As my first semester of college comes to a rapid close, I am confronted with the impending doom of finals (bum bum bummm). Between stacks of study guides and open textbooks, I have lost part of my excitement and love for college. I have found myself skipping much-needed time with my friends in order to sit in the dimly lit library hunched over my study materials. It was not until I looked around the empty library on a Friday afternoon that I realized my habits needed to change. My constant procrastination during the semester has led me to become frantic when finals rolled around. Thus, began my endeavors to break old habits before they broke me.
My biggest enemy? Procrastination. I hopped on the train of college. However, my first stop was procrastination station. College is all about balancing and maintaining the aspects of life most important to you. My mom always taught me to prioritize my life based on this unique order:
1. Faith
2. Family
3. School
Deciding which factors of your life that fall within these various boundaries is a monster in itself. I found myself considering my friends as family and prioritizing them before my school work. Staying up late at night with your friends can create some of the best memories of college. However, there are certain times where it is best to leave and grab some sleep or complete your homework. Eliminate your "FOMO" ("Fear Of Missing Out") and you are golden in getting back on the path to success. Your friends will always be there when you are done with your work.
Learning to say "no" was another issue that caused me to dig deeper and deeper into procrastination. College students understand the idea that real life and work is around the corner and that their years of no responsibilities are coming to a close. The stress of receiving the proper, well-paying job weighs heavily on the shoulders of every student. Because of this, college students are quick to pile on extracurricular activities and job opportunities onto their already hectic school schedule. This often leads to many tired students who continuously run from activity to activity without any time to breath. Prioritize the clubs and activities you are a part of based on these three rules:
1. Carry on one club that you thoroughly enjoyed in high school. For example, if you were a member of a language club, find a similar club in college.
2. Become a member of a club that correlates with your major. Biology major with a pre-med track? Join Pre-med club! This helps you to learn more about your major and future career field all while making connections with your professors and fellow classmates outside the classroom.
3. Choose a club you have never tried before. College is all about learning and experiencing new opportunities. Jump into campus life by being a part of a club your interested in.
Balancing the various aspects of college life can be a very difficult task. In the end, however, your health and well being is the most important part of your life. Be kind to yourself by not over-stressing and carrying too many responsibilities. College is all about having fun, making memories, and learning about yourself. Get out there and explore!
