As college students from around the country begin to return to their dorms and reoccupy the college towns they now live in, the reality is beginning to set in: school is back in session. After nearly six blissful weeks off for winter breaks, we college students are certainly not ready to return to the world of exams, papers, studying and responsibility. Nevertheless, the clock keeps ticking, and we are back at school! The experience can't be better told than by the exceptional cast of "Grey's Anatomy."
1. Denial
The first phase of going back to school happens before the break even ends. As we continue to savor each and every moment of our precious time off, we become irrational. Yes, we realize that there is only three days left of vacation, but we're not seeing how we don't have enough time to watch six movies, write a novel, start a six day juice cleanse, and take an overnight trip to Boston? Tell us as often as you want, but we are not going to listen.
2. Beginning classes
Going from the comfort of familiarity to a completely different setting is not fun. As college students, we do it each semester. We're returning to the same school, but assuming completely different schedules. We went from knowing everything there is to know about one subject to absolutely nothing in the next. It's easy to feel lost.
3. Having a professor who doesn't realize the extent of your greatness
With the start of new classes, comes the start of new professors. Professors who may not know you or how great you are. You have to prove yourself, again. With luck this will be easy, however oftentimes you come across a professor who has no interest in getting to know you. Do your best not to be upset by this, sometimes you just need to work for the grade.
4. Going back to dining hall food
After a month of home cooked meals and your favorite local eats, you're back eating the food from your dining hall. It's not an easy transition. On top of this, eating on a college campus makes eating healthy so much harder. Don't even mention eating in a dining hall with a food restriction. For now you'll just have to deal and dream about your first weekend at home.
5. Realizing you need a plan for your future
As we begin each semester, the fact that we need a serious plan for for our future grows more and more prominent. Gone are the days when you could take general education classes and get away with an easy A. It's time to buckle down and spend some time considering internships, relevant experience opportunities, and jobs.
6. Being too busy for friends
At some point during the semester, we're going to become so consumed with work that we're going to spend little to no time taking care of yourself, let alone hanging out with friends. As your schedule gets busier and busier, sometimes you need to take a break. While you shouldn't skimp on homework or studying, on occasion take a few minutes for yourself and hang out with your friends. It's worth it to just dance it out when life gets a little too crazy.
The beginning of a new semester isn't supposed to be easy, but with a good support system it is sure to be a success.
