Considering much of my freshman year seems to be one big blur, its really time to get down to business now that its over. The excitement of being on your own with unlimited amounts of freedom should’ve hopefully sunk in, and other factors such as school work or actual work need to become priorities (if they haven’t already). And although we might regret missing a few parties to hit the books, I’m sure we wont regret working a full time job right after college while the others are working part-time at the local grocery store. Here are ten goals you and I need set for ourselves to be to be mature and successful in college:
1.Save Money
I should be the last person to ever speak about the art of saving, but here we are. The importance of saving money only increases as we age, but the importance to save while in college is just as important. While working your summer job, set aside paychecks so you’ll be able to afford the electric bill or a Domino's Pizza every night until you find a new job at school.
Recommended for you
2. Get a job
While on the topic of saving money, in order to do that, you need a job, and my suggestion is to get one during the school year as well. As some of us are not as lucky as to be given an endless amount of money from our parents, you may have no other choice but to balance school, work, and partying.
3. Homework > Party
From experience, choosing a party over a homework assignment is never the answer. As much as you think you may wake up early to complete it for class, it'll most likely never happen. And although there'll be plenty of other nights to party, you wont be able to make up the assignment. But they doesn't mean you wont be salty because you weren't there.
4. Study for every exam
A myth many of us are guilty of believing is that going to class and actually paying attention is enough to do well and pass the exams. Although it may be enough to pass the class, why shouldn't we put in a little more effort, be proud of ourselves, and have a reason to celebrate afterwards.
5. Go to the library
As a child, there was no place which made me more depressed to step into than the library. With such bland decor and talking kept to a minimum, I never understood how people could get enjoyment out of going. But once you're in college, the library is much more than that. And although it may still have the silence and bland decor, it will be responsible for forcing you to complete those tedious assignments in an environment other than your room, which is filled with snacks and loud people.
6. Sleep
What college students seem to get confused is that the term “a good nights sleep” doesn't include during the day. For many of us, much of the sleep we get comes from our after class (or during class) nap, but what we need to learn is to how to actually sleep at night, and at a reasonable hour. And although that might seem impossible, it just might not be if we didn't decide to start our homework at 11 o’clock.
7. Time management
One of the most important factors in being successful at any task is time management. For school, however, its one that really put us to the test. In college procrastination is taken to a whole new level, and because we don't have the same class everyday, we have more time to procrastinate. But just because an assignment might be due a day or a week from now doesn't mean you should let that time fool you. In college, nothing goes faster than time, and went it comes to a 6 page paper on a book you haven't even opened… I would suggest starting earlier than the night before.
8. Exercise
No matter what school you go to, there is access to a gym, believe it or not. And for myself, its time to start believing and putting it to use. Not only does the gym provide a way to work out but its also a great stress reliever... or so i’ve heard.
9. Eat healthy
Even though the dining hall food is close to nauseating, in the battle of a greasy cheeseburger verses a salad, the burger seems to always win. But this year will hopefully be different, and so will my sting habits. What you put in your body has a clear reflection in what your body is capable of doing, and eating healthy will hopefully have enough positive effects to restrain me from the good stuff.
10.Clean
If there was an award for being the least organized, I would have 19. But this year, I will learn to break the streak by routinely cleaning and keeping not only my space, but my life in order. And although my life may not be in order by the end of it, at least I conquered one of the two.
