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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.

Although cliche, the transition from high school to college has truly been the hardest transition of my life. Going from having a schedule that was practically made for you for 18 years of your life to going off on your own can make it challenging to stay organized and motivated. Staying motivated is an extremely important contributor to the success of your college life. Juggling classes, clubs, sororities, gym, friends, and work all in the same day can seem like rocket science. Personally, my freshman year, I lacked a solid schedule, and I wasn’t motivated to get involved. I found myself laying in my bed more than I should have and struggled to find the motivation to attend all of my classes each day. Towards the end of my freshmen year, I finally started to adjust to college life, and found it easier to get out of bed and stay out of bed each day. I found that my grades were getting better and I was happier. I took what I learned from freshman year and carried it into my sophomore year. 

Creating a unique schedule for yourself that works for you every week helps tremendously. Giving yourself stuff to look forward to, whether it’s a trip to get ice cream with your friends, or an episode of Gossip Girl and taking a break from homework and studying can help ease your mind. Maintaining your hobbies, finding new ones, and trying new things is also very important. If you find yourself with a lot of extra free time, take a break from Tik Tok and try something new. Find something that interests you and join a club. You will likely make a bunch of like-minded friends by joining a club that you all share the same interests in. Plan a weekend trip with your friends to reward yourself for a hard week of work. Besides, a change of scenery can be extremely beneficial. If you’re feeling stressed, take a yoga class. There is so much to get involved in and getting involved will help reduce stress and increase your feelings of motivation. Motivation starts with your mind and body, so make sure to maintain their health and happiness. If you don’t already eat healthy, try! But always remember not to feel guilty for wanting dessert, because that can make your body happy too. The college experience is different for everybody and each student deals with stress in unique ways. That’s why it’s so important to try new things and develop a strategy that works best for you.

Amy Benson

UNH '25

Amy is a junior at the University of New Hampshire studying communication sciences and disorders. Amy was born and raised in Rhode Island and went to East Greenwich High School, where she was Varsity captain of her women's fastpitch softball team. She has been a camp counselor for five years, with one year as Camp Supervisor, creating a fun and safe environment for a wide array of ages. She has a deep passion for working with children and finds them inspiring as they teach her lots about patience and looking at the world in new and exciting ways. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, writing, and being by the water.