Advice From Seniors: Biology Majors
Being a college student is not easy. If you are a freshman, you've probably realized that by now. At college, you need to divide your time between class hours, study hours, work hours and if you have time left, maybe you can spend a few minutes with your friends or engaging in an extracurricular activity.
If you are frustrated or struggling with the change, don't worry! It is totally normal to feel that way, especially in your freshman year. Rest assured that you aren't the only one... As a matter of a fact, all of us felt that way in our freshman year, and sometimes we still do. Maybe that sounds dramatic, but the truth is that at some point you are going to feel tempted to give up, but we want to tell you that there's no need for that. First, because God is with you and he is going to help you in every step along the way. Second, because God has provided you with resources here at Toccoa Falls College to help you accomplish his purpose for you and your dreams.
As senior Biology majors, we know it can be stressful. That's why we want to give you some advice and tools that can help you along your journey. I spoke with another of our Biology seniors, Andrew Snow, and asked him to share some advice for other students. Andrew is currently working as a lab technician and genetics lab instructor in our college. His experience and outstanding performance academically, makes him one of the best persons you can ask for advice if you are struggling.
One of the things Andrew told me is that he hated biology all through high school but then at college found that he loves biology . Many students struggle to discover their passions. Maybe you came as a Biology major, but now you are realizing that Biology is not made for you (or vice versa). Maybe you are seeing now that you have more interest in English or missions more than science. If this is the case, there's no need to worry. Academic advisers are there to help you through these things. They would love to help you dive into something that you are truly passionate about.
Andrew shared how challenging working as lab technician and instructor has been. For him this experience has "been a good opportunity to learn new things" but also has been challenging as a completely new experience. Even so, he recommends biology students have this kind of experience before graduate school, because it will help you to prepare for future experiences in instructing lab or lecture classes during graduate school. Also, it will give you “a great point to put on your resume, especially at TFC where you have limited experience in research.”
When asked about what motivated him to choose biology as his career field, he said "I'm very curious, I like to ask questions... and science provides the framework for you to find your own answers and share those with other people if they are also curious." I can relate to this, because I'm curious too and I like to discover and learn new things. So, if you're a Biology major who shares in this curiosity, it could be a sign that you are on the right path. Even if you feel that studying biology was a mistake, don’t worry, every little thing you learn can be useful in the future if God leads you to another path or place.
Photo credit: Esther Edwards
As his last advice, Andrew recommended to have a good time management if you want to succeed in your college career. This is something you are going to hear a lot at college, but it is for a good reason. Normally "students try to schedule time for homework and schoolwork... but it’s actually helpful to schedule your recreational activities, and work around that." In other words, it is helpful to schedule time for recreational or stress-relieving activities first, and then schedule time for homework or school work around that. This will give you "a stronger sense of freedom and you can enjoy your time while also maintaining your school work."
As my last advice, don’t stay quiet if you are struggling. Believe me, there’s a lot of people here that really care about you and they are willing to help you in everything you need. The biology field is hard, but if this is what you really love and God wants for you, don't give up! Remember: you can do all this things in Jesus Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13) and as Andrew said, "Biology is great!"