As I entered my first semester of sophomore year of college, I quickly realized it was very different than freshman year. While I knew my major going into college (elementary education and special education), my freshman year was filled with many general education and diversity classes, and as long as you showed up to class, you were going to receive a good grade. While I place a high value on my school work, these classes consisted of a lot of reading but, did not involve heavy memorization or complex equations. However, this semester was a whole different story.

It started out busy and with professors setting high expectations (which I was excited about). My classes no longer were general information, but rather material that I was going to actually need. They also involved a lot more work, and by work, I mean necessary readings, projects, papers, and presentations. If I wasn't in class, you could find me in the library. This semester I was placed in a kindergarten classroom once a week, which was a dream come true. Waking up extra early to leave my dorm at 7:15 am was totally worth it until the afternoon rolled around. While I loved every second in the classroom, it was exhausting. Come noon, I was ready for a nap, but unfortunately I had class until 4 pm so that wish was a little far out of my reach. I had to cut my hours at work because my class schedule was so busy. As I got more involved in my sorority, my schedule got even busier. Between chapter meetings every Sunday, events, and other meetings, my evenings were filling up fast. Even with my busy schedule, I made sure to spend time with my friends, and thank goodness I did because they are now some of my best friends and new roommates.

This coming semester will be even busier than the previous one. I will be working more hours at my job, taking eighteen credits, and I am the president of recruitment for my sorority. I have put together a list of five goals that I want to accomplish this semester.

1. Organize Everything

This semester is going to be busy and I will need to use my planner for everything. While I have always loved my planner in the past, it is going to be vital for me this semester to plan out each of my days in order to make sure I do not procrastinate and get everything done without feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Using my planner will be key in my success this semester.

2. Drink More Water

While I currently drink water (obviously), I want to increase my water intake this semester. This will help me stay energized during my long and busy days. I want to make sure that I am drinking the right amount of water each day in order to keep myself healthy during.

3. Get More Sleep

Getting more sleep this semester will be crucial in my success this semester. Getting a better night's sleep will help improve my memory, sharpen my attention, and lower my stress. These three things will help me have a successful semester.

4. Transition to Being a Vegan

I have been a vegetarian since I was in sixth grade (nine years), but now I want to transition to becoming a vegan. This is going to be my hardest goal to accomplish, but I am determined to achieve this plan. I have been finding different recipes that I want to try out while I am still home from break. We will see how this goal goes when I go back to college.

5. Travel More

During this semester I will be taking a music class that travels to New Orleans, Louisiana during the spring break. This is an excellent opportunity for me to take a class that fulfills a requirement while going on a new adventure. I also was recently accepted to travel to London this summer for two weeks to take an English class put on by my University. While I am there I will be able to learn about the culture through plays and museums, as well as take in the beautiful sights.