Navigators 🗺️

In this episode of Campus Compass, Isabella and Katie talk about what it feels like to miss home and share personal experiences and advice for navigating homesick feelings on campus.

Halfway through September, the excitement of football season and college life is in full swing. But for many students, homesickness can start to settle in. From joining clubs and getting involved on campus to grabbing food with friends and attending UP events, there are plenty of ways to build a sense of community at UA. They also discuss why it’s completely okay to miss home, the importance of calling your family and friends, and highlight resources like the Counseling Center and trusted people such as advisors and club leaders who can help you find support and feel more connected.

If homesickness starts to feel overwhelming, remember that you don’t have to handle it alone. Never forget that UA First Navigators are always here to talk and support you in your journey here. If you ever feel like you don’t have anyone on campus to confide in about your feelings, know that Navigators are always a source waiting to help you!

In this episode, Isabella welcomes Katie as the newest Navigator spokesperson for Campus Compass and they share advice, reminders, and resources to help freshmen feel more confident navigating the beginning of their first year on campus. 

They cover everything with getting involved, finding organizations through MySource, important add/drop reminders, making the most of your Dining Dollars around T-Town, and some of their favorite things about UA! We’ll also hear some advice from members of the UA First Office on giving yourself grace, discovering your purpose, and finding the right balance between your social and academic life. 

Whether you're new to campus or just looking for some guidance, this episode is here to remind you that you're never alone and the UA First office is always here to help you on your journey. Welcome home to UA!

Isabella and Juli emphasize the importance of staying organized with your finals week. They go over details of how to double check your final’s schedule, study strategies, and how to stay calm and confident going into your exams. Sharing personal techniques, experiences, and resources that have helped them, they advise different ways to maintain your priorities and stay collected while also finding a good social balance to soak in your last moments with your friends.

Juli and Isabella also emphasize self care and tapping into wellness within dead week and finals week to ensure you’re staying healthy. UA has tons of resources to support you during this time, so use them to your advantage! Remember to take breaks, eat, drink water, and use your time wisely while studying and wrapping up your semester. Completing your first year of college is a huge accomplishment, so give it your all during your final exams and take that well deserved break this summer. You got this!

As the school year comes to a close, Isabella and Juli talk about wrapping things up both academically with finals and personally with move out tips and more.

They break down the chaos of dead week, finals week, and move out while also emphasizing spending time with those around you. They reflect on the importance of exploring campus, going out and seeing new sights around town, and doing the things you’ve wanted to do all year since this is the end of your freshman year.

They also give helpful tips about studying around campus, favorite study spots , and resources to help you while preparing for finals. Depending on how you go about wrapping up your semester, make sure you’re prepared. It can get very difficult to have move out, finals, and all these emotions about leaving your friends on your mind. Make sure you’re taking the time to recognize priorities, take care of yourself, and kill it during your finals!

Isabella and Juli explore the idea of “breaking up with your major” and how to go about navigating resources and tools on campus to enhance your journey of finding what’s best for you . With how common students change their major, it’s important to know that you’re never alone in this process and that Navigators are here to help! Whether it’s changing your entire path or just adding a minor, there are various ways to consider and adjust your journey in a way that better aligns with your interests, goals, and future plans.

They discuss all the helpful tips of going about finding what’s best for you on your academic journey, including exploring fun classes, talking to the career center, and using UA websites such as Focus 2 and Degree Works. Using personal experiences, they share how they’ve navigated changes through their own academic path and the opportunities they encountered while being a student at UA.

In this episode of Campus Compass, Isabella and Julie explore “March Madness” from both a campus life and academic perspective, highlighting how students can balance school stress with social engagement.

They encourage students to attend a variety of university sporting events, not only for enjoyment but also to earn Tide Loyalty Points, which can lead to access to high-demand games and exclusive opportunities.

Shifting to academics, they emphasize the importance of utilizing campus resources such as peer tutoring, the Counseling Center, and advising services to manage exam stress and improve performance. They also provide practical guidance on course registration, introducing tools like Schedule Builder and DegreeWorks to help students efficiently plan their academic paths.

FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli talk about different ways students can spend their summer, focusing on including internships, summer jobs, study abroad, and summer classes.

They share their own plans while discussing the benefits of gaining experience, building transferable skills, and exploring career interests. The episode also highlights helpful resources for finding opportunities and encouraging students to start planning early while choosing the option that fits their goals. Whether students receive multiple offers or face a few rejections along the way, Isabella and Juli remain them the persistence, preparation, and self belief will help them find the opportunity that's right for them.

FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli discuss what UA students need to know about securing housing for the upcoming academic year. They explain on-campus and off-campus housing options, how to find roommates, transportation considerations, budgeting and financing, and storage unit tips.

The episode also covers why first-year students should begin their housing search early, especially since many sophomore, junior, and graduate students secure leases early during the fall semester.

This episode is designed to help first-year students reduce stress and make informed decisions as they begin planning for next year’s housing

FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli talk everything from getting involved to adjusting for the spring semester.