Vanessa o.
Tour Guides and Grit Guide at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
She/her/hers
Class of 2027
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Major: Public Health
Secondary Major: Pre-Dental Hygiene Track
Tour Guides and Grit Guide at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
She/her/hers
Class of 2027
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Major: Public Health
Secondary Major: Pre-Dental Hygiene Track
that every student is just as willing as you are to make new friends. Build courage and sit next to someone or start a conversation. Friends don't always come to you, you have to go find them too.
Fall semester of 2023, I took PBHL 100 with Professor Katie Birger. I love her so much. She makes her class entertaining and all of her exams are open notes. She also is willing to go past her office hours time to explain anything you're confused about. This is great to be a part of especially if you're an incoming freshman.
Use Google Calendar to schedule all your assignments, exams, quizzes, etc., and also schedule the fun things you have planned ex. going home for the weekend, so you have something fun to look forward to!
I came to freshman orientation and got a tour from one of our grit guides. All my worries about leaving high school and taking a bigger step into my education were all gone because they assured me, and made me feel like I would fit right into the UMBC community. One thing they told me that I will always remember is, "UMBC is a place where people hold doors for you." which means everyone at UMBC is open to welcome you, build a friendship with you, and hold the door for you!