Classes have started and we've made it through the first week. We've received our syllabi and been sufficiently overwhelmed in a very short amount of time. We've felt ill prepared, but most of all we've just had a lot of thoughts while everyone around us seems to be rambling on.
1. What's the attendance policy?
So can I skip class? Do I have to be here every day? What if I get Ebola (you know, if it actually infects the United States)? What if it's raining and the streets flood?
We're thinking, how often do we have to come to class and how important would it be if we miss? We want to know. It's how we work out our schedules and how we handle the stress that is school and attempting to be a young adult. For our mental health, we want to know: what is the attendance policy?
2. Wow, that's a very detailed schedule you gave us.
The professor spelled out almost every minute of class for you. Professors told you when you'd have exams, assignments, what you're discussing that day, and so on. They fell short of coming up with a schedule for when you're allowed to pee.
Granted, these type of schedules are great but they can also be very anxiety-inducing. You have everything laid out right in front of you, piece by piece, and that's just overwhelming.
*Cue internal screaming*
3. This class may kill/break me.
It's that one class. The one we have to take but don't exactly want to take. We sit there and either cringe at the subject matter or at the fact that we're taking it with a professor we're less than excited about.
This class is now your sworn enemy—your nemesis, if you will. The battle has begun.
This is war.
4. I regret this outfit, it was a mistake.
Either you're too hot or too cold, your shorts are too short, or your shoes are rubbing you the wrong way. You can't win. You decide that this one outfit that you thought would be adorbs is a mistake.
Thus, you don't wear it again. And if you do, the cycle of regret begins again.
5. How much coffee is too much coffee?
The answer is that there is no such thing as too much coffee unless, you know, you start shaking uncontrollably and/or are bouncing off the walls. Then maybe you should switch to tea (but only till the next day).
6. I can do it!
When it comes down to it, you know you can do it. You may be overwhelmed by the fact that you're taking classes only for your major or with professors that you desperately want letters of recommendation for. You may not actually know what you want to major in or study, and the thought of deciding soon gives you hives.
But you know you can do it! You've come this far, you've made it. And you've made it too far to accept failure or give up!
Just listen to Joey!