Many college students are bit by the travel bug, especially at Truman. Ranked 6th in the nation for having the most students study abroad, Truman students are known for going global and returning with lives forever enriched. Lisa Rubenthaler, a Truman senior and self proclaimed "travel addict," can attest to that.

While studying Spanish for a semester at the Catholic University in La Paris, Chile, Lisa was thrust into a world that stretched her street-smarts and challenged her to think more sharply about cultural and political issues. In a recent interview, Lisa shares why traveling completes your education—and why she'd return in a heartbeat.

Why is traveling an important part of a college education?
Lisa: You learn a lot about yourself in the context of another culture. Different cultures focus on different things. Chile was holding their elections at the time, and politics were really important to everyone. Previous to this, I didn't pay much attention to politics. But it's impossible to not pay attention to politics in Chile. When I returned home, I began paying much more attention to political issues. The experience pointed out some things I took for granted. Traveling makes your world a little bigger and a little smaller at the same time.

What else did you learn to appreciate?
Lisa: The opportunities given to women in America. In Chile, for example, females are encouraged to stay home and not go to a university. If they do go to a university, it needs to be where their home is. Many girls get a job after graduation, but they continue to live at home and take care of the family.

Many people would ask me, "Where are you from?" I'd say, "I'm from Kansas." They would ask, "Are you going back to Kansas?" I would say, "No, I live in Missouri. That's where my school is." They didn't understand that concept. It made me glad that I've been able to pursue my goals and be independent.

What life skills did you develop?
Lisa: For a month and a half, I traveled by myself through Chile. Traveling alone you overcome fears very quickly. You develop a sense of adventure, an ability to "just do it" as well as the confidence to approach people and ask questions. If you don't know where your hostel is, you have to talk to people. Ultimately, this builds confidence.

I also developed a sense of curiosity. I once had a 12-hour layover in an airport overnight, and I couldn't get to sleep. Tired of reading, I started talking with a Chilean guy, and it sprung another conversation with another traveling student. Traveling makes you want to go out and see what you can find.

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G-Dog, aka high school English teacher Andy Gensler, may not consider himself any better than his colleagues, but when he received the National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation, he was set apart as "The Best." To what does he owe his success? Why, Truman of course.

Props for the Profs: Truman showed me that when you have a student to faculty ratio like Truman does (when I went there it was 16:1), you really get to know your professors, and they really get to know you. I try to incorporate that same concept in my classroom. When I really get to know the students, and they get to know me, they like me and want to work hard to succeed in my class. And I also like them and want them to succeed. It's a mutual partnership—just like at Truman. Dr. Cole Woodcox, Professor of English at Truman, inspired me in this way: he was always concerned and pushed us to become our very best.

Tool Chest: My role models at Truman showed me that there are ways to connect with students—beyond an "I'm the teacher, and you're the student" relationship. You can dialogue with students, discuss papers one-on-one, and set up an email response system.

Killer Classmates: One of the best things about Truman is that you are always studying alongside high-caliber students. I was constantly surrounded by students who were intelligent and determined to succeed, and that really encouraged me to develop my own potential.

Success of Another Kind: I hope that as a result of my class most of my students can achieve whatever their goals are. Many of my students may not want to go into the field of English, and I'm not going to shove anyone into that. But I hope that they all emerge much more confident in their abilities to read literature, make interpretations about literature through creative writing and through discussion, and be confident in their abilities to intelligently talk about whatever they do. My experience at Truman was very much like that. Every student at Truman has the opportunity to figure out what they want to do and then are provided the tools to accomplish their goals.

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How long does it take for your new college to really feel like home? For some it takes a good year; and for others, a bit luckier, only a few months. But for Hope Slaby, a Truman senior, it only took a few days.

According to Hope, "I was surprised at how easy it was to feel at home at Truman. Because there was so much to do the first week, I had no time to be homesick. And by the end of my first week, I found myself unconsciously calling Truman home."

So what's the key to settling in at your new digs? Here's what Hope recommends:

• Get Plugged In: Drop your bags and boxes—leave the unpacking for later—because as soon as you arrive at Truman, social life ramps up. "Truman offers activities right when you start moving in," says Hope. Even for Hope, who admittedly was nervous entering a university where she knew absolutely no one, making friends the first week was a breeze.
  
  For Hope, the key was to plug into Truman Week, where residence halls compete in various events, from a yard art competition to goofy relays. Students can't help but develop relationships as they work with co-residents to earn points for their residence hall. And there's no shortage of campus-wide socials—yet another way to connect with students just like you. Ice cream socials, luaus, and band fests are kickback environments in which students mingle and make friends—that often last a lifetime.



• A Class All Your Own: Another key component to making the transition to college life is actively participating in your assigned Truman Week class, which continues throughout the rest of the semester. Grouped with 15-20 other freshmen, who have the same declared major, you take an introductory class that counts toward your degree. The first week, you spend time building community—and learn that you are in the same boat with all these people: a little unsure and excited at the same time. By the end of the first week, you already are closely knit with a professor and group of people who you can lean on throughout the first semester.
  
  Hope, a self-admitted shy person, was undeclared and placed in a public speaking class, in which all students gave "get-to-know-you" speeches. "At the end of the week, my professor took us out to eat at a Mexican food restaurant, which allowed us to get to know our professor and classmates on a more personal level. When classes began, we had a group of people we were comfortable with," says Hope.



• Kicking Shy Habits: Hope's best advice for shy people is to not worry about making friends—it'll happen regardless. When you arrive at your residence hall, your advisor gathers your hall for introductions, which instantly breaks down barriers. And according to Hope, "It really doesn't matter whether you're shy, because everyone is in a brand new situation; it's not like there are any veterans who are good at being a college freshman."

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Maybe you've gotten C's on three of your last five papers despite your deep research and careful outlining. Or maybe you bombed a mid-term final, even though you pulled an all-nighter pouring over flashcards. Or perhaps you just don't know if you should pursue your love of music or stay the course with biology—after all, you told your parents you were going to be a doctor.

At Truman, when academic problems like these arise, there's help: the Residential College Program, Truman's first living-learning community. The Residential College Program underscores Truman's commitment to its students' academic success by placing full-time professional advisors in each of the five residence halls.

If academic woes strike, kick up your confidence with the help of Truman's Residential College Program. Here's what it has to offer:

Accessibility. Because the advisors' offices are in the heart of the residence halls, academic advice is easy to get to. If you have a few minutes between classes, you can chat with your advisor about test taking strategies or declaring a major. Or when you're writing a paper and want some feedback, you can just run down the hall—even in pj's!

Open Door Policy. Forget an appointment. When advisors are in, the door is always open. Advisors want to develop meaningful relationships with students; this means they want students dropping by regularly, even if just to say hello and give them updates.

Academic Support. Throughout the year, the Residential College Program offers workshops on developing study skills, career planning, and time management, to name a few. But students are encouraged to seek help pertaining to any academic concerns. Advisors will work with students and develop a plan to get them back on the right track.

Backbone for the Future. Advisors familiarize students with the academic information in the university catalog and on the university web site. Together, they work out their four-year plans, which most students like because it helps them see where they're headed and the steps they need to take to get there. Many students question why they have to take certain liberal arts classes, but advisors can help students see how they relate to future classes and are going to help them throughout their life. Advisors help students see that the classes are valuable--not just a hoop to jump through to get to something else.

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