As the summer is slowly ending, students throughout the country are slowly transitioning from their regular summer routines to preparing to go to their university or college campus for the semester. Whether it is your first year at school or your last, every student is mentally preparing themselves for the journey that is ahead of them. Every student will have to face the horrors of buying or renting overpriced textbooks, having the navigate through an unfamiliar schedule, and having to adjust to a new environment, but just remember, you are not alone! During your first week back on campus these 10 thoughts will most likely go through your head.
1. Where is my family?
It does not matter if you are traveling across the country or you are commuting from down the street, at some point you will miss your family. It is completely normally to miss the people who you spend a large amount of your time with. Just remember your family is going to be missing you just as much as you miss them so do not be afraid to give them a call to let them know that you are thinking of them.
2. Where are all my friends?
If it is your first year at school, most likely you will not be seeing all the familiar faces that you grew up with. Making friends at school is not as challenging as most people believe it is. Remember, everyone around you is in the same situation as you, just be yourself and try your best to become involved in your campus community. Being involved can be something as simple as just keeping yourself updated on current events occurring at your school to joining sports teams, clubs, and societies. Just find something you are genuinely interested in and give it a try!
If you are a returning student to the school, you might notice people you made friends with last year might not be around during move in. Sometimes people transfer, study abroad or decided to leave the school for a number of reasons. It is always a good idea to try to keep in touch, but you might have to branch out to find new friends. Keep an eye out for events that pertain to your major; going to these events will give you experience in the field you are interested in and will also bring you and people with the same interest as you together.
3. Is this going to be the best year of my life?
Every semester of school can be different. Weather conditions, local events, and events put on directly by the school you go to can either make or break a year in some people's opinion. Just remember, you have a limited time in school so it is up to you to make the most of your time there.
4. How am I going to get everything I want to do accomplished?
With so many opportunities ahead, one might question how they will be able to experience all they want during the time provided at school. Time management is the key tool that one must work on while at school. In addition to having enough time to go to class and study, events, friends, relationships, and other commitments will chew up a lot of time. Getting involved is excellent, but do not spread yourself too thin. Try to find a few activities that you truly enjoy and devote your time to them.
5. What are the right activities to join?
There is no right answer to this question because everyone has different interests. If you were an athlete in the past, but no longer play varsity sports, most schools will have rec or intramural sports. Most schools have large departments devoted to community service. Some schools treasure the arts and try to expand their students' horizons through them. Whatever your interest are, try to find a club or activity that will keep you happy and if there is not a club or activity established and really want one, then start one!
6. When am I going to be able to catch up with everyone?
Students are always busy. Rushing from building to building, trying to make it to class on time, trying to find a working printer, trying to get lunch when the cafeteria closes in three minutes, etc. It is important to try to block out some time throughout your day to relax and talk with friends. Your friends will slowly start becoming the support you will desperately need in stressful times so make sure you are there for them when they need you as well.
7. Did I take the right courses?
When selecting courses, sometimes the most valuable information you can seek out is from your fellow students. If you are an underclassman, ask an upperclassman who has the same major their advice on how to go about picking classes. Most upperclassman will be flattered that you are seeking their wisdom and will tell you which classes they believed were the best, what professors to avoid, and of course the classes that will knock out both major requirements and school required courses that every student must take regardless of the major. Also, remember that you can always ask an advisor for their input when you are making a schedule or want to add/drop a course. Another person who will know exactly how to help you is the registrar's office, after all they control all of the classes.
8. How am I going to achieve the grades I want?
Let's not sugarcoat it, college or university classes are hard. Depending on the high school you attained, you may or not be completely prepared for the difficulties ahead. When it comes to classes the three best resources you have are your classmates, your teacher's assistant (TA) and of course, your professor. Your classmates are going through the same exact course as you, they have the same workload, and if you are struggling they are probably struggling too. Make study groups and work together.
9. Where are all the parties at?
After all of the stress, homework, and overall work a student faces throughout the week, what is wrong with kicking it back and relaxing? Every school is different, some have on campus house parties, some have off campus parties, and some have local bars and restaurants for students to get together and have a good time. If partying is not for you, there are always alternatives, but never be shy to go out and explore! After all, time at school is limited so you might as well make the most of it!
10. Did I make the right choice by coming here?
Many students question if they made the right choice in the school that they have chosen to attained. Even if you are heavily regretting your decision, try to stick it out for a while. Anywhere you go can be scary at first, but see if it gets better over time. If it does, then you know that you found the right school for you. If you still feel uncomfortable after the first few months, it might be time to start looking into transferring. Over time, the school that a student ends up at should feel like a second home to them.
