Jasiel Mendiola/The Cougar

A liberal arts education provides multi-dimensional knowledge that is vital in today’s world. 

There has been a push for STEM-focused education in recent years that has shoved the liberal arts to the sidelines. 

Society needs engineers, doctors and scientists but these roles are not created from just pure science-focused courses. 

Engineers need to learn how to collaborate with others, doctors need to learn how to be empathetic toward their patients and scientists need to ponder moral and ethical decisions. 

All of these skills are taught through a liberal arts education.  

Aside from strengthening a student’s critical thinking and communication, it offers transferable knowledge that provides a broader set of skills that can be used in any field. 

Microsoft president Brad Smith has emphasized the importance of liberal arts degrees in the world of STEM. 

When it comes to creating artificial intelligence technology, it requires more things than just code. 

Developers of self-driving cars are already struggling with ethical dilemmas regarding accidents. Whether to save the driver, passenger or pedestrian is not easily solved with a math equation. 

It requires a humanistic approach. 

Another concern regarding a liberal arts education is the return on investment. The 10-year salary for most liberal arts careers is $62,000 which is 40 percent lower than the average median of a 10-year salary for a STEM degree.

However, the 40-year salary from a liberal arts education rises close to one million which is 25 percent higher than that of a STEM degree. 

Concern over monetary compensation is valid since it arises the question of whether liberal arts graduates are adequately paid for their work. 

Teachers are one of the many occupations that are underpaid despite carrying one of the most essential jobs of teaching children who are the next generation. 

Gov. Greg Abbott has pushed for voucher programs that take money away from public schools to private ones. 

Money is leaving the public education system which affects not only students but teachers as well. 

More than half of teachers are planning to quit their jobs because of burnout and lack of support in their field. They are too many job openings available which leave the remaining teachers forced to pick up the slack from the empty spots.

It is safe to say that these teachers are not being paid for the extra work they are pushed to do.

Black and Hispanic teachers also have higher leave percentages which raise a concern about racial disparities in education and the type of schools that are struggling the most.  

With that in mind, a liberal arts education is not valued the same as a STEM education despite them sharing the same goal of creating a better society. 

Both are equally important to innovate future projects and advancements. 

The only difference between the two are their approaches. 

While one is more systematic and tech-heavy, the other combines several soft skills together to make sure the idea comes to life smoothly. 

Instead of putting these two fields against each other, academia should focus on combining their strengths to build a more inclusive future. 

The government should also put effort into making sure people who study liberal arts are adequately paid for the work they do. 

Uniting these two fields is vital for society’s advancements. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Liberal arts education should be valued more” was originally posted on The Cougar

Users like Andrew Tate regularly spread misogyny and hate on social media platforms. | Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Social media platforms must do more to prevent offensive, misogynistic and harmful rhetoric, especially when it’s geared toward young audiences.

Recently, Andrew Tate has become infamously popular for his misogynistic beliefs that have been given traction by younger men. 

In his comments, he has invalidated sexual assault victims, claimed women as property and even supported the grooming of 18-year-old teens.  

Freedom of speech is the main argument when it comes to defending his rhetoric. Despite his backward ideology, his followers believe he has the right to speak his mind. 

However, his way of thinking is giving several young men a misguided sense of confidence that places a threat on women. 

Many of these young men dangerously believe that women are below men and will stop at nothing to prove this. Online harassment is where it starts before it ends up transferring to real life. 

Social media has provided a community for these dangerous ideas which should not be allowed on any platform. 

Meta has currently banned Andrew Tate from Instagram and Facebook, but things should not end there. 

Because of his increased popularity, his rhetoric has spread to other sites like Reddit and Twitter. 

Around 45 percent of teens use social media constantly which means the lives of these teens are based on the views of strangers online, not the ones they see in person. 

Social media has a responsibility to make sure harmful ideologies do not continue to be spread to a younger generation that is vulnerable to lies and misinformation. 

The concept of freedom of speech has been warped to protect dangerous ideologies and give power to the wrong people.

A recent example would be former President Donald Trump, whose social media rampages incited the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, after he lost the election. 

He has been known to use social media to spread misinformation, attack anyone who does not share his beliefs and take advantage of his large following. To this day, he is still banned on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for his actions. 

Despite this, Trump has continued to find ways to work around his ban through different social media sites, including his own Truth Social. 

It did not take long before the social media app became a hub for violence. 

