And just like that Summer 2016 comes to an end. For me that means packing up my life and heading back to school. It is crazy to think how fast it all goes by, especially now as I find myself going into my junior year of college. Junior year. Wow. It really is hard for me to believe that I am halfway through college and the “real world” is only two years away.
Anywho... before I get into this article I thought I would share a little about myself. My name is Christiana. I am a junior at North Carolina State University where I am pursuing a degree in Communication Media and a minor in Spanish. I love to travel, take photos, and drink coffee like many other 20 year olds in college. I am fascinated with the world around me and want to explore as much of it as I can. Oh, and one more important fact about myself: I LOVE to tell stories. So I guess it makes sense that I find myself writing for an online media publication like Odyssey where I get to tell stories every week!
Since I have been at this college thing for two years now I have a little more wisdom. I have made mistakes, and I have learned from them. So here is a list of things I am going to do this semester to make the most of each and every moment!
1. Go to class & learn as much as you can.
It is important to remember that a college education is a privilege and not a luxury that everyone else gets to have. It’s easy to skip a class and fall behind in school, but in the end it does not do much good for anyone.
2. Stop watching so much Netflix.
Okay, so I know I’m not the only one who is guilty of this. I love How I Met Your Mother and Friends as much as the next college student but sitting in my room for 4 hours binging a show does not really gain anything. Instead try reading a book, it is a great way to enrich the mind. Another great alternative is to go out and do something with a group of friends. I personally love to play just about any type of team sport – it’s a great way to stay active, get to know people, and most importantly have fun!
3. Get involved and meet as many people as you can.
This is something I did last semester that really changed everything for me. Back in January I was transferring universities and wanted to get plugged in at my new school as soon as possible. So I joined clubs, went to events, and tried many different activities. At NC State there are 696 different clubs and organizations- surely there is one club out of such a large list where someone can enjoy and get involved with – I know I did. Getting involved helped me make new friends and meet so many different people!
4. Take time for yourself.
College can get crazy and very busy. I know for me I have not even started classes and I am already finding my planner filled with various “To Do” lists. Especially since I am involved in various clubs and activities on campus I am with people a lot of the time. While I love to spend my time with others, it is also very important I remember to do something for myself. Whether that be taking a yoga class, reading a book, or maybe a nap. It is great way to stay refreshed and avoid social burnout.
5. Don’t take everything so seriously.
At the end of the day life is short and college is even shorter. So spending your time constantly worrying about what everyone else thinks is truly a waste of time. I find that life is much more enjoyable when I just be myself, not being afraid to laugh at myself when I mess up or do something clumsy.
So I end this article hopeful and excited for my junior year. College isn’t over yet – and I plan on taking full advantage of all of the time I have left!
