Whether you’re a new student or an upperclassman, adjusting to being on campus this Fall can be really stressful. You just had a relaxing summer, and now you have to get used to living in a new dorm and slogging through an oppressive workload. Here are some tips on keeping your cool and making the transition into the new school year a smooth one:
Escape the Bubble: Never underestimate the power of getting off campus. Even if you’re just grabbing froyo at Amherst’s very own new Go Berry, or seeing a movie at Hampshire mall with a friend, it’s good to remind yourself that a world exists outside of that paper you’ve been working on nonstop and the people you see every single day on the way to class. Amherst is such a small school that it can really start to feel claustrophobic. Getting off campus for a few hours is like taking in a massive breath of fresh air.
Don’t Stalk Old Friends on Facebook: If you’re feeling nostalgic about the time you spent with your high school friends this summer, it might be tempting to stalk them on Facebook. Particularly if you’re not feeling totally adjusted to being at school yet, resist this urge. I remember looking at my high school friends’ profiles freshman year and thinking that they were all having more fun at college than I was. What I forgot is that no one posts on facebook about missing home, or puts up pictures of herself sitting in her room alone. If you think it looks like your friends are having the times of their lives in college, chances are they think the same thing when they look at your Facebook profile. So keep the stalking to a minimum for a while, because comparing your college experience to your friends’ facebook pictures will probably only be a downer.
Don’t Skype Your Pets: It’s a huge relief to finally escape your parents’ watchful eyes and prying questions every time you come home past ten, but you still miss hearing your dog panting at the foot of your bed every night. For many of us, our pets are the part of home most worth missing. While skyping your parents will just remind you how glad you are to be miles and miles away, skyping Fluffy or Roscoe might actually make you feel homesick, so keep the barking conversations to a minimum.
Remember: Even if you didn’t get the grade you wanted on your first paper, or the party scene doesn’t seem as fun as it did last year, the first month of school doesn’t dictate what the rest of the year will be like. Give yourself time to get into (or back into) the swing of things. This year is going to be amazing.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Amherst chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.