1. Maintain a schedule that will work for you
Keeping a planner and writing things down has saved my life in so many ways. With everything going on around campus and in your personal life, it can be easy to forget that very important assignment for your least favorite class.
Find a very nice and cheap planner at Marshalls and always keep it in your backpack and purse, write down homework, write down everything. I promise, it will save you in the long run.
2. It is okay to not always have yourself together
With everything going on, it is alright not to always be 100 percent all the time. From running from class to class, going to work, relationships, family, and extracurricular activities, no one has time to always have on an amazing outfit or do a full face of makeup.
Sometimes you wear the clothes you fell asleep in to class the next day because you were studying so hard; it is perfectly fine. Life happens; just remember to take it one step at a time.
3. It is alright to say “no.”
You do not have to do anything you do not want to do. I can recall plenty of times that I said yes to doing things and going to places I did not want to go to just because people asked me to.
It became draining and I would get so mad at myself for putting myself in that situation in the first place when all I had to do was put my big girl pants on and say no, nope, nah, no thanks. There are multiple ways to say it so choose any one you like.
4. Get help
When there is an assignment you are struggling on and you have tried all that you can, swallow your pride and get help, even if that means going to your professor’s office hours, asking questions in class, or getting a tutor.
Use those resources which are designed to help you. It will help you achieve what you are trying to accomplish and will save you stress if you get the questions answered that have been lingering in your head for the longest.
5. Don’t just get the degree but get the knowledge
Of course get the degree, but actually pay attention. Do not just go through the motions of studying and not retaining any information. Join clubs that surround your major so you can actually be involved and know what is going on when it comes to internships and getting jobs.
6. Take a break
All that studying, I know your brain is in complete overload. I know you are tired and have been working hard. Do not pull all nighters; you need rest so that your brain can retain all that you learned.
Watch an episode after two hours of full studying. Have a friend come over to see you and quiz you. Take a power nap. Go get food across campus so you can stretch, think of something else and get some fresh air. Always take study breaks, your brain will thank you, trust me.
7. Have fun
College is the time where you figure out who you are and who you are becoming as a person. Make friends, join clubs, and go to parties.
It is true that school comes first but always makes time to have fun. It gives you a sense of who you are outside of academics. Step outside your comfort zone, and enjoy what college has to offer.
Remember that college is what you make it so make the most of it. Take advantage of what these four years have to offer because they go by pretty fast and you will wonder where the time went.
I hope you enjoy your college experience and regret nothing that you have done, learned, and what you will continue to learn throughout life. Take it with you from college and continue to grow.