From reflecting on my own experience and asking other students, professionals and educators, here are 10 things I wish I knew before starting college.

1. It’s important to get involved.

I first came to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ in the spring of 2016 after receiving my associate degree at Valencia College. As an Orlando native, I always knew about ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ but didn’t realize just how big the university is. I worried that since I was a junior upon arrival and didn’t live on campus, I wouldn’t be able to get involved in school without feeling like an outsider. Being a first-generation college student, I didn’t have a clue where to start. How was I supposed to find any friends if I couldn’t even find my classes?

Getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

Luckily, the major I chose turned out to be a great fit for me. The classes I took in the allowed me to interact with my peers on a personal level and it only took a few weeks of stressing out over papers together to realize a lot of us were in the same situation and looking for ways to get involved. I joined the student ambassador program for my department and started getting to know and hang out with the people who were in my major. It’s amazing what a few events with free pizza can do to develop lifelong friendships.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is full of incredible resources, but it’s up to you to find them. Whether it’s finding a yoga meetup, taking care of your mental health, joining a campus club, or attending a resume workshopΜύwith career services, getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

2. Seek out scholarships and apply. No seriously, just apply.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year, even as student loan debt has reached a collective $1.5 trillion in the United States. In other words, there’s no reason to not apply for free money. Even though ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is a best-value university with [more than 60%] of students graduating debt-free, there are a multitude of scholarships available to students depending on your degree programs, academic record and future goals.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year.

Spending my first two years at a state college saved me a lot of money on tuition, but so did the decision to live at home until graduation. To help with car and travel expenses to campus, I held a part-time job or paid internship during each semester. It was hard working throughout all four years of college, but it taught me how to balance multiple responsibilities and be aware of my financial decisions.

In that balance, I’ve found that grades really do matter if you want to curb college expenses. Financial aid has been available to me every semester, but doing well in my classes has increased the amount of additional grant money available to me. Even if you don’t think you qualify, it never hurts to fill out an application for Federal Student Aid. You can also fill out a general application and see your matched scholarships through .

3. Focus on your plan instead of worrying about how you compare to others.

When I graduated from high school, I never pictured myself getting a four-year degree. My plan was to get a vocational degree in theatre tech so I could string some lights up at one of the theme parks in Orlando. After realizing the Μύwas a good fit for me, I ended up at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ without any regret for the journey that got me here.

One the most important things about college is that you will interact with people from all walks of life β€”different cultures, abilities, races, nationalities, aspirations and socio-economic backgrounds. Remember that every person has their own path, including you. While it will be tempting to think about the internship or job offers someone in your class has already gotten or the schools they’ve been accepted to, the important thing to remember is that you are doing things the way they best fit your learning experience. The world won’t stop revolving if you aren’t elected president of a club, change your major or stay an extra semester.

What matters is being prepared for the future you choose to create.

4. Take advantage of tutoring, advising and office hours.

Sometimes the semester comes at you fast. It can be tough to ask for help, but you’re never alone in the asking. Everyone has that one subject or class that’s a struggle. For me, it was statistical methods. It took going to tutoring every day after my class had ended to sit down and attempt to piece together what I had just learned. Even though math was never my strong suit, with tutoring I ended up passing my statistical methods course with one of the highest class averages.

Everyone has that one subject or class that’s a struggle.

There are reasons ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has resources such as Μύthat help you with assignments ranging from introductory composition assignments to full-length dissertations. Even if you’re a pro at viewing your degree audit and figuring out what classes to sign up for, advisors are here to make sure you’re taking the steps that will most benefit you. If a professor invites you to tutoring or open office hours, consider stopping by. Not only can you gain assistance or advice, but you’ll build rapport with them that will be memorable for future help and recommendation letters.

5. Explore your city.

There’s hardly ever been a better time to be in Orlando as a college student. The city is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States and is quickly becoming a destination city beyond the lure of theme parks. One of my favorite weekend things to do in Central Florida is to spend a day out at Wekiva Island β€”a lively riverfront spot about 30 minutes west of campus where you can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The best part? It’s dog friendly.

If you’re looking for local fun, try visiting one of Florida’s natural springs. Buy discount Disney tickets at the Student Union, eat at the delicious and creative , or feel the infectious energy coming from a wall of purple smoke at an Orlando City soccer game. The city has a lot to offer and there’s something for just about every interest.

