Well, the first semester came and went. I am pretty confident that we can all agree it happened so fast. Now, I am not trying to push next semester on you, but it’s never a bad thing to start preparing early. We all have to go back to school, and it is super cold out, so why not skip class? Well here is some motivation/advice to start the new semester right and stay on track!

1. Just go to class. I am not going to sit here and lie. Yes, I have skipped class. Getting up early and just going to a class does not sound appealing: especially if it’s raining or is super windy. Your bed seems to call out “just 5 more minutes," that 5 minutes turns into an extra hour and then you miss your class. Most of the time, the more you skip class the worse your grade will be. I set my alarm about 15 minutes early, that way I can get to be lazy and still be on time.

2. Remember that all the late nights and the early mornings will be worth it. You get to have an education and study what you are interested in! Use this time to your advantage. The minute you get that degree or certificate or whatever you are going for, it will all be worth it. You can look back at something and think “Wow, I can’t believe I actually did it!”

3. Stay positive. Everyone tries to be perfect and get perfect grades: something I learned that is very unlikely. I do the best I can in all my classes. Some classes come easier to me, while others are a pure pain (chemistry and math), but those are the classes that I need to work just a little harder in. If you get a bad grade on an assignment or a quiz, it’s honestly not the end of the world. You either can try just a little bit harder next time, or find a better solution to get the grade you want. Everything happens for a reason!

4. You are responsible for your own future! Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. There will always be negative people in the world. They might try and distract you, or they might make you feel like you can’t accomplish your goals. There is one thing you and I both know, and that is that you can!

5. Homesickness. I am from the far planet called “Idaho." Seriously though, I got home sick a lot. It’s not like I can just drive home every weekend, but I know that my family will always be there for me. I often called my family three or four times a day! So, if you ever get homesick like I did, just make a quick call home. I also try and stay busy and hang out with some friends to get my mind off it.