Krystal

Like most places, there stereotypes of students that attend EMU. The football players are stupid. The honors students are losers. The frat brothers are male chauvinists and the sorority sisters a promiscuous. Thankfully, these stereotypes are not true! I've been a part of many study sessions where athletes, actors and the academically inclined have something positive to contribute.

Personally, I love Eastern. The best thing about this school is the people. They never cease to amaze me because everyone is so unique! Additionally, there's Big Bob's Lakehouse (which looks like a little cabin and is used for random events like barbecues) and the lake itself (which can be used for ice skating if you're that adventurous). Eastern has the big campus networking and a small campus feel. Everything is in walking distance. But, if you choose not to walk, there's a free shuttle for student transportation. The shuttle even takes students to the EMU Convocation Center, where many concerts and athletic events are held. Since I've been at Eastern, Kevin Hart, Wiz Khalifa, Russell Brandt, Jason Mraz, Lupe Fiasco, Common and Kwame Kilpatrick have visited our wonderful campus. For obvious reasons, the latter cause one of the biggest recent controversies. One of the other wonderful things about Eastern are the late night conveniences. Starbucks stays open until midnight and the Quik Fixx(a small convenience store by the freshman dorms) closes at two am! Additionally, the library is open 24 hours for the week before and during finals. Overall, Eastern is a great place to learn, earn and socialize.

EMU academics vary greatly. So far, I've had classes that range from 12 students to 200. I've had classes where teachers talk for 75 minutes and others that are purely student discussion based on assigned texts. I've had classes that start at the crack of dawn, or 9:30 but it feels like the crack of dawn, and classes that start at five pm. I've had classes that I had to fight to stay awake in and classes that caused me to be upset if they were canceled. One thing that is constant is that every professor at the university has office hours. Each week, they must set aside ten hours and sit in their office just waiting for an eager student to inquire about their course or just keep them company. Utilize these hours! Student competitiveness varies. Most freshman are not because they are only taking General Education courses. But once students enter major specific courses, they tend to become more focused and competitive in their academics. Another great resource that EMU has is the University Advising Career Development Center (UACDC). Here students meet with advisers to pick Gen Ed courses and are then directed to major specific advisers. Additionally, the UACDC provides many career oriented programs, like resume writing workshops, mock interviews and internship possibilities.

Eastern's campus is so diverse that I'm sure that there is someone for everyone. There's a group of eco-friendly kids on campus who go shoeless and ride bikes everywhere. Every religion is represented and 48 states too. As a Black, Christian student on campus, I have found many friends that I can identify with and many other friends that are nothing like me, but just as great.

The biggest mistake I made as a freshman was not joining any organizations. While I did enjoy my leisure time in the hot tub at our recreation center, I wish I would have gotten more involved. With that being said, get up, go out and do something! There's an organization, or org, for any and everyone. There are orgs geared toward specific hobbies, religions, races and majors. Currently, I am a part of NSCS and EMU's Poetry Society. NSCS is an academic honors org that is actually international and PS lets me express my creative side. There is an org called Fashion Ave, for aspiring designers, YBBW (You Beautiful Black Women) for young women who want the sisterhood of a sorority without the sorority. Then, there is our Greek Life. The Greeks on campus are active and they do more than throw parties, too. During the fall, the frats and sororities get a week and they plan events for every single day. Recently, the Alphas did a ladies pamper party and on Sunday, there is "Church with the Alphas". There are also major events on campus, like Outober (sponsored by the LGBTQ office), TCOD (The Color of Drums) a fusion of all the arts as part of the MLK Celebration, and Welcome Week, the first week of the fall semester for freshmen.

Currently, we are wrapping classes up and preparing for midterms. This means lots of projects, tests and work done outside of the classroom. The work is not necessarily difficult, but it is very time-consuming.