Student Advice

1. Before You Squeeze The Throttle

* Choose the Right Vehicle – Adult model ATVs are for riders age 16 and older only. Younger riders should never ride an adult-sized vehicle until they are at least age 16. This is especially important, since younger children are usually injured on ATVs due to their size or inexperience with operating vehicles.

* Complete a Safety Course – First-time riders should always take an ATV safety course before heading out on the trails. Safety courses educate riders of the correct way to operate and ride an ATV to ensure he or she knows how to handle the vehicle. Also, safety courses will teach riders of all ages the appropriate behavior when riding an ATV, making it critical for teens and adults to attend.

* Gear Up – Riders should always wear an ATV helmet and other protective gear, including gloves, long pants, footwear that covers the ankles, a long-sleeve shirt or jacket and eye protection.

* Respect Vehicle Capacity Guidelines – Riders should never carry a passenger on an ATV unless the ATV has been specifically designed to carry an operator and a passenger. Since you have to manipulate your weight in order to control the vehicle, two riders on a vehicle is incredibly dangerous. Also, the ATV may be unable to successfully hold the combined weight of two riders, making it less stable and more apt to roll over.

2. When You’re Rolling

* Respect the Environment Where You Ride – Always obey all applicable laws and ride only in approved or designated areas and trails. Make sure to get permission before riding on private property and never ride on paved surfaces.

* Choose Your Settings – When it comes to where to ride your ATV, ensure you choose a proper setting. Avoid roads and streets, since ATVs are not designed nor intended to be driven on concrete or asphalt with larger cars and trucks. Also, avoid improper terrain that may encourage the ATV to roll over due to instability in the ground.

* Know Your Limits – Do not ride at excessive speeds or past the limit of your visibility. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Increasing the speed — especially through certain terrains—decreases your control and the vehicle’s stability, making you more prone to have an accident.

* Don’t Drive Impaired – Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even over the counter or prescription medications can impair your reaction time, thinking process, and judgment, so be sure to avoid operating an ATV during this time.

* No Tricks or Stunts – The most injuries on ATVs occur when the vehicles are operated improperly. Take great care in riding your ATV and be sure to avoid any tricks or stunts that will encourage an accident. Furthermore, avoid improper interaction with other individuals, whether they are on an ATV or not.

* Tell a Friend – Always make a plan before you ride and tell someone where you’re going. Ride in a group of two or three and create a buddy system.

* Carry a Communication Device with You – ATV operations should be sure to carry a cell phone or walkie talkie with them at all times so that they can call for help in the event of an emergency. This is especially true if you are riding alone, which is not encouraged, so that someone will be able to find you if you become injured.

Your college experience can be really amazing.  For a long time I felt like I wasted my college time because I didn’t target a career, but now I see that I benefited from the breadth of classes. It’s a unique time to explore, so here is some advice for making the most of your college experience while you have the opportunity.

College is designed as a place where you can try new things.  So, take advantage of opportunities to try courses in areas you’ve never tried, but always wanted to.  Take at least one class per quarter or semester that’s just for personal enrichment.  It may not be a part of your major area, but it will enrich you as a person to follow your interests.  Colleges have many different electives and courses to try just for fun, so be sure and have one in your schedule at all times.  Some courses may be a part of a major that is not yours.  Others may be just recreational, such as dance, yoga or even the game of bridge.  Maybe you need an English credit.  Instead of taking a basic English 101 course, consider an alternative such as Irony, for example.  Try Botany, instead of basic Science.

Take a Philosophy course such as Science and Religion, or Philosophy of Sex and Love.  Broaden your mind! College is the time to take advantage of all you can learn.  Make your college experience your own learning experience.

Other opportunities will come your way in college.  Some opportunities will include travel.  Go!  See all that you can!  Study abroad, if you have the chance.  Or, just take a weekend trip into a big city with friends.  Experience life.  Just stay away from anything you know would be harmful or illegal, or both.  When I was a Sophomore, I was walking back from a class one day and the Army ROTC class was practicing repelling off the top of one of the school buildings.  They were offering anyone who wanted to try it to come up and try it.  So, I did.  Now I can say I’ve repelled from the top of a building before.  Have you?  There are so many ways to make the most of your college experience.

Maybe you’re thinking of rushing a fraternity or sorority.  You will have that opportunity.  Just never let your explorations and outside activities take the place of your study time.  Gaining new experiences and making friends is a part of the college experience, but always remember that doing well in your courses comes first.  First and foremost, your college experience is for learning.

Working during college is fine, as long as you don’t let your studies suffer.  I think that working during college helps you stay responsible, and it is a great source for that pizza money you’ll be wanting.  Work-study or work on campus jobs are the best kinds of jobs, usually.  Check the job board in your college’s administrative office.

When I was in college, I had a job working as stage crew for visiting productions.  As a result, I got to meet famous performers, and also didn’t have to buy tickets to events.  When you’re making money and paying your own way for things, you don’t have to hit up your parents for money so often.  Your college experience is your own make it great!

When I was about to enter my first year of university study a number of people told me that I was about to experience the best time of my life. Your college experience has a profound effect on the rest of your professional and personal life. This is a time to make lifelong friendships, establish career connections and create your professional identity. It is important to use your college experience to its greatest potential if you want to get a head start.

Many of us enter our college years with a solid plan for our future. We know what we want to do as a career professional and we know what specific steps to take to reach our goals. Others have no real direction and the only plan these individuals have is to find a major that they like. Your college experience will be different if you have no specific goals but you can easily manage your four years gracefully.

Make sure that you take classes that appeal to you. This is the first step to finding a major that suits you. I began my college career as a communications major. I switched to art but I didn’t find my home until I took a poetry writing workshop. My entire outlook on my university studies changed. I found my niche and settled right in without another thought. Your college experience may change if you take the right electives.

Using your interests and talents to accentuate your college experience will pay off in the long run. Taking courses that give you nightmares will not. Of course, you have to take some classes that you hate in order to obtain a well rounded liberal arts education. However, you can make your college experience less stressful if you approach these courses carefully.

Try to take less appealing classes with a friend who can help you along. Studying alone can be painful if you hate the topic but studying with a friend can really give you motivation. Your buddy may also know some learning strategies for the specific class that make the process less painful. In fact taking a challenging course with a friend may turn out to be your college experience that you find most valuable.

Another great way to deal with distasteful classes is to choose a time of day that is best for you. Your college
experience will teach you that you function better during certain hours than you do others. For example, I avoided taking classes between the hours of one and three because I would become drowsy during that time of day. Instead, I engaged in activities like aerobics or swimming to give me an afternoon life.

Your college experience will teach you many things. You may even learn a little bit about your self along the way.