The first week is back. It's a new year and a new term. New students are rolling up on campus thinking they are everything, soon to be put in their place. Old students are readying themselves for the long term ahead. One step closer to graduation.
This first week can have two outcomes.
First outcome: You leave the week feeling good about the term ahead. Your class schedule is all you could have hoped for, without those dreaded 8 AM classes or 6-8 PM's. Plenty of gaps or no gaps -- whichever you prefer. And, of course, you're done with class by noon on Friday. Your professors are known for barely believing in homework, and grading easy. Your classes are full of friends, but also good people to go to in a time of need. This week is leaving you excited and hopeful for the term. You are ready to face any challenges that this term will throw at you, and you are prepared to have the best term ever.
Anyone who has the first week like this, all I have for you is nothing. You need nothing more. You probably are going to have the best term ever. If you're a freshman, don't convince yourself they are all going to be like that. Even if you get two of those the things in that list, you are one of the luckiest people on campus. So, if your week left you hopeful and excited for the term, revel in it-- you are one of the lucky ones.
Second outcome: You leave the week defeated already. Your schedule sucks. You have class when you don't want to, especially on Friday. Your professors are already scaring you about what is to come to this term -- lots of homework and impossible tests. You usually leave class confused about what just went down, and it was only a review session on things you're supposed to know, but have long forgotten in the fog of time-off. On top of all that, you barely have friends in your classes and worst of all, you're the only girl in one of your classes. Not unexpected at an engineering school, but it still sucks. You are dreading the upcoming term, convinced it will the worst term yet. You're questioning dropping out and becoming a stripper. It's easier right?
For anyone with a first week like that, stay positive. Soon you'll fall into your groove, and things will start to look up. You'll find a way to make your schedule work for you, maybe you'll start to enjoy it (probably not a late class on Friday, but you never know). You'll make new friends in those lonely classes. You're going to have to study your butt off, but it will pay off in passing grades and decent test scores. So, if your first week left you broken, find a way to pick yourself back up and enjoy the term.
A first week can say a lot about how your term will go, only if you let it. You have the ability to take your awful week and turn it around. Life will surprise you; you just have to let it. If expect things to never get better then they won't. If you don't at least try to make things better then they won't ever get better. Take your bad week and let it inspire you to make the rest of your term better.
