You know the drill.

Winter break has come to an end, and it was probably a lot longer than it should have been. Packing back up and saying goodbye for the second time is actually a little more difficult than it was the first time in the fall, but settling back into the buzz of the university is a little easier too. It's pretty crazy, you think, that this is what the next four years are going to be like.

This semester, however, is going to be much different. First semester was, let's say, pretty interesting - learning more about the campus, making mistakes, getting lost, meeting new people, making mistakes, trying new things, going to games, joining clubs, and well, making more mistakes. Sure, first semester was pretty spectacular, but if you're anything like me, there are some things about starting college that you'd do a little differently if you could — whether it have been studying more, getting more involved, or even trying to hit the gym a little more often.

It is more than refreshing that spring semester began along with the new year. Sure, maybe it's a little late for New Year's resolutions, but that doesn't mean you can't start this semester with just as much of a clean slate.

Starting this new semester with a bit more of an idea of what to expect can apply to more than just grades. It can apply to really anything.

To the ones that spent most of first semester trying to slide under the radar in their 200+ filled lecture halls, focusing on balancing a part-time job and more than a handful of credit hours, maybe this semester can be built on the time management skills you gained from this past semester. Branching out, finding new ways to get involved, and generally trying to meet new people this semester is a great way to build on the academic workload of college you've already learned to expect.

For those that spent more than the better half of college transitioning into the university — whether it be with experiences, people, or even just trying to figure out how to function away from home — maybe this semester can be about starting a semester with what you know now. How you study, where you work best, and who you work best with is a lot of stuff that maybe took a semester to really learn.

To everyone that wished they had gotten out a little bit more - this semester can definitely be an era of trying new things. Maybe try going hiking, going ice skating, going to the zoo, or even going to the gym — there are so many ways that you can try something new for this upcoming semester.

Regardless of if you had a really productive first semester, or if you wish you had done a little bit more, this spring is definitely a time of growth (pun intended). Even if you don't think that you need to do anything differently this semester, there are still little ways you can switch things up, and maybe even learn a few things about yourself. What matters most is challenging yourself and to keep moving forward.

So, who knows what this semester will bring. Set up a solid study schedule, or plan to go to the gym a few times a week with a friend. Try getting into some yoga. Join a new club. Do something you haven't done before. This new semester is a clean slate, in any way that you need it to be. It doesn't matter where you are right now — what matters is that you keep going.