A man who attempted to break into a Cincinnati FBI office had made an account on Truth Social where he made threats against the agency. Several other users were commenting on violent posts as well. 

All of this is to say that allowing people with violent, offensive and harmful content on social media is not freedom of speech but an infringement of social safety. 

To create a safe environment, there should be limits to what a person can say and do online. If their actions can hurt someone in person, then they should not be allowed on the internet. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Misogyny, hate have no place on social media platforms” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

The University was ordered to change its anti-discrimination policy but this change could open up a series of problems. Over the summer, the University decided to settle a lawsuit filed against them by a conservative free speech advocacy organization known as Speech First. 

Both conservative and liberal ideas are subject to becoming even more polarizing on campus and insensitive, unfiltered ideas could further disrupt discourse between diverse groups from different backgrounds. 

The main argument made by the three students who organized the lawsuit was that the former anti-discrimination policy made them afraid to share their self-proclaimed conservative views with other students. 

One student believes that transgender women should not participate in women’s sports, another student believes wage gaps between men and women are natural for a free market economy and another believes that Black Lives Matter’s stances on racial issues are harmful to race relations in America. 

However, one key issue in their argument is that their belief that the policy made them feel afraid to share their views is complete speculation.

Additionally, if these students decided to express their views in a non-derogatory and respectful manner, the University’s previous anti-discrimination policy would not have been enough to punish these students from expressing their views, regardless of them being made in a classroom setting. 

Instead, this lawsuit and more importantly this organization only serves to further push an agenda that is polarizing for intellectual discussion and instead grants power to students to express insensitive opinions. 

For example, in 2016, former Student Body Vice President Rohini Sethi made a controversial Facebook post that supported #AllLivesMatter. 

Just a week earlier, Delrawn Small, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were all fatally shot by police. A renewed spark in addressing police brutality came about as a reaction to these fatal shootings which made Rohini’s post all the more controversial. 

The sanctions imposed on Rohini were not only due to the post’s statement but also due to the insensitive nature of her post. Posting about something controversial during a time of conflict is bound to generate pushback and is not a matter of blocking free speech, but about the need to be mindful when making statements in all forms of speech. 

This new change in the anti-discrimination policy at the University might make students from both sides of the political ideology spectrum defend their political stances more viciously rather than civilly. 

The fear that was instilled into the students who sued the University seems to stem more from their political ideologies rather than from a legitimate fear for their right to free speech. 

The former anti-discrimination policy was clear when students could be punished for being derogatory and not much has changed in the new 2022 policy. 

The term “protected classes” is still used frequently in the new policy, despite this term being a point of contention for the organization and students in their lawsuit against UH. 

Claiming that a policy designed to protect all students against harmful forms of speech, such as slurs and racial stereotyping, is infringing on freedom of speech based simply on the idea of a doctrine used during the lawsuit called the “chilling effect.”

The “chilling effect” has had a history of actually restricting freedoms based on other individuals’ views and implies that passive consequences can count as punishment for free speech.

Instead, it seems like Speech First looks to restrict the consequences that can be placed on students whose opinions specifically target certain groups in a way that is both derogatory and insensitive.

People who share insensitive opinions should face the consequences that come with their opinions instead of avoiding them through a lawsuit. 

JJ Caceres is a political science sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com 

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“Speech First lawsuit creates discrimination debates” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

Collecting photo cards is a hobby many K-Pop fans enjoy but it can easily turn into an addiction. 

Although in the center of a digital age, physical album sales are rising in the K-pop community because fans want to see their favorite artists reach No. 1 on the music charts. 

To add on, photo cards are a perk that come with the albums that are a physical representation of a fan’s dedication to the artist. The more albums you buy, the higher your status as a fan.

The first photocard to ever be introduced in the K-Pop market was in 2010 by SM Entertainment’s girl group, SNSD. Ever since then, people have been buying albums just for the sake of collecting photo cards.

K-pop photo cards are similar to Pokémon cards and baseball cards where each card has its own rarity depending on its age, press release and where you got the photo card from. 

Photo cards are included in albums, behind-the-scenes books, planners, concert merchandise and even special edition photo cards from pre-orders or certain stores. 

With that in mind, collecting photo cards can become a handful as K-Pop companies release hundreds of different photo card editions.

For hardcore photo card collectors, it becomes stressful to try and buy every single photo card that comes out with every album release. 

“Photo card addiction is scary,” said sophomore public health major Katelyn Teran. “Typically every photocard can range from $10 to $20 so when you’re constantly buying $15 photocards, buying two can accumulate to $30 or even $40.”

