College hit me like a ton of bricks. I went from a smooth-sailing high school career to a rigorous college career.
Freshman year was difficult. Finding a balance between work, school work, friends and family was by far the most challenging. Now, as a sophomore, I've learned how to adjust to all of the constant change college brings.
1. You Don't Have To Have It "All" Together
The biggest misconception I found was that I always felt like I had to have it "together". With a full time job, a social life, family and friends to tend to, how would I manage all of it? Adjusting to all of these new, different changes takes time and that was something I failed to realize. As I got further on into the semester, I became more easily overwhelmed. Panic attacks and breakdowns happened often and I started questioned if I could do this. The answer is you can. Everything takes time. Learning time management takes time. Eventually juggling everything will become a breeze and multi-tasking will become second nature.
2. Get It Done
I was always so quick to push an assignment off until last minute. If you know you have an assignment due and a full schedule for the week ahead, don't push it off! I can't emphasize this enough. This was by far my biggest mistake. It'd be a beautiful day outside and I'd be anxious to leave campus and grab coffee with friends or hangout outside in the quad; don't cave into the pressure! "Tomorrow night I'll do it" I'd say. Tomorrow night would come, new plans would pop up and my school work would suffer. Get the assignment done! It will clear your conscious, leave you with less stress and allot you more time for other activities.
3. Make "You" Time
Everyone needs a day off to relax and clear their mind. After you map out your week with assignments and any other events you have planned, set up a day with a few hours to yourself. Take a drive down to the beach, sit by the water, read a book, listen to music, etc. Enjoy the peace and quiet- let your mind rest. With so many constant stresses, your mind and body both need a break. Giving yourself that alone time will bring you back to a sense of stability. If you're always overwhelmed and busy, you won't have the time nor the energy to pay attention to your needs. You matter! Make yourself a priority alongside all of the other things you have going on.
4. Get Involved
After you set up a rhythm to your schedule, try to get involved on campus. During High School I wasn't involved in anything so when I got to college I decided to make some changes. Do some research, what does your school have to offer? Clubs, sports, greek life? What interests you? Attend club meetings for things you feel you could potentially be interested in, you never know what could happen. I started off as an ordinary club member of an organization I'm involved with on campus and now I'm my chapter's Vice President!
5. Utilize All Of Your Time
With weekdays packed with school, my only availability at work would be the weekends. I'd be stressed and anxious about a test coming up but would always leave the studying for when I got home late at night. You can prevent this by bringing your school work with you. Make flash cards and study the material on your break. Repetition is key and studying little by little helps the brain remember it more easily. During my freshman year, I was so overwhelmed that any free time I had I automatically used it for myself. I could flip through social media for hours but I wasn't actually being productive or getting anything done. Taking advantage of all the extra time you have is essential — make the most of your time and college career.
Freshman year taught me so much. Going in not knowing what to expect, I left with so much new knowledge. It's so important to learn from your mistakes and develop from them. I'm beyond ready to have a kick-ass semester!
