December 14, 2022
I got the opportunity to chat with fellow Let’s Detroit 2022 Campus Ambassador Nikki Hartley on what her college experience has been like and tips she has for any upcoming college students. As a junior studying public affairs and economics, she knows a thing or two about Wayne State University and what they offer. She also gave us some of her best tricks to maneuver the crazy years of college.
A: “I chose Wayne State because of its diverse student body and Detroit’s vibrant atmosphere. Now that I’ve been here for a few semesters, I have genuinely fallen in love with my school.
My public affairs major relates extremely well to the community surrounding Wayne State. There are many nonprofits to volunteer with, internship positions to fulfill in Detroit, and many courses to study the city’s historical and current policies. If you are a public affairs major looking for hands-on experience, I highly recommend Wayne State as they connect you with ample opportunities to get involved.”
A: “My biggest piece of advice: know what your priorities are. For some, college is an intentionally busy time where they want to get involved as much as possible. For others, priorities like family, faith, or physical and mental well-being may take precedence, and they decide to limit their involvement. It is okay to fall into either category! Whichever side of the spectrum you gravitate towards, I recommend being somewhere in the middle — don’t take on so much that your relationships and health suffer, but don’t take on too little that once you leave college, you’ll regret not getting more involved. It’s a tricky balance that I admittedly struggle with every semester, but I’ve learned that if I allocate my time based on my priorities, everything else falls into place.”
A: “I’d highly recommend that everyone take a philosophy class. No matter what stance you take, philosophy courses force you to go deeper into considering the full implications of the views you hold. Other than that, I’ve enjoyed taking courses like epidemiology, the U.S. health care system, and the Middle East — all of which I had limited knowledge of going into the course but knew it would be helpful to learn about.”
A: “Learn how to study in a way that fits you best. Some people can read materials a few times and be ready for the test. For others, creating study quizzes is what helps them the most. Watch a few YouTube videos on different studying methods, and then give yourself time to try each. Another crucial element of college success is knowing how long you want to study before the test. Maybe give yourself a week to review the materials for more challenging courses. For easier ones, maybe a couple of days. Just because you’ve paid attention to lectures and know what’s going on in the class doesn’t mean you are ready for the test. Some people are geniuses, and that works for them! But the rest of us have to spend appropriate time studying for an exam.”
Interview conducted by and transcript written by Erica Lesher, Fall 2022 Campus Ambassador
