The beginning of a semester is tough for anyone. You feel as if summer lasted approximately five minutes. Just when you start to get used to the idea of relaxation, you are suddenly propelled into the intimidating (yet wonderfully exciting and fun) world of college. Once starting the semester, it's easy to fall behind and lose sight of important goals. To avoid this, create a system that works for you.
With these tips, you will find sticking to your semester goals to be completely manageable!
- Outline your budget.
We are all college students, and as college students we all have one thing in common: we are completely and utterly broke. Take some time and sit down with a pen and paper (or a computer/smartphone for my millennials who have forgotten about the beauty of a nice Ticonderoga pencil) and outline your expenses. In a sorority/fraternity? Set aside the money you’ll owe for dues. Living off campus? Make sure you know when your rent is due and how much you owe. Do you go out every weekend? Maybe set up a little piggy bank for those bottles you’ll inevitably be buying. For those of you who are really trying to save money, just buy Burnettes. That way you have an alcohol that will double as a glass cleaner. - Get your textbooks sorted out ASAP.
I know it’s still hot out and you’d rather be poolside with a strawberrita in hand than thinking about your calculus book. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that the longer you wait, the more stressed out you will be the first few weeks of class. Textbooks sell out and they always seem to be on back order. Don’t be that kid who asks to borrow a classmate’s textbook every single week because you will become public enemy number one. Get online, find a site that works for you and order those babies pronto. Don’t wait! - Make sure you’re satisfied with your classes.
Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a senior ready to embrace your last year in academia, make sure you are in the correct classes. A friend of mine once enrolled in an honors level chemistry course instead of algebra and didn’t realize until the first day of class. Look through your schedule, make sure you’re happy, and if you’re not, spend the days leading up to the first day searching for classes that fit in your schedule. - Buy a calendar or a planner and ACTUALLY USE IT.
I am the Monica Geller of organization and even though it seems slightly neurotic, being this way has made me very successful in college so far. Calendars are an amazing, incredible invention (Shoutout to the Aztecs) and everyone should utilize them. Get a big calendar that’s easy to use and put it somewhere that will get your attention. This past year, I hung up a huge desk calendar right next to my bed. Safe to say that this obnoxiously large calendar was a huge help. At the beginning of each week, sit down and fill that puppy in with any meetings/events/mixers/gym sessions that you know of. Keep a small planner in your backpack and write down your homework/little notes-to-self that you can peek at throughout the day. Trust me, this will save your life. - Start thinking about packing NOW!
If you’re like me, you’ll spend the night before freshmen move-in tearing up your room trying to fit your clothes into a tiny suitcase. Here’s an idea: plan ahead!!!! Instead of waiting until the last minute, find a day to organize your belongings and decide on the items that you definitely want to bring with you. If you find yourself staring at that vintage tube top your drunk Aunt Patty gave you a year ago, ask yourself, “Will I truly, seriously wear this?” Most of the time, it’s a resounding "no." Here’s a trick: If you can’t remember the last time you wore it, leave it behind. - Jump start clean-eating habits.
The freshman 15 is real. So is the sophomore 20. It’s all so real. It doesn’t have to be this way, though! When buying snacks for the dorm/house/apartment look for meals that are satisfying and delicious! Look for nuts, fruit snacks, and low-fat crackers or chips to keep you full during those painful all-nighters. For a drunk snack that won’t make you feel guilty in the morning, try microwavable oatmeal. It’s warm, it’s delicious, and it’s probably a thousand times less greasy than whatever fat sandwich you were planning to order at 3 a.m. Clean eating will make you more productive, give you more energy to succeed in school, and also just make you feel happy and healthy about yourself. And who doesn’t love self-love?! - Toilet paper.
Buy it. Store it. Save it. Cherish it.
I want you to leave Stop & Shop feeling like one of those doomsday preppers on TLC. I’m sure you’re wondering, “Kimmie, why do you care so much about having toilet paper?” Well, sweet and naïve person, there will come a time in the semester that you will crawl into the bathroom at an unreasonable hour hoping to be greeted by the sweet caress of Charmin, but instead you will be faced with the brown cardboard holder that reminds us that the world is really a dark place. You will search on your hands and knees wondering if there are tissues or even paper towels within a two foot radius, and you will be let down. Do yourself a favor and stock up. - Get familiar with new campus changes.
Every year something changes on campus - anywhere from construction to new office hours. Try and figure out these changes before the first day so that you can be one step ahead. Write down the Lib’s hours in your handy dandy planner I made you buy and keep it safe. Make sure administrative offices are still in their same locations and keep those hours written down, too. Coming back to school after a long break can be kind of shocking, but you can ease your panic by staying ahead of the game. - Get involved!
I know you regret not trying out for that acapella group last year and I know you feel guilty when the Crossfit club exercises in front of you while you spoon potato salad into your mouth. Motivate yourself and join an organization that you are interested in! It’s never too late to get involved because campus involvement will only enhance the rest of your college experience. - Stay positive!!!!
If you enter the semester with a happy, positive mindset, you will reach goals that you never thought you could. A big part of having a great college experience is feeling focused and driven. Forget the negativity, forget that loser who broke your heart, and strive to be a better you. If you come in with an attitude that says “I’m here to succeed and look damn good while doing it” then you will have an incredible semester. Confidence is key. You’ve got this!
College is hard and scary and stressful and routinely makes you ponder existentialism, but it is also some of the greatest years of your life. You can make the most out of your experiences by learning how to be a happy adult and to keep an organized and fresh way of living.
This is a new semester and you have the ability to make it the best it can be. Push away your fears and the embarrassing moments from the months before and feast upon this year with eager eyes. This is the year of you.