“It’s a real addiction people begin to have as they gain an urge to complete sets and have every single photocard of their favorite K-Pop artist in existence. Some even go as far as spending hundreds of dollars on a single photocard. When put into a non-collector’s perspective, it’s really not worth it,” said Teran. 

Collecting photo cards is an expensive hobby and many collectors are aware of this. 

Most photo cards are either traded or sold on sites like Mercari, Instagram and Depop. Bids are also common on Ebay with more exclusive photo cards where prices can range into the hundreds and even thousands. 

Despite the stress that comes with collecting photo cards, there is also a joy that comes with it once a balance is found. 

Once collectors realize that they don’t need to collect every photo card in existence, it becomes an enjoyable hobby. 

“One of my favorite things is trading photocards,” said Teran. “It’s a hobby for me so when I’m able to, I enjoy going on Instagram to look through the ATEEZ trading hashtag and reach out to people across the country and trade. You get to decorate and make the packaging so cute and you get to add freebies in there which brings the person you’re trading with joy.”

In order to collect photocards without it turning into an addiction, collectors need to create boundaries for themselves. Whether it’s placing a maximum amount of money you would spend on a photocard or only collecting one edition, simple restrictions like these make all the difference. 

In the end, it’s a hobby that should make you happy, not add more stress into your life. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Collecting photo cards can turn into an addiction, collectors should be mindful” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

Students should support libraries, not coffee shops, as they are a cheaper and reliable alternative that provide endless resources to students.

Coffee shops are praised by all for their ideal learning environment but the benefits seem to be dwindling. 

The sweet aroma of bitter beans, the grinding of the machine, the soft music playing behind the joyful chatter of jovial guests, coffeehouses find themselves as the perfect catch-up and study spot for people of all ages.

However, while the buzzing and aromatic setting of a coffee shop welcomes guests, it can also distract them. 

There needs to be a certain amount of ambience in the environment to create a perfect study space. 

The constant chatter, the whirring of blenders, the music that is always slightly too loud and the seats that never seem to empty themselves can make coffee shops overstimulating for many students.

Headphones and some lo-fi music can drown out some chatter but it can’t block out the running guests, the friend group huddled together or the man who has spilled at least half his drink on his shirt.

Moreover, coffee shops seem to only be getting more expensive. While an average cup of coffee only costs around $3, upgrading size, milk, syrups and more can raise the cost to easily over $5. 

For many college students, a daily $5 drink just isn’t realistic. 

There are many alternatives to cut down on coffee spending, such as getting your own machine, learning the ins and outs of what you like and finding that mug that strikes just enough joy in your heart.

However, there just seems to be something so dazzling about having your favorite barista make it for you.

For many college students, that $5 of ecstasy is more reasonably treated as a weekly indulgence than as an everyday occurrence.

To add on, many people find that doing things at home or in the same place makes tasks seem more unbearable than before, especially since the pandemic. 

Some students report feeling a Pavlov effect towards coffee shops, almost like they are unable to be productive in their studies without being in that environment.

This is unsurprising as coffee shops are found practically everywhere. As of 2022, there are approximately 65,410 coffee shops in the U.S. 

Places like the University follow this pattern, with students choosing if they want to get their daily fix at Cougar Grounds, Starbucks or The Nook. 

However, there is a cheaper and easier alternative to helping students get out of the house and study: libraries. 

Public libraries give students all the best tools for success: access to databases and research sources, textbooks and other books needed for classes and a space dedicated to studying.

Wandering through book-lined halls, it’s almost impossible to not be inspired to get some work done. 

Moreover, University libraries help allow students to become more engrossed in the on-campus community, provide digital detoxes, rooms for study groups and create a sense of tranquility that coffee shops generally lack. 

Now, more than ever, is the time to support local libraries as they face much backlash from current book bans and are dying out due to being overtaken by coffee shops.

Many librarians report feeling overwhelmed from harassment amid the government book bans. 

This year, the American Library Association reported a record number of books being challenged, whether it be because they are too graphic, challenge religion or other preposterous reasons.

To help both libraries and get students motivated to tackle academics, students should feel encouraged to take the switch from studying in coffee shops to libraries. 

Not only will students be saving money, they will make sure libraries continue to be there for those who need them.

Sarah Elise Shea is a freshman English literature major who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Libraries should be supported, not coffee shops” was originally posted on The Cougar

Iqra Rafey/The Cougar

As many students make the return to school this fall, anticipation will inevitably fester as students prepare to plunge back into their studies.

