Turn left. Trudge uphill to class. Remember building’s funny name.

Find classroom located in obscure corner of said building.

Breathe. Your first week of classes is hard enough without stressing about everything that is around you.

I learned through my first two years at Shippensburg University that there is a wealth of resources available on campus to help any student in need.

There are campus superheroes.

There are the four guys down the hall who have a major bromance going on. They are not your heroes, but they are funny and make the residence hall a little brighter. There is the new couple that is overly adorable, and they may become your sidekicks in a time of peril. Then there is your roommate, who may be your best friend, or your worst enemy.

But, after a long week of college stress, there are the real campus heroes that save your butt at the end of the day. These people are your resident assistants, teammates, favorite professors and your new group of friends that convince you to play nerdy games like Dungeons and Dragons.

But, when those people are not enough to help you get through the struggles of college, it is time to turn to your campus resources for aid.

Take a walk over to Horton Hall and visit the Women’s Center, where the staff advocates for an end to domestic violence while handing out chocolate vagina lollipops.

Then, stop by Gilbert Hall to meet the members of Multicultural Student Affairs. You will be greeted like a member of the family and probably learn something new about yourself. If you are lucky, you might meet some people from the Harmonic Voices of Truth and hear them sing a little.

If you still need some guidance, swing by Old Main and chat with Roger Serr, the vice president for student affairs. He knows all about Student Senate and he will literally go over the Student Code of Conduct with a highlighter if you have any questions.

When it feels like the stress is too much to bear, schedule some time at the Counseling Center in Naugle Hall, where the staff truly cares about helping students. Before you know it, midterms are here and the homework is piling up. The Learning Center in the library is a great place to go when you need a student expert in your subject. Just schedule an appointment and find the right tutor for you.

All these places I have been rambling about actually helped me in my college experience. Through The Slate, I have the opportunity to interview really interesting people on campus, and sometimes, I get to learn more about SU than the average student.

I am not calling myself an expert, but I can vouch for the people I write about. Through all my interviews at SU, from the construction workers to the university president, there has been one common factor.

Raiders take care of each other.

So when you struggle this semester, find a campus hero.

If you have trouble finding one, pick up a copy of The Slate. We probably interviewed them.

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