Welcome to the anchors away years of your lives, freshmen.
You can call high school your bumper cars years – fun, confusing, tiring, finding your way through, people hitting you out of nowhere, you hurting people along the way, and parents behind the fence guiding you so you don’t get hurt.
College – on the other hand – well, is anchors away. You hop on it expecting to enjoy and come out asking yourself: WHY. The beginning is thrilling, rising to the top with everyone who is just as excited as you. Then the drop comes. Screams, shouts, tears, laughter, more tears, more screams. It feels like forever, until the ride slows down, just when you began to enjoy it. That’s basically college.
Here are 5 things to keep in mind during your own anchors away:
- Make lessons personal
The less interesting classes are hard to stay awake in, but trying to see how the topic applies to your own life will help you appreciate the class and its content. They will be more than just theories in your head if you make them realities in your life. Practicing this as early as 1st year will allow you to make the most of each class you attend!
- Value your professors
Just like us, they can tell if you don’t like them. Simple acts of kindness like a smile, a greeting, or even a cupcake or lemonade won’t hurt. Yes, even the terror profs (trust me, this isn’t easy). Remember: Not all of them get paid well, but still choose to invest time in sharing and teaching what they can (preparing and checking a paper is harder than you think). Thank them – regardless of your grade!
- Invest in your classmates
Building relationships with classmates – apart from assigned projects – will make college easier than it normally is. Working with a friend helps communication, teamwork, and occasional rebukes flow smoother than if you don’t have a relationship with them. People listen and share better with those who do the same with them. Be the first and keep it up! Not a lot have this trait anymore.
- Take care of yourself
This is something many college students forget to do. TAKE A BREAK. If nothing is entering your brain anymore, but the quiz is 5 hours away, rest. A low grade with a healthy body will be far greater than a high grade with a beaten and worn out mind. Don’t forget to eat, drink water, and rest every chance you get. Numbers on a paper should never rank higher than your health and sanity.
- Love your school
Through every terror prof, failing grade, sucky groupwork, sleepless night, and days of complaints – always love your school. You were placed there for a reason and that is to be planted and grow, even when you don’t feel like you are. Without you realizing it, the school helped you bloom into a beautiful beacon of knowledge and light. They will be part of your growth more than you can ever imagine. So love your school – every inch, corner, and person in it. It’s worth it.
Image source:
Freepik
