School has started and the hustle and bustle that accompanies each new semester has officially begun. The first few weeks of school are typically overbooked, overwhelming, and just plain exhausting. There always seems to be a million social events going on, and if you're anything like me, you feel like you need to go to every. single. one.
If I have learned one thing about myself in college, it is that I am an over-committer. I take on more responsibilities than I should and spend my time stressing about how I am ever going to get it all done. I have begrudgingly come to realize that I love people and I really, really hate saying no. I am incredibly stubborn, so I can't stand the thought of not being able to handle something. However, as I have gotten older and made it through a few years of college, I now have a better grasp on the importance of time-management and prioritizing. While the learning process has been slow, I am finally beginning to realize that sometimes I just have to say no. I can't possibly be involved in every single activity that I want to be. As much as I want to do everything and be involved in everything, I just can't do it. Simple as that. There aren't enough hours in the day.
Basically, this means that I have had to take the activities and extracurriculars that I am most passionate about, and spend my time focusing more on those things and less on other things. I have discovered that this actually produces more positive results, because I am not stretched so thin all of the time.
And on top of that, I have to constantly work hard to remember the absolute most important reason I am in college: to further my education. I think it can be so easy to lose sight of that notion, especially when we get caught up in how fun college is. But remember, you or your parents are probably paying a lot of money for you to go to college and become a more intelligent and more well-rounded person. So while being involved in social activities is a part of that, it can't overshadow your schooling.
My advice to everyone, and new students in particular, is to take a few weeks to figure out what works best for you. Maybe you can handle three big commitments such as a social club or leadership group, or maybe you can just handle one. That is totally fine, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just do what you need to do and never let anyone pressure you into taking on more than you can handle. If you get overwhelmed, ask for help or cut back on the social activities until you get back on track. College is an amazing experience, so have fun while always remembering your purpose.