This first day of college will set the pace for students’ academic year. While freshmen breathe a sigh of relief for getting in, they are yet to face the hardest part: showing up.

Difficulty with showing up stems from the newfound freedom of college life. Many students are sold on an oversaturated version of college that paints everything to be picture perfect. 

This preconceived notion from the media that college will be the best four years of a student’s lives set many up for disappointment.

Admissions directors nationally find that the number one tool to keeping students on track is routine. By establishing a routine, students get better sleep, procrastinate less and find more time to relax. 

But routine is harder to establish for commuter students, which is detrimental for schools like the University where 85 percent of students commute.

With that in mind, a furry friend may provide the perfect solution.

While it is important to evaluate one’s living and financial situation, those who have the means to adopt a pet should consider it.

Students with pets have an easier time sticking to a routine, as they require strict schedules. Moreover, these students are given companionship and allow students to connect with each other. 

This is especially important to commuter students, as many have a harder time building those on-campus connections. 

Pets also benefit students both psychologically and socially.

Pets such as dogs may require three to five good walks a day, which encourages owners to get out and exercise. Dog owners also have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, better heart health and are less likely to report feeling lonely or depressed. 

In fact, a quarter of college pet owners reported that pets helped them get through a difficult time. 

For those who are unable to adopt, volunteering at animal shelters, studying at pet friendly cafes or becoming a pet godparent also proves helpful in relieving student stress and boosting student drive. 

Residence hall students aren’t fully out of luck either.

Plants also show similar benefits to that of a fluffy friend.

While perhaps a little less cuddly and a little pricklier, plants are great for students who are ready to delve into their academics.

A plant rich environment can improve memory and concentration by 20 percent. Plants are also linked to improving mental cognition, heightening performance and boosting tranquility. 

Popularized in 1984 by E. O. Wilson, the biophilia hypothesis states that people directly benefit from being in settings lush with plant life and that plants can help improve overall life satisfaction.

Since 1984, three decades of research have been done investigating the hypothesis and have confirmed that plants increase positive emotions. 

Other research studies have shown that being with plants for 20 minutes can boost mood and that plants can help decrease depression in enclosed spaces, such as dorms. In fact, the brighter the plant the better. Reports show that it’s good to have a variety of plants from rich greens to vibrant blues. 

While parents will inevitably roll their eyes and release a haughty sigh at the mention of college students adopting pets, the science shows that these cuddly friends actually help college students quite a bit. 

And, if all else fails, a plant can also help lighten the mood. 

Sarah Elise Shea is a freshman English literature major who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“College students should be encouraged to adopt pets, plants” was originally posted on The Cougar

Being a commuter at UH doesn’t make or break your college experience. | Iqra Rafey/The Cougar

Many people talk about how terrible commuting is and how much you miss out on the college experience, but the commuter experience is what you make of it and could be one of the best decisions of your life. 

According to the University, about 85 percent of the student population commutes. More likely than not, the people on campus will be in the same situation as you. 

Living on campus is so glamorized through movies and other shows that it feels like a requirement in order to enjoy student life and culture. However, living on campus is not a necessity for enjoying college. 

“Romanticizing your commuter experience is the best way to go about these things,” said sophomore public relations major Alexia Aguilar. “I commuted alone for the most part and there’s something peaceful about arriving downtown on a warm foggy morning.” 

The first month of school is the hardest for commuters. Alongside familiarizing themselves with their route to campus, getting used to the college curriculum and finding their social circle, they are met with dorm students easily making plans with those on their floor or heading to breakfast in small little hurdles. 

It might be more difficult for commuter students to make plans, but it is not impossible to have breakfast dates or lunch meet-ups with new friends on campus. The only difference is that it takes more effort. 

Staying on campus for longer periods of time every now and then does wonders to a commuter’s college experience. It does not have to be a daily thing but marking a club meeting, meet-up with a friend or even a simple talk with a professor on a calendar and sticking to it will create an enjoyable college experience. 

Normalizing the life of a commuter will also help in minimizing the shame and the expectation of loneliness in the first year of college. 

Many students still live with their parents while in college and are usually embarrassed to mention that detail to others. However, American culture is only a few of many that look down on this aspect of student life when it is so normalized in other countries. 

Outside of America, it is normalized to live with parents until after college or even marriage. There is an expectation in America that turning 18 means doing everything on your own, but the truth is that all of us still need a helping hand. 

