Ten Things I Wish I Knew as a Future Sun Devil
By Jill Haynie, ASU Class of 2019
So you’ve decided on Arizona State University to be the place where you’ll spend the next 4 years growing and thriving as a scholar, professional and person.
Well, congrats!
From donning maroon and gold to your first home Sun Devil football game, to climbing “A” Mountain, to taking your first (of many) photos with the school’s mascot, Sparky, you are in for some of the best times during your college experience.
Before jumping into your new chapter as an ASU student, here are some tips from a current student to you, a Future Sun Devil:
1. Say “yes” to any opportunity
If a group of people on your floor are going off campus to Dutch Bros to get some coffee — TAG ALONG. If your partner in accounting has an extra ticket to the latest show at Gammage Auditorium and asks you if you want to attend — DO IT! College is all about new opportunities and you never know what you’ll miss if you decide to stay in and watch Netflix.
2. Get involved
From clubs, to intramural sports, to Greek life, there is something for everybody. I mean, that should be expected for a school with over 60,000 students. Joining different groups might help you find out more about yourself — you might even find a new passion thanks to a club. Use SunDevilSync to find clubs and organizations by interest or campus.
3. Go to the ASU games
Throughout my freshman year, I heard “you’re only a student once and the student section is the best seat in the house” by what it seems like every member of my family. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s totally true. The energy of The Inferno is unlike any other. Being in the middle of it really gives you a sense of school pride, especially when the Devils are up 30 to 0 against University of Arizona (ew).
4. Stick to those good friends
Everyone is trying to fit in and make as many friends as possible, and falling out of touch from those orientation/first week friends is the norm. You’ll start to form your real friend group within 2 or 3 months after coming to ASU and those are the friends you’ll truly start creating memories with. Still be friendly to your orientation/first week friends — you never know if they’ll be in your class or you have to work on a project together.
5. Explore the ASU Campuses
Did you know ASU has four campuses (yes, four) in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area? As an ASU student, you have access to all of those campuses by taking the intercampus shuttles. Each campus is unique in what it offers. Who knows, maybe you’ll venture to take a class on a different campus next semester.
6. Download ASU’s apps
The LiveSafe app helps students easily communicate with ASU Police whether it be reporting a crime on campus or if you need a Safety Escort to get across campus late at night. Other apps, like the Sun Devil Rewards app lets ASU students earn “pitchforks” when they attend various ASU events around campus. Accumulate enough pitchforks and you can get great prizes — from t-shirts, to show tickets, to box seats at the next Sun Devil game — for free!
7. Take advantage of free EVERYTHING
You’re going to be the “poor college kid” everyone claims to be, but if you know where to get free food, clothes and gear during ASU events, you will upgrade to the “poor SMART college kid”. Also, students get free admission to all, yes ALL, ASU athletic games. So be sure to take advantage of that rad deal.
8. Check ASU Events constantly
Want to get some culture? Got a free afternoon to kill? Well, you’re in luck — ASU students also receive free admission into art shows, interesting lectures and all sorts of things a bored Sun Devil student can do to broaden their ASU horizons.
9. Bring the right materials to class
You’ll be shocked how many people don’t carry the basic notebook to class anymore, it’s just Macbooks as far as the eye can see. However, technology isn’t always reliable and you never know when your laptop decides to take a dive. Sometimes the good ‘ol paper and pencil is the best bet.
10. Invest in a great water bottle
Finally, an important must-know for students, especially you out-of-staters, is to drink A LOT of water. Let me tell you that the first few months of school are HOT and some buildings have old AC units making it a toasty atmosphere for those who aren’t used to it. Go to Starbucks or a Sun Devil Dining P.O.D. Market on campus, get a nice water bottle and down that water like there’s no tomorrow.
You are in for some of the greatest moments you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. Being a Sun Devil is something special, but it’s up to you to make those unforgettable memories. Take advantage of what ASU has to offer as a Sun Devil, you never know what you’ll discover.
And as always:
FORKS UP, DEVILS!
Jill Haynie is a sophomore majoring in public relations at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in film and media studies. She hopes of having a career in publicity at a major Hollywood studio. As an out-of-state student from California, Jill considers Tempe her home and loves heading out to Sun Devil athletic games, hiking “A” mountain with friends and enjoying the consistent sunny weather. She is currently a social media specialist for ASU and Sun Devil Rewards.
