Day one of classes has officially come to a close and you probably have grasped on to one significant truth. College is, to say the least, a bit much. That is to say, it's a lot to take in at one time. First hand, it appears to be a gloom and doom sort of situation for people like me who like to have all their ducks in a row all at once but, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
For those of you who have already completed your first day of classes, you understand the feeling of complete disorientation. "Wait, what's for homework again?" "How do I access that quiz online?" "When is that paper due?" All of which questions are probably buzzing through your mind as you meander from class to class. It's enough to give you a pretty good headache and a solid case of homesickness. After speaking with multiple students and faculty over the past week, I've gained a little insight about the helpful tips and tricks to get you through that initial transition to college life.
First of all, It's highly advisable to find an outlet. No matter what year of college you are, stress is inevitable. If you're away from home, petting your dog or raiding the pantry for mom's famous chocolate chip cookies are no longer a relaxation option. As bumming as this may be, there are plenty of new ways for you to find some relief in your new surroundings.
For some people that may be working out at the gym, taking a yoga class, running, joining a club, keeping a journal, coloring, or just taking occasional quick naps to refresh and reload. Regardless of what it may be, it's crucial for your health! Take advantage of campus opportunities and get involved. You never know until you try it!
Secondly, learn to be a self-advocate. You may have already noticed that the majority of your professors won't write your assignments on the board, they won't wait for you to finish writing before they switch to the next slide, and they won't give you cookie-cutter instructions for everything. It's up to you to let them know if you have a problem, a concern, or a question. Do what you need to do to be self-sufficient and proactive, whether that be getting extra help in writing workshops or tutoring sessions, or sitting down with your professor before and after class to obtain some clarity. Be your own beneficiary.
Thirdly, get to know websites/portals that your professor may be using to provide coursework. A lot of colleges and universities are taking paperless routes so it is important to have access to and understand the works in which your professors post assignments, due dates, syllabi, and grades. Spend some time playing with the sites, learn how to navigate them before hand, and make life a little easier for yourself that way.
Lastly, take everything one step at a time. Try not to worry about what's going to happen tomorrow or stress to highly about what went wrong today. Focus on one thing at a time before you move on to the next. You'll find that it's much easier to keep yourself paced and as organized as possible this way. If you have the opportunity to get ahead of the game, by all means, take advantage of that. Self-sufficiency is of the utmost importance in the college setting. It's advisable to keep an agenda, or a calendar, in order to lay out what you need to do each day so you aren't worried about forgetting anything or doing work late.
Although it is quite the adjustment, college is do-able. When you're in doubt about whether or not college is for you, take a moment to relax and remember why you're there in the first place. You are capable and you are qualified. It's uncomfortable and it's not familiar, but you're not going through all of those feelings and confusions alone. Be open to new people and most importantly, be open to a new version of yourself.
So for all of you who are going through that similar freshman freak out, here's the part worth noting: It really will be OK. Your professors are there to help you and to be a constant resource if you have questions or concerns. Additionally, you also have a variety of advisors and peer mentors to guide you along a path that may seem down-right confusing to you. Do not be afraid to ask them! And when you lose confidence, take a look at your parents, they did it without google, so what's stopping you?
