I am a rising Junior in college right now. I was a small-town girl from a village of 500 people, who then turned to city life in just one day. Yet, I adjusted and am living a very happy life, despite my hardships in the beginning. So, what have I learned?
Takeaway #1
It is okay to feel scared, lonely, and homesick! These emotions are just a few that many individuals encounter throughout their time in college. You can be a senior and still feel homesick, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I cried nearly every time I had to leave my parents for the first year I was away from home. Even now, it still isn’t the easiest. I missed the weekend grocery runs or the annoying plans I was never really included in making, but expected to attend. I missed the opportunity to talk to someone every night, even if it was about the mail. I didn’t have to act a certain way because it was comfortable. College was different. I loved the friends I gathered and the community I built, but it wasn’t the same. It may never feel the same, and that is perfectly normal. Feel your emotions, call those you love, take care of your mental health, and prioritize your well-being. As someone who only ventured home for holidays and mandatory breaks, I wish I had been able to go home more often. Do not let others dictate how often you travel home or how often your family comes to visit. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are sad or maybe just feeling a little out of place. Imposter syndrome is very real and affects nearly every student at some point. You are not alone, and your feelings matter.
Takeaway #2
Do not let others’ opinions cloud your decisions. ‘Others’ encompasses not only your peers and mentors, but also advisors, alumni, and family. It is smart to seek guidance and insight from others, however, I do not recommend blindly following their advice. A lot of classes in university are considered to be “weeder” courses. They are meant to weed out those who do not have the determination to continue, those who may realize the degree is not for them, and even those who are not ready for a certain academic rigor based on prior knowledge. Weeder courses can be daunting. However, do not let other perceptions shape your opinion of the course before you have even signed up for the class itself. I have nearly completed my organic chemistry sequence; in fact, as I write this, I have completed the 7th exam out of the 8 required for the sequence. I was terrified before taking Organic Chemistry 1. I thought I was going to fail. After all, I knew so many smart individuals who did, so why would I be any different? Wrong! I have done well in them! I am not an A+ student by any means, but I realized that I loved this course and was rather good at understanding the concepts and working through problems. I was told by more people than I can count not to take Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry 2 together because it was academic mayhem. Yet, I took them together and have not done all that badly in either. In fact, certain aspects of each have increased my understanding of the other. Just because someone tells you their opinion on something does not mean it isn’t worth a shot. You will learn to know your limitations and what you are capable of handling! Block negative perceptions and instead be proactive with an understanding of the reputation of courses. You got this!
Takeaway #3
Make time for fun and relaxation! Okay, listen, I am not good at following this one. I will be honest, I am a die-hard school addict. I have a hard time putting the laptop and pencil down to do something fun. With that being said, the times that I have been able to differentiate and balance my life out, I was a lot happier. For example, I had a major exam coming up, and I was terrified. At the same time I was studying for the exam, my friends just so happened to be starring in a play. I decided to study the entire morning and afternoon and attend the play in the evening. It was amazing. The play gave me a break from reality. It was a whole 2 hours of my life dedicated to something other than schoolwork. I actually went home and got a decent amount of sleep and ended up scoring over 30 points higher than the average on that exam. More recently, I had an exam approaching at the same time I had a wedding to attend. I took the weekend off to attend the wedding with little studying time. I was able to come home 2 days before the exam and work out a lot of problems. I came back with a new mindset, a relaxed state of mind, and refreshed from the pause in my stressful academic life. Now, I could just be rambling about taking a break every now and then, but my point is that it is okay and actually encouraged to find a balance. Choose a few days during the week to study certain subjects and use the other days to watch a TV show or go on a coffee date with a friend. Better yet, find a friend or two to study with! Do not say no to every fun occasion that enters your life for fear of failing or not doing as well as you had hoped. Grades are nothing if you are not living your life. So take a pause, go on a walk, call a friend, grab a tea, and play a game every once and a while. Your laptop, assignments, and classes will still be there.
Learn to breathe, process your emotions, and cultivate a strong mindset. College is difficult in more ways than one article can mention. You have to be able to change and be vulnerable with yourself. Ask yourself if you are happy, and if not, what can change? Understand your worth and power, but in and out of an academic setting. Listen to others but also form your own opinions. Don’t be afraid to say no, but also be willing to say yes. Be able to recognize what you need in this moment in time to be the best version of yourself. My key takeaway is to get some sleep, eat well, and exercise both your body and mind.