Are You Utilizing Your Resources?

By Allison L. Johnson
Blog Content Contributor

There’s a few crucial things I have to do while I’m here at Texas State. Those three things are to make good grades, get some internships, and work. Getting the grades you want can be difficult if you are taking a class that isn’t your forte, but there are many resources available to us to be successful here at Texas State University. Our campus is full of many talented and intelligent students, although we can all fall short in some categories. Last year I had to take college algebra for the second time. I went into the class last spring with such a different mentality than fall of 2015. If you want to succeed, you have to have the mindset that you are going to do well. I went to the first day of class knowing I would leave with at least a B because I was going to utilize every tool I had to earn that grade.

I made sure I went to office hours every time I wanted to review what I didn’t grasp earlier that week. I also went to SLAC just about every day for an entire semester. SLAC is located on the fourth floor of the library. They have tutors for just about every department here. There were days when I was there from open to close. It was beyond frustrating at times but it was worth it when grades were posted and I saw that I actually got a B.  There’s people here to help you get the grade you want.

For internships, you should find out who is in charge of internships for your school. For example, if you’re in the School of Fine Arts and Communication, you will need to talk to Chuck Kaufman about interning. You should be able to find that information on the webpage for your major under “Resources”. Do everything in your power now to get the experience you need for your career. Also, check out the student involvement page on Texas State’s website. Are you an accounting major? We have an accounting club. You’d be surprised at the connections you can make joining clubs that pertain to your major.

If you’re in search of a job, check out Jobs4cats. You need to register with your NetID and password. On the site you can see a list of work study, part-time, summer jobs, graduate student jobs and also internships.

There are on campus jobs and some others that are in San Marcos and the surrounding central Texas area–even outside of central Texas. So if you wanted to go home for the summer, you would have a good chance of finding a job or internship near your hometown if you’re from the DFW or Houston area.

Also, take advantage of the Square being right next to campus. There’s so many businesses on the square that could be looking for some part-time employees. There’s plenty of restaurants and retail, so if you have experience in both, you should have a good shot at landing a job if they are hiring. I recommend walking around the Square because a lot of businesses will advertise that they are hiring. Some will even advertise on social media that they are. That’s how I found out about the current job I have.

There are a lot of resources here at Texas State for us to use. Guys, it is someone’s job to help you get on the best career path for you. Take advantage of it and network. I don’t think students realize how blessed we are to have it so made. We have the tools here for us, it’s up to you though to take the time and look into things. If you want something so bad, go for it. So before it’s too late. Get the help for that class that you’re struggling in. Do everything you can to avoid that awkward email at the end of the semester asking your professor for extra credit. Get the job experience now so you can stand out from other candidates after graduation. Get that job now so you can learn how to save. 

Featured image by Allison Johnson.