Freshman 15

Broomball. Midnight Breakfast. Buck-Buck. Segway Dave. SGA. Laurel. Mr. VU. The Cove. Soccer games. The Caf.

To some, this may seem like a random compilation of words, but to the students at Vanguard, these words mean something.

Here are 15 helpful tips and tricks to get freshmen through their first year at Vanguard.

1. GET TO KNOW LAUREL
As a freshman, the Caf is probably one of the places that you will spend a majority of your time. It has its ups and downs, but one thing that stays consistent is Laurel. She will always be wearing her sweet smile when she swipes your card.

2. JUST ACROSS THE STREET
No car? No problem. Every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there are gourmet trucks at the OC Fairgrounds. The trucks have different kinds of food and reasonable prices.

3. SWAP MEET
Also at the OC Fairgrounds is the swap meet. This occurs every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students are likely to find everything they need.

4. GET OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
Whether it is drama with roommates or being the “cool kid,” stop it. You are not in high school anymore, so get out of that mindset.

5. EXPLORE
Sometimes being on campus 24/7 can be a bit boring. Thankfully, Vanguard is located in the heart of Orange County and everything is within a short distance. There are tons of places around Costa Mesa that are frequent meeting spots for students.

“I would like to know more about the coffee shops in the area,” freshman Farrah Rizzo said.

• Starbucks- walking distance from Vanguard
• Milk & Honey- 1.7 miles from Vanguard
• Alta Coffee- 4.3 miles from Vanguard
• Kean Coffee- 3.5 miles from Vanguard

6. TAKE THE STAIRS
Ah, the dreaded literal freshman fifteen. There may be a reason why the Laguna and Huntington elevators are either extremely slow or broken. The cursed freshman 15 can be avoided with smart choices in the Caf and continuing daily exercise. Those late-night Taco Bell runs might seem like a good idea, but you may end up buying a new pair of jeans in the end.

7. GOLD PRIDE
School spirit and attendance at sporting events is a great way to unite the students under one common goal: winning. So go to the games and matches and be sure to wear blue and gold!

“I love going to games with my roommates or girls on my floor. It’s so much fun to see people I know playing for our school,” sophomore Sydney Prochnow said.

8. BE WILLING TO MAKE MEMORIES
The college years are supposed to be the most memorable and fun years of your life. In essence, they will be what you make them, so make them fun.

9. CREATE YOUR VU FAMILY
Leaving home for the first time and living on your own can be a scary but exciting thing. However, in order to ease sense of being homesick, create your family here.

“The easiest thing about [transitioning into the Vanguard community] was finding a tight new friend group on campus, all guys from my floor,” senior Seth Tourje said.

10. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Your RAs, RDs, and professors are there to help you. Do not be afraid ask for it. Do not be afraid to engage in a discussion in class. Your professors want to hear you. Speak up.

11. KNOW THE LATE-NIGHT PLACES
Late-night food cravings are a norm for every college student undergoing stress. Become familiar with the places that are open late or even 24 hours.

• Taco Bell- 1.3 miles, open 24 hours
• Laventina’s Big Cheese Pizza- 4.2 miles, open till 11 p.m. on Sunday-Wednesday, midnight on Thursday, and 2 a.m. Friday & Saturday.
• Buffalo Wild Wings- 9.2 miles, open till 2 a.m.
• DK’s Donuts- 1.6 miles, open 24 hours

12. GET ON A PAYROLL
If your schedule allows it, try to get a job. A source of income is always a good thing and can help towards those ghastly student loans. If not, do not stress about it. It’s college; everyone is broke anyway.

13. IT IS OKAY TO BE UNDECIDED
You are not obligated to declare a major until your junior year of college. Nobody expects you to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18. Chances are, you will change your career goals many times.

14. GET INVOLVED
Attend the events that SGA, Spiritual Formation, or your Residence Halls have put on. It is a great way to meet people.

“Play intramurals! It gets you active and going, and it gives you a chance to meet new people,” Tourje said.

15. RISE
Go along with the Vanguard theme: be willing to rise and grow in your faith.

“Don’t expect to grow close to others if you are not first willing to bear the truth of who you are as an individual in Christ. Be willing. Be bold. Be the Vanguard (Forefront Leaders) of this world and this campus. This is my prayer for the student population,” Wayman said.