Well guys, it's getting to be that time again. The time we've all been dreading. Yeah, I know, it snuck up on me as well. But, now that it's almost here, there isn't really much left that we can do about it except make peace with the simple, yet saddening, truth that summer has finally reached its end and the new school year is about to begin. Being a second year at my college is definitely going to be something I'll have to adjust to. I'm now only two years away from actually having to be an adult in the real world--once I've gotten my Master's Degree, of course, for all of you parents out there reading this--and it's starting to hit me a little bit. But this week's article isn't about me--I know, right? About time!--it's about those of you that are just starting out and have no idea of what to expect. As an upper class-man, it's my civic duty to guide you all on the right path, and there's no greater way of doing that than by giving some preparation advice that's entirely based on my own experiences. In conclusion...I guess this article will be about me after all, just a little bit, anyway.
1.Early to Order and Early to Arrive, Makes a Student Less Cranky, Crazy and Stressed
When it comes to ordering your textbooks, trust me when I say to get on it as SOON AS POSSIBLE! I honestly can't stress that enough,especially after all the times I've had to wait order my textbooks and then have to spend days in my classes either bumming a book off of one of my classmates, or having to ask my professor for an extension on homework because I wasn't able to get them in time. It makes all the difference in the world if you get the textbooks as soon as they become available to you--preferably when your only way of getting them ISN'T flaky as heck and refusing to tell you what you need. Not that I'm pointing fingers, or anything.
2. A Little Visit Never Killed Nobody
Getting ready for college is rough, and more often than not, it can be really stressful trying to figure out what all to bring. That's why it's really important to actually visit the room you'll be staying in sometime before move-in day. That way, you can gauge what all you can bring based on the size of the room you've been assigned. I'm REALLY glad I took this advice this year--those of you at my college that I've seen since my last visit know exactly what I mean--otherwise, things would not have gone so smoothly.
3. People are Annoying, but Crowds of them are Far Worse
Following up on advice piece number two: get your stuff taken care of way ahead of time so you don't have to deal with all of the others that'd be moving in at the same time as you. There is nothing more stressful than trying to move into a space and have dozens of people in front of you trying to do the same thing. Do what I did this year, and get there earlier than anyone else--a few days earlier, even, if you can--and get all of your essentials into the building before any traffic can build up.
4. Shop to the Death
As soon as you start seeing those annoying "Back to School" commercials, start shopping. Most people, especially college kids, tend to save their supply shopping for last, figuring that it's less important. But the truth is, it has to be the most important. Get what you need early and you'll not only be able to cross it off your list, but you'll also be free to do other important things, like procrastinate in peace. But when I say supply shopping, I don't just mean shopping for folders, notebooks, calculators and pens. I'm saying to start stocking up on food and snacks as well. Snacks might actually be the most important thing to get. With all of the stress you'll be facing during the year, you'll need as much fuel as you can get your hands on, so get it early and while it's on sale!
5. Thank Your Parents (No, Seriously! DO it!)
At the end of the day, we as students don't really contribute much when school starts up again (well, maybe some do, but definitely not all). As much as we complain about how tiresome it is to be dragged from store to store and having to pack up once everything has been purchased, the reality is that we didn't really do a thing aside from simply showing up. It's your parents that are the real heroes in all of this. They've been the ones buying the things we needed while all we did was whine and pout. Not only did they refrain from slapping the living daylights out of us, they were also more than willing to sacrifice their hard-earned cash to make sure everything would be okay for us. Some of us are so focused on ourselves and what we'd rather be doing, that we don't even realize it until the very end, when we're all settled in and are saying our goodbyes. Don't be that kid that waits until the last minute. Instead, be the one that's always thankful and expresses it regularly. You're their kid, and they've just made a huge investment in your higher learning so you'd be able to better yourself and make it big. They show you how much they care, so be sure to do the same for them.