6. Surround yourself with people who reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel.

Even though there’s fun to be had, college still requires time management and work.

It’s easier to focus on your own goals if your friends are taking their goals seriously. I had a friend from high school that I really cared about, but as I made my way through each semester, I could feel a sense of bitterness growing in our friendship because I started to become more involved in extracurricular activities at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. It was difficult to admit, but I knew things were changing for me, and my friend didn’t want to celebrate the things I was passionate about.

Sometimes it takes meeting new people to realize the ones you’ve kept around are no longer growing with you. You’ll want to hang out with people who encourage you to be your best self. Your friends won’t resent you if you have to say β€œno” to going out in order to study for an upcoming exam. Those who understand you will support you, and those who don’t aren’t really your friends.

7. Seek out advice from professionals in your field.

Finding a mentor can be highly beneficial to your professional development. If you’re unsure of what steps you should take after graduation, try asking your friends, family or professors to connect you with someone who is doing the kind of things you want to be doing. Someone who is new in their field can offer advice on how they got their start, which may give you ideas on where to begin, as well as be a contact within your network.

It’s never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

Since starting at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, I always had an interest in how the fields of writing and public policy work together. In the spring of my senior semester, I participated in the Μύprogram that sent me to live and work in Florida’s capital. Besides the incredible professional experience the program gave me, I also made lifelong friends and mentors. It’s never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

8. Maintain your grades at the beginning to create a safety net for yourself later on.

GPA may not always be the defining factor in one’s career, but there’s little debate that the ability to get good grades and perform well in school reflects a strong work ethic and drive to learn. It can also lead to scholarships providing more money for your expenses.

At the beginning of each semester, strategically plan your time management so you get ahead for the term. If the material becomes more difficult later on, you’ll have some room to breathe. One of the things I always make sure to do during the first week is scout all the freebies being handed out on campus and look for the student planner. Getting into the habit of writing in a planner has done wonders for my ability to actually remember when I have quizzes due. Webcourses is usually reliable, but I’ve found that keeping physical notes about when things are due helps your grade more than you might imagine.

9. Enroll in one class you never thought you would take.Μύ

If your program permits you the opportunity, you should take a course that challenges your beliefs or perspective. I’ll never forget the semester when I signed up for Ethics of Law. I needed to fill a requirement for my legal studies minor and ended up enrolled in a course on the death penalty. My professor was a defense attorney in Orlando and had incredible connections in the field. She brought in guest speakers that included a homicide detective and state prosecutor Jeff Ashton, who served on the Casey Anthony trial. I never imagined that simply enrolling in that course would introduce me to experts in the legal field, and an entire new way of looking at capital punishment.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically, developing a valuable skill set for potential employers. Ask your advisors about interesting or new classes that would complement your curriculum. You may end up in a psychology course focusing on human-animal interaction or even a literature studies class on Harry Potter.

10. Find your interests and follow them.

If I had never chosen to pursue writing, you would probably have never read this.

When I first started at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, I ran into a former middle school teacher of mine who was taking students on a tour. He asked me what I was majoring in, and I told him a little about the writing department. He looked at me with sympathy and said, β€œGood luck finding a job.” Little did he know, I never needed luck. College isn’t about being lucky. It’s about building upon the knowledge you learn every day to get a little closer to your goals.

Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you.

One of the things that makes college such a unique, transformational experience is that there are so many ways to discover your goals and discover the world. Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you. Start a club that plays Super Smash Brothers in front of the Chick-fil-a on campus. Take a Zumba class at the rec center. Skip a party to watch movies with your roommate. Take your roommate to a party. Get politically involved. Win a national championship. Take cooking classes. Jump in the Reflecting Pond. Prove that Pluto actually is a planet.

Whatever you choose, the experience is yours. And ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is a great place to start.

Melissa Mitchum is a writing and rhetoric major and legal studies minor at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, and works as an intern for ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Downtown. When she’s not creating content for social media, she spends her time exploring Orlando with her French bulldog, Frank.

Jan. 1 – ΜύAfter ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ completed their first perfect football season and a 34-27 defeat over Auburn at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, former ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ linebackerΜύShaquem Griffin ’16Μύadmires the championship trophy. Shaquem made history in April when he became the first one-handed player to be drafted in the NFL, joining his brotherΜύShaquill Griffin ’16Μύon the Seattle Seahawks’ team.

