Don’t overwhelm
yourself
The workload, especially at the beginning,
will feel intense. Professors let you know the
expectations and some of them may be lofty.
But take a breath and believe in yourself. You
have months to make it work so it’s important
to pace yourself.
Find a study group or if you’re a loner, that’s
fine too. Develop a schedule and don’t forget,
if you’re struggling, to seek help from tutors.
There’s no shame at all in it. There’s only shame
in going through the motions. That way you
lose time and motivation.
Seek guidance if
you’re feeling
down
If you are feeling overwhelmed, uninspired,
or just are missing home or past times, talk to a
guidance counselor. It’s important to overcome
the feeling that there’s a stigma attached if you
need help with personal issues. That should
never have been the thought and it certainly is
less so today.
Speaking with someone could put you on
the right track.
Don’t
procrastinate
While you want to take it easy and settle in,
falling into bad habits can start early. If you ignore
something until the night before, like studying or
reading or writing a paper, it sets the tone for the
rest of the year.
Make sure your very first major assignment
is done early, to set the pace for the semester.
This will likely translate into positive results and
encourage you to retain this healthy routine for the
long haul.
Sure, life happens and things have to be put on
hold. Just make sure you don’t drive yourself crazy
the night before. These are feelings you want to
avoid.
Make time for
fun
The undergrad years are vital academically,
but they should also be exciting. You have tons
of responsibility, but likely in four-plus years,
you’ll have a considerable amount more once
you receive that diploma.
You currently have the freedom of
almost being adult without the full-fledged
responsibilities. Make sure you embrace that
status.
Take risks and challenge yourself, both
socially and academically. This doesn’t mean
party everyday. It means don’t allow fear to stop
you from meeting people, studying abroad,
making a fool of yourself, etc. Take your classes
seriously, but also create a balance so you can
also have a good time.
Start to figure
out what you
love
Don’t stress about deciding on a major on
day one if you’re not among the few that know
what they want to do with the rest of their lives.
Your first year is the best opportunity you’ll
have to dabble in a bit of everything and see
what you like.
Don’t feel like you have to race to a
conclusive answer. Perhaps you’ll grow out of
a passion you had throughout high school or
discover a whole new path after learning more
about it.
QNS.COM
30 WINTER 2017