Being the high-school class of 2020, my transition into college was very different. Having almost two years of schooling fully online, it was hard to transition back into in-person testing and classes. Figuring everything out this semester has been overwhelming for many people. Thus, I think it is important for all of us to look back and reflect on what we would change, do better at, or repeat. What worked for you and what didn’t? What did you learn from this change and tough adjustment? Here are some things you should think about to debrief this holiday break:
- Your Meals
A lot of students had to learn how to cook and sustain themselves independently, especially those living in apartments. Most times, I am guilty myself, we skip meals easily due to busy schedules or simply being drained. Moreover, motivation to cook and prepare meals slowly decreases throughout the semester and you feel as if you’re running out of food ideas. Think back to what meals you enjoyed making, which ones took the least amount of time to make, what were the staple groceries you needed, and did you make sure to space out time to eat three meals a day. After doing this, make a google doc with your favorite food ideas for each category breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. In each category make a section to list quick food ideas that you can grab and go while making another section with ideas for proper filling meals. Then, add a list of staple groceries you want to keep in your pantry always. Trust me, this will help you in the next coming semesters!
- Your Sleep Schedule
I know this is hard to stay track of and there will definitely be days where you are forced to stay up, however, look back and think about which days you felt most productive, active, stress-free, and happy. What was your schedule like that day? How did you space out your day? I realized that studying at home only worked for short study sessions. If I wanted to get through a huge chunk of material I needed to be out of the house. I also learned that I preferred to stay at the library right after my last class of the day or in between classes until nighttime (I made sure to either eat before going or take a break to go eat and come back). Once it reached about 10 pm – 10:30 pm, depending on the workload it fluctuated, I went home, put all my work away for the day, spent self-time, and slept before midnight.
- Extra-Curricular Activities
I have a lot of very distinct interests which made me join too many student groups. I was interested in all of them, however, they didn’t all fit my schedule or I just had too much on my plate. It is important to know your boundaries and look back at what you enjoyed and what you did not feel was worth it. Pick a couple of meaningful experiences that you genuinely enjoyed going to and contributed most to. Most times 2-4 experiences are more than enough to show you are a well-rounded student while also being manageable.
- Study Environment
Being in-person, it is so important to know what environment best works for you. Where do you get most work done peacefully? Are you a quiet room studier or do you prefer a cafe atmosphere? Also, think about what was your favorite spot to study on-campus or even off-campus.
- Friends and Family
Friends and family are so important to maintain a healthy balance. However, it is important to surround yourself with people who make you the best version of yourself and make you feel happy. Think back and recognize which people distracted you, which people did you feel productive working with, which people peer-pressured you, which people encouraged you, and which people used or made you feel insecure. Being able to distinguish these will be important for choosing the people around you for the rest of college!
- Campus, Teachers, Advisors, Campus Resources
Lastly, think back to what you liked about campus best. Where did you enjoy going for fun, which teachers should you maintain connections with, did you regularly check-i with an advisor and did that help, did you try to connect with mentors who you could ask for help, and did you take care of your mental health and use CAPs resources or healthcare resources available to you.
I hope these starting points will give you some clarity. Remember, reflecting is an important part of learning. While doing so, take time to relax and rejuvenate this winter break. I wish you the best, stay safe and healthy!