Jan. 21 – A student takes some time between classes to stretch out on Memory Mall.

Feb. 23 –ΜύEngineering graduate student Estefania Bohorquez ’17 shows off her aerial acrobatic skills.

March 14 – Studio art major John Currie ’18 works on a special portrait of John C. Hitt to honor his 26 years of service as ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s fourth president.

April 5 – Singer Jesse McCartney performs at CFE Arena during ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½estival’s concert night.

April 7 – This year, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ raised more than $1.5 million for Knight-Thon, an annual dance marathon that benefits Children’s Miracle Network.

April 13 – Director of jazz studies and Pegasus Professor Jeff Rupert conducts a performance during ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Celebrates the Arts.

May 1 – After a six-month closure, a cute pup takes a dip in the newly renovated Reflecting Pond, which now has a new foundation and color-changing LED lights. *Note: Dogs are not allowed in the water, so don’t try this on your own.

May 3 – During his final commencement ceremonies, former ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President John C. Hitt conferred degrees to more than 8,100 students. In October of last year,ΜύHitt announced he would be stepping down from the presidency on June 30, 2018. Former ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ provost Dale Whittaker became the university’s fifth president on July 1.

June 5 – Senior studio art major Jenna Chastain works with clay during an art class in the Visual Arts building.

June 5 – ΜύWhile in a lab, aΜύstudent works on a project involving display screens and motorcycle helmets.

June 20 – Two students raced to the top of the Climbing Tower located in the .

June 29 – Construction on the new ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Downtown campus is underway and on schedule to open Fall 2019.

Aug. 2 – After partnering with two other institutions to manage the Arecibo Observatory earlier this year, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President Dale Whittaker traveled to Puerto Rico for a visit to the facility.

July 27Μύ– An instructor at the demonstrates how to put out a fire during a cooking class.

Aug. 21 – Afternoon Florida storm clouds cover campus as students make their return during the first week of fall classes.

Sept. 5 – The sun rises over the Charging Knight statue outside ofΜύSpectrum Stadium.

Sept. 5 – Campus on a quiet morning.

Sept. 19 –ΜύAfter more than a year of waiting, popular local taco spot Gringos Locos opened its ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ location in Knights Plaza.

Sept. 21Μύ– The get ready to perform on the football field during half-time at the game against Florida Atlantic University.

Sept. 29 – Knightro and the cheer team entertain a packed stadium during ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s game against Pittsburg, which ended in a 45 – 14 win for the Knights.

Oct. 2 – During the evening, the Pegasus on the lights up the building.

Oct. 3 – After serving as ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s interim provost since April, Elizabeth A. Dooley has become the university’s provost and vice president for .

Oct. 30 – In August, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ partnered with the Nemours Children Hospital to create PEDS Academy, a program that provides specialized STEM education to children hospitalized at the facility.

Nov. 8 – Students light up CFE Arena during Homecoming 2018‘s Concert Knight, which featured performances from rapper A$AP Ferg and singer Ella Mai.

Nov. 9 – Students show off their excitement as they prepare to take part in ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s biggest Homecoming tradition – .

Nov. 9 – During this year’s Spirit Splash, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President Dale Whittaker jumped into the Reflecting Pond alongside students. He promised take part in the tradition if 50,000 students would attend the first five home football games of the 2018 season – more than 55,000 students took on the challenge.

Dec. 1 – ΜύAfter joining Knight Nation this football season, makes an appearance at the American Athletic Conference Championship game, during which fans wore leis to show their support for injured quarterback McKenzie Milton. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Athletics gave out 40,000 leis to fans in the spirit of #10hana, a movement that started in the local community and on social media.

Dec. 1 – During theΜύAmerican Athletic Conference title game against Memphis,Μύ45,176 fans packed the stands as ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ secured a 56 -41 victory, extending their undefeated streak to 25 games and advancing them to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Reflecting Pond was drained in October after Spirit Splash and has been undergoing an extensive renovation ever since. Work has progressed rapidly over the past several months as crews accelerated the project with the goal of finishing before Spring commencement ceremonies begin on May 3. It’s become a tradition for graduates to have their photos taken in front of — and sometimes in — the iconic Reflecting Pond.

