Believe it or not, we were once college students too. We made great friendships, stayed up too late, and ate entirely too much pizza. We didn’t always know what we were doing though, and sometimes we struggled, when we didn’t need to. I wish I had known how many folks on campus were happy to point me in the right direction.
In this month’s blog post of Library HELP!: a monthly blog to help you student, the library crew answers, “What I wish I had known as a student:”
Alex: Your interlibrary loan librarian can request items from another library for you. Fill out the online book and article request forms on the Library’s website: https://library.prairiestate.edu/ill.aspx It typically takes about 3 to 5 business days for requests that have been ordered from Illinois Libraries. Out of state requests may take about 7 to 10 days to arrive. Contact ILL Librarian Alex Altan at aaltan@prairiestate.edu with questions. 
Victoria: Don’t be too bashful to approach your professor. Professors want you to reach out, but many are too fearful. Engage in class, participate in discussions. More than anything, it was the class discussions that clarified ideas and thoughts for me. 
Bill: Asking for help is not a negative thing. Your professors welcome questions Start your papers and projects early. This will allow time to engage with the material to better understand what you want to say. You don’t write better in a crunch. Take care of your mental health Be cognizant of your friends’ mental health Be open to the new experiences and people you’ll meet along the way 
CJ: You don’t have to have your “best” subject as your major. If there’s a major you find more interesting and fulfilling, then you can choose that. You’re allowed. Asking your instructors for help or for clarification is going to help a lot. It shows that you are willing to put in the effort to do the work. 
Valerie: Most college campuses have a lot of resources to help students navigate the experience. If you are struggling emotionally, PSC has personal counseling. We also have a counselor who can help you navigate transferring from PSC once you are done. If you have a disability, the Access and Disability Services Office can assist you with finding the appropriate accommodations. The Military Student Affairs Center is here to help veterans and those currently enlisted navigate their military benefits, as well as support and comradery. TRIO Student Support Services offers holistic support to first-generation, low income, and disabled students to navigate college. Career Services can take you from undecided to working towards a degree and job that you will find fulfilling. Finally, the Student Success Center/Tutoring can offer you some extra assistance in your tougher classes. 
Kennedy: Everyone has their own pace. Don’t base your speed around everyone else. Not many know what they want to pursue right out the gate. Apply for FASFA and any scholarships you qualify for. Take some fun courses while you do that, you may discover you like something you wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. You don’t need to take all of your classes at once. Traditional schooling is not for everyone: Take online classes and check certificate programs. Online classes are hands off and give you more freedom. Make school work around your schedule. Do you already have a career plan? Certificate programs can get you the skills you need to get started. Fields like IT especially can be done this way and some jobs may even pay for you to go to school and get more knowledge. Just make sure you aren’t stressing yourself out. Go on the educational journey that makes the most sense for you!
All of these images came to you from the PSC Archive. Pay the archive a visit if you would like to see more fun images and learn more about PSC history. Simply contact Alex Altan, College Archivist, at (708) 709-3553 or aaltan@prairiestate.edu.
Pioneers 