A fresh start: Getting to know the class of 2028
Photo courtesy of Moriah Faulk
Trinity Adams, News and Features Editor
For most students at North Greenville University, August brings routine—the start of classes, practice for athletics, club meetings and jobs. For the class of 2028, it is the start of a new season of life as they begin college.
The class of 2028 is made up of 545 students, 32% of which are from outside of South Carolina. There are 27 states and a total of 10 countries represented within the freshman class.
The six most popular majors within the freshman class are management, sports management, biology, health science, psychology and elementary education. Twenty-seven percent of the freshman class are first-generation students, meaning that they are the first in their families to go to college.
The beginning of college can be a difficult adjustment period for freshmen because they are in a new environment and own their own for the first time in their lives. NGU has created freshman move-in week to give students a chance to get to know their fellow classmates, adjust to campus life and learn and better understand what the school year might hold for them.
During freshman move-in week, freshmen have three days on campus without upperclassmen to get acquainted with campus and their fellow classmates, while also holding sessions that teach students about the resources and regulations on campus.
Nariah Hunt, a freshman double majoring in biology and chemistry, from Spartanburg reflects on the differences she’s noticed from high school and college.
“I like it better than high school. I like how the classes are spread out and it’s kinda easier to know what you need to get done that day and not have to worry about it the next day. I love it so far,” Hunt said.
One concern for freshmen during the first weeks of classes is knowing where they are supposed to go and making sure that they are on time, but Hunt felt like she had people to step up and show her the way.
“I was nervous that I was gonna be missing my classes and all over the place, but y’all helped me. The upperclassmen were very helpful,” Hunt said.
A challenge for freshmen who are adjusting to being on their own for the first time is time management and balancing extracurriculars with school work, and that is one thing that Hunt is working on for herself.
“I’m horrible with my time management, but I’ve always been bad with it. It’s really just forcing me to do better and apply everything that I’ve learned from my parents and stuff over the years. It’s getting better, and I’m noticing what I need to do to get better and change,” Hunt explained.
Avriel Maddox, freshman broadcast media major, from Atlanta shared that the first three weeks have also been a learning experience for her.
“I do think that I’m learning over again accountability, like getting my work done on time and stuff like that. I’m trying to figure that out right now, but I’m not necessarily stressed,” Maddox explained.
Becoming adjusted to college life and developing a work-life balance is something that changes every semester for students. There is always homework that needs to be done and events that students want to go to. Freshman are just starting to figure this out and it seems that most are adjusting well.
