Image Courtesy of Annalise Anderson | The Crow’s Nest
By Alisha Durosier
Take it slow
It is easy to be enthralled by all of the opportunities you are presented with in college, you could join any clubs and organizations or you could take on a job. When it comes to your first year, or your first semester specifically, it is important to give yourself the opportunity to adjust to the big transition you just made. While it is good to get involved with your campus or make extra money through a part-time job, filling your plate with a lot of extracurriculars can add more stress to an already overwhelming experience. So, try to take it easy your freshman year, find your niche and the clubs that may align with your own interests or the community you identify with.
Make use of your resources
As a college student, you have access to resources that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise, don’t take them for granted. Your school email alone could allow you free or discounted access to things from software like Adobe Creative Cloud to music apps and newspaper subscriptions. The Student Life Center is also a great resource. It houses the wellness center, which provides medical and psychological services, the career center, which provides job search aid along with resume and cover letter revisions, and the student accessibility services, which can help with providing any needed accommodations. USF St. Petersburg first year students specifically should make use of COMPASS, through which you have assigned peer coaches and success advocates that will provide assistance and help point you to the right direction according to your needs.
Figure out the ways in which you work best
Unlike high school, in college you don’t have long school days Monday through Friday, with only your evenings or weekends reserved for homework. You no longer have that rigid schedule high school created for you. With this new found flexibility, it can be a little hard to mold your schedule in a way where you can stay on top of your various deadlines. So, pay attention to your daily habits, work in various locations at various times, work alone or with a group, with or without music. Essentially, find when, where and how you are most productive and continuously make adjustments. There are many productivity tips and methods that exist, but it is important to find what mainly works for you to maximize your productivity.
Give yourself grace
Transitioning into college is both exciting and terrifying. It’s a big adjustment. Your freshman year will come with its challenges, unexpected changes, and stress. On a college campus, it is easy to hold yourself to really high standards and compare yourself to others you perceive to have met those standards. You will make mistakes, and maybe you won’t meet your own expectations. Getting stuck in the loop of “Would’ve… Could’ve… Should’ve…” will not result in anything good. Give yourself grace, give yourself the room to grow or to learn.