Practicing mindfulness as a commuter is also important since some things might seem out of grasp, but with the effort and perseverance of a bright-eyed college student, the common dorm life glamorized by pop culture will be the least of your concerns. 

Pondering on the what-ifs and could-haves is counterproductive as a commuter. If plans are not able to be made one day, it does not mean that they will never be made. 

Every student’s college experience is different and unique. The wants and needs of a college student are all different as well. 

While some prioritize a social life, others want to save a few thousand dollars a year by commuting. 

Even then, social life is still possible with a little more planning. Joining a club and not shying away from new opportunities will create a college experience just the same as someone who is living on campus. 

Commuters can have just as much fun as the students who live on campus. 

The ways in which they are achieved might just look a little different.

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com 

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“Being a commuter is what you make of it” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dylan Burkett/The Cougar

Millions of people in Texas are experiencing extreme heat as temperatures reach record-breaking numbers.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas asked consumers to preserve energy and water as the heat waves limit resources across the state. 

ERCOT went as far as to say that they have everything under control but after the freeze in February that killed many, many Texans have lost faith in the company. 

There are multiple reasons that Texas is struggling to handle the heat but the main two are global warming and the state’s refusal to join the national grid. 

The average temperature in 2036 is expected to be 3 degrees warmer than the current average. With Texas temperatures hitting triple digits daily, the future heat might become unbearable for many if it isn’t already. 

Global warming is caused by several things like transportation, energy consumption and industries. Many of these causes are the epitome of modern civilization. 

There is also a double-edged sword when it comes to Texas heat as using air conditioning in itself is contributing to global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning rise as people attempt to cool down from the heat.

ERCOT’s suggestion to find sustainable ways to cool down is not wrong but there is hypocrisy in their suggestion when they do not find their own ways to provide reliable energy to its consumers. 

Texas’s energy grid is overworked. 

Denying this fact only puts consumers in danger of overheating and when the winter comes again, possibly freezing to death yet again. 

Texas refuses to join the national grid in fear of the federal government restricting Texas’ economic gain from having its own power grid. The national grid has its own federal rules and regulations that Texas finds limiting since those regulations favor consumers over companies. 

Texas is only able to sell and use energy within its borders and it is clear that with the looming temperatures increasing, the power grid is not able to provide the necessary energy for said temperatures. 

If Texas joins the national grid, it will be able to buy and sell energy from other states. If an emergency happens like the freeze in February, neighboring countries will be available to provide support. 

The extreme heat does not come as a surprise with scientists calling for a change in government regarding ethical energy consumption. 

People need to put their part in making sure they are making ethical and sustainable decisions when it comes to energy consumption but the issue lies in corporations who fail to meet consumers in the middle. 

When ERCOT asked its consumers to conserve energy, they listened. Consumers managed to conserve 500 megawatts of power which is enough to power 100,000 homes. 

In order to combat the heat and prevent temperatures from rising, corporations must look at long-term solutions rather than focusing on profit. 

On the individual level, change is happening. 

It’s up to the people in power to finally do something about it. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Texas needs to join the national grid” was originally posted on The Cougar

Iqra Rafey/The Cougar

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some vasectomy clinics have reported a spike in procedure requests.

Florida urologist Doug Stein used to get four to five requests a day but since the ruling, he now gets 12 to 18, according to The Washington Post.

When Stein asks clients why they want the procedure, he finds the most common answer related to the ruling while a few years prior, it used to be that families felt they had achieved their desired number of children.

The number of Americans requesting the procedure has left Stein booked through August and many other physicians find themselves with the same never-ending waitlist.

Esgar Guarin found he had a 200 to 250 percent increase in visitors to his website about vasectomy procedures and care while Los Angeles urologist Philip Werthman saw a 300 to 400 percent increase in vasectomy consultations.

Moreover, twenty years ago the main reason for families wanting vasectomies fell into two categories. For women, 47 percent reported being content with the number of children they had while men stood at 37 percent.  

A few years back, vasectomies were treated as an aftereffect, not a preventative measure.

That’s where many of the issues start. 

While vasectomies are reversible, the idea is for them not to be reversed. In fact, the probability of effectively reversing a vasectomy is only 75 percent in the first three years.

After that, the success rate drops significantly. 

Yet, many urologists claim getting the procedure is an act of love, especially after the hearing.

