How to finish this semester?

You NEED To Be Pumped Up At The Halfway Point In The Semester

I feel ya, 100%.

Victoria Tarkington
Victoria Tarkington Oct 31, 2018
7
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It is halfway through the fall semester. Normally this would be a time for celebration because you're that much closer to Christmas. And while you're definitely excited about the impending break, you're also just plain wore out because let's face it-this is the time of the semester that really sucks.

You're burnt out on school. You're tired of feeling stressed. You dream of a world where you have people waiting on your every need and you have no responsibilities that resemble schoolwork. Let me tell you-I feel you. I am right there with you. So here is the pump-up you need to finish the semester strong.

First of all, let me just say that I realize I live in a country where education is not only a privilege, it's almost expected of you. I know I am so incredibly lucky to be able to attend college, but that doesn't mean that it isn't stressful. But y'all, we can do this. Remember how you felt those first few days of school? How excited and ready to take on the semester you were? You can restore those feelings. Those feelings are good feelings. And here's how you're going to do it.

Don't do this by scaring yourself. Don't tell yourself that you better get it together or else you have no future. Instead, remind yourself how excited you are about that future and how succeeding in said class(es) will increase the likelihood of that dream coming to fruition. Reward yourself when you do well on a test by watching a Netflix episode, getting a manicure, or going out one night. Have the mentality that you can and you will succeed in the tough classes (and the easier ones too for that matter). These positive thoughts will pay off in the long run.

So I know you are all wishing your worries and struggles away at this point in the semester, but I promise you that the work you put in now will pay off in huge dividends later on down the road. When you see that letter grade that is higher than the one you were shooting for. When you receive a scholarship that is possible due to the grade point average you now have as a result of doing well in that class. So do well, my fellow students. School is difficult, stressful, challenging, and intimidating all rolled into one. But if you keep on pushing, even at this point in the semester, it is so worth it in the end. Keep fighting my fellow students. Your future self with your dream job will thank you.

Victoria Tarkington
Victoria Tarkington Oct 31, 2018
At University of Arkansas

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Dear Mom and Dad, You Don't Understand What College Is Actually Like In The 21st Century

I can skip class. I can leave early, and I can show up late. But, ya see, I am not doing that.
Kate Moore
Kate Moore Feb 28, 2018
35797
views

College is not what you think it is. I am not sitting in a classroom for six hours listening to a professor speak about Shakespeare and the WW2.

I am not given homework assignments every night and told to hand them in next class.

I do not know my daily grade for each of the five classes I am taking, and I don't know if my professor even knows my name.

College today is a ton different than how it was 20+ years ago.

I go to class for about maybe three hours a day. Most of my time working on "college" is spent outside of the classroom. I am the one responsible for remembering my homework and when my ten-page essay is due.

I can skip class. I can leave early, and I can show up late. But, ya see, I am not doing that. I am a responsible person, even if you do not think I am.

I do get up every morning and drive myself to class. I do care about my assignments, grades, my degree, and my career.

I spend a lot of time on campus having conversations with my friends and relaxing outside.

I am sick of older generations thinking that us millennials are lazy, unmotivated, and ungrateful. While I am sure there are some who take things for granted, most of us paying to get a degree actually do give a s**t about our work ethic.

Dear mom and dad, I do care about my future and I am more than just a millennial looking to just get by.

Cover Image Credit: Kaitlyn Moore
Kate Moore
Kate Moore Feb 28, 2018
At University of Connecticut

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How To Stay Mentally Healthy In College

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health.

Emily Janssen
Emily Janssen Jun 10, 2019
527
views

Staying healthy in college seems really, really hard to do. Classes, friends, clubs, and the whole fact of living by yourself can create a lot of stress and anxiety. Most students, and people in general, don't really know how to deal with stress or how to take care of themselves mentally, leading to unhealthy behaviors physically and mentally. If you don't take care of your mental health, your physical health will suffer eventually. Here are a few tips and tricks to help take care of your mental health:

1. Eat a well-balanced diet

Eating fruits, vegetables, grains, and other healthy foods will help you feel more energized and motivated. Most people associate eating a balanced diet as beneficial for your physical health, but it is just as important for your mental health.

2. Keep a journal and write in it daily

Writing can be one of the most relaxing and stress-relieving things you can do for yourself. Writing down the issues you are struggling with or the problems you are encountering in your life on a piece of paper can help you relax and take a step back from that stress.

3. Do something that brings you joy

Take some time to do something that brings you joy and happiness! It can be really easy to forget about this when you are running around with your busy schedule but make some time to do something you enjoy. Whether it be dancing, writing, coloring, or even running, make some time for yourself.

4. Give thanks

Keeping a gratitude log — writing what brings you joy and happiness — helps to keep you positively minded, which leads to you becoming mentally healthy. Try to write down three things that brought you joy or made you smile from your day.

5. Smile and laugh

Experts say that smiling and laughing help improve your mental health. Not only is it fun to laugh, but laughing also helps you burn calories! There's a reason why smiling and laughing are often associated with happiness and joyful thoughts.

6. Exercise

Staying active and doing exercises that energize your body will help release endorphins and serotonin, which both act as a natural antidepressant. Keeping an active lifestyle will help you stay happy!

7. Talk out your problems

All of us deal with stress and have problems from time to time. The easiest and probably most beneficial way to deal with this stress and anxiety is to talk it out with a close friend, family member, or even a counselor.

8. See a counselor, peer mentor, or psychologist

Just like it was stated in the previous point, it is beneficial to talk out your problems with a counselor. We all have issues, and it is OK to ask for help.

Keeping up your mental health in college can be a struggle, and it may be hard to even admit you are not mentally healthy. This is OK; you are not alone. If you want to see a psychologist or would like to learn more about mental health, there are resources. You can also take a self-assessment of your mental health. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Emily Janssen
Emily Janssen Jun 10, 2019
At Miami University

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