The pond has been hidden by a construction fence for several months, surrounded by heavy equipment and workers.

Workers demolished and removed the entire concrete base of the Reflecting Pond, along with the fountain structure, lighting and more, before replacing plumbing and filtration, upgrading lighting to color-changing LEDs, adding more efficient fountain pumps and pouring a new concrete floor.

The work was necessary becauseΜύthe pond’s aging underground pipes sprung several leaks last year, and heavy rains during Hurricane Irma caused runoff that damaged its electrical controls. The renovation corrected those problems and modernized the Reflecting Pond’s technology and features.

The engineering firm for the project was Sims Wilkerson Cartier Engineering, Inc., and the builder was Canaveral Construction. The renovation was overseen by ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Facilities Planning & Construction and Utilities & Energy Services.

Over nearly a half-century, the iconic Reflecting Pond has been treasured by generations of Knights. It’s been the backdrop for countless graduation photos, the centerpiece of Spirit Splash, and even hosted a U.S. president delivering a commencement address.

Repairs have been made in the past, including a renovation in 2000 that replaced the pond’s single small spout with three fountains.

There was once a natural pond where the Reflecting Pond now sits. It was often dried up, but after a rain it would turn into a muddy pit several feet deep. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s first president, Charles Millican, solved the problem by turning the eyesore into the campus’ prettiest feature.

Construction of the Reflecting Pond was completed in 1970, around the same time Millican Hall opened. It measures 182 by 20 feet at its widest points, and holds 228,000 gallons.

It has had auspicious moments over the years. In the university’s early days, the water was drained and replaced with chairs for graduation ceremonies, and that’s where students sat when President Richard Nixon delivered a commencement address in 1973.

Spirit Splash started unofficially in 1995, when the president of the Student Government Association was pushed into the Reflecting Pond and cabinet members followed. The homecoming event was named β€œBest Campus Tradition” by the National Association for Campus Activities in 2011 and this year .

With the help of David Norvell, assistant vice president of sustainability, and ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Recycles, event coordinators were able to successfully calculate and collect the number of plastic bottles it would take to fill the pond.

Organizers hope that by seeing all the single-use plastic bottles in the pond, the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ community will see the negative impact plastic bottles have on the environment and stop using them.

β€œI don’t think a lot of people see how much waste is produced,” said Emily Dovydaitis, Student Government Association (SGA) Health & Sustainability Coordinator. β€œTrash is taken to landfills and you never see how much is actually generated.”

Reflect on Sustainability, as the event has been coined, is the first partnership between SGA, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Recycles and Advanced Disposal to celebrate Earth Day. The event is scheduled from 4:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

β€œΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is a large university known for a lot of things,” said Dovydaitis. β€œNothing like this has been done on any campus before and we hope its historic nature will be enough to get people to do something about protecting our environment.”

Volunteers signed up to load and unload plastic bottles from recycling bins and place them in the pond.

Where do you reside?

I spend my time between Millican Hall and John C. Hitt Library. I love being in the center of campus activities but I wasn’t even part of the original master plan for the campus. I was added as an afterthought by then-President Charles Millican as a solution to a terrain problem: an often dried-up pond that became a muddy pit several feet deep when it rained.

You’re looking good for your age. What’s your secret?

I haven’t gained any in size…I’m still 182 by 120 feet at my widest points, and go from 18 inches to 4 feet deep. I’ve been drained many times through the years for maintenance and to clean algae. In 1996 my floor was drained and painted bright blue over the gray so the water would look better. At first I had just one small spout, but in 2000 the maintenance staff put in three fountains to help my circulation and reduce algae.

What’s an average day like for you?

It’s great being the Reflecting Pond at the heart of the nation’s second-largest university with more than 60,000 students. Every day visitors stroll by or stop to sit a spell, maybe to study or talk or just reflect on the day. But occasionally my normally peaceful days are punctuated by bursts of activity, such as when President Nixon came to campus in 1973 to give a commencement address, or for Spirit Splash, the annual Homecoming pep rally when thousands of students jump in. The National Association for Campus Activities in 2011 gave Spirit Splash the best campus tradition award, and Florida Leader magazine called the event the best university tradition in the state.

