Going into Dead Week is a terrifying experience; the atmosphere of the Berkeley campus is unsettling. It’s a week before finals begin, and all anyone can think about is whether or not they’ll get the GPA they want(or if they’ll sleep at all this week, or if they’ll only cry in private). But, the countdown is ticking to the end of the semester, which means we’ll be rewarded for our hard work and effort by the holiday season!
There are other things that should you should be considering, especially if you are a freshman moving on to your second semester. Take time to look at your surroundings and see if you think that they will benefit your growth as you continue to move throughout college. It’s really important that you surround yourself with people who foster your happiness, as well as their own.
You will not be able to maintain a content life if you continuously spend time with people who are not supportive of your happiness. It’s difficult to see, especially when you are trying to maintain your own positivity, that other people’s actions may be holding you back from living your best life. It’s important to acknowledge the ways in which you are supported and to return the support to those who have your best interest at heart.
It’s also important to note that if you do not have someone’s best interest at heart, they most likely will not have your best interest at heart. People will not be receptive of your friendship if you are only looking out for your own interests. They will be more likely to accept you and foster your friendship if you both share a mutual appreciation for the others’ livelihood.
In order to make sure you find positive people, you need to be a positive person and put good things out into the atmosphere. Especially during dead week you should check in on your friends and make sure they are eating enough, drinking water, and taking care of their mental health. Hang in there, and take care of each other!