1. Three meals every day is a fantasy.
If you eat three meals a day in college, there are 3 possibilities. One, you are a scheduling genius. Two, you aren’t doing enough. Or three, your dorm is an actual grocery store.
Each person has a meal that is easier for them to skip and at least one meal that they feel that they ‘absolutely cannot” skip. For me, until recently, that meal was breakfast. A lot of my friends say, “Oh I never eat breakfast.” Ok, so yes I do skip it some, but if I NEVER ate breakfast I’m pretty sure I would cease to function as a human. I guess it might have something to do with getting up around 5:30-6 every morning from K5-12th grade. I had to have breakfast then or I wouldn’t be awake for school when it started. But that’s just me. Each person has their own unique meal-skipping abilities.
2. Even extroverts need their alone time.
I am definitely an extrovert.(If you’ve taken a Myers-Briggs-like test, I’m either ENFP or ENFJ.) I love being around people and jobs that separate me from people for too long seem to drag on and on endlessly. Yet even me the definite extrovert needs time alone. And that isn’t bad or “against my personality.” It’s necessary! There will be days that I come back from a long day at classes and then work and roll into the bottom of the triple bunk in my dorm and just lay there. Use it as a time to recharge, to think, and to pray. No matter if you are extroverted or introverted, you need this alone time. You will burn out in time otherwise.
3. You sometimes have to choose one class over another.
This unfortunate reality first struck me when I had to make up a History of Civilization test on a Monday night and then take an English test during my 8 o’clock the next morning. I honestly didn’t have time to study for both and I paid the price for my choice. Both were hard tests, but I got a B- on my history test and a D on my English test. English hurt since I knew I could have done better if I’d studied for it. But on the other hand, I knew that if I hadn’t studied for history I would’ve bombed that test. It came down to choice that I had to make. There will always be choices and sometimes you will regret them but that's OK. It's part of the learning curve.
4. Time management is a must!
I cannot stress this enough!! This one is not an option if you want to live. I’m only taking 14 credits this semester, but do not mistake this for an easy semester. On top of that, I am working two jobs, in concert band, and in choir. Not that no one is busier than I am. There are many people who are much busier, but even I have realized the necessity of time management. Methods vary. I use my phone’s Google calendar, some use a planner, some keep it all in their head which is not recommended unless you are positive you can do it. The point is everyone’s approach varies, but regardless of the approach the goal is still the same. MANAGE MY TIME!
5. Just because you’re busy, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun
As I said earlier, I am busy. But I make sure to find time to hang out with my friends or do whatever to have fun. Even if that means putting off that assignment for an hour to go grab a McFlurry at McDonalds with some buddies. Sometimes I’ll come back and just work on learning guitar for an hour or so and just de-stress. Sometimes there will be a guy in a dinosaur suit running up and down the hall waving a sword. (Fact: this happened last night) Again, this will look different for each person, but don’t forget to have fun! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
