Starting the next semester, plenty of things change, and plenty of things stay the same. New challenges must be faced from the start, and getting back into the swing of things can sometimes be harder said than done. Spring semester is important. For many of us in college, it can make or break our whole year.

Grades

The imprint we leave from our final grades leaves an impression on not only yourself but to whoever you share your grades with as well. Looking back at that year whatever year it is, your final spring grades typically set the tone of how you remember that year academically.Was your freshman year bad? Did you do well sophomore year? How about junior and senior? These grades are a benchmark for improvement in the next year, as well as for an overall basis for the year to year evaluation.

Relationships

With that being said, the spring semester is also the most important for building relationships. Half the reason you went to college was for the experience, right? Maybe you didn’t know your neighbors that much first semester. Did you have many friends in class? Do you eat alone often? Do you go out with other people? Relationships are an extremely aspect of the college life. Remember when you first were admitted into college? I’m sure someone once told you that many of your best friends you will meet in college. Well, it’s true, take that into account.

Personal Goals

The third most important thing about the spring semester is simply doing things for you. Though I just talked about relationships, that is also something you do for you, for personal satisfaction. Many go into the spring semester with a New Year’s resolution or seeking to change themselves in some way shape or form. This is good. But many abandon these goals or self-improvements within the first month or so, once the homework and social aspects start to take over. I’m telling you, do not give up on those goals, or that one goal that you especially need to achieve. You will thank yourself later for this.

I’ve heard time and time again from parents and friends and family, that they wish they had got out more in college. I also hear, from many people, that they wish they focused more on grades while in college. So, as you are going into this next semester, I advise simply keeping these thoughts in the back of your head. All of these aspects are simply just pieces of the larger puzzle.

Enjoy your spring semester,

Brandon Dean