By | Gabrielle Kennedy
College is one of the most significant transitions most of us have experienced at this time in our lives, and with that comes a wide range of emotions. Starting school can be incredibly stressful, especially when you must balance a heavier workload, make new friends, and even navigate the campus. But along with these challenges, starting college also brings so much joy and happiness into your life, from having more independence and rediscovering yourself to joining clubs and organizations. After finishing my first year, I am aware of the challenges that come with adjusting to college life and being in a new environment. If any of you are worried about starting school and are looking for some advice here are 5 tips and tricks that will help you have a great start to your first year:
01. Being Homesick: It is entirely normal to feel homesick for most of us it is our first time being away from our parents and friends. Through experience, the best way to get over being homesick was to be out of the dorm room as much as possible. As tempting as it was to stay in the room and miss home going to the blast-off events was a great way to make friends and start building connections.
02. Roommate Issues: Not everyone is best friends with their roommate and being able to click with them might take time. An excellent place to start is to go out to eat and even explore the campus/downtown together. Doing small things such as this is a great way to break the ice with each other. If you guys don’t click at all that’s perfectly fine too. Sometimes people just aren’t compatible and there are many options to solve these issues if they should come up. If you do experience roommate problems the first person you should contact is your RA, they are extremely helpful and are there to make your living space as comfortable as possible.
03. Time Management: The workload from high school to college is a significant shift, you have more classes to juggle, and they are going to be more challenging. Having time in your days blocked out specifically for each class will allow for your assignments to become more manageable. Making sure that you stick to a schedule will help make sure that all your assignments are submitted on time. 4. Self-care: Taking care of yourself is very important now that you are living away from home. Making sure you get enough sleep, drink enough water, and don’t skip meals is vital to having a successful year. Self-care is just as important as focusing on your classes if you neglect your needs for work you will ultimately be setting yourself back. Taking time away and focusing on the fun aspects of college is a good way to give yourself a break.
05. Building Connections: Building connections with your professors is the perfect way to network. Those professors are the best resource you have in getting job opportunities, internships, recommendations, etc. Try to go up to them after class and introduce yourself. I would even recommend adding them on linked in but make sure to introduce yourself in the message and not just follow them.
Freshman year comes with many unknown opportunities as well as obstacles but hopefully, with these tips and tricks, you start with your best foot forward.
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