Welcome to some of the best years of your life! Your experiences, both in and out of the classroom, will completely broaden your perspective. College is life changing. It can also be overwhelming at times. Over the past couple of years I have learned some pretty valuable lessons.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Go to School Events/Get Involved

Regardless if you are a first year student or a senior, getting involved on campus will enhance your college experience. It is a great way to connect with new people and develop new interests. Whenever I am able to go to events on campus I find it strengthens my connection with my college.

Be Present

Be present in every aspect of your college life. Try to learn as much as you can. Go on adventures. Enjoy the moment. Don’t get caught up in planning so much for the future, you don’t enjoy the present.

Take Classes Out Of Your Major

I used to get so frustrated with the gen ed (general education) courses I was required to take. Now that all of my classes on my schedule are for my major, I find myself wishing I could take more classes outside of my major. Some of the courses I took during my first two years in college completely altered my perspective on life. Take advantage of the time you have to take classes outside of your major and comfort zone during the first couple of years in college.

Get Help Early

With a full load of college classes and other obligations, there may be a time where you may struggle with certain courses. Go to your professor’s office hours. Take your paper to the writing center. Get help from math tutors at the Learning Resource Center. Don’t wait until the end of the semester to get help.

Learn How to Balance

College is basically a huge balancing game. Learning how to balance school, work and a social life is not a simple task. You may get overwhelmed. Even going into my junior year of college I still struggle with balancing everything I need and want to do. Remember to schedule time for yourself.