After a much needed winter break, it’s time again to start a new semester and welcome in the New Year. We’ll have a new load of classes, new school supplies and our New Year's resolutions in hand as we make the trip back to Purdue. It feels just like yesterday when we were rolling into school for the fall semester and here we are half way into the year. We should be proud of ourselves for getting through the fall semester, even if it at times, it seemed like we weren’t going to make it. Even though last semester was great, here are 5 reasons why we can make this semester even better.    

1. You have a blank slate. 

No matter how you spent your winter break, you know you’re happy to be back and it’s refreshing to know that this time around, you have time to finally get it right. Whether your only a freshman and have many semesters ahead of you or you’re a senior and nearing the finish line, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be your best semester at Purdue yet.   

2. Get that 4.0 you’ve always wanted.

Maybe last semester you didn’t do so hot in the grades department or maybe you had your best semester yet. Either way, you now have the opportunity to raise that GPA. Even if you have your hardest load yet, it’s still possible with the help of your professors, TA’s, SI sessions and tutors. Just make sure that this semester you’ll put in that extra effort to pull out the grades you want.   

3. You have time to get even more involved. 
College isn’t all about grades. Maybe this semester, you can join that club you’ve always been meaning to join but never had enough time. (Quidditch anyone?) Or you can become more involved in your sorority or fraternity by running for an officer position, helping out on committees or participating more in philanthropies. Just becoming even a little more involved can help you become a better person in the long run and hey, it will always look good on your resume.   

4. You’re pretty much an expert already.

There are things that you learn each semester, so by the end of your time here at Purdue, you’re practically an expert on what it means to be a successful college student. You know exactly how to mix your favorite den pop, all the right places to study and all the right bars to reward that studying at the end of the week. Keep up the good work and keep adding to that list of yours, it will only prove to be more helpful as time goes on.      

5. It’s all about that balance.

As you may have learned in your time here already, being successful at school is all about balance. You have to learn how to balance school, friends and clubs. So this semester, take the time breathe in deep and balance your time. Start small and work your way up. Maybe try telling yourself that you’re going to devote some time to studying before letting yourself go out. Every little bit helps keep you sane.   

In the future, may we have our fair share of nights full of studying and also nights full of fun. As we enter the New Year a little older and a little wiser, it’s important to remember that college will be over before we know it. So let’s not forget that we are young and should take full advantage of the time we have left because we all know it goes by way too fast. Here’s to another great semester and an even greater year; let’s enjoy it while we can.