I’m going on week three of my college career. College really is unlike anything I have experienced before, in many ways. I have also learned so much about myself and other people, and it’s only been three weeks! I decided to make list of some of the things I’ve learned, and some of the things I suggest
1) Study breaks are good for you, but be aware of when a 15-minute study break turns into a 3-hour procrastination sesh.
Think of your brain like a muscle you work in the gym. If you’re relentlessly exhausting that muscle, it will only become more tired and lose its ability to function the way you need it to. A study break gives your brain the rest it needs. Professors at MIT recommend studying in one-hour blocks: 50 minutes of study time, 10 minutes of break time.
Be aware of how long your breaks really last; yes, rest is good, but if Chemistry homework turns into a Netflix binge, then you’re gonna need to increase your self-discipline. Set timers for yourself, put your phone in the other room, turn off your notifications: be proactive in your studying!
2) Get out of your room and do things. Meet people. Join clubs. Step out of your comfort zone.
Your university has so much to offer you, but it’s on you to get out of your dorm room and take advantage of those opportunities. You can’t just sit there and wait for your life to be brought to you on a silver platter.
Our faculty-in-residence and his wife host a weekly get-together every Tuesday night. I was a little wary of joining in a conversation about different films with film majors: I was a kind of out of my element. But as soon as I walked up I was welcomed into the conversation like an old friend. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone, and more often than not, the results are fantastic.
3) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
I’m only three weeks into my classes and I already know I’m gonna need to hit up the tutoring center. Don’t deny yourself an A. Take advantage of the free tutoring; get together with some other students in your class and have a group study session; meet with your professor during their office hours. What you put into a class is what you’ll get out of it.
4) Respect your professors.
The people teaching your classes are there for a reason: they are radically passionate about the subject they’re teaching. Sure, Chemistry may not be your cup of tea, but your professor lives for it. You may wish you can avoid writing for the rest of your life, but to your professor, writing is their life. With that being said, pay attention to what they say. Put your phone away, whether you’re in class for 50 minutes, an hour and a half, or three hours. All they want is to give the knowledge they have to you. Be present.
5) Take care of your body.
If you’ve been keeping up with my articles, you will know that I was pretty sick at the very beginning of the school year. I do not want that to happen again, so I have trying to stay pretty proactive in keeping myself healthy. I don’t go crazy with the (unfortunately) delicious, bad-for-you foods, I take vitamins daily, and I work out. Hit up your on-campus fitness center when you can. I’ve never been one that’s big on strenuous exercise, but hey, it takes the guilt away when I eat an extra cookie at dinner.
It’s only been three weeks and I am learning so much about myself and the independence college brings. So much freedom can be daunting, and these first few weeks have definitely been a trial-and-error process, but I’m okay with that. This trial-and-error process will last for many weeks to come, but with trial-and-error also comes success. Freshman year ain’t even ready.
