Alleea Griffin

I started attending CSU, Stanislaus in fall of 2014. I came from a small town called Carpinteria, which is about 6 hours away from campus. As the first person in my family to attend college, I was very excited, but very scared because I was moving away from everything I have ever known. My mom suggested that I sign up for EOP because it would help me with staying on track, my class schedule and things like that. However, what she didn’t tell me was how they help students no matter what the situation. Whether it be academic or personal, they were always there.

My first semester at Stanislaus, I made the mistake of joining a sorority. I put so much time and effort into the sorority that I neglected my academics. If it wasn’t for my EOP advisor, I wouldn’t have been able to attend school anymore. My advisor listened to my story, my problems, and helped me work through the turmoil going on inside me; and eventually, I was able to get me back on track. I went from a 0.8 GPA to a 2.397. After my advisor left, I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone. I felt that if I had to explain my story all over again, then my new advisor would look at me different, but that didn’t happen. I met with my new advisor and she was amazing, understanding, and didn’t judge me. She kept me on track just like my previous advisor. Without EOP and the advisors there, I wouldn’t have been able to continue. I would have given up on my dream, and never would have made it this far.

For new students, PLEASE talk to your advisors. They understand what it’s like to be somewhere new and on your own, even if you aren’t on your own. The advisors at EOP are there to help and give you any additional resources that you might need. As an incoming student in 2014, I thought that there was nothing they can do to help me. But I was wrong, and I couldn’t be happier that I was.