciate where you are in your journey even if it’s not where you want to be by keeping an open mind and believing that no task or goal is too big for you. You are smart. You belong. You matter. You are enough. You are a winner. Never let anyone detour you from your goals and what you believe in. You will be your biggest critic throughout college, but try to extend grace to yourself as you are still learning. Use your shortcomings as stepping stones to becoming better in all aspects of your life. I believe in you and I am certain that your journey will be just as spectacular as you want it to be.

This resource is no cost at https://open.library.okstate.edu/goodthingstoread/