Companies are also offering incentives, promising free food or clothing items to those who show their doctor’s notes displaying that they got vasectomies.

In glorifying vasectomies, the bigger issue continues to be ignored; the loss of bodily autonomy to those with uteruses gains no feasible solution.

Treating vasectomies as the solution only puts a bandage on a much larger wound while also putting Americans getting vasectomies in a compromised position where their autonomy is also stripped away. 

The accessibility of vasectomies also highlights two other issues in family planning: a lack of diversity in birth control for biological men and the inaccessibility for biological women to get similar procedures such as tubal ligation.

Many Americans report having to go to numerous doctors to get tubal ligations, with many doctors often denying the procedure, requiring long waiting periods, screenings and some even requiring proof of spousal approval.

Yet, the access and eligibility for vasectomies are much more easily met with out-of-pocket costs only ranging around $600.

Vasectomies are also easier to recover from with some forms of the procedure being needle-free and scalpel-free. Some urologists even report doing the procedure on themselves. This simplistic approach is what gives vasectomies the option to be reversible. 

While there is non-hormonal birth control in the works for male contraception, progress is slow with a lack of funding and biology centers not contributing. 

Family planning continues to fall on the same people who lost their right to choose. 

Birth control and preventive measures continue to be underfunded and inaccessible yet the Supreme Court continues to point fingers at the very situation they refuse to fix.

Instead of banning abortions, the Supreme Court could have increased funding for schools to properly teach sex education, increased accessibility to family planning clinics and decreased taxes on life-saving procedures such as tubal ligation and abortions for ectopic pregnancies. 

Overall, while vasectomies prove helpful in decreasing the risk of unwanted pregnancy, they ultimately combat the loss of choice by taking away others’ own bodily autonomy and refusing to acknowledge the hypocrisy. 

Sarah Elise Shea is a freshman English literature major who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Glorification of vasectomies ignore the true problem regarding bodily autonomy” was originally posted on The Cougar

First-generation college students sometime face obstacles that their more traditional counterparts don’t. | Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

As a first-generation college student, the most common phrase heard during your first year is that the worst thing that can happen is being told no. 

Starting college can be overwhelming, especially for first-generation students. Not having a guiding hand throughout the college application process and getting settled at college leaves first-gen students to figure things out independently. 

According to Very Well Family, first-generation college students are unaware of several nuances and common knowledge regarding college because they had no one to teach them. 

Because of that, first-generation students are less likely to step out of a rigid path they’ve set for college as they are often afraid to mess up. However, asking questions could be the best thing you can do in college. 

In order to make the best out of your college experience, take the chance and ask any burning questions on your mind. No question is a dumb question.

To start off, financial aid is a huge factor in deciding what colleges are at the top of the list for a majority of college students. After receiving your financial aid offer, you can go to the financial aid office and negotiate for a better package. 

Even a few hundred dollars make a huge difference while paying for school. Taking the chance to go and talk to the office could land you a better aid package and that would make a huge difference. 

Talking to your professors, especially during the first few weeks of classes can be crucial in building a relationship with them. Having a working relationship with your professors can not only help you in that class but also build a reference when you apply for internships and jobs. 

To add on, picking a major can be challenging as many times we’re not sure if the major picked is the right one. You can ask your professors more about the field you want to work in and get many questions answered. 

This could not only be a great networking opportunity but you would be able to get one-on-one answers from someone who has already worked in your field of interest. 

Another important aspect of college that can slip many students’ minds is the internship and shadowing experience. 

Networking is an important step in college. Through your LinkedIn profile, you could reach out to an alum and ask if you could get together to answer some of your questions. If all goes well, you could ask them to reach out to you if there are any internship opportunities in the future at their company. 

For many students, self-doubt clouds their minds which creates a barrier that keeps them from reaching out to these experiences and opportunities. 

First-gen students feel like they’re not good enough compared to their other peers which is completely false.

Many of these first-gen students offer different perspectives, ideas and experiences that create the diverse campus known as UH. Without these students, the university would be lacking and dull. 

With that in mind, college is different for everybody. No one’s college experience is exactly similar to someone else’s. As much as setting a clear timeline is comforting, it can keep you from taking opportunities you never opened yourself up to. 

During your first year at the university, take the chance and ask your questions. 

The university is welcoming to students of all kinds and if you are looking for an organization to help you along the way, First Generation Coogs is the place to start. 

Keep your head up high. You belong here.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“First-generation students most likely to miss out on college life hacks” was originally posted on The Cougar