Dear Second Semester Me,
You did it. You survived your first semester. You learned how to adapt, how to learn, how to work hard but most importantly, how to live. You went from being told what to do every day of your life to being independent, and in charge of your own success. You managed to survive your first months of college successfully, and live to tell the tale. But here comes the hard part — its time to get ready for second semester. Please keep these things in mind as second semester draws nearer:
1. The Calculus homework that’s worth 115 points? Do it. Every little point counts in the end.
2. The dining hall food will continue to suck. Ask mom for some creative dining hall hacks or easy recipes. You need food to survive this semester.
3. You still don’t know how to study. Go ask for advice and learn how to best study for each of your classes.
4. Your teachers will most likely be cool if you go and talk to them. You never know; it can make or break your grade.
5. News flash: you actually need sleep. Okay, true, it is harder to monitor this knowing that no one will tell you to go to bed. Just try. You need sleep. Sleep is a good thing.
6. Take some time out to just have fun. Breathe. Everything will turn out fine, and the world will not end if you decide to go out on that Friday night, or indulge and stay up until 4 a.m. watching cheesy Disney Channel movies and eating popcorn.
7. That one bad grade on that one impossible test most likely means nothing. Don't let it keep you up at night. You will be able to make up for the lost points. Everyone has a bad day or two.
8. Don't let the small things get you down. So what if you didn't make that high honors list? Who's going to care if you don't look a certain way? Just keep your head high and live your life.
9. Your teachers are people too, which means that they have lives. If you have a question that needs to be answered, reach out to them; if they do not respond, you wait until they do. Don’t push and push for an answer. Try to figure it out for yourself.
10. Roommates/friends/everyone will get on your nerves. When this happens, do something to distract you from it. Go for a run, listen to music, take a nap, do whatever it takes to make you happy again.
11. Don’t forget to pray. Pray about everything — a successful test, a hard decision, missing your family. Take five minutes out of your day to have a conversation with God, and good things will come. He’s looking out for you.
12. Call your mom and FaceTime your brother. Don’t try to pull off the “I’m too busy” excuse either. Conversations with mom always seem to make any day a little brighter. Your brother will be super excited to tell you all about his day. It probably means he’s stalling on homework too, but that’s okay, right?
13. Just embrace college. You’re beginning the final stretch of a year of college, meaning you have half of a school year to make as many memories as possible, do stupid things, take that silly risk, and just be you.
Good luck, and don’t work too hard. You can do it. Whenever you need a reminder or a reason as to why you’re in this situation, or you’re unsure of what to do next, read this list. Hopefully it’ll help. Kick some butt this next semester.
Love,
First Semester Me
