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Starting something new can sometimes be challenging, tricky, and scary, but isn’t that sometimes the best part? To start and re-start, settle in a new place, and unsettle from somewhere old? As we bid goodbye to a fun summer, we welcomed the Fall semester with new undergrad and graduate students, and we regained the energy of student life back on campus.

August is usually considered the biggest move-in month when students from all over the country and the world set foot into their academic journey at the University of New Haven, while many others return from their hometowns or countries or from completing professional goals in the form of part-time jobs and internships.

The start of the Fall semester often brings forth a new wave of academic and social energies among students, staff, and faculty, with multiple activities and opportunities for students to learn and grow on campus. Indeed, college is a perfect place to experience work-life balance, and this is a goal students aspire to accomplish, especially in their first year of undergraduate or graduate classes. To help them acquire such balance, the University of New Haven makes it a point to encourage new and returning students to join recognized student organizations (RSOs) and support groups, as there is one for nearly every department, which is a perfect means to develop new skills, meet new people, and learn something entirely out of the box.

For some, the Fall semester nears the end of their degree and time on campus, whereas, for some, the start of Fall is an emotional feeling because this is their step to starting something new while having left something behind, such as their friends and family in different states and countries. Therefore, to bring light to this move-in, new and returning students share valuable insights with the rest of their peer group.

Stephen Gangi ’24, a communication major who is in his final semester, has been involved in several on-campus roles such as being an RA, a producer for the , a managing editor for the Horseshoe Magazine, and president of the Communications Club.

Gangi believes that the power of networking, meeting new people, understanding personal capabilities, and indulging in the University’s social environments can pave a way to continued growth. “As this semester is my last, I am putting a huge emphasis on scheduling and developing personal routines as well as dedicating time for personal growth and peace and making the most out of the University’s resources, such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and being part of the various student groups.”

"As an international student, I believe learning new things about different cultures and lessons can be pivotal for my time in this country."Shravani Chauhan ’25 M.S.

Speaking more about his professional goals, Gangi says, “As a communication major, I have started signing myself up for some roles in small indie films and getting my name out there to different directors, hoping that one may just be the key to unlocking the next steppingstone in my career. This semester, that is a major goal for myself, closely followed by leaving a campus-wide impact with my work in television and news broadcasting.”

Gangi encourages new students to strive toward building confidence and not to shy away from networking, even if they belong to a different department. He also aspires to see cross-communication between RSOs and student-led organizations as a productive way to indulge with a more diverse student group on campus.

Sharing a new enthusiasm and an excitement to be pursuing her studies in a new country, Shravani Chauhan ’25 M.S. is a candidate in the M.S. in Business Analytics program, who started studying at the University of New Haven this fall.

She looks forward to immersing herself in a new educational environment. She believes in the importance of keeping pace in academic and social cultures and is eager to meet with a diverse group of people to learn more.

“I moved to a new country for my master’s program, and, therefore, I wish to make the most out of this opportunity here at the University,” she says. “Starting this semester, I am eager to meet new people and take up volunteering opportunities when they arise. I am highly interested in being part of the Business Analytics Club, where I can meet like-minded people, which will also reflect in my academic career.”

Chauhan adds on by sharing her expectations, saying, “As an international student, I believe learning new things about different cultures and lessons can be pivotal for my time in this country. To fulfill this, I am eager to see more guest lectures and workshops, which can help me and my fellow students in learning about hard and soft skills. I also wish to interact with professionals currently working in the industry of business analytics to get real-time insight from them about my role as a student and ways to nurture my spirits better. Besides, I would love to see more cultural exchange, which can add to our learning experience here at the University.”

Lady Miranda ’24 MBA (marketing and digital marketing) shares that she is thrilled about her courses this semester as she believes these to be among the most crucial ones. Apart from being a marketing student, Miranda shares a passion for helping fellow graduates and undergraduates by working as a Peer Tutor, which she is equally excited about in her last semester.

“As Fall 2023 is my last semester, I am quite eager to make this a valuable part of my academic career,” she says. “I plan on expanding my marketing-related learning while simultaneously balancing my time and health. To keep track of my goals and ways to accomplish them, I am determined to stick to a structured schedule where I also prioritize self-care.”

"Always display your passion and interests positively, and you will succeed as a student."Lady Miranda ’24 MBA

Speaking more about academic goals, Miranda shares a quick tip on how learning should not be limited to mere test preparation. “I wish to emphasize true comprehension in my academic career and my final semester at the University,” she says. “While prioritizing my academic and professional goals at this time, I also wish to make the most out of the given opportunities by being part of the social culture of the University. Managing and accomplishing everything together will require time management and decision-making, two crucial skills to develop as an early riser in the professional world.”

Miranda supports the idea of more cultural events on campus, followed by academic workshops such as Six Sigma Belt certifications. Moreover, as a graduating student, she would like to advise the newest �鶹AVs not to shy away from developing new academic and social skills and to be prepared for challenges.

“This experience at the University will transform you into a new personality, which is why you must always keep thriving and learning new things,” she said. “Believe in the idea of making new relationships and sticking with them. Lastly, do not hesitate to meet new people. Always display your passion and interests positively, and you will succeed as a student.”

Anchal Bhatia ’24 MBA is a candidate in the MBA program at the University of New Haven.