An Open Letter To Incoming VCU Freshmen | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

To the incoming freshman considering taking more classes

Taking more than 15 credits a semester is stressful, but here's my advice to balance your workload.

154
To the incoming freshman considering taking more classes
Ahniaelyah Spraggs

To the new Rams reading this,

Congratulations and welcome to the Ram Fam! I am an incoming senior majoring in broadcast journalism and I am going to tell you how I survived junior year. My first year at Virginia Commonwealth University, I met a student that said junior year was his hardest year of college. At the time I was very naive and thought I had things all figured out and needless to say, I did not take his words seriously. While my first semester of junior year was a little stressful, it was nothing compared to spring semester.

Spring semester I signed up for 17 credits and decided to pick up a minor. Despite my mother suggesting that I only take 15 credits, I was very determined to do what was necessary to graduate May 2019. I felt as if I could handle it and didn't think that two credits would make much of a difference. Before leaving for winter break, I also met with my mentor, who suggested that I do something to mentally prepare for the busy semester ahead. But instead, I spent my time relaxing and did not consider my mother's advice to review my syllabuses.

One of the classes I signed up for was a capstone for print majors. I wanted to take this course to write articles that would be published and have some experience as a reporter. I also began writing for the Odyssey, where I write opinionated pieces on issues that affect myself and the VCU community. However, it wasn't long before taking 17 credits became unbearable. I felt as if I did not have much of a social life. I also began having more panic attacks because I was so unprepared.

By April, I dropped my minor and I was completely burnt out. I had no motivation to do anymore work. I began wondering why I was even stressing myself out and considered changing my major. However, it is because of people like biology major Terry Everett, who also co-founded "B The Movement," that I am still at VCU. In April, I met with Everett and expressed my concerns. When he asked what my schedule was, I wanted to run and hide because I did not have a schedule. My routine consisted of doing whatever needed to be done for the day. Everett also talked about how college gives us this false sense that we have all the time in the world when we really don't.

I share my experience with you to say this—you have to have a clear vision of what it is you want to accomplish. I knew I wanted to build my portfolio as a journalist spring semester, but I failed to develop a reasonable plan for how I was going to do so. My plan to work myself to the bone wasn't successful because it did not include any time for self care. Entrepreneur George Lucas once said, "Dreams are extremely important. You can't do it unless you imagine it."

The old adage that all work and play will make you gray doesn't stop when you get to college. Don't just do what's necessary to get your degree in the least amount of time. Make sure you also take time for yourself and plan effectively to make college life easier. Make sure you're also aware of your resources on campus, such as the VCU Campus Learning Center

and University Counseling Services. But most of all, have fun, network and try to experience life off campus when you can.

Sincerely,

A senior who's learned their lesson.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

1819
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

301220
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments