By Jeremiah Doctson

A NW English associate professor told students coming from high school about effective strategies for college Sept. 8. 

Jo’el Madore explained she was a first-generation college student herself, which she says invites people to look at her as someone who has earned her position, not simply been given to her.

“I lost my scholarship my very first semester,” she said, explaining that her lack of focus led to poor grades. “I also only graduated college with a 2.95 GPA.”

She elaborated on the challenges she faced when she first started and said she wished she had more effective strategies to stop her slide in the early part of her education. Madore said it is important to never give up on college aspirations.

She had students at their tables ask each other a series of questions such as “You are ill and don’t make it to class. What do you do?” or “You are having difficulty answering questions. What do you do?” Many answers came back from students like seeking office hours or talking to fellow students, but Madore encouraged students to be what she called “active learners.”

“Focus on how to manage your stress and not fall behind,” she said.

Also very important is for students to make connections with their classmates to catch up on work they missed, Madore said.

NW student David Haines said he learned from the presentation.

“I thought it was helpful … to hear strategies for success in college and to get closer to other students,” he said.

Madore said students should become active learners.

Too often, she said students become passive in their studies and succumb to high levels of stress and begin to fall behind.

To this point, many people can get behind on material they don’t get when not attending class.