Going into my first year attending a university, I found myself in the shoes of many other students my age. Throughout high school, I skated by without studying for a test or a quiz, unless it was of the utmost importance. Homework was saved for the 10 minutes before the next class of the day. My parents told me that behavior similar to that in college would see me home after my first semester, and they couldn't have been more correct. Many of my friends who put fun before their school work are now home attending community colleges.

My parents gave me some really good advice in my final days home. Treat college like a job. Work from your first class to your last class every day. In an average work environment that meant working 9 to 5. Not understanding the whole process, I asked my dad for further clarification. He broke it down for me. My first class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday began at 9. On and off, I had class until 3 in the afternoon. If, during my off hours, I spent time doing my work in the library, I wouldn't have much work to do after class. By managing my daily work to a professional timeframe, then my nights will be free.

Now, as in the workplace, you will have to work overtime. There are projects that take up more time than a normal homework load would. Ten-page papers are time-consuming. There will be some nights where classwork will consume your life, just as overtime at work eats at someone's day. Similar to the overtime you work in a job, the overtime you work in a school day will lead to more benefits. Spending sufficient time on your work is sometimes not enough, you must put forth an extra effort to receive the grades that you wish.

Just as in real life, school contains distractions. It is far too easy to get caught up in the life as a student away from home. Going out instead of studying, binge watching that Netflix series and sleep all seem to take hours of our life away from school. Being a college student means experiencing all of those things, but school comes first. If your work is done by five o'clock every day, then you are free to live the life that college has to offer.

Treat your school like a full-time job, because that is ultimately the end goal as scholars. We, as students, attend school so we can become members of the workforce and ultimately better society. Having the necessary skills to commit time during the day for work is something that employers seek in clients.

So for the kids in the same boat as I was just a couple of months ago, it's time to clock in and start your shift. I'll see you at 5.