Freshman year is a prominent time to learn from simple mistakes, but also a time to learn what you like and what you would like to change about next year. I struggled a lot with locking down a schedule, so I made it a priority to build a semester plan, including my time spent at work, in class, studying, working out, and hanging out with friends and family, in order to make my entrance into sophomore year less stressful. I've deleted things out of my schedule that made me feel unhappy or lazy and added elements to my college experience that I believe will turn my freshman frenzy into a sophomore success.
Having A Part-Time Job
This may seem like a negative change to some, but for me, it's a chance to build my resume and to grow as an individual in the workplace. Also, during my freshman year, there were several times when I spent my free time doing something totally sluggish, such as watching Netflix, napping for long hours, or staying up too late eating terrible junk food. I believe that with this new job opportunity, I'll be able to better manage my time between work, classes, and free time, and I won't be so anxious about what I'm doing versus what I should be doing because I'll have a concrete schedule.
Relying On Myself For Food
As a freshman, I was forced to rely on campus dining for most of my meals, and I grew so sick of the food options early on in my first semester. However, as a sophomore, I opted out of a meal plan and decided that I'd like to rely on myself for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I truly believe that this change will allow me to eat healthier foods, to learn portion control, and to feel less stressed about my eating behavior since Chick-fil-A won't be what I eat for lunch everyday. Hopefully.
Biking Instead Of Walking
Especially when I feel this August heat, I thank myself for making this decision. I've always loved biking with my family back at home, and during freshman year, I would instantly become jealous watching a bicyclist zoom past me while I sluggishly walked to class. So, during summer break, I decided to purchase a bike and to make it my new favorite transportation for school and work. My part-time job opportunity is only five minutes from my school campus, and it's a major reason why I decided to utilize a bike this semester.