It's time to go back to school, but I'm not doing it this year and that feels REALLY weird. Graduating has meant a lot of change, and one of the biggest ones this month has been adjusting to the idea that I won't be going back to my home away from home. However, not having to pack up my life and book plane tickets and wonder how we are going to pay for tuition this year has left me a lot of time to reflect. So here are some tips to current college students who are so anxious for graduation!
1. Try not to rush through this experience.
I know it sounds cliche, but don't rush your way through college. Have fun while you're there. Meet the new people. Join the clubs. Get involved in the community of the college and the surrounding town. I know it's the same thing you hear from everyone, and there's a reason for that. IT'S TRUE! While it may be stressful now and you feel like you have a mountain of work piled on top of you, make sure you really enjoy the time while you have it. Life doesn't really get easier once you graduate, so make sure you take advantage of the time you have in college.
2. Have FUN!
Yes, you should study for your finals. Yes, you should do your homework. And yes, you should go to classes. But you also need to have a good time! If you've studied for that test for an hour and a half already and your friends want you to come watch the baseball game with them, GO! If your classes are over for the day and your choices are watch that new comedy special or write a paper that isn't due until next week, watch the funny thing! You need to have fun while you're in college. If you just bury your head in the books and never get up and take time to have fun, you will make yourself crazy.
3. Take a "Mental Health Day" every once in a while.
We all know there are some days where you feel like you're ahead, on track, and behind all at once. You understand everything in class and you are already through two edited drafts of that paper that's due next week, but you're really nervous about the test at the end of the unit because you feel like the information slides right out of your head as soon as you leave the safety of the classroom. You're also dealing with the drama that comes naturally when you're around other people, and maybe you've also had to work for the last three days and this is your only day off for the next week. Sound familiar? This is when you need to take what many refer to as a "mental health day," a day for yourself where you get away from all of the stress and do something good for yourself. That may be burrowing in your room and doing nothing but watching Netflix, eating popcorn, and reading your favorite book all day. It may be getting out on a day trip to a nearby lake or park or other landmark and just enjoying a day away from all of the crazy that happens at school.
Obviously this isn't something I suggest doing regularly. You still have to go to your classes, you still have to go to work, and you still have to pretend to be a fully functioning individual. But every once in a while, when it wouldn't mean dodging any important responsibilities (only pushing a few things off a few hours), it is important to take some time for yourself (and maybe a few friends) to put yourself in a happy frame of mind to tackle the rest of the semester.
4. GO TO CLASS!
So we've covered the need to have fun and enjoy yourself, but you DO still need to go to class. There is a lot you are paying for when you go to school, but your classes are the majority of it. They are important. You will learn from them more than you think you will. Do everything you can to get the most you can out of your classes. Go to every session you can (we all know there are a few times when you just can't). Go to office hours with your professor to see what you can improve on or if you have any questions. Develop friendships with your classmates so that you have study buddies for tests. Get someone's number so that you can get notes, assignments, etc. if you DO have to miss a class.
College is about having fun and learning to balance responsibility and your social life. While you have to make sure that you keep up with classes enough to at least not get put on academic probation, you also need to have some fun. Go to class and do the work. Get the help in those classes if you need it. Study in whatever way you need to so that you pass your classes. But also go out to dinner with your friends. Do study groups where you really just end up talking for hours and laughing so hard you can't actually study. Watch Netflix and curl up in your blanket fort with a pint of Ben and Jerry's just because you can. This is your time to learn how to balance the fun you want to have with the things you need to do to continue being a functioning adult. Use it to your advantage so that you can feel better prepared when you do graduate.