Tell us about your family.

I have relatives all over the world, and some of them have become quite well known, too, such as Walden Pond in Massachusetts, Monet’s Water Garden Pond in France, Kew’s Waterlily Pond in London, and others, including one distant cousin that has a different last name, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

What are your favorite movies?

On the Waterfront, Blue Lagoon, and, of course, On Golden Pond, in which Katharine Hepburn’s character, Ethel, even mentions ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½:Μύ β€œYou’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight and away we’re going to go, go, go!” At least I’ve always thought she was talking about Knightro and Pegasus.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Yes, when people call me the Reflecting Pool or Reflection Pond…the name is Reflecting Pond!

What is something that most people may not know about you?

In the early days of the university, when there was an official disc golf course through the middle of campus, one of the β€œfairways” went right over me.

What final advice do you have for the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ community?

I like the β€œpond” advice by futurist author Joel A. Barker about people’s actions because it applies to everyone at the university: β€œWhen you drop any new idea in the pond of the world, you get a ripple effect. You have to be aware that you will be creating a cascade of change.”

Spirit Splash will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Reflecting Pond. There will be guest speakers, free T-shirts and lots of toy ducks. For other Homecoming events, visit http://osi.ucf.edu/homecoming/home/.

The annual pre-Homecoming game pep rally will begin at 1 p.m. Friday. This year, ESPN2 will be on hand to capture the festivities.

Those who can’t make it to Spirit Splash can watch the event live via a Google+ β€œHangout on Air.” Spirit Splash will be broadcast .

Spirit Splash has been hailed as the best university tradition in the state by Florida Leader magazine for college students. In 2011, the event received the best campus tradition award from the National Association for Campus Activities.

Homecoming activities conclude Saturday when the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Knights take on the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.Campus will open for tailgating at noon, and this year’s Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during the game’s halftime.

More information about game day parking, tailgating, student shuttles, park-and-ride services and more is available at .

Fox 35’s β€œGood Day” will broadcast from 7 to 10 a.m. Friday from the Reflecting Pond on the main campus. Fox’s visit is part of a college road trip series that features several universities in Central Florida.

Anchors Amy Kaufeldt and John Brown will be stationed outside Millican Hall just in front of the pond, and meteorologist Jayme King and reporter David Martin will provide live coverage from across campus. The team will speak with students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators about what makes ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ such a special place to learn, live and work.

Students and other members of the campus community are invited to stop by Millican Hall on Friday and be a part of the broadcast. Show your school spirit by wearing ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ swag and using the hashtag #Fox35ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media outlets.

Scheduled to appear live during the broadcast are ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President John C. Hitt; the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ spirit team; women’s soccer coach, Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak; and Bodhi, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s therapy dog.

Pre-recorded segments include:

A segment about ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s innovative undergraduate photonics and laser program is scheduled to air on Fox 35 at 10 p.m. Friday.

The morning show also will be shown on Fox 35’s .

Tosh simply tweeted that he was on campus at the Reflecting Pond, and nearly 300 people showed up. He spent almost three hours chatting and taking pictures with his fans.

Tosh is an alumnus of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, having graduated in 1996 with a degree in marketing. After graduating, he began touring the comedy club circuit and made several television appearances, including his own stand-up special. He landed his own television show, Tosh.0, in 2009. The show features popular viral videos from the Internet.

Source: myFOXOrlando.com, WOFL FOX 35 and KnightNews.com, . Updated: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2011, 3:10 AM EDT. Published : Tuesday, 05 Apr 2011, 10:58 PM EDT

Students, staff and faculty members and the public are invited to the ceremony at 8 p.m. at the Reflecting Pond on the main campus. Student volunteers will speak about their recent trips to Louisiana, and the ceremony will feature classic New Orleans jazz.

The ceremony will be hosted by the Hope for Stanley Foundation, which ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students and DeVos Sport Business Management Program chair Richard Lapchick established in 2006. Their goal was to create opportunities for student-athletes across the country to help revive New Orleans.

The foundation, named after a New Orleans resident whom the students helped, has organizedΜύ27 volunteer trips, including several during spring breaks. More than 600 student-athletes from ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ and other universities have participated.

To learn more about the Hope for Stanley Foundation and its continuing efforts in New Orleans, visit .