As my freshman year comes to a close, I'm looking ahead to next year, but I'm also reflecting on all the things I'm glad I've done this year -- and all the things that I'm not so proud of. Here are 11 suggestions, drawn from my experience.
DO: Say yes to a variety of opportunities after researching them and talking to people involved with them, even if you don't think they'll matter that much to you at first.
DON'T: Randomly choose a bunch of clubs to join and then decide to ditch all or most of them.
DO: Maintain an actual schedule - for sleep, eating, studying, exercising, etc.
DON'T: Buy a bunch of calendars to put on your wall and never use them.
DO: Figure out how you can study well and be patient about it.
DON'T: Just stick to high school habits, unless they actually work because you've built a strong study skill set in the past few years. Otherwise, keep working on your study skills and accept the fact that college is most likely a whole different ballgame from high school.
DO: Reach out for help if you need it, especially with academics: PILOT, Learning Den office hours, TA sessions, etc.
DON'T: Get frustrated because you failed your first test here and it seems like everyone else is doing perfectly fine.
DO: Make the most out of your time here by taking advantage of all the Intersession opportunities!
DON'T: Miss out on all the cool classes offered here and abroad during winter break; they're a great way to explore different classes and earn credit!
DO: Try to eat as healthy as possible. You'll feel way better, trust me.
DON'T: Let FFC dictate what your daily diet is. You do not need to eat fries, waffles and a tub of ice cream in order to feel better.
DO: Take care of yourself, especially if you're sick.
DON'T: Neglect your body. You have midterms, problem sets, and papers, but you only have one body.
DO: Try new things, whether it's rushing, playing a new sport, learning a new instrument or practicing your cooking skills.
DON'T: Do anything that goes against your personal values.
DO: Let yourself be inspired and motivated the accomplishments of your peers.
DON'T: Get jealous of your friend because s/he got a job faster than you did. Everyone has their own story here, and each one is different.
DO: Be grateful for all the opportunities that you have access to here, especially in terms of research.
DON'T: Take for granted the professors who go the extra mile for you. If you have the opportunity to be a research assistant or take part in a project, be sure to show how grateful you are. Not everyone in every college gets the chance to work besides graduate students, postdocs, lab technicians, etc.
DO: Let yourself relax sometimes.
DON'T: Think you have to be at the top of your game 24/7. You don't need to go to sleep at 3 a.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. every day in order to succeed. If you followed your set schedule for a day, props to you. You deserve to sleep for 8 hours, go on Netflix, or go out to explore Baltimore with your friends.
