Admit it. Once the honeymoon was over, you fancied a divorce.
Has Georgetown University lived up to your expectations, despite the happy, rosy, bombastic pictures you post on Instagram?
Many say it takes until at least February for first-years to get settled. It is now February, but you still have yet to find the “dream school” you conveyed to your interviewer.
The tour guides told you that Georgetown professors are really friendly and will take you out for coffee or lunch, but you have not been among the lucky few.
Sophomores often experience a slump after having powered through the previous year. You might think it’s time for a reset or to look into transferring somewhere else. I can’t stop you from applying, but I genuinely hope that you won’t give up on Georgetown.
It is in your hands to make this place your dream school.
As with any community, we have our imperfections. However, what is different at Georgetown is that there are many who genuinely care. The Jesuit values and other beliefs embedded into campus life consistently remind each one of us that we are people for others. We respect everyone’s individuality and maintain open minds to be proven wrong.
Do you feel that others don’t care much about you? Then start with you caring about others. Is there someone you have noticed spending a lot of time alone? Have you approached them to start a conversation? If you want to be in a community that will accept you for who you are, it starts with you accepting others for who they are.
Furthermore, think about your relationship with your professors. Have you cared to know them beyond their syllabi and grading criteria? What excites them for their research? Which musician do they like? Don’t wait for things to happen. It is about expanding your community beyond your peers. Your lifelong mentor is out there, so say hello if you run into them on campus.
Just as important, think about your actions within the classroom. Have you refrained from speaking up in case others might laugh at what you have to say? Or is it you who judges others? If you are able to have a non-judgmental reaction and engage open-mindedly, you will be able to create a culture of inclusiveness.
Do you feel like you need to compromise your morals or sleep schedule to avoid receiving a bad grade on an exam? I hope that you will choose to proudly take a lower grade if you have fallen short. Otherwise, you will condition yourself to take shortcuts every time for your entire life.
Tired of the GPA and resume-building cultures? They got you started with that in high school for your college applications. The game has changed. Medium good in many is no good. Identify your very own niche, become extremely good in just that, and you can become a top graduate without doing more work.
When talking to advisors, does your university official or your dean seem to care? Make sure they get to know you, and you get to know them. These are the people to whom you should be the most honest and upfront. Convey to them your dreams and your challenges, and they will be delighted to be there for you during your college journey.
Finally, do you feel that there are too many “fake” people? Ask if you have been your true authentic self. Ask if you have been exacerbating fakeness. You might realize that the really attractive people are those who are unabashedly authentic. After all, authenticity is the primary advice our 48th president John DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) often used when speaking to students.
Even if you look to change schools, what will remain constant is you. So the change has to originate from within. Why not give Georgetown a chance by changing your mindset and shedding old habits?
If you were able to make Georgetown your dream school, flag me down during Commencement, and we’ll shake hands. If it is just not working, flag me down any time, and we’ll have lunch on me.
Mitch Kaneda, Ph.D. is the Senior Associate Dean and Director of the Undergraduate Program at the Walsh School of Foreign Service.