First semester was a lot of things, but perfect wasn’t one of them. Full of trying new things, taking losses, and learning from our mistakes, the first semester shows us that we definitely mess up sometimes. So, as our syllabus week comes to an end and we begin our second semesters, let us reflect on 10 mistakes NOT to make again this semester.

1. Partying too much

We’d all be lying if we said that we didn't party too much last semester. An excess of partying can mess with our studies, our livers, and occasionally, our dignity. So it doesn't hurt to cut down a little or try and set a better limit for ourselves.

2. Ignoring required readings/assignments

For the majority of our lives, we’ve been able to get by just fine without doing some of the required work for class. But now, things have changed. However boring and lengthy they are, we have to actually start reading the assigned material if we want to pass.

3. Skipping class

Skipping class is all too easy to do, so a lot of us are guilty of this. With factors such as exhaustion, irresponsibility, and extreme FOMO, we convince ourselves that we have every reason to miss “just this one time.”

4. Avoiding the gym

We all love the feeling we get when we workout on a normal basis, but when professors begin assigning more homework and sleep starts slipping away, we seem to forget about the endorphin rush. Do yourself a favor and take a few times out of your week to allow your body that high.

5. Replacing sleep with coffee

Everyone can relate to the lack of sleep that results from school and other obligations in our lives. We become so accustomed to running on empty that we actually view coffee or other liquid energizes as a replacement for sleep. Instead of denying your body of rest, just work on better time management so you’re not staying up until 3AM every night finishing an assignment.

6. Putting family second

A big fault that most of us unknowingly commit is not prioritizing family. With all of the exciting things going on around us, it becomes easy to lose sight of what is really important. Even when you have a million things to get done and think you can’t possibly make time for them, do it anyways.

7. Setting unrealistic standards for yourself

When you do this, you are acting as your own worst enemy. This time in our lives is hard enough as it is, so putting too much pressure on yourself won’t help anything. After all, we come across too many people in life trying to tear us down for ourselves to be one of them.

8. Relying on affection from others to make you happy

Another big thing a lot of people don’t like to admit doing is focusing too much on having a “bae” or significant other. It’s not uncommon to see people, especially at this age, rely on the affection and attention from someone they have a romantic interest in to make them feel wholesome.

9. Taking your true friends for granted

Everyone has different groups of friends. Greek friends, school friends, childhood friends, etc. No matter which ones you prefer, don’t forget to appreciate the ones that were there for you when you needed them most. Because at the end of the day, those are the people that you don’t want to lose.

10. Forgetting to be grateful

It’s not uncommon that we forget to realize all we have to be thankful for. We get so caught up in all that is going wrong or what could be better, that we forget to look around us and see what is going good. Maybe this is the semester we appreciate life, and even the mistakes we make in it.