Greetings college folk,

I know how hard it is to adjust to a new semester, and sometimes it doesn’t always go to plan. I changed majors into this new semester, and here I am wriggling my feet into newborn nuances of my post-secondary journey. I had to change a couple courses around, add and drop one, and run from one building to another, scheduling appointments and calling different departments. Despite all the stress and roughness associated with a new semester, I have some solutions for those of you who might be going through the same struggles.

Bring your rear adjacent to your peers.

By this I mean, find people that you have interests in common with, unwind from the academic rigor of your schedule, and rejoice with some; gentle gossiping, group-centric activities, and generally good laughs. Your friends may not have the same schedule as you, but I am sure that they are familiar with any form of misfortune regarding college. Take what they say into consideration and do what you think is best.

I found a new group on campus, and I couldn’t have been happier that I reached out to a friend who got me in. I have had an absolute ball, and it has distracted me from the fire and fury, that is my course load.

Form a network with your family, faculty, and familiar others.

Having a tightly wound support group to reach out to is tremendously helpful when you have the right people in it. Reach out to your parents and see if they have any advice or comments to aid with your start-of-semester situation. Alternatively, you could shoot an email to your faculty advisor, major-specific advisor, or a guidance counselor. College faculty are all hired for the sake of your academic success, and they want nothing for you but the best in higher education. With that in mind, why not use the resources that are made available to you.

I reached out to my advisor earlier yesterday, and she made my misfortune look like a slice of lemon cake that I was conquesting to consume.

Have a heart to heart with yourself.

Maybe having the angel on your right shoulder, and the devil on your left will be able to converse to you corporeally what needs to be done. However, if all else fails, you can always rely on yourself, your responsibility to complete the tasks that you need to accomplish, and everything you need (tangible or not) for yourself. Ultimately, the degree/certificate you are working so arduously for will belong to you. The money you pay in tuition, fees, alternative fees, work, effort, blood, sweat, and tears, all cumulatively circles back to you. You’re earning your degree, so make the best of it. Make sure that you do college for yourself, (and of course other reasons) enjoy it while you can, major in something you love, and take classes that enrich and engage your interests. Ergo, take care of what you need to, lean on others if required, but ultimately, it is up to you to decide what you are going to do.

I had the same talk with myself and discovered a new realm of courses that I didn’t know existed. My schedule is now mine, not a prescribed collection of courses that I “should” take.

I hope this article was helpful for you, and any stress that you might have regarding this semester. Just remember, reach out to others, but reach out to yourself as well.

Sincerely yours,

Jenn.