“FreshManual” passes down HPU wisdom
By Liz Reichart, A&E Editor//
This year, the Class of 2019 is in for something clever when they open their welcome bags. “FreshManual”, the new book being given to every entering freshman, is filled with advice on how to navigate the tumultuous college experience. Graduating seniors from the Class of 2015 offered their insights into what it means to be a High Point University student and gave some counsel, both humorous and sagacious. Now alumni, Caleb Redslob and Steven Edwards, both part of the Class of 2015, put together the project during their final year on campus.
“Working with the Office of Student Life and the Freshmen Success Coach program, these booklets will be distributed to over 1,500 freshman in Fall 2015,” Edwards said.
Edwards, a Strategic Communications major and Redslob, a Graphic Design major, wanted to find a way to make an impact even after they had walked across the stage in front of Roberts Hall.
“Steven Edwards is a personal friend of mine. We cross paths frequently in the art and performance world, as well as serving together on SGA’s Executive Council,” said Redslob. He mentioned the idea to me and I immediately wanted to be a part of it.
“I wanted to help the freshmen class feel inspired and motivated during their next four years,” Edwards said of his motivations.
Guided by Dr. Beth Holder, Associate Dean of the Freshman Success Program, the plan to pass down an assortment of collective wisdom to the incoming class was pull in motion.
Together, they began to gather advice and plan the appearance book itself.
“I wanted the book to be accessible yet sleek,” Redslob said of his design. ” I also wanted to be sure to relate that college is an unpredictable experience. Some things don’t happen the way we think they’re supposed to – not everything goes according to plan. I want to introduce individual timelines to the book that illustrated how everything that happens, good and bad, is critical to every college student’s personal journey and character development.”
The booklet does just that. Broken down into sections by color, five categories of content include Academic Advice, Career Counsel, HPU Hints, Inspirational Quotes and Social Suggestions. In it’s preface, the booklet challenges students to not only be the best that they can be, but to give back to the Class of 2023 when they are the seniors leaving HPU.
“My favorite pieces of advice are those that emphasize relationship building. The quality of your college years is so dependent on the people you choose to spend time with, friends are faculty alike,” Redslob said.
Every upperclassman can peruse through this booklet and find nuggets of wisdom they wish they had known coming onto campus that first time. THere’s practical social advice, like that from Katherine Shaw who says, “Go to as many functions as possible as a freshman! Meet as many people as you can, don’t just stick to those that you know!” There’s even humor to be found in the voices of those seniors who are fearful of the word post-graduation, like Becky Ball who writes, “Go to the Steakhouse EVERY week! You don’t realize how much that magic meal is worth until it’s too late!”
Some of the most interesting pages of the booklet are the very last ones, where students are given personal timelines from real HPU students who recently graduated. These timelines show the very real progression of the college experience. Marked events include everything from “interned with Caterpillar Inc.” to “tried out for club soccer in heavy rain (didn’t make it).” The reader feels as though they are getting an intimate glance into someone’s very genuine, unfiltered personal experiences.
“I think the book is remarkably important – it capitalizes on the majorly under-appreciated resource of knowledge. A campus or university doesn’t improve by resetting every single year. It improves by building upon foundations laid by predecessors,” Redslob said. “This book will help expedite that process.”
To quote the “FreshManual”:” Welcome home. It’s to get out there, explore, love, and learn; the world is yours!”