Page 38 - 2016 Involvement Magazine Web

Chaoqi (Alex) Hu Are you a commuter student?
Graduation year: 2017
Major: Communications
How I got involved: As an international student from China, I
came here with no friends and I was worried that I would eat in
the dining hall alone. However, when I first moved in to my
Leadership Learning Community dorm, there were many
Americans who stopped by and welcomed me to the United
States with a firm handshake. From that moment, I realized I
had found myself a home away from home. Because of that,
I got exposed to multiple opportunities on campus. I was in
Leadership Learning Community for both my freshmen and
sophomore years. It provided me chances to make deep
connections easily with my peers and faculty/staff as early as
my freshman year. With my love of the community, I became a
Learning Community Ambassador and after that, with the love
of the university, I became a tour guide for Lodewick Visitors
Center. All of my achievements and involvement originated from
the first step I took into my dorm.
Advice for students new to the UConn, Storrs campus: My
advice for our new Huskies will be to get involved on this
wonderful campus. You will meet a number of new friends and
build up your personal skills at the same time. In this way, you
can always make this big campus a lot smaller. Also, do not be
afraid to try new things and embrace different cultures like how
I tried my first orange chicken and fortune cookie at McMahon
Dining Hall.
Are you an international student?
You are probably going through some culture shock! But there are
many other students who are going through the same things as
you are and you just need to find them! Stop by the International
Center, McMahon Hall - Main Floor. They have information about
the services and requirements for international students and it is It’s true that some students think that college is one big party, and
a great place to meet other students and find out where to go and
how to get to places. They have international coffee hours, game
nights, and bus trips. Check out the student organization data
base on the Student Activities, UConntact website; there are over
35 student organizations representing a wide variety of countries, you know about the programs and services for students who are
cultures, and religions. Your education here will not stop outside in recovery, specifically the UConn Recovery Community (URC).
of the classroom… the whole campus is waiting!
36 Advice from Student Experts | Special Topics
It can be hard to have time in between classes and not be able to
hang out in your room because you would have to drive back home
to get to it! You need to find a “home base” when you are on
campus. A good place to start is in the commuter lounge in the
Student Union. There are lockers, tables and a TV. There are lots
of other nooks and crannies on campus in which you can study,
have a bite to eat, relax or socialize in between classes. It’s also
a good time to visit professors. Consider putting in a few hours at
a part-time job on campus… or a few hours a week at one of our
50 volunteer sites. Whatever you do, don’t hang out in your car in
between classes! Off-Campus Student Services, Student Union
Room 315 (offcampus.uconn.edu), is a great resource for everything
from how to get involved as a commuter to landlord issues.
How do I start a conversation?
For some people, talking to others seems easy and natural. To
others, it can cause stress and nervousness. If you get nervous
thinking about starting a conversation, you need a strategy. First
of all, being a good conversationalist means being relaxed, being
a good listener and being a good observer… take note of what
the people around you talk about and what interests them. Most
people like to talk about themselves, so that is a good place
to start. Simple, friendly, open-ended questions are a key to
keeping things moving. Have a few opening questions that can
be readily adapted. For example, “How was your weekend?” can
be adapted to, “How was the concert…” or “your test?” Or try
talking about recent sports, political or social events. If you don’t
make a connection and the conversation dies, don’t worry. It is
important to try, and sooner or later you will click with someone
and conversation will get easier. Just remember to be patient with
yourself. Slow and steady progress is still progress!
Are you in recovery?
this makes it harder for students who are choosing to abstain from
drugs and alcohol, but still want to have a good time and meet
new people. Your first stop should be the Wellness and Prevention
Services in Wilson Hall (South Residence Halls area). They can let
The URC is a community of students in recovery from alcohol and
other drugs, who support each other and engage in fun activities
together. There are many students involved with the Wellness and
Prevention Services, so you will be sure to meet lots of great people.
Do you have an alcohol or drug problem?
If you are looking for help for drug or alcohol use, you will be able
to find the support that you need. Wellness & Prevention Services
(wellness.uconn.edu) can provide support and offer a variety of
supportive resources, such as the alcohol and other drug clinical
services at Counseling and Mental Health (counseling.uconn.edu).
There are also AA and NA meetings right on campus. Check the
Wellness and Prevention website for the most updated schedule
(aod.uconn.edu.) And don’t forget that there are dozens of events
every day that are alcohol and